Nikolay's Genetics Lessons

Lasers Could Launch Tiny Spaceships to the Stars Traveling to other stars is a big dream for humanity, but it might take something small to achieve it. Using powerful lasers to launch tiny sail-like spaceships could dramatically speed up interstellar travel, a new study says, taking just a decade or two instead of thousands of years. Physics and math are holding back our urge to reach other stars. To get there in a reasonable amount of time, a spaceship would have to travel incredibly fast but that would require a lot of fuel. The fuel reserves required would make the ship too heavy. But some researchers have found a way out of this stalemate using a solar, laser, or microwave sail. Such a spaceship would not need fuel; but to give the necessary acceleration to a large ship, we would have to build a huge orbital laser and equip the ship with a sail the size of Texas. Philip Lubin of the University of California plans to solve this problem with tiny sail-like spaceships. His project received a grant from NASA this year as part of the NIAC program. While human flight to the stars remains a distant future, Lubin sees no reason why we shouldn t send tiny robotic scouts in our place. His idea is as follows. Space probes weighing just one gram each would be launched into Earth orbit and then accelerated using a laser beam. Each probe would carry tiny sensors and transmitters for communication with Earth. In addition, the system could be built and improved gradually, since even using heavier probes or a less powerful laser beam would allow us to explore distant parts of the solar system. The system involves using a laser with a power of 50 to 70 gigawatts this would allow a probe with a one-meter sail to accelerate to 26% of the speed of light in just ten minutes. Such a probe would reach Mars orbit in 10 minutes, overtake Voyager 1 in three days, and arrive in the Alpha Centauri star system in fifteen years. For the idea to work, scientists would have to find a way to focus and direct the laser beam very precisely, and develop a very small and lightweight transmitter so that the probes could transmit the data they received back to Earth. What we are proposing is extremely complex, but we do not see any fundamental obstacles that would prevent us from implementing our idea, Lubin said. All that is needed for success is hard work and technological development. If you've read the article this far please like and subscribe - it really helps the channel. Open the link to find thousands of interesting articles: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

55 years ago, man first set foot on the Moon On the evening of July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 descent module with two American astronauts on board, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, made the first soft landing in history on the surface of the Earth's natural satellite. Six hours later, on July 21 at 5:56 a.m. Moscow time, Armstrong made his historic "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." The Apollo 11 mission launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, with the main goal of successfully landing on the Moon and returning home. Completing this task marked a new stage in human exploration of space. Apollo 11 entered Earth orbit at an altitude of 183.2 to 185.9 kilometers twelve minutes after launch. After completing one and a half orbits, the astronauts fired the third stage engine, which sent the spacecraft on a trajectory to the Moon. Thirty minutes later, the third and final stage of the Saturn V rocket separated, after which the command and lunar modules, which had been flying separately until then, docked. On the evening of July 19, Apollo 11 passed behind the far side of the Moon and fired its engines to enter lunar orbit. During the next thirty orbits around the Moon, the crew carefully studied the intended landing site. Finally, on July 20, 1969, the lunar module Eagle separated from the command module Columbia and began its descent. Collins, who remained on board Columbia, carefully inspected the lunar module from the side to make sure there was no damage. Armstrong and Aldrin began landing 4 seconds ahead of schedule; Thus, the landing site was shifted kilometers to the west, which could pose a danger to the astronauts. Five minutes later, when the lunar module was at an altitude of 1800 meters from the surface of the Moon, the on-board computer issued errors "1201" and "1202". This meant that the clock frequency was not enough to perform all the necessary calculations in real time. Armstrong had to take control into his own hands, while Aldrin read out the instrument readings aloud. On July 20 at https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

