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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
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Nova: "Making Stuff Series"
NOVA "Making Stuff" Series:
Making Stuff: Stronger
Q: Over the past few decades, multiple improvements have benifited the world, from new discoveries, to genetic research. At our current rate, what can we expect in the future?
A: Around 150 years ago, the Bezheimer Process allowed for the first 'Industrial-Scale' production of Steel. Until that moment, the usage of steel as a building material seemed preposterous, when given today's society, we see steel in use everywhere in the world. Given the advanced properties of Kevlar and Steel alone, it is remarkable on how something that was discovered a long time ago (Kevlar being the recent, and one of the main exceptions) is only practical on large scales. Although we have the advancements of Nanocarbon, and on a similar page, "Bukkeyballs (A Pure-Carbon mineral, that resembles the shape of a "Soccer Ball", and is magnetic)", we can only use them in an experimental stage, until we are able to use it in mass-production, to benefit Mankind.
Already though, advancements are occuring at a remarkable rate. Thirty Years Ago, the Apple Macintosh brought the dream of "Home Computers" to life. Computers back in the 60's and 70's had little computing power, compared to what our Computers Have Today. Back when the first computer had 12 Killobytes of memory, with many now using Terrabytes as the standard for a hard drive. And even in the past 10 years, our technology capability has grown exponentially, and what seemed like a dream is now reality.
Given the advances that we have discovered experimentally to create virtually unbreakable materials, the near future has endless opertunities, towards discoveries and advances for mankind.
Making Stuff: Smarter
Q: Nanotechnology has improved the lives of millions currently, and is avidly being studied in the Medical Derpartment, to cure diseases such as Cancer. What are some applications for these "Nano-Robots" outside of the Medical Field?
A: Just as the Stained Glass Windows in Cathedrals had use of primative Nanotechnology for the windows, Nanotechnology isn't something New to us. We've been around it many times, wether we can notice it or not. Over the past few decades, NanoTechnology helped us to "Unravel" the DNA Code, and aided in the discovery of new Medicines, like "Taxol" (An anti-cancer Drug) from the Pacific Yew Tree, and helped to find many cures for diseases, such as the F-26 Fat Strand used to help cure ALD (Adreno Leuko Dystrophy).
Already, nanotechnology is used on a very interesting scale. We are able to decode and discover the elemental percentages that make up things. Even centuries ago, the Microscope led to the discoevery of "Animalacules", and microbiology has since flourished. Today, we are able to build things much smaller than previously thought. Within 40 years of ENIAC, the first computer ever created, the size was reduced from a large building, to a small "Home Computer". And 30 years after that, we are able to create small computers, that can fit in our pockets.
The applications used with nanotechnology, and miniturization has flourished since the 1970's, and the future will hold endless oppertunities, for the application of nanotechnology, microbiology, and miniturization.
Making Stuff: Cleaner
Q: With mutliple alternative energy options out there, how long will it take to be independent from Petrollium?
A: During the 1970's, the use of Freon, a coolant/refridgerant in cars, was almost global. When it was discovered that it was bad for the enviroment, the EPA Ordered for cars to use an alternative coolant besides Freon. HOWEVER, it is still in use in some cars, 40 years later. The same will go with petrolium, much longer after we find alternative uses for Petrolium, and petrollium isn't used anymore. This has happened many times in History, such as with Kerosine, a lesser-refined form of Gasoline, that is now only used as a lamp oil, in comparrison to it being a heat source. Now, we only use butane in our lighters, and propane for fires. Many alternative solutions have become avaliable, although we'll be dependent on Petrollium for some time.
However, we already do have multiple sources of energy, besides solar, wind, petrollium, and other fossil fuels. Hydrogen use in cars has been in progress since the early 2000's, and platinum fuel cells have done Electrolysis (Breaking down Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen) and Hydrolosys (Turning Hydrogen and Oxygen into Water) mutliple times to gain electron charges, with very little energy cost. Lithium provides a very good charge, and only requires a little energy to keep it going. All of the options that are avaliable will one day surpass petrollium itself, as they become dominant sources of Energy and Electricity.
Making Stuff: Smarter
Q: Will a technology superior society be better for us, or not?
A: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction force" - Issac Newton
Albeit a strange question, there are some interesting sides to it. We have experimentally created devices, that can prevent Microwave Waves from detection, it will only be a matter of time, for visible light waves (300-700 nm) to avoid detection. While a cloaking device has military uses, it could potentially be bad for society. It could be used on both sides; for example, people could potentially hide weapons with technology like this, but on the same scale, we can find it.
Yet everything has it's reprocussions. Medicine, although it can cause cancer, can have side-effects, which could potentially be a risk for new diseases. Everything takes risks while being invented; even though it is developed for the benefit of mankind, it can be used to attack the very thing that it protected. Throughout history, multiple inventions's use today is completely different then what it was origionally developed for. Gunpowder was considered to be a medicine and aphrodesiac, not a principle weapon in modern war. Rockets were developed by the Chinese as a "fear tactic" against the Mongolian Armies.
With the advances of technology, we assume and take responsibility for the posibilities of these incidents. Although they might different then what we expect, or not occur at all, a technology superior society won't be as benificial as it seems on the surface.
