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- Fungi McMuffin | SpaceX 10x | Pig <3 - The Convo Kit #31
Fungi McMuffin | SpaceX 10x | Pig <3 - The Convo Kit #31
What would you do if aliens told you they were coming to Earth? To prepare, I just started the 2nd book in the Three Body Problem trilogy.
For all things actually happening in space, check out The Space Roundup. A free weekly newsletter covering the latest in human spaceflight. I especially enjoy the Webb updates and awesome space pics.
-Steve
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Fungi McMuffin
Future breakfast may come with a side of fungi. Scientists in Finland generated a foamy egg-white substitute by genetically altering fungus to create ovalbumin.
Ovalbumin = over half the protein in egg-whites
Uses ~90% less land than egg farming
Generates 31-55% less greenhouse gas
Scientists inserted the ovalbumin producing gene from chickens into Trichoderma reesei fungus. The secreted fungus protein is then dried into a powder consistent with egg-white powder. Future studies will try to emulate the calorie-burning struggle of removing the yoke yourself.
SpaceX 10x
Falcon 9 rocket “1058” has now completed 10 launches…and landings. The SpaceX rocket sent 105 satellites into orbit on Thursday before touching down to earth 9 minutes later.
Third Falcon 9 to reach 10 total launches
1058 has launched 550 satellites in its lifetime
Cargo Dragon and Crew Dragon previously flew 1058 en route to the ISS
Reusable rocket boosters dramatically reduce the cost of sending things to space and SpaceX is only getting more efficient with time. 1058 reached the 10 flight milestone 205 days quicker than its predecessor, requiring only ~2 months between flights.
Pig <3
Surgeons successfully transplanted a pig heart to a living person. This is the third successful xenotransplantation from genetically modified pigs, the first involving a living patient.
Xenotransplantation = animal to human transplant
Genetically edited pigs are missing alpha gal, a toxic (to humans) sugar molecule
Over 6,000 patients die each year waiting for an organ transplant
Emergency FDA authorization was required for the patient deemed unsuitable for a conventional transplant. It’s a bit ironic to live with the heart from an animal whose other parts will clog your arteries. I’d be ok with an artificial one from TCK #25 and letting Wilbur live his best life.
Drone Amphibuddies
Transitioning from flying to swimming is tough, something we have in common with drones. Sea-Air Integrated Drone System’s new amphibious approach is changing that…for drones, keep flapping!
Prodrone’s all-weather drone carries a small cage while flying
Qysea’s Fifish Pro V6 happily sits in that cage
Pilots see through cameras on both devices
Buoyed legs support a water landing where Fifish is released to explore. A communications cable keeps the amphibuddies in touch until it’s time to go home. If a future in animated movies doesn’t work out, the duo will assist in offshore maintenance and inspection.
Deep Sea Battery
Ocean Grazer’s Ocean Battery stores renewable energy for a cloudy/windless day. Offshore renewable systems are great at generating energy, but can’t store excess production.
Seafloor installation enables close proximity to offshore generators
Operable for over 20 years
Each battery can store up to 10 MWh of energy
Ocean Battery cleverly uses excess energy to pump fresh water from a low pressure reservoir to a flexible bladder. When needed, water flows back to the reservoir through a turbine to generate energy. If only I could do this with my air-mattress foot-pump.
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