We May Have Uncovered the First Ever Evidence of the Multiverse

IN BRIEF

A recent study on a space anomaly that has perplexed scientists for years has some suggesting that it could be explained by a parallel "bubble universe" — although there are other, more standard potential explanations, as well.
TOO COLD

For years, scientists have been baffled by a weird anomaly far away in space: a mysterious “Cold Spot” about 1.8 billion light-years across. It is cooler than its surroundings by around 0.00015 degrees Celsius (0.00027 degrees Fahrenheit), a fact astronomers discovered by measuring background radiation throughout the universe.

Previously, astronomers believed that this space could be cooler simply because it had less matter in it than most sections of space. They dubbed it a massive supervoid and estimated that it had 10,000 galaxies fewer than other comparable sections of space.

But now, in a recently published survey of galaxies, astronomers from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) say they have discovered that this supervoide could not exist. They now believe that the galaxies in the cold spot are just clustered around smaller voids that populate the cold spot like bubbles. These small voids, however, cannot explain the temperature difference observed.

MULTIVERSE?



To link the temperature differences to the smaller voids, the researchers say a non-standard cosmological model would be required. “But our data place powerful constraints on any attempt to do that,” explained researcher Ruari Mackenzie in an RAS press release. While the study had a large margin of error, the simulations suggest there is only a two percent probability that the Cold Spot formed randomly.

Credit: The Royal Astronomical Society

“This means we can’t entirely rule out that the Spot is caused by an unlikely fluctuation explained by the standard model. But if that isn’t the answer, then there are more exotic explanations,”  said researcher Tom Shanks in the press release. “Perhaps the most exciting of these is that the Cold Spot was caused by a collision between our universe and another bubble universe.”

If more detailed studies support the findings of this research, the Cold Spot might turn out to be the first evidence for the multiverse, though far more evidence would be needed to confirm our universe is indeed one of many.

SOURCE: Futurism, ScienceAlert , Royal Astronomical Society

“Glowing Mushroom” Discovery Could Revolutionize Biology

IN BRIEF

• Of the estimated 100,000 mushroom species on Earth, only about 80 glow. Scientists uncovered the explanation behind two of these glowing mushrooms.
• Studying the mushrooms allowed researchers to make chemicals that glow various colors that may help us make more scientific breakthroughs.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms are our favorite fungi. From savory dishes to surprising video game power-ups — we can’t seem to get enough of the little things. What’s more interesting, however, is the fact that mushrooms can be far more relevant to our own progress as a society than we imagined. The Neonothopanus gardneri and Neonothopanus nambi are two distinct species of glow-in-the-dark mushroom found in Brazil and Vietnam respectively, that have reshaped our perspective on bioluminescence permanently.

Neonothopanus gardneri time-lapse. Credit: Cassius V. Stevani/IQ-USP, Brazil

While we have a sound understanding of insects, sea creatures, and even frogs — we’ve been bemused by bioluminescent fungi until now. Researchers from Russia, Japan, and Brazil have finally pinned down the reason for the elusive phenomena that are glowing mushrooms. They published their discovery in Science Advances.

As most luminous species in our lovely ecosystem, the estimated 80 of about 100,000 mushroom species that produce their own light do so to attract insects that can spread their spores to other places in hopes of colonizing new territories.

NOT JUST PRETTY COLORS

So now that we know the why, what about the how? The answer lies in the aptly named molecule, luciferin, a compound common in bioluminescent reactions. When this compound reacts with oxygen, the reaction produces oxyluciferin, a light-emitting substance. This electrically charged substance then returns to its ground state by releasing oxygen — this continued cycle allows mushroom to emit light.

Additionally, enzymes from the mushrooms allowed scientists to make a number of luciferin-like chemicals that glowed different colors.

When we learn more about bioluminescence, humanity ends up with another scietific tool. While natural organisms use the ability for a multitude of reasons — including camouflage, illumination, defense, catching prey, and sexual attraction — we use bioluminescence to aid our research.

With the advent of bioluminescent, we analyse genetic data with the help of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), a molecule that allows scientist to study genes of interest with accurate precision. We are also improving our modern lasers by taking notes from a four-billion-year-old evolutionary process that derived bioluminescence.

By understanding the mechanism that makes mushrooms glow and the patterns shared among multiple organisms using the same ability, we can improve our abilities in research, application, and accessibility.

SOURCES: Futurism, Phys, Harvard Library, Science Magazine

This Caterpillar Could Aid in Ridding the World of Plastic Waste

A chance observation by a researcher in Spain could help humans reduce the ecological damage caused by polyethylene-based packaging.

