Sunspot dynamics are reflected in human physiology and pathophysiology

Periodic episodes of increased sunspot activity (solar electromagnetic storms) occur with 10-11 and 5-6 year periodicities and may be associated with measurable biological events. We investigated whether this sunspot periodicity characterized the incidence of Pap smear-determined cervical epithelial histopathologies and human physiologic functions. From January 1983 through December 2003, monthly averages were obtained for solar flux and sunspot numbers; six infectious, premalignant and malignant changes in the cervical epithelium from 1,182,421 consecutive, serially independent, screening Pap smears (59°9″N, 4°29″E); and six human physiologic functions of a healthy man (oral temperature, pulse, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiration, and peak expiratory flow), which were measured ～5 times daily during ～34,500 self-measurement sessions (44°56″N, 93°8″W). After determining that sunspot numbers and solar flux, which were not annually rhythmic, occurred with a prominent 10-year and a less-prominent 5.75-year periodicity during this 21-year study span, each biological data set was analyzed with the same curve-fitting procedures. All six annually rhythmic Pap smear-detected infectious, premalignant and malignant cervical epithelial pathologies showed strong 10-year and weaker 5.75-year cycles, as did all six self-measured, annually rhythmic, physiologic functions. The phases (maxima) for the six histopathologic findings and five of six physiologic measurements were very near, or within, the first two quarters following the 10-year solar maxima. These findings add to the growing evidence that solar magnetic storm periodicities are mirrored by cyclic phase-locked rhythms of similar period length or lengths in human physiology and pathophysiology.     

Space theme parks: Promoting space to the public

China's advances in space include plans for a state-of-the-art space theme park, based on a new launch center, which promises to show up the outdated and ‘user unfriendly’ public visitor centers at most US space sites. Yet providing better public outreach in the form of theme parks would both inspire large numbers of the general population and provide a useful source of revenue. NASA should show more imagination in the exhibits and facilities it present to the public; it could use various science museums and Hollywood as models.     

Entrapment of bacteria in fluid inclusions in laboratory-grown halite

Cells of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were genetically modified to produce green fluorescent protein, were entrapped in fluid inclusions in laboratory-grown halite. The bacteria were used to inoculate NaCl-saturated aqueous