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Despite a failed first attempt, NASA deployed its pioneering solar sail system, which will harness energy from the Sun to propel itself forward through space.

The Advanced Composite Solar Sail System is now fully deployed after NASA succeeded in extending the mission’s experimental booms on Thursday at 1:33 p.m. ET, the space agency announced. NASA teams will begin testing the new form of space travel, initiating different maneuvers to see how well the sail fares in orbit.

NASA’s solar sail mission launched in April to test new materials and deployable structures for a propulsion system that runs on photons from the Sun. A few months after its launch, the mission’s sail became stuck when an onboard power monitor detected higher-than-expected motor currents, pausing the unfurling process.

The mission teams were successful on their second attempt to deploy the solar sail, fully unfurling it to stretch across 860 square feet (80 square meters), or about as large as half a tennis court. The sail needs to be large enough to generate sufficient thrust, while also being at a high enough orbit to gain altitude and overcome atmospheric drag using the subtle force of sunlight on the sail. NASA’s solar sail orbits Earth at approximately twice the altitude of the International Space Station.

With the solar sail fully deployed, it may be visible to observers from Earth. Using four cameras on board the spacecraft, NASA captured panoramic views of the unfurling process, which will be available on September 4.

Over the next few weeks, NASA engineers will test the maneuvering capabilities of the spacecraft, raising and lowering its orbit using only the pressure of sunlight acting on the sail. The mission’s initial flight phase is designed to last for two months. “Raising and lowering the orbit of the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System spacecraft will provide valuable information that may help guide future concepts of operations and designs for solar sail-equipped science and exploration missions,” NASA wrote in its update.

NASA’s solar sail mission is meant to test new materials and deployable structures for the experimental propulsion systems, including new composite booms that are used to unfurl the sail. The composite booms are made from a polymer material; they’re lightweight while still being stiff and resistant to bending and warping when exposed to different temperatures. They work the same way as a sailboat’s boom, except they are designed to catch the propulsive power of sunlight rather than wind.

NASA is hoping this new form of low-cost space travel can grant it more access to different destinations across the solar system, although solar sails are limited by the durability of the materials and spacecraft electronic systems.

Solar sails harness energy produced by light from the Sun, using it to propel spacecraft forward. As the photons hit the spacecraft’s sails, it causes small bursts of momentum that propel it farther away from the star. We’ll be watching closely as this tiny cubesat, and this interesting new concept, takes its important first baby steps in space.

via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com/

August 30, 2024 at 01:36PM

August 20, 2024

How to ‘Circle to Search’ for Music on Android

https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-to-circle-to-search-music-on-android

As much of an AI skeptic as I am, Android’s "Circle to Search" is a useful implementation of the technology. By holding down the home button or navigation bar, you can circle anything on your display to start an internet search for it. Now it seems the feature is being expanded beyond solely visual elements on your smartphone, to include audio as well: So long as you have a compatible device, you can use Circle to Search to both discover music playing on your phone, as well as identify a song playing around you—including a tune you sing or hum yourself.

The feature was first discovered in testing by Android Authority: The site found a feature called "Audio search" during an APK teardown back in June, and was able to get it working last week. As of now, it appears to only be rolling out to Samsung Galaxy S24 phones, but Android Authority believes it will soon hit all smartphones that support Circle to Search.

Using Circle to Search for identifying music

First, pull up Circle to Search: If you use gesture navigation, hold the navigation bar. If not, hold the home button. Once Circle to Search is up and running, you should see a pop-up informing you about the new feature. Either way, you’ll find a new music icon appear in the bottom-right corner of the display. Tap this, and your phone will start listening, complete with a message that says, "Play, sing or hum a song…"

Since the feature uses your phone’s microphone to analyze music, you can let audio play from your phone to identify a mystery song, or let it listen to audio in the space you’re currently in. If you have a song stuck in your head, sing or hum it, and Circle to Search can try to identify the track.

While certainly a convenient feature, it’s far from the first option for identifying music in the wild. Programs like Shazam have been around for years, and you’ve been able to sing or hum to the Google app to search for music for some time as well. Still, if you’re going to be searching for other things with Circle to Search, why not audio as well?

via Lifehacker https://ift.tt/WhsDguj

August 20, 2024 at 12:47PM

August 20, 2024

This 1mm ‘fan on a chip’ could put active cooling inside ultra-thin gadgets

https://www.engadget.com/mobile/this-1mm-fan-on-a-chip-could-put-active-cooling-inside-ultra-thin-gadgets-130014002.html?src=rss

What if you could take the benefits of solid-state speaker drivers — specifically, their extreme thinness and lack of moving parts — and bring them to cooling fans? That’s what xMEMS aims to do with its new XMC-2400 µCooling (microcooling) chip. It’s a 1mm-tall solid-state fan on a chip that can actively cool extremely thin devices like smartphones and tablets. Based on the same MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) technology as the company’s upcoming ultrasonic driver inside headphones, the micro-cooling chip could lead to slim devices that are less prone to overheating and capable of better sustained performance.