Five years ago, Federica Bertocchini was cleaning out her beehives at home in Santander in Northern Spain, including sweeping out wax worms — common pests that eat into honeycombs.

Spanish National Research Council

Shortly after, the biologist at the Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria noticed that holes were forming in the plastic bags where she had put the squirmy little critters.

In that incident, Bertocchini had unintentionally come upon a discovery that could someday address one of the greatest dilemmas of modern living.

"We have found that the larva of a common insect, Galleria mellonella, is able to biodegrade one of the toughest, most resilient, and most used plastics: polyethylene," said Bertocchini, who published her research on April 24 in Current Biology with co-authors Paolo Bombelli and Chris Howe of Cambridge University.

Notably, advancing other recent research that found that some bacteria can break down plastic bottles and meal worms can consume Styrofoam, wax worms can eat plastic bags quickly, the researchers found. Very quickly.

Whereas mealworms eat Styrofoam at a rate of 0.13 milligrams per square centimeter per hour, the wax worms degrade plastic bags at 0.23 milligrams at the same rate, said Bertocchini.

“If you put the worm into the plastic bag, in 20 minutes it comes out,” said Bertocchini. “The timing is just so fast.”

Spanish National Research Council

Wax worms eat beeswax, which like plastic is a polymer — a material composed of many bonded substances. Honeycombs and plastic have similar chemical makeups, too. So it makes sense they would feed on plastic, she added.

Interestingly, the worms produce ethylene glycol as a byproduct when they eat plastic. That’s a primary component of polyester fabrics and antifreeze.

Bertocchini admitted more work was to be done.

They are not sure if the worms produce chemicals in their salivary glands that break down polyethylene or if bacteria in their guts might be doing the work for them. They also aren’t sure of the potential downsides (or industrial uses) of the excess ethylene glycol.

Eventually the scientists want to isolate the molecule that breaks down plastic, then mass produce it to help eliminate the excess plastic that’s polluting the planet.

Last year, the World Economic Forum found that plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish by 2050 unless humans curbed their wasteful habits.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution associated scientist Tracy John Mincer had a mixed reaction to the group’s claims.

“Although this is an amazing natural history story and wonderful academic exercise, it is not a solution for disposing of polyethylene,” he wrote in an e-mail.

Recycled polyethylene can fetch as much as $500 per metric ton, or around 2,200 pounds, noted Mincer. Foregoing recycling was a waste of money, he argued.

Spanish National Research Council

Scientists also needed to do more research to make sure bacteria, mealworms and waxworms weren’t still passing out infinitesimal plastic particles that researchers hadn’t found on first blush, Mincer added. Those tiny particles could cause other unforeseen problems.

But waiting until the world recycles plastic properly shouldn't delay research into how to degrade the excess stuff that’s hanging in tree branches and floating in the waves now, Bertocchini countered.

She envisioned a molecule plucked from a wax worm degrading plastic in a network of clean tech facilities around the world.

“Getting rid of plastic in our landfill sites; a plastic free ocean,” she mused. “It would be utopia.”

SOURCE: Seeker

Sally Can Create and Serve 1,000 Different Meals, but This Chef’s Not Human

IN BRIEF

Sally the Salad Robot can make about 1,000 different salads in about one minute each, and by the end of 2017, 125 of the machines could be dispensing healthy meals to workers in the San Francisco area.

MEET SALLY

Sally can make 1,000 different types of salads using 21 ingredients that change depending on what’s seasonally available. She can create a salad in just about a minute and doesn’t require a living wage because, well, she’s not living.

Created by robotics startup Chowbotics, Sally the Salad Robot is destined for popularity as it provides hungry patrons with a wealth of healthy options. Chef Charlie Ayers, the first executive chef at Google, created a number of signature salads that customers can choose to order, but if they are not interested in a pre-planned option, they can customize their meal from the different ingredients offered.

CEO Deepak Sekar hopes to provide quick, healthy meals to busy professionals, at least in part replacing greasy fast food options. Sally’s capabilities will soon be put to the test as Sekar hopes to have 125 of the robots in tech offices in the San Francisco area by the end of 2017.

Image Credit: Chowbotics

THE AGE OF AUTOMATION

Sally is a testament to the age of automation. It’s sign that, in the very near future, we might be interacting with far more robots and far fewer people. Sally confirms that even the preparation of a chef-curated signature meal can be completed by a machine.

Now, Sally does still need humans to help it operate. The robot gets its ingredients from canisters that need to be loaded and reloaded by hand. But, even though humans are needed to keep the machine up and running, the difference between two humans interacting about a lunch order and the interaction between a human and Sally is monumentally different.

