National Geographic: The robot revolution has arrived

By David Berreby

Robots are becoming more and more integrated into society. Of course, they aren't the human-like thinking, living robots we once imagined. But they can do predetermined tasks quickly and efficiently. This is caused concern that robots will steal human jobs. However, this isn't the case. Many people who have worked with robots actually say it makes their work easier and faster. Of course, it is true that working with robots may require retraining, which could be problematic for some. But the applications of robots are vast. They are already cleaning, assessing inventory, and defusing bombs.

Recently, more human-like robots have served as partners and even performed religious ceremonies. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand since better digital communications and cleaning systems are required. Plus, they can fill in where people have been unwilling to work due to safety reasons.

Robots may not be entirely safe yet, though, in crowded environments. Like I said above, they are good at preprogrammed actions, not responding to sudden things that can happen in the factory. And they are still far behind humans as well oiled machines. In the end, we will decide when and how they are used.

TedEd: The fish that walk on land

A TedEd by Noah R. Bressman

A walking catfish can jump out of the water if it wants to go somewhere new. Of course, many dangers come with this. Death by dehydration, physical dangers, and predators are all in the mix. This may seem odd, but there are actually hundreds of species of fish that are amphibious or can live on land and in the water. Some types only do this when necessary, while it is a part of life for others. Some fish come out of the water when it is too hot and stay moist in the shade. The walking catfish comes out to eat bugs, and California grunion comes ashore to mate. Normally, fish use gills to breathe, which are feathery organs filled with blood vessels that absorb the oxygen in the water. However, the gills collapse when outside the water. So, some fish have oxygen-absorbing parts inside their bodies or actual lungs. Fish also have thin skin that nutrients can pass through, which makes them dry up outside water. So, some fish flop around in the mud, while others coat themselves in mucus and go deep into the earth. The fins of amphibious fish are extra-strong, enabling them to move around on land. But how do they navigate? Some fish look for reflective surfaces, while others move downward in hopes that water will be downhill. More sophisticated animals like the walking catfish have a lot of taste buds on their whiskers, which it uses to detect prey, water, and harmful areas. So while amphibious fish may have a hard time out of the water, they have evolved ways to solve this over time to become the amazing creatures they are today.

Side note: This actually ties into what I am learning at school, evolution and natural selection.

CNN 10 8/31/2020 ~ 9/4/2020

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Monday, August 31, 2020

Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has stepped down over health concerns. He first took office in 2006 before stepping down the following year. He was re-elected in 2012 and has been PM since. He is stepping down due to ulcerative colitis, an incurable bowel disease, which is also why resigned in 2007. His party is in control of both houses of Japan's parliament, so they should have no trouble selecting the next prime minister. As Abe leaves office, his record is mixed. He stopped an economic decline but failed to boost the economy, and his diplomacy has reportedly been similar. In the US Gulf Coast, Lousiana is assessing the impacts of Hurricane Laura, the category 4 storm that passed through the area last week. Power lines and grids are out in many areas; entire neighborhoods have been washed away. President Trump visited the area to take a look and console devastated families. 75% of universities in the United States have moved to virtual learning. So many of them are using AIs to monitor cheating on a test, to mixed results. Students report that they are uncomfortable being recorded and many are skeptical of the performance of AIs; at least some professors report that they are faulty and report all students as suspicious. Still, the test monitoring industry is booming. Another experiment took place in Leipzig, Germany. Study participants were allowed into a concert (with prior COVID testing) to determine the effects of a large gathering on the transmission of the virus. For many, it was a welcome reprieve from pandemic life.

Air and Space: Dragonfly Is the First Airplane Built for the Outer Solar System

By Tim Wright

    The Dragonfly is the latest innovation for extraterrestrial flight. While it will not be the first to fly on another planet (that honor going to the Ingenuity helicopter scheduled to fly on Mars next year), it will be the first with advanced instruments and the first to go to the outer solar system. It will be equipped with various systems to help it land on one of Saturn's moons, Titan, and look for life there.

    Titan is covered in a haze of prebiotic material that was uncovered a decade ago with the Cassini mission. Scientists believe that the moon may have water, along with the other requirements for biological life here on Earth.

    The fact that Titan has a thick atmosphere made the design easier. This is because the rover needs to generate less lift to get off the ground, and therefore requires less energy. The recent innovations with multi-rotor drones also helped because controlling a drone is easier. Also, a drone works by generating more or less lift with different amounts of rotor speed. Because of this, a drone can continue to work even if a rotor malfunctions. For power, the Dragonfly will use the plutonium that is commonly used for deep space missions along with a massive battery just in case. The Dragonfly mission is set to depart in 2026 and arrive on Titan by 2034.