Consider this real-world example: If my fan-less M2 MacBook Air had xMEMS’ XMC-2400 chips installed, it wouldn’t have died on me while I was working in the sun at Apple’s WWDC last year. It’s not hard to imagine other potential solutions: Headphones that can cool down your ears; gaming controllers that can keep your paws from getting sweaty; tablets that can eke out even more speed from their hardware.

In earbuds like Creative’s Aurvana Ace, xMEMS’ solid-state drivers excelled at reproducing mid- and high-range, but they were paired together with a traditional bass driver to handle low-end frequencies. xMEMS’ next-generation solid-state driver, dubbed Cypress, holds its own across all frequencies—-and it’s that same air-pushing power that the new micro-cooling chip relies on.

According to Mike Housholder, xMEMS VP Marketing and Business Development, the XMC-2400 µCooling chip uses ultrasonic modulation to create pressure pulses for air movement. It weighs less than 150 milligrams and can move "up to 39 cubic centimeters of air per second with 1,000 Pascals of back pressure," xMEMS says. Since it’s a solid-state device, there aren’t any moving parts like rotors or fins to fail, and its thin design means it can be placed directly atop heat-generating components like APUs and GPUs. It’s also resistant to dust and water damage with an IP58 rating.

xMEMS isn’t the only company pursuing ultra-thin, solid-state cooling. Frore’s AirJet Mini and Mini Slim can both generate 1,750 Pascals of back pressure, but they’re also larger and thicker than the XMC-2400, measuring 2.8mm and 2.5mm thick, respectively. Frore showed off its technology by hacking it into a MacBook Air, and according to The Verge, it pushed out heat and led to improved sustained performance.

xMEMS micro-cooling chip alongside iPhone

As Housholder puts it, xMEMS’ technology is more flexible since its far thinner, and manufacturers can also choose from side- and top-venting options. He expects the XMC-2400 to cost under $10 per chip, and that "four to five" existing partners will get their hands on it by the end of the year. Other manufacturers can snag it in the first quarter of 2025. xMEMS’ fabrication partners, TSMC and Bosch, can easily switch from building its speakers today to constructing micro-cooling chips tomorrow, Housholder says. There’s no need to change equipment or production lines.

As devices like the iPad Pro juggle extreme thinness with powerful performance, the need for some sort of ultra-thin active cooling solution is clear. We can’t escape physics, after all—that’s something I learned when my MacBook Air died on Apple’s own campus. While we still need to see the xMEMS micro-cooling chip in action to form any sort of judgment, theoretically, it could end up being indispensable in the future.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/4Enx13F

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

August 20, 2024 at 08:06AM

August 20, 2024

Mental Health Issues and Celiac Disease are Linked – A Gluten-Free Diet Can Help

https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/mental-health-issues-and-celiac-disease-are-linked-a-gluten-free-diet-can

Having a gluten-free diet has become a well-established dietary trend. But not everyone suffers from the genetic autoimmune disease called celiac disease. It’s estimated that around 1 percent of Americans suffer from celiac disease, which is commonly known for its gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.

Recent studies have also shown that beyond stomach issues, there is a connection between mental health issues and celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

Prior to diagnosis, those with celiac disease often report numerous mental health concerns. Similarly, those with gluten intolerance – also referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity – can suffer similar symptoms.

Gluten and Celiac Disease

Gluten is a naturally occurring protein that’s found in several foods, particularly wheat, barley, and rye. Though it is often assumed that gluten is unhealthy and should be avoided, that’s not entirely the case for most individuals and depends highly on the person in question.

Debra Silberg, a gastroenterologist and chief science officer at Beyond Celiac, explains that around one-quarter of patients with celiac disease may suffer from mental health issues prior to diagnosis.

“We’re talking about anxiety, depression, and even eating disorders,” she says. It is also linked to changes in mood and conditions such as schizophrenia and hyperactivity disorder.

Celiac Disease and Mental Health

Exactly why celiac disease affects mental health isn’t entirely clear, though there are leading hypotheses, Silberg continues. One is that by triggering an autoimmune response, celiac disease may cause a cascading effect in the body that ultimately affects the brain. By damaging the intestinal tract, it can also lead to nutritional deficiencies by inhibiting the absorption of key vitamins and minerals, which themselves are connected to mental health issues.

A commonly reported symptom amongst those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance is “brain fog” – also called gluten-induced neurocognitive impairment – which is associated with fatigue, issues with short-term memory, lack of concentration, and more.

