The Guardian reports that Dutch researchers have been awarded a €2.9 million grant to develop a prototype artificial uterus. Though artificial uteri have several benefits, they also raise a multitude of ethical questions.
Choline – again
Earlier we discussed the importance of choline in raising the level of general intelligence among the public. Now a study conducted by researchers from Arizona State University, reported by ScienceDaily, has found:
that a lifelong dietary regimen of choline holds the potential to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD). (source: Science Daily)
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and puts a high cost on both individual, their friends and family as well society at large. If choline can play a role in a wider strategy to combat dementia, we have little reason not to do so.
Short remark
Apparently people still use the old name of this site “Republic of Lagrangia“. However, that name has been retired for about five years now. The current name of this site is the Lagrangian Republican Association.
Space habitats: the way of the future?
Matthew S. Williams has written a good and elaborate article about space habitats on Interesting Engineering:
Are Space Habitats the Way of the Future
Williams discusses the basics of orbital space settlement and the major benefits and the important problems associated with this concept.
A pair of O’Neill cylinders, one of the habitat types discussed by Williams (source: NASA).
Coriolis effect
As pointed out in a previous post centrifugation is the method proposed in space colonization literature to replace gravity in orbital space habitats. Though the centrifugal force is the most well-known effect of a rotating object (if not, consider your washing machine for a moment), its sister force, the Coriolis force is less known. Continue reading Coriolis effect
Space habitats and land
We have noticed that orbital space settlements are a rather unfamiliar concept for many people. In particular people find it hard to understand the meaning of land withing the context of a free space habitat. In this piece we will try to explain some of the essentials of orbital space settlements. Continue reading Space habitats and land
Fluoride and IQ
We have earlier discussed the negative effects of environmental lead exposure on pre- and post-natal neural development. A new study from Canada, reported by Interesting Engineering, suggests that also fluoride might have a negative effect on one’s IQ. And this is a serious issue. Continue reading Fluoride and IQ
Happy Linux Day
Today it has been 28 years ago that Linus Torvalds published the first version of the Linux kernel. This was the beginning of a IT revolution and is a milestone in the development of free and open source software. So we wish everyone a happy Linux day!
Land code
This is an outline for the proposed Land Code of the Republic of Mordan Continue reading Land code
The Case Against Mars
We are, to put it mildly, no fans of the colonization of Mars and instead we favor orbital space settlements. In the video below Simon Whistler of the TopTenz YouTube channel gives a nice summary of the challenges people will face on Mars.
It is not to say that orbital space habitats will be easy to build but given the particular difficulties Martian settlers will face, it will be the better alternative.
Of related interest: Interesting Engineering has an in depth article on the challenges of building human settlements on Mars.
