To the Stars with Data: October 3 2021
VERY big stars, 'neuro rights' law, tackling space debris with batteries, and my new [very adorable] dog!
Hello Datanauts!
This week, I found an awesome viz that helps you appreciate just how large things are in the universe. I also discuss laws on the cutting edge of technology and an interesting idea on how to address the space debris problem.
Let’s go to the stars with data!
P.S. I got a dog! He’s adorable. I included a picture somewhere in this email for your viewing pleasure.
Thought-Provoking Data Viz
🌟 The size of Stephenson 2-18
Quick hits. This video shows a size comparison between our Sun and Stephenson 2-18, which may be among the largest stars we know of. Stephenson 2-18 is HUGE, measuring ~2,150 Suns wide, around the size of Saturn’s orbit.
Digging deeper. Light moves really fast, nearly 300,000 kilometers per second. If Stephenson 2-18 were empty space, it would take over 2.5 hours for light to travel from one side to another. That’s how huge this star is. If you’re curious, Wikipedia has a list of the largest known stars. And if you want to get a sense of how large Saturn’s orbit is, check out this viz: If the Moon Were Only One Pixel. (Get your scrolling finger ready!)
Earth News
⚡ England might be first country to require new homes to include EV chargers
Quick hits. English legislators recently introduced legislation that requires all new homes to provide EV chargers. The legislation also requires new office blocks to install an EV charger for every 5 parking spaces. If the legislation passes, it will go into effect in 2022 and England will be the first country in the world to require EV chargers in new homes.
Digging deeper. England tried to pass similar legislation in 2019, but it did not pass. As Elektrec notes, many English drivers don’t have off-street parking or garages available, so this will likely help drivers overcome the range anxiety that comes with EVs. Personally, I find hope in seeing laws enacted that enable drivers with an EV-focused infrastructure.
🧠 Chile passes 'neuro rights' law, to be signed by President
Quick hits. Chile’s law-making body has successfully passed ‘neuro rights’ legislation that will now only require the President’s signature to become law. Chile’s Chamber of Deputies said that the law “establishes that scientific and technological development must be at the service of people and that it will be carried out with respect for life and physical and mental integrity.”
Digging deeper. Specifically, the law aims to guard the human mind's neurodata, limit the technological ability to read and write into human brains, ensure equitable distribution of such technologies, and set limits on neuro algorithms. Considering that brain-computer interface technology is already being successfully tested in labs (and being built by private companies), this legislation is more important than you may think. But without the wide adoption of similar legislation across the world, it may not have a huge impact.
Space News
🚀 Blue Origin announces next customers to fly on New Shepard’s upcoming human flight on October 12
Quick hits. Blue Origin’s next flight will take place on October 12 and will carry actor William Shatner (well-known for his role as Captain T. Kirk on Star Trek), Chris Boshuizen (a former NASA engineer and co-founder of Planet Labs), Audrey Powers (Blue Origin’s Vice President of Mission & Flight Operations), and Glen de Vries (Vice-Chair, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Dassault Systèmes and co-founder, Medidata).
Digging deeper. It’s strange—yet riveting—that we are almost at the point of private space launches becoming commonplace. As exciting as this news is, I’m disappointed in Blue Origin for its bad sportsmanship among its competitors and poor working conditions. If you’re interested in taking a flight with Blue Origin, you can book your flight on their website (notice how they don’t mention a price 😉).
🔋 A novel idea for addressing the space debris problem
Quick hits. To tackle the space debris problem, researchers developed a method of harnessing the flammability of lithium-ion batteries as thrust to provide propulsion and deorbit old satellites. As noted by a researcher, “Everybody knows about lithium-ion batteries and their risk to go into thermal runaway and spew fire, the Lithium-ion Battery Deorbiter is turning that weakness into a strength.”
Digging deeper. Consider this a follow-up to last week’s issue, where I discussed Steve Wozniak launching a space startup to address the space debris problem. The problem can be [mostly] summarized by one question: how do you capture/destroy thousands to millions of things flying around the Earth at 18,000 miles per hour?
Future-Thinking Companies
🍣 Aqua Cultured Foods. They produce realistic seafood through the fermentation of fungi. The “seafood” often exceeds the nutritional profile of fish from the ocean.
🚜 Advanced Farm Technologies. They make autonomous robots that harvest crops. See the video below of one of their robots harvesting strawberries… at night!
As promised…
Here’s Hamilton (and me). Isn’t he just the cutest thing?!