A study conducted by Beyond Celiac found high numbers of those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance reported experiencing symptoms commonly associated with brain fog.

“Brain fog and fatigue are two of the things that people complain about most after getting exposed to gluten,” says Silberg. Exactly why this occurs is currently not known.

The Mental Health Impact of a Gluten-Free Diet

Conversely, however, avoiding gluten and following a restrictive diet can also be a trigger for its own mental health concerns due to the burden of living with a chronic health condition or adjusting to a new way of life after diagnosis.

“Being on a gluten-free diet can also lead to some of these psychiatric or mental health issues,” Silberg says. “Because you have to be somewhat hyper-vigilant, and there’s also a fear of going out and becoming exposed to gluten.”

A review paper published in 2023, for instance, reports anxiety caused by dietary problems, perceptions of illness, and a lack of control over the disease amongst those with celiac disease.

Positively, however, switching to a gluten-free diet once diagnosed can help with some mental health issues. Studies show that once free from gluten, those with celiac disease often see improvements in anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability, and, to an extent, depression. Brain fog, for example, can be expected to improve once gluten is eliminated from the diet.

“Brain and psychiatric or mental health issues probably take longer to go away than some of the gastrointestinal symptoms,” Silberg says. “These do tend to improve on a gluten-free diet. However, it seems that anxiety improves more than depression for some people.”

Should You Go Gluten-Free?

For those who do not have celiac disease or are not intolerant to gluten, refraining from eating gluten it is not expected to help with mental health issues.

“We don’t advise someone to go on a gluten-free diet to cure other things,” Silberg says. “You should really get checked to see if gluten is the issue and go to a physician who is knowledgeable about gluten and celiac disease or gluten intolerance.”

That’s because it’s an incredibly hard diet to follow, can be more expensive, can heighten feelings of social isolation, and may contribute further to stress, she adds. A gluten-free diet can also lead to health issues, such as nutritional deficiencies, if it is not required for medical reasons.

“You don’t want to add to your depressive feelings by going on a gluten-free diet if you don’t really need to,” Silberg explains.

Research is still needed to find a clinical solution for celiac disease. But Silberg also stresses that seeking alternative support, in addition to a gluten-free diet, in the form of therapy or treatment for mental health issues is advised.

“I think it’s really important for people to talk to a therapist, to talk to a nutritionist or a dietitian to help with their quality of life, and to be able to talk about some of these issues, and not suffer in silence,” she says.

Article Sources

Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:

Sean Mowbray is a freelance writer based in Scotland. He covers the environment, archaeology, and general science topics. His work has also appeared in outlets such as Mongabay, New Scientist, Hakai Magazine, Ancient History Magazine, and others.

via Discover Main Feed https://ift.tt/k9UwFor

August 20, 2024 at 08:36AM

August 15, 2024

SAG-AFTRA deal will let advertisers replicate actors’ voices with AI

https://www.engadget.com/ai/sag-aftra-deal-will-let-advertisers-replicate-actors-voices-with-ai-130019844.html?src=rss

SAG-AFTRA has announced a new agreement that would allow actors to earn from AI copies of their voice with their informed consent. The union representing thousands of performers has struck a deal with Narrativ, which is an online platform where performers can license digital voice replicas for use in audio ads. Brands who want to use a performer’s voice will have to identify the products or services they’re promoting, and performers will be able to review offers before accepting or declining them.

Performers will also be able to set their own prices, with SAG-AFTRA’s minimum rates being the lowest. And if they don’t want to work with Narrativ anymore, the platform is required to delete their digital voice replica and any recordings they made for its creation. When the union went on strike last year, one of the biggest issues it wanted to address was the use of artificial intelligence to create actors’ likeness without their permission (and without pay) even after they die. They were also concerned about the technology’s potential to replace performers altogether.

When the union ended its strike in November 2023, it said it was able to secure a deal that would protect its members from the "threat of AI." Under the terms of agreement it negotiated, performers have to provide explicit consent before replicas of them can be created. They also have to provide their consent for every additional project where their replica is used. In January, SAG-AFTRA entered an agreement with Replica Studios so performers can license their voice to game studios. However, it failed to reach a deal with several major video game publishers, prompting the union to call for another strike in July so it could protect it members’ likenesses and voices from being recreated with AI without their permission.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/oNdX4rb

via Engadget http://www.engadget.com

August 15, 2024 at 08:07AM

August 12, 2024

SpaceX accused of dumping mercury into Texas waters for years

https://www.popsci.com/science/spacex-mercury-water-pollution/

SpaceX’s Starship launches at the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas, have allegedly been contaminating local bodies of water with mercury for years. The news arrives in an exclusive CNBC report on August 12, which cites internal documents and communications between local Texas regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency.