How automation will lead to job loss is a frequently discussed topic, and it is a major issue that we will have to find creative solutions to manage. But less talked about is how we, as humans, will change. If your daily interactions started to feature progressively fewer and fewer people, how might it affect you?
SOURCE: Futurism, Business Insider, Chowbotics

F.E.D.O.R Robot Revealed: Rise of the (Russian) Terminator?

The Russian space agency has revealed that their new robotic humanoid, named Fedor, is capable of firing guns and can drive.

RUSSIA REVEALS ROBOT CAPABLE OF FIRING WEAPONS

The robot, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs in at around 235lbs, can fire two handguns simultaneously, do press ups and even use tools such as drills and soldering irons, although the team behind it have even bigger plans for the future. They claim that within five years the robot will be in use on the moon and performing many of the tasks now performed by astronauts on the international space station.

The program is being overseen by Deputy prime minister and head of the state defence industry Dmitry Rogozin, who has made several statements about the progress of the robot on Twitter.

"The robot of the F.E.D.O.R. Platform showed skills of firing using both arms. Currently, the work on fine motor skills and decision algorithms is underway."

After receiving a lot of international media interest in the footage of the robot firing weapons he later added:

"Shooting exercises is a method of teaching the robot to set priorities and make instant decisions. We are creating AI, not Terminator"

Fedor was previously known as 'Avatar' and was initially designed to retrieve people trapped in collapsed buildings. The new moniker actually stands for: Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research.

Aside from not needing a space suit, the robot offers numerous other benefits for use in space over astronauts. Firstly it requires no food, oxygen or even gravity to function, only a power source, meaning that potentially they can stay in space indefinitely.

Secondly, comparatively, to astronauts, the robots will eventually become inexpensive since they require no training and will if eventually mass produced, become relatively cheap to manufacture. Cosmonauts require extensive training and are of course more expensive to fly into space and to maintain and keep alive once they are there.

The Russian space agency has stated that the Fedor program is part of a larger project to build a permanent base on the moon, mainly for the purposes of mineral extraction and will initially house 11 cosmonauts and several robots.

Given that the robot has been programmed to fire weapons, something currently not needed in space, the military applications of the project are also potentially huge Although Russia isn't the only country developing military robots. The United States, China, Japan and a handful of other countries are all developing similar robots capable of firing weapons, albeit most are keeping their progress under wraps for the time being.

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF FEDOR IN ACTION

SOURCE: Disclose.tv

NASA Announces ALIEN Life Could Be Thriving on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus

NASA has recently announced that one of Saturn’s moons could support alien life in our solar system. The discoveries made by NASA could be the beginning of the MOST important findings in the history of space. Experts have found that practically all necessary elements for life to exist have been discovered in One place in our solar system: on Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

Nevermind the question ‘Are we alone in the universe?’. The real question now is ‘Are we alone in the solar system?’.

New findings suggest that icy moons inside our solar system meet all of the required criteria to support life as we know it.

According to scientists, Encelauds—an icy moon orbiting Saturn—contains under its thick Ice shell a MASSIVE ecosystem.

NASA experts have found traces of molecular hydrogen from the moon which suggests Saturn’s natural satellite is much more geologically active than we thought before.

Furthermore, this finding suggests that conditions to support life as we know it may exist on Enceladus.

According to NASA, all three ingredients were found on Enceladus. Image credit: NASA

The groundbreaking discovery—which forces us to question whether or not we are alone in our own cosmic backyard—was made by NASA’s unmanned spacecraft—Cassini, which has been exploring Saturn for 13 years.

Recently, during its closest ‘dive’ near Enceladus, Cassini discovered high-powered jets of water coming from the surface, containing hydrogen.

Scientists say that molecular hydrogen could have originated from hydrothermal reactions deep inside the moon where hot rocks and water go through several natural processes.

This graphic shows how Cassini scientists think water interacts with rocks at the bottom of the ocean of Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus, producing hydrogen gas. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH

The same processes here on Earth provide energy for ecosystems deep below the surface.

According to scientists finding hydrogen is remarkably important since it serves as ‘excellent food’. In fact, ancient life forms on Earth use it as fuel.

If there is in fact alien life on Enceladus, then it most likely feeds off of hydrogen and releases methane afterward. Methane has also been found coming from Enceladus.
The recent discoveries point to the possibility that Enecelauds—Saturns’ sixth largest moon—may have single-celled organisms, similar to those with which life on Earth began.

