WASHINGTON (AP) -- It sounds like the plot for a scary B-movie: Germs go into orbit on a spaceship and come back stronger and deadlier than ever.
But it really happened.
The germ: Salmonella, best known as a culprit in food poisoning.
The trip: Space shuttle mission STS-115, September 2006.
The reason: Scientists wanted to see how space travel affects germs, so they took some along -- carefully wrapped -- for the ride.
The result: Mice that were fed the space germs were three times more likely to get sick, and died more quickly, than mice fed identical germs that had remained behind on Earth.
"Wherever humans go, microbes go -- you can't sterilize humans. Wherever we go, under the oceans or orbiting the earth, the microbes go with us, and it's important that we understand ... how they're going to change," explained Cheryl Nickerson, an associate professor at the Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology at Arizona State University.
Nickerson added, in a telephone interview, that learning more about changes in germs has the potential to lead to novel new countermeasures for infectious disease.
She reports the results of the salmonella study in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers placed identical strains of salmonella in containers and sent one into space aboard the shuttle, while the second was kept on Earth, under similar temperature conditions to the one in space.
After the shuttle returned, mice were given varying oral doses of the salmonella and then were watched.
After 25 days, 40 percent of the mice given the earthbound salmonella were still alive, compared with just 10 percent of those dosed with the germs from space. And the researchers found the amount of bacteria it took to kill half the mice was three times larger for the normal salmonella than for the space germs.
The researchers found 167 genes had changed in the salmonella that went to space.
Why?
"That's the 64 million dollar question," Nickerson said. "We do not know with 100 percent certainty what the mechanism is of space flight that's inducing these changes."
However, they think it's a force called fluid shear.
"Being cultured in microgravity means the force of the liquid passing over the cells is low." The cells "are responding not to microgravity, but indirectly to microgravity in the low fluid shear effects."
"There are areas in the body which are low shear, such as the gastrointestinal tract, where, obviously, salmonella finds itself," she went on. "So, it's clear this is an environment not just relevant to space flight, but to conditions here on Earth, including in the infected host."
She said it is an example of a response to a changed environment.
"These bugs can sense where they are by changes in their environment. The minute they sense a different environment, they change their genetic machinery so they can survive," she said.
The research was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Louisiana Board of Regents, Arizona Proteomics Consortium, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, National Institutes of Health and the University of Arizona.
Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.
The announcement, which is expected within weeks and could come as early as Monday at the annual meeting of his scientific institute in San Diego, California, will herald a giant leap forward in the development of designer genomes. It is certain to provoke heated debate about the ethics of creating new species and could unlock the door to new energy sources and techniques to combat global warming...(more on the page)
I can imagine a (hypothetical) Twilight Zone episode where science does create the perfect pet and puts it in a box, but you don't get to see it until the end of the episode. At the end you see that it was a mirror in the box! Because mankind has faults! Yuk yuk yuk!
But if mankind has faults, then how could a reflection of mankind (presumably representing mankind itself) be the perfect pet?
I think the perfect pet would be like a smart monkey that never sheds. People would just want a pet that's fluffy and low-maintenance. If it could help with the chores, that'd be even better.
You know, I think it would be cool if they made a Twilight Zone episode along those lines except that it turned out that the thing in the box was the perfect pet, and everyone was happy with no negative consequences whatsoever. 'Cause everyone's expecting a twist at the end of Twilight Zone episodes, it would be neat if they did one where everything went exactly as planned.
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- If you grow old in Japan, expect to be served food by a robot, ride a voice-recognition wheelchair or even possibly hire a nurse in a robotic suit -- all examples of cutting-edge technology to care for the country's rapidly graying population.
With nearly 22 percent of Japan's population already aged 65 or older, businesses here have been rolling out everything from easy-entry cars to remote-controlled beds, fueling a care technology market worth some $1.08 billion in 2006, according to industry figures.
At a home care and rehabilitation convention in Tokyo this week, buyers crowded round a demonstration of Secom Co.'s My Spoon feeding robot, which helps elderly or disabled people eat with a spoon- and fork-fitted swiveling arm.
Operating a joystick with his chin, developer Shigehisa Kobayashi maneuvered the arm toward a block of silken tofu, deftly getting the fork to break off a bite-sized piece. The arm then returned to a preprogrammed position in front of the mouth, allowing Kobayashi to bite and swallow.
"It's all about empowering people to help themselves," Kobayashi said. The Tokyo-based company has already sold 300 of the robots, which come with a price tag of $3,500.
"We want to give the elderly control over their own lives," he said.
The rapidly aging population here has spurred a spate of concerns: a labor shortage, tax shortfalls, financial difficulties in paying the health bills and pensions of large numbers of elderly.