Scientists have found a non-surgical way to treat cataracts The medical community describes cataracts as a darkening of the lens of the eye. This physical condition can cause various visual impairments, including complete loss of vision. People who have cataracts often report decreased visual acuity, faded colors of the surrounding world, problems with vision in the dark, and the appearance of bright halos in the field of vision. For decades, one of the main methods of treating cataracts was a special medical operation. However, now doctors note that a new and less invasive way to combat this disease has been found. And very soon, this method may become available in medical institutions. A recently published article in the scientific journal Nature reports on the results of the work of a group of scientists who, as part of a series of experiments on dogs, discovered that cataracts can be treated with special eye drops. These drops contain the chemical component lanosterol. These molecules are naturally produced inside the body. In healthy individuals, lanosterol prevents proteins from forming protein clumps in the lens of the eye, which lead to cataracts. Specialist Kang Zhang from the University of California in San Diego and his colleagues in this study say that as a result of the experiments they found that people who have cataracts have a significantly reduced level of lanosterol molecules in their bodies. This led scientists to the idea that eye drops containing the right proportion of lanosterol could be one of the alternative methods of treating this disease. As soon as the eye drops were created, the scientists tested them on dogs. The drops really showed their effectiveness. The journal Nature reports that it took only 6 weeks for the drops to reduce the clouding of the lenses of the animals' eyes and generally reduce the size of cataracts. The scientists decided to conduct similar tests on the lenses of the eyes of rabbits that were grown in the laboratory. The results were just as successful. To be honest, surgery always comes with a certain risk of failure and subsequent complications. For this reason, Dr. Kang Zhang and his team of scientists believe that most cataract patients would likely, of course, choose eye drops over surgery if given the chance. Our study showed that lanosterol is a key component in protecting against the formation of protein plaques in the lens of the eye and may serve as an entirely new tool for the prevention and treatment of cataracts, the scientists wrote in their paper. If you've read the article this far please like and subscribe - it really helps the channel. Open the link to find thousands of interesting articles: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

Hotel with robot servants opens in Japan A new hotel with robot staff has opened in Japan. Henn-na Hotel, which translates as "strange hotel", is part of the Huis Ten Bosch theme park complex in the Japanese city of Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture. Visitors to the hotel can use the service of access to the room using a facial recognition system, and the amenities can be controlled via a tablet. The Gizmag resource reports that Henn-na Hotel is a joint development of the Kawazoe laboratory of the Institute of Industrial Sciences at the University of Tokyo and the Kajima Corporation. The creators of the hotel set themselves the goal of not only creating a place for comfortable rest and fun, but also making their business economically profitable, modern and environmentally friendly. Friendly robots greet guests at the reception desk to help them with their accommodation. If desired, you can register at the hotel yourself upon arrival. This will save waiting time and eliminate the queue. If you've read the article this far please like and subscribe - it really helps the channel. Open the link to find thousands of interesting articles: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

Sleep disorders increase cancer risk and lead to excess weight Lack of sleep or irregular sleep can cause many ailments. Excessive sleep is also harmful, especially in middle age. A new study has shown a high risk of cancer for those who have sleep problems. The study found that poor or irregular sleep led to the development of cancer in mice. The results confirm serious concerns about the impact of shift work on human health, the British news service BBC reports. The researchers also suggested that women with a family history of breast cancer should avoid shift work, which leads to sleep disorders. However, definitive conclusions can only be made after further research, the scientists note. The researchers delayed the biological clocks of mice by 12 hours each week for a year. As a result, the rodents with a disrupted circadian rhythm developed tumors eight weeks earlier than usual. Normally, mice with a gene mutation develop breast cancer after 50 weeks. The study also showed that irregular sleep can lead to weight gain. Animals with sleep disorders became 20 percent heavier, although they consumed the same amount of food as mice with a regular schedule. The researchers note that disruption of biological rhythms can be the cause of an increased risk of developing various diseases. The study was published in the scientific journal Current Biology. If you've read the article this far please like and subscribe - it really helps the channel. Open the link to find thousands of interesting articles: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

