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Category: habitats – Page 42

In Space-Mengtian Lab Module/Astronauts

In space — Recent (China Manned Space Agency — No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of Shenzhou-14 astronaut Cai Xuzhe unpacking packages 2. Various of Shenzhou-14 crew checking facilities, opening boxes and inspecting equipment 3. Shenzhou-14 crew installing and trying out microgravity resistance exercise device 4. Shenzhou-14 astronaut Liu Yang exercising with microgravity resistance exercise device.

The Shenzhou-14 astronauts have completed several missions over the last two weeks, including the installation of equipment in the work area of the Mengtian lab module which they entered for the first time on Nov. 3. Among the scientific and basic living equipment, the astronauts have also set up a small home gym to help them stay fit. The crew members-Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe can now keep fit in the lab with a special microgravity resistance exercise device similar to a rowing machine with which astronauts can do squats, heel lifts, hard pulls, rowing and shoulder exercise. Resistance exercise is especially important for astronauts living in zero gravity conditions which can rapidly reduce muscle mass and bone density.

On Sunday, the trio entered the Tianzhou-5 cargo craft to fetch supplies for the Tiangong space station.

UMaine unveils first 3D-printed home in a bid to mass-produce affordable housing

Researchers at the University of Maine on Monday unveiled what they say is a promising, climate-friendly response to the nation’s affordable housing crisis: the world’s first, bio-based 3D printed home.

University, state and federal officials joined Maine Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 600-square-foot-home.

The home is made entirely from a wood-based material, which University of Maine researchers say is an inexpensive, renewable and recyclable building option.

Making Cosmic Magnets on Earth

Greer and Ivanov agree that existing, albeit limited, data on tetrataenite’s magnetic properties suggest that it may not match high-performance neodymium-based magnets. But the researchers maintain that optimization of the tetrataenite casting process could improve its magnetic properties and thus make it a worthwhile option. “It is good to have a wider range of permanent magnet materials, because that allows better balancing of such factors as magnetic performance and environmental impact,” Greer says. “A one-for-one swap with rare-earth magnets is not necessarily the goal.”

For now, the team has demonstrated how to make a piece of tetrataenite, but they say that future work will focus on how to consolidate many pieces into a bulk magnet. “The analogy here would be that we have shown we can make a brick—a piece of tetrataenite—but not yet a house—a magnet,” Greer says.

Beyond materials science, the researchers hint that this work may even impact astrophysics research as scientists reconsider how long it takes for tetrataenite to develop in a meteorite and how fast the cooling rate is in that space environment.

First ever 100 percent bio-based 3D-printed home unveiled

The new type of home could address housing shortages.

On Monday, the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) unveiled the first 3D-printed house made entirely out of bio-based materials called BioHome3D, according to a press release by the institution.

Fully recyclable and highly insulated

The new structure consists of a 600-square-foot prototype featuring 3D-printed floors and walls as well as a roof made of wood fibers and bio-resins. The house is fully recyclable and highly insulated and its development produced a limited amount of waste due to the precision of the printing process.

Scientists Created an Artificial Neuron That Actually Retains Electronic Memories

The human brain is incredible.

Despite consuming the equivalent of just two bananas per day, this doesn’t stop it from executing unconscionably complex tasks with impressive efficiency. But a team of researchers has designed a way to build a prototype of an artificial neuron made of unbelievably thin graphene slits housing a single layer of water molecules, according to a new study published in the journal Science.

The world’s tallest residential tower in Dubai will have a crown of diamonds

Award-winning UAE property developer Binghatti has joined forces with luxury jewelry and watch brand Jacob & Co to introduce the tallest residential tower in the world, as reported by Design Boom.

Burj Binghatti.

In addition, the interior design of the homes will feature details provided by the global brand itself in its unforgettable and incomparable signature style. The structure will also host a few luxury amenities including an infinity pool overlooking downtown Dubai, a gymnasium and a spa with bespoke services.

Mirror Earth: the best bets for planets that are like Earth but not Earth

As far as we know, our home planet is the only one that harbors life. But, as many scientists believe, there are likely countless other planets out there with conditions “just right” to allow life to develop and thrive.

If this is true, these planets could, conceivably, provide additional potential homes ripe for colonization by our species. Of course, we’d need to develop long-range spaceships to get there — and make sure they were not already inhabited.

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