HTNet - A Notepad of Tech, Business, Science and Self Improvement

I find it strange that even after we’ve discovered a potentially habitable planet, the way us humans travel in space remains near absolutely the same as it was three decades ago:

1. Build a rocket
2. Attached said rocket to huge fuel tanks that will be used to launch the rocket
3. Use massive amount of rocket fuel to provide the necessary force to blast off
4. Ensure that there’s adequate infrastructure, support mechanisms and human ingenuity to make sure the astronauts can return to Earth safely

Regardless if you’re NASA, Russia’s Federal Space Agency or China National Space Administration, all your rockets will be launched using the exact same technology mentioned previously.

Essentially, space travel technology has became stagnant… unless there’s some new space travel mechanisms being kept under wraps by the world’s secretive space agencies.

What we have now is only the commercialisation of old space technology to provide expensive space rides for the world’s richest people. If this trend goes on, then the bulk of astronauts in the world will then consist of mega-billionaires.

I guess the price could become more affordable in the future if the trend for commercial space travel becomes more like home computing… but even the optimist in me keeps on saying, “Dream on!”.

However, I do hope that better space travel technologies will be unveiled during my lifetime. Otherwise, it’ll be a lot less challenging trying to explain to my grandson how space travel was when I was his age

Scientists messing with the Eso 3.6m Telescope have found a planet that resembles earth, located a mere 20.5 light-years away. Here’re some of the things the boffins are saying about this discovery:

“We have estimated that the mean temperature of this ‘super-Earth’ lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and water would thus be liquid,” explained Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory, lead author of the scientific paper reporting the result.

“Moreover, its radius should be only 1.5 times the Earth’s radius, and models predict that the planet should be either rocky – like our Earth – or covered with oceans.”

I doubt we can stumble upon light-speed traveling in my lifetime, so even the optimist in me reckons that reaching this planet could only be possible during the times of my great, great, great grandchildren.

I just hope that when they finally do, it’ll be similar to what these present-day scientists have described. It’d be such a disappointment if it’s just a rock that somehow has a mirage-like effect when viewed from 20.5 light-years away

I guess Superman is really screwed now!

Now, I’m no Superman fan… therefore I was really baffled to discover that the fictional Kryptonite has a chemical structure! However, the “real life Kryptonite” doesn’t look as cute as the comic version though. Quoting the linked BBC article:

According to movie and comic-book storylines, kryptonite is supposed to sap Superman’s powers whenever he is exposed to its large green crystals.

The real mineral is white and harmless, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London’s Natural History Museum.

“I’m afraid it’s not green and it doesn’t glow either – although it will react to ultraviolet light by fluorescing a pinkish-orange,” he told BBC News.

Well, I guess the pinkish-orange reaction to UV would be good enough. And yeah, the mineral’s scientific name is Jadarite. Probably to avoid potential trademark disputes with DC comics

Photo Credit: Catarina by Rodolfo Nunez

Procter and Gamble has developed Intrinsa; a patch that it’s marketing as the first treatment for women with low sex drive. Personally, I find this to be a step in the right direction in recognising that female low sex drive is a health issue that needs attention.

Basically, Intrinsa delivers its testosterone payload via skin absorption. Being in clear patch form makes it inconspicuous and easy to apply. The BBC has more info regarding Intrinsa.

Although the comparison is inevitable, P&G prefers Intrinsa to not be described as Viagra for Women. Instead they prefer to portray Intrinsa as a weapon against premature menopause. Quoting the linked BBC article:

Dr Nick Panay, of the Daisy Network, a support group for women with premature menopause, said low sex drive in such women could cause a great deal of distress and concern about their relationship.

“Intrinsa offers real medical hope to these women as studies showed that the patch increases sexual desire and satisfying sexual activity while reducing associated distress.”

But GPs said one drug is incapable of addressing the “complex reasons” for low sex drive.

Every year, malaria infects around 400 million people. To make it worse, similar with HIV AIDS, there’s currently no vaccine for malaria. Malaria spreads through mosquito bites, specifically from the Anopheles species.

In what could be deemed as progress in the fight against malaria, researchers from the John Hopkins University have genetically engineered malaria resistant mosquitoes. Interesting excerpt from the article:

Starting with the same number of resistant and nonresistant mosquitoes, they found that after nine generations the resistant type made up 70 percent of the population – raising the possibility of replacing regular mosquitoes with resistant ones that don’t spread disease.

I find that this method of combating the disease to be an interesting approach towards rectifying the problem. So far, mainstream R&D on malaria are focused more towards developing vaccines and other form of treatment. By shifting the focus to the vector agents themselves, this research might provide the breakthrough malaria sufferers have been hoping for.