Researchers at Tel Aviv university have managed to print a fully functional human heart. Though currently the size of a rabbit’s heart, 3D printing of (human) organs seems to be feasible in the near future. Continue reading Organs on demand
Category Archives: Science
More on lead
Previously we have discussed the effect of lead exposure on cognitive development as well its association with crime. ScienceDaily reports a new study that further confirms the negative effect of lead on neural development:
Higher lead in topsoil boosts the probability of cognitive difficulties in 5-year-old boys
Bottom line: any concentration of lead in the environment has a negative impact on the cognitive abilities of children. Since this damage is permanent, lead poisoning is a major social problem as reduced mental capacities will negatively affect performance at school and in later life.
Hence our position remains that the authorities in future space settlements should implement a zero tolerance policy when it comes to lead – any lead containing product should be banned from daily life.
Science round up
Here some scientific news we believe might be relevant for a future space-based society. Continue reading Science round up
Artificial wombs progress
Science Daily reports yet another breakthrough in the development of artificial wombs. Researchers are now able to keep extremely premature lamb fetuses alive in an artificial uterus. If this development continues, it will be possible in the foreseeable future that the entire gestation could happen outside the body. Continue reading Artificial wombs progress
Public green
A Danish study indicated that children who were raised in a green environment have a 55 percent lower risk of developing mental disorders. For the designers of future space settlements this means that they need to ensure that there will be a substantial amount of public green.
For larger free space habitats such as O’Neill cylinders an interesting example is the Wonderwoods project in the Dutch city of Utrecht. This design by Italian architect Stefano Boeri Architetti combines high-rise buildings with forests, a concept he calls vertical forests.
Alcohol and society
On Science Daily there is a report of a German study on the harmful effects on non-drinking third persons. This research shows that alcohol was involved with 45.1 percent of traffic fatalities and about 15 percent of the cases of interpersonal violence.
This study is yet another confirmation of our position that the government should discourage the consumption of alcohol as a matter of health and public security policy and that it should be treated like other controlled substances.
Older and single mothers
Science Daily reports three studies I would like to pay attention to:
Diet and ADHD
Just a few interesting articles on the relation between diet and ADHD.
Dietary change might help some children with ADHD – Unfortunately not for everyone and more research is necessary.
Unhealthy diet during pregnancy could be linked to ADHD – to be more specific consumption of high level of fat and sugar could be cause ADHD in one’s offspring.
Food Additives Linked To Hyperactivity In Kids, Study Shows – important for regulators to decide whether to allow or not certain additives.
Zinc Supplements Could Help Treat ADHD – interesting as this would be a rather inexpensive intervention.
Western diet link to ADHD, Australian study shows – again more research is necessary.
Omega-3 reduces ADHD symptoms in rats – though humans are not rats, this study confirms that fetal development is essential in later behaviour.
Omega-3 against crime
Earlier we discussed the link between environmental lead concentration and criminal behaviour. New research lead by Jill Portnoy has indicated that another substance might have significant effect on criminal behaviour: omega 3. Continue reading Omega-3 against crime
Lead and choline
A democratic republic can only survive and flourish if its citizens are well-educated. However, such an educated society can only exist if the overall majority of its citizens has the individual cognitive ability to handle proper education. In other words a democratic republic is only possible as its citizens have a certain degree of general intelligence. Continue reading Lead and choline