Space has a negative impact on astronauts' skin Astronauts have noticeably thinner skin. This is the conclusion reached by European scientists after conducting research aimed at clarifying questions about the impact of the space environment on people in space. It was previously noted that many astronauts complain of skin problems during and after space flights. Therefore, NASA and the European Space Agency asked for help from Professor Carsten Koenig and his team from the Department of Biophotonics and Laser Technology at Saarland University (Germany) to help understand the effects on the skin during space travel. The team of researchers began their work by checking the physical condition of the astronauts before and after their time in space. For these purposes, the scientists used the method of multiphoton tomography to find out with high accuracy what happens to the skin structure during a space mission. The Reuters news agency, citing scientists, points out that such laser analysis, like an actual biopsy, allows us to look at the structure of the skin and find out what is happening in the different layers of the epidermis. The Italian astronauts Luca Parmitano and Samantha Cristoforetti, as well as the German astronaut of the European Space Agency Alexander Gerst, took part in the research. The results of the analyses showed significant changes in the morphology of the skin. There is a strong surge in collagen production. That is, the astronauts have significantly higher collagen levels. This means that some layers of the skin, at least the same layer of the dermis (the inner part of the skin), are somewhat less susceptible to aging. We also found that the epidermis, or rather some of its cells, is shrinking. A thinning of the epidermis of almost 20 percent was noted, the Reuters news agency quotes Koenig as saying. Unfortunately, given the small scale of the study and the number of astronauts involved, the team is not yet ready to give a definitive answer to the question of what exactly causes these changes in the skin. However, the researchers note that since the epidermis is an important part of the skin where new skin cells are formed, it would be preferable to find a way to prevent this layer from thinning during long space missions. The scientists hope that further analysis of the problem will help find the right solution. If you've read the article this far please like and subscribe - it really helps the channel. Open the link to find thousands of interesting articles: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

By 2050, robots will be able to beat humans at football The annual World Cup among robots, which is currently taking place in the Chinese city of Hefei, allows us to look into the future, where instead of people, machines kick the ball around the grass. Obviously, players like Messi and Ronaldo have nothing to worry about yet. After all, it is impossible to watch robots play without laughing. However, the ultimate goal of RoboCup is to raise a team of real iron guys who are capable of not only holding their own in a game with professional human football players, but also beating them. This year, 45 countries are participating in the RoboCup championship. The competition is held in several categories: for small robots, medium robots and humanoid machines. A separate competition is for virtual robots without hardware, or, in other words, software. The first international football tournament among robots was held in 1997. Although some progress has been made over the years, the machines are still extremely clumsy and fall over all the time. The real challenge for the robots is to perform several tasks. First, the machine must detect the ball, then reach it and deliver an accurate kick. To make the competition more difficult, the organizers laid down an artificial surface that imitates real grass and used a white ball in the game, which is harder for robots to distinguish. The game is filled with moments when the robots cling to each other with their legs, trying to kick the ball. The championship deliberately does not have red and yellow cards to warn players about breaking the rules. However, this has not stopped RoboCup from becoming very popular. Last year's championship attracted more than 3,000 spectators. The organizers of RoboCup hope to create a team of robots by 2050 that can beat the winners of the human World Cup. Ten years ago, this task seemed difficult to accomplish. But there have been advances in the last decade that make this possible, said Professor Daniel Polani of the University of Hertfordshire in England. Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