Moreover, a breakdown of family ties in recent years means a growing number of older Japanese are spending their golden years away from the care traditionally provided by children and grandchildren.
That's where cutting-edge technology steps in.
A rubber and nylon "muscle suit" developed by the Tokyo University of Science helps keep the elderly active by providing support for the upper body, arms and shoulders.
Powered by air pressure actuators, the prototype suit -- which looks like an oversized life jacket -- provides subtle backing to help older people lift heavy objects.
The intelligent wheelchair TAO Aicle from Fujitsu Ltd. and Aisin Seiki Co. uses a positioning system to automatically travel to a preset destination, and uses sensors to detect and stop at red lights, and to avoid obstacles.
Another wheelchair designed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology responds to oral commands like "forward" and "back," "right" and "left."
Then there are cars designed for easy entry for the wheelchair-bound or those with difficulty walking, such as Toyota Motor Corp.'s Welcab series. Its slogan: "A car that's more patient than your daughter."
Tired? Retire to a Lowland futon bed by Kaneshiro Tsuhso Inc. that can be adjusted into a reclining seat.
And there's help for caregivers, too.
A full-body robotic suit developed by the Kanagawa Institute of Technology outside Tokyo is a massive contraption powered by 22 air pumps to help nurses hoist patients on and off their beds.
Sensors attached to the user's skin detect when muscles are trying to lift something heavy -- and signals to the air pumps to kick in to provide support.
Though the suit makes its wearer look a little like Robocop, a student who was easily lifted off a table in a demonstration said he felt comfortable during the test.
"It doesn't feel at all like I'm being lifted by a robot," he said. "This feels so comfortable and very human."
I think the perfect pet would be like a smart monkey that never sheds. People would just want a pet that's fluffy and low-maintenance. If it could help with the chores, that'd be even better.
But monkeys are ugly, and not nearly as funny as television producers think they are!
I'm glad they've started telling them not to shoot at soldiers, but robots with guns can't possibly end well.
New Battlefield Robots Reduce Risk of Friendly-Fire Incidents
The advancement of battlefield robots is progressing nicely at the Department of Defense. iRobot has already showcased its REDOWL-equipped PackBot which can detect enemy gunfire and the company's SUGV Early is a lightweight variant which is "backpackable."
Foster-Miller is upping the ante a bit with its new MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System) robot which aims to eliminate – or at least drastically reduce -- friendly-fire accidents. The 350-pound MAARS uses sophisticated software and GPS positioning to determine where friendly soldiers are located on the battlefield. Once programmed into the MAARS, the robot's machine gun is prevented from aiming towards friendly positions.
According to the Danger Room, MAARS is likewise pre-programmed to not fire on its control station where a soldier controls the unit.
The MAARS is also highly configurable based on battlefield needs. The standard tracks can be swapped out for wheels should the unit need to operate strictly in urban environments. The M240B Medium Machine Gun can also be swapped out for a control arm to lift items (100 pound capacity) detect/defuse roadside bombs or drag wounded soldiers out harm's way.
"Foster-Miller is proud to introduce the new MAARS robot to the US Military personnel who risk their lives every day defending our freedom," stated Dr. William Ribich, President of QinetiQ's Technology Solutions Group. "The challenge before us now isn’t technological in nature but rather the widespread training of our forces to use this greatly enhanced robotic capability."
Any machine that can keep human soldiers out of direct combat situations is welcomed by the military, so the upgraded fail-safes included with the MAARS is a welcome addition.
Didn't Gundam Wing warn us against sending machines into battle and removing the human factor? On the other hand, the show's reasoning was fundamentally flawed.
I worry about soldiers having GPS trackers on their persons, since there's a potential for the enemy to access our satellites and get a fix on all their positions. Maybe a remote chance, but the possibility exists. Maybe?
Number Five is alive! Yes, beautiful stars better see!
I worry about soldiers having GPS trackers on their persons, since there's a potential for the enemy to access our satellites and get a fix on all their positions.
Comments
I think the perfect pet would be like a smart monkey that never sheds. People would just want a pet that's fluffy and low-maintenance. If it could help with the chores, that'd be even better.
Robots cater to Japan's elderly
This one came even earlier than that. Mario is late to the tea party again, but he finally arrived nonetheless.
It's gonna take a long time to save up for that mech I'd sure like to get.
A mech is one of the first things I'm gonna buy when I win the lotto.
And I just realized my dream of real life One Must Fall is one step closer to fruition.
I'm glad they've started telling them not to shoot at soldiers, but robots with guns can't possibly end well.
I worry about soldiers having GPS trackers on their persons, since there's a potential for the enemy to access our satellites and get a fix on all their positions. Maybe a remote chance, but the possibility exists. Maybe?
Number Five is alive! Yes, beautiful stars better see!