Mary Voytek, a senior astrobiologist at NASA said: “This is a new frontier because this is the first time we have seen evidence of an alien food source in an ocean not on Earth. We knew we had two of the key ingredients for life and now we have the third. This is the most exciting discovery in my eight-year career at NASA.”

According to experts, three main ingredients are necessary for life as we know it to exist on a planet: Water, organic molecules and a source of energy. In the past, experts found traces of the first two, but this new—third discovery—means that all three necessary components are there, and a fuel source that helps keep that life alive.

Lewis Dartnell, an astrobiology researcher at the University of Westminster said: “We now know there’s not only a warm, wet environment – we now realize there’s food for life. There’s fuel for an ecosystem on Enceladus.”

However, this new ‘alien ecosystem’ has not been observed or detected directly, but experts argue that all of the necessary conditions for it to thrive are there.

“We know that the ingredients for life are water, organic molecules, and energy,” says Caitriona Jackman, a space environment lecturer, from the University of Southampton. “We’ve seen evidence of water and chemical elements before, but we really haven’t had direct evidence of the energy sources that are capable of fuelling life.”

“That’s what’s very significant here: this molecular hydrogen is a direct observation of an energetic process that is potentially capable of fuelling life.”

“At present, we know of only one genesis of life (the one that led to us), so it is still possible that life could be an incredibly rare fluke,” writes David Rothery, professor of planetary geosciences at the Open University.

“If we knew that life had started independently in two places in our solar system, then we could be pretty confident that life also got started on some of the tens of billions of planets and moons around other stars in our galaxy that also have the right conditions.”

Researchers concluded that new research has given enough grounds for us to send a specific mission to Enceladus in order to search for traces of life.

Professor Jackman, who worked on the Cassini mission, referred to the new discoveries as a “tantalizing result,” saying that further research needs to be done to learn more about the moon.

“These ocean worlds with their protective outer shell, if indeed there’s life in there, it has to be completely different than ours in the sense that it’s generated in a way that’s not related to our life,” said Jim Green, director, Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, during NASA’s press conference.

“We call that a second genesis.”

SOURCE: EWAO.com
NASA Missions Provide New Insights into ‘Ocean Worlds’ in Our Solar System

Scientists Want to Clone Jesus: the Search for the Messiah’s Dna Has Begun

For the first time in history, a man of faith and a man of science are teaming up to search for Jesus’ DNA. Using the latest advances in DNA technology an Oxford University geneticist and a biblical scholar are investigating the world’s most famous holy relics including the Shroud of Turin, The Sudarium of Oviedo and the newly discovered bones of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. By extracting and analyzing samples of each of these holy relics they hope to retrieve a sample of DNA that possibly belongs to Jesus or a member of his family.

Right now, experts are trying to ‘extract’ the genetic code of the family of Jesus Christ. Numerous strange claims have been made by different individuals who said to have been on the verge of cloning Jesus Christ. However, we still have not managed to clone a human being, let a lone the Son of God.

But what if we could track down the DNA of the Messiah?

Now, a History Channel documentary called ‘The Jesus Strand’, which premieres on April 16 looks into the matter.

History Channel’s “The Jesus Strand” is a journey where, for the first time in history, a man of faith and a man of science are teaming up to search for Jesus’ DNA. Using the latest advances in DNA technology Oxford University geneticist George Busby and biblical scholar Pastor Joe Basile are investigating the world’s most famous holy relics including the Shroud of Turin, The Sudarium of Oviedo and the newly discovered bones of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. Their journey takes them to holy sites around the world from Spain and Italy to Israel and the shores of the Black Sea.

Speaking to the Conversation, George Busby of the University of Oxford—who participates in ‘The Jesus Strand’ said:

“In 2010, Kasimir Popkonstantinov discovered what he believes are the bones of one of the most famous of all saints: John the Baptist. I was interested in what DNA analysis could tell us about these bones, and other ones.”

“When Kasimir later opened the reliquary, he found five bone fragments. The epitaph on the smaller box, probably used to carry the bones when travelling, was the key piece of evidence that led him to believe that the bones could perhaps be those of John the Baptist. ‘The finding is hugely important, partly because John the Baptist was both a disciple of Jesus and his cousin – meaning they would share DNA.”

However, Busby indicates that it is still not clear whether or not that DNA is from the REAL John the Baptist. Nevertheless, he has spoken with scientists who participated in the extraction of numoerus DNA samples from the Turin Shroud.