SpaceX’s fourth Starship test launch in June was its most successful so far—but the world’s largest and most powerful rocket ever built continues to wreak havoc on nearby Texas communities, wildlife, and ecosystems. And after repeated admonishments, reviews, and ignored requests, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have had enough.

The issues stem from a complaint filed to the TCEQ just over a year ago on August 6, 2023. The letter reportedly cited 14 separate incidents regarding “environmental impacts from the Facility’s deluge system” stemming from “discharging deluge water without TCEQ authorization.”

Water deluge systems work in tandem with flame deflectors to mitigate the intense heat, energy, and sound that accompany orbital rocket launches. Despite Starship possessing 33 methane- and liquid-oxygen fueled Raptor engines that generate a collective 16.7 million pounds of thrust, such a system was not installed at the Boca Chica Starbase before its first launch, although they are now in place.

The news comes the same day as the FAA’s announcement that it was indefinitely postponing a series of four public environmental impact assessment meetings. The four scheduled events were focused on Starship’s future test launches at SpaceX’s spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX hoped to receive approval to increase its total number of Starship tests there to 25 annual launches.

Local residents near Boca Chica have frequently voiced concerns about potentially dangerous conditions created by the 15-story-tall Starship’s engines. SpaceX’s neighbors have described a liftoff’s deafening noise and physical effects as “truly frightening.” Dust plumes created from the spacecraft’s 16.7 million pounds of thrust have allegedly caused health issues, while bowling
ball-sized debris from a launch site’s 25-foot-deep crater has severely damaged vehicles and shattered windows. In April 2024, 27 community and environmental organizations published an open letter voicing anger with the tests while highlighting Starbase’s proximity to indigenous sacred lands.

A fully reusable Starship system is key to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s goal of eventually transporting humans to Mars. Before that, however, it is currently scheduled to ferry NASA’s Artemis 3 mission astronauts to the moon sometime in September 2026. It is unclear how or if the charges will affect that timeline for both the private space company and NASA. But even if the timeline remains the same, at least one recent study has raised concerns about the effects of Starship’s massive landing thrusters on surrounding lunar surface conditions.

“We will get back to you,” an FAA spokesperson told Popular Science earlier today ahead of CNBC‘s story. They have not responded to requests for a follow-up at the time of writing.

This story is developing…

The post SpaceX accused of dumping mercury into Texas waters for years appeared first on Popular Science.

via Popular Science – New Technology, Science News, The Future Now https://www.popsci.com

August 12, 2024 at 02:45PM

August 12, 2024

How to record audio files with Windows 11

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2418409/how-to-record-audio-files-under-windows-11-using-on-board-tools.html

Whether you’re recording an important lecture or your own thoughts, Microsoft’s integrated Audio Recorder tool is extremely easy to use. You can save the file in different formats and you can place markers within the file itself, allowing you to jump to different sections. You don’t have to download third-party software, either! Here’s how to use Microsoft’s Audio Recorder.

Further reading: How to transcribe audio files in Microsoft Word

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To start the program, enter Audio Recorder in the Windows search bar and select Open. Select the desired microphone at the bottom left of the program.

At the bottom center is the recorder button, which starts the recording. The recorded audio files are listed at the top left while the waveform diagram of the respective file can be seen on the right.

You can save audio files in various formats such as m4a, mp3, wma, flac, and wav. To select the desired format, click on the three dots at the top right and then Recording Format. The audio quality can then be roughly adjusted using the three levels: best, high, and medium.

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Otherwise, the app is limited to the basic functions of play, stop and record. It also offers an import function and a share button.

The playback speed of the audio files can be set from 0.25 to 4x. You can also set markers in an audio file, allowing you to jump to different sections.

Incidentally, only microphones can be used as input signals for the audio recorder. The sound mixer, which could be used to record any sound on the computer, cannot be selected.

via PCWorld https://www.pcworld.com

August 10, 2024 at 07:02AM

Tag: Feedly

NASA’s Solar Sail Mission Is Finally Flying After Deployment Glitch

How to ‘Circle to Search’ for Music on Android

Using Circle to Search for identifying music

This 1mm ‘fan on a chip’ could put active cooling inside ultra-thin gadgets

Mental Health Issues and Celiac Disease are Linked – A Gluten-Free Diet Can Help

Gluten and Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease and Mental Health

The Mental Health Impact of a Gluten-Free Diet

Should You Go Gluten-Free?

Article Sources

SAG-AFTRA deal will let advertisers replicate actors’ voices with AI

SpaceX accused of dumping mercury into Texas waters for years

How to record audio files with Windows 11

get windows 11 pro for cheap

Windows 11 Pro