A pill on a string will help doctors diagnose esophageal cancer Sometimes the simplest and most obvious solution to a problem is the most effective. In science and medicine, this happens all the time. Esophageal cancer is a deadly and very insidious disease, since it is usually diagnosed at a very late stage, when it is too late to do anything about the tumor. This is what prompted the team of Cambridge professor Rebecca Fitzgerald to develop a simple and effective method for diagnosing this oncological disease. The solution to the problem was a tiny pill with a strong thread attached to it. Inside the soluble shell is a black sponge, which scientists called Cytosponge. The patient swallows the pill, washing it down with plenty of water, while the doctor holds the end of the thread attached to it. In the stomach, the shell dissolves and the sponge, freed from its shackles, straightens out to its normal size. The doctor carefully pulls the sponge out through the esophagus, and it collects cells from its walls so that they can be examined. You must admit, this is much more pleasant than a biopsy, when doctors need to penetrate your esophagus with metal instruments and pinch off a piece of your tissue. Even in the case of a biopsy, it is not a fact that specialists will be able to detect cancer in a sick person with 100% probability. A non-invasive method of collecting materials for analysis is a very important achievement for oncologists, because the survival rate for esophageal cancer is only 13%. Early diagnosis will save thousands of human lives. Cytosponge is comparable in size to a regular multivitamin tablet. The entire analysis takes about five minutes, of which about three minutes are needed for the stomach to dissolve the capsule shell with the sponge. The tiny sponge collects about half a million cells along its path so that doctors can give an accurate answer to the question of whether a person is sick or not. The researchers have now tested their miracle sponge on more than 2,000 patients. Cytosponge is planned to be commercialized soon. Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dYdAdmgE #nikolaysgeneticslessons

Genetics problem ChatGPT failed to solve The number of chromosomes present in a human skin cell is 4 more than the number of chromosomes present in the sporogenous cell of a Wheat plant. Also the number of chromosomes in the endosperm of a wheat plant is 3 more than the number of chromosomes present in the cheek cells of a Goat. The number of chromosomes in the ovum of a goat is 2 less than the number of chromosomes present in a female European honey bee's skin cell. The Primary spermatocyte of an elephant has 40 chromosomes more than that of the chromosomes present in the photoreceptor cells of Male European honey bees. If the number of chromosome present in a root cell of Arabidopsis Thaliana is 4 less than the half number of chromosomes present in the spermatozoa of Elephantthen determine the number of Chromosomes present in the male gamete of Arabidopsis Thaliana. Solution: Number of chromosomes in a human skin cell: 46 Number of chromosomes in the sporogenous cell of a wheat plant: 46-4=42 Number of chromosomes in the endosperm of a wheat plant: 63 Number of chromosomes in the cheek cells of a goat: 63-3 =60 Number of chromosomes in the ovum of a goat: 30 Number of chromosomes in the skin cell of a female European honey bee: 30+2=32 Number of chromosomes in the primary spermatocyte of an elephant: 40 + 16 =56 Number of chromosomes in the photoreceptor cells of a male European honey bee: 16 Number of chromosomes in the spermatozoa of an elephant: 56/2=28 Number of chromosomes in the root cell of Arabidopsis thaliana: 28/2=14-4=10 Number of chromosomes in the gamete Arabidopsis thaliana 10/2=5 Youtube video: https://lnkd.in/dz9ZPx24 #nikolaysgeneticslessons

How to find Relative Risk increase? Relative risk (RR) is a measure used in epidemiology to compare the risk of a certain event (such as developing a disease) occurring in one group with the risk of it occurring in another group. It is calculated by dividing the risk (probability) of the event in the exposed group by the risk of the event in the unexposed (or control) group. The formula for relative risk is: Relative Risk (RR) = Risk in Exposed Group / Risk in Unexposed Group Where: The Risk in Exposed Group is calculated as the number of individuals experiencing the event in the exposed group divided by the total number of individuals in the exposed group. The Risk in Unexposed Group is calculated as the number of individuals experiencing the event in the unexposed group divided by the total number of individuals in the unexposed group. If you have specific data (such as the number of individuals in each group and the number of events in each group), I can help calculate the relative risk for you. Please provide the data if you need a specific calculation. Problem: Study looked at mortality after Dronedarone Therapy for Severe Heart Failure What is the relative risk increase using Dronedarone compared to placebo in severe heart failure patients? ) 170% * B) 30% C) 6.9% D) 4.9% Youtube video: https://lnkd.in/dtttEsa2 #nikolaysgeneticslessons