The Shroud of Turin is believed to be by many as the burial cloth of Jesus, and the center of a debate between skeptics, historians, and archeologists. The cloth of approximately 4.5 meters in length was the alleged shroud placed over the body of Jesus Christ at the time of his burial. It has remained as an object of fascination for both the Christian faith and science.  Its origin is controversial, while some place the shroud of Turin more than 2,000 years ago to adjust the story to a supernatural origin, others believe it dates between the 13th and 14th century, based on a radiocarbon dating carried out on the linen in 1988. In addition, despite thorough scientific analysis, so far no one knows for sure how the image of a crucifixion victim is shown on the shroud although many say it is the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Interestingly, researchers are working on extracting the DNA from the so-called James Ossuary—a first century chalk box which supposedly may have help the bones of Jesus’ brother.

Busby added, “Let’s assume for a moment that contamination could be completely ruled out and that DNA analysis demonstrated that DNA from the Shroud was a familial match to DNA from the James Ossuary – and that they are both related to the Bulgarian bones. Could this then have been the DNA of Jesus and his family?”

Featured image Credit: The History Channel

SOURCES: Ancient-code.com
Can we ever find Jesus’s DNA? I met the scientists who are trying to find out
Could we clone Jesus? Scientists are closing in on the DNA of Christ

Scientists Have Detected Metal in Mars’ Atmosphere

Scientists at NASA have said that the “MAVEN spacecraft has made the first direct detection of the permanent presence of metal in the ionosphere of a planet other than Earth.”

NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft has made an unprecedented discovery as it spotted traces of iron, magnesium and sodium ions in Mars’ upper atmosphere. MAVEN– Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission—orbits the planet gathering data along the way on how Mars lost most of its air, oceans, and atmosphere transforming from a planet eerily similar to Earth to desolate wasteland we see today.

Astronomers have concluded—based on yet another discovery—that Mars is more Earth-like than we ever thought.

NASA has revealed that the red planet is the ONLY other cosmic body in our solar system to have METAL in its atmosphere.

MAVEN—a spacecraft specifically designed to study the atmosphere of Mars—has revealed that there are traces of metal in Mars’ upper atmosphere, and it’s an extremely important discovery that shows just how Mars is a planet that eerily resembles Earth.

Joseph Grebowsky of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland said: “MAVEN has made the first direct detection of the permanent presence of metal ions in the ionosphere of a planet other than Earth.”

So how did metal end up in Mars’ atmosphere?

According to scientists, the answer is not ALIENS.

Experts from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt explained that the metal found in Mars’ atmosphere comes from a constant shower of tiny meteorites onto the planet.

Scientists say that as high-speed meteorites crash against Mars’ atmosphere, they evaporate.

THE TEAM FOUND THAT THE METAL IONS BEHAVED DIFFERENTLY ON MARS THAN ON EARTH. EARTH IS SURROUNDED BY A GLOBAL MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATED IN ITS INTERIOR, AND THIS MAGNETIC FIELD TOGETHER WITH IONOSPHERIC WINDS FORCES THE METAL IONS INTO LAYERS. HOWEVER, MARS HAS ONLY LOCAL MAGNETIC FIELDS FOSSILIZED IN CERTAIN REGIONS OF ITS CRUST, AND THE TEAM ONLY SAW THE LAYERS NEAR THESE AREAS. “ELSEWHERE, THE METAL ION DISTRIBUTIONS ARE TOTALLY UNLIKE THOSE OBSERVED AT EARTH,” SAID GREBOWSKY.

Metal atoms in the vapor trail get their electrons torn away by charged atoms and molecules in the ionosphere, the metal atoms transform into electrically charged ions.

Grebowsky explained, “Because metallic ions have long lifetimes and are transported far from their region of origin by neutral winds and electric fields, they can be used to infer motion in the ionosphere, similar to the way we use a lofted leaf to reveal which way the wind is blowing.”

According to experts, understanding Mars’ ionospheric activity is helping experts understand how the Martian atmosphere is escaping into space.

So far, MAVEN has picked up traces of iron, magnesium, and sodium ions in the upper atmosphere. These elements were detected over the last two years with help of its Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer instrument.

Grebowsky said: “We detected metal ions associated with the close passage of Comet Siding Spring in 2014, but that was a unique event and it didn’t tell us about the long-term presence of the ions.”

Furthermore, scientists have explained that interplanetary dust—which causes the meteor showers—is very common in our solar system so it’s very possible that all planets and moons—with substantial atompsherers—have traces of metal. That, of course, is still a theory.

“Observing metal ions on another planet gives us something to compare and contrast with Earth to understand the ionosphere and atmospheric chemistry better,” said Grebowsky.
Image Credit: NASA
SOURCE:
NASA’s MAVEN Reveals Mars Has Metal in its Atmosphere
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