- 4/4 "Making Stuff" Videos Watched.
Making Stuff: Stronger
Q: Over the past few decades, multiple improvements have benifited the world, from new discoveries, to genetic research. At our current rate, what can we expect in the future?
A: Around 150 years ago, the Bezheimer Process allowed for the first 'Industrial-Scale' production of Steel. Until that moment, the usage of steel as a building material seemed preposterous, when given today's society, we see steel in use everywhere in the world. Given the advanced properties of Kevlar and Steel alone, it is remarkable on how something that was discovered a long time ago (Kevlar being the recent, and one of the main exceptions) is only practical on large scales. Although we have the advancements of Nanocarbon, and on a similar page, "Bukkeyballs (A Pure-Carbon mineral, that resembles the shape of a "Soccer Ball", and is magnetic)", we can only use them in an experimental stage, until we are able to use it in mass-production, to benefit Mankind.
Already though, advancements are occuring at a remarkable rate. Thirty Years Ago, the Apple Macintosh brought the dream of "Home Computers" to life. Computers back in the 60's and 70's had little computing power, compared to what our Computers Have Today. Back when the first computer had 12 Killobytes of memory, with many now using Terrabytes as the standard for a hard drive. And even in the past 10 years, our technology capability has grown exponentially, and what seemed like a dream is now reality.
Given the advances that we have discovered experimentally to create virtually unbreakable materials, the near future has endless opertunities, towards discoveries and advances for mankind.
Making Stuff: Smarter
Q: Nanotechnology has improved the lives of millions currently, and is avidly being studied in the Medical Derpartment, to cure diseases such as Cancer. What are some applications for these "Nano-Robots" outside of the Medical Field?
A: Just as the Stained Glass Windows in Cathedrals had use of primative Nanotechnology for the windows, Nanotechnology isn't something New to us. We've been around it many times, wether we can notice it or not. Over the past few decades, NanoTechnology helped us to "Unravel" the DNA Code, and aided in the discovery of new Medicines, like "Taxol" (An anti-cancer Drug) from the Pacific Yew Tree, and helped to find many cures for diseases, such as the F-26 Fat Strand used to help cure ALD (Adreno Leuko Dystrophy).
Already, nanotechnology is used on a very interesting scale. We are able to decode and discover the elemental percentages that make up things. Even centuries ago, the Microscope led to the discoevery of "Animalacules", and microbiology has since flourished. Today, we are able to build things much smaller than previously thought. Within 40 years of ENIAC, the first computer ever created, the size was reduced from a large building, to a small "Home Computer". And 30 years after that, we are able to create small computers, that can fit in our pockets.
The applications used with nanotechnology, and miniturization has flourished since the 1970's, and the future will hold endless oppertunities, for the application of nanotechnology, microbiology, and miniturization.
Making Stuff: Cleaner
Q: With mutliple alternative energy options out there, how long will it take to be independent from Petrollium?
A: During the 1970's, the use of Freon, a coolant/refridgerant in cars, was almost global. When it was discovered that it was bad for the enviroment, the EPA Ordered for cars to use an alternative coolant besides Freon. HOWEVER, it is still in use in some cars, 40 years later. The same will go with petrolium, much longer after we find alternative uses for Petrolium, and petrollium isn't used anymore. This has happened many times in History, such as with Kerosine, a lesser-refined form of Gasoline, that is now only used as a lamp oil, in comparrison to it being a heat source. Now, we only use butane in our lighters, and propane for fires. Many alternative solutions have become avaliable, although we'll be dependent on Petrollium for some time.
However, we already do have multiple sources of energy, besides solar, wind, petrollium, and other fossil fuels. Hydrogen use in cars has been in progress since the early 2000's, and platinum fuel cells have done Electrolysis (Breaking down Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen) and Hydrolosys (Turning Hydrogen and Oxygen into Water) mutliple times to gain electron charges, with very little energy cost. Lithium provides a very good charge, and only requires a little energy to keep it going. All of the options that are avaliable will one day surpass petrollium itself, as they become dominant sources of Energy and Electricity.
Making Stuff: Smarter
Q: Will a technology superior society be better for us, or not?
A: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction force" - Issac Newton
Albeit a strange question, there are some interesting sides to it. We have experimentally created devices, that can prevent Microwave Waves from detection, it will only be a matter of time, for visible light waves (300-700 nm) to avoid detection. While a cloaking device has military uses, it could potentially be bad for society. It could be used on both sides; for example, people could potentially hide weapons with technology like this, but on the same scale, we can find it.
Yet everything has it's reprocussions. Medicine, although it can cause cancer, can have side-effects, which could potentially be a risk for new diseases. Everything takes risks while being invented; even though it is developed for the benefit of mankind, it can be used to attack the very thing that it protected. Throughout history, multiple inventions's use today is completely different then what it was origionally developed for. Gunpowder was considered to be a medicine and aphrodesiac, not a principle weapon in modern war. Rockets were developed by the Chinese as a "fear tactic" against the Mongolian Armies.
With the advances of technology, we assume and take responsibility for the posibilities of these incidents. Although they might different then what we expect, or not occur at all, a technology superior society won't be as benificial as it seems on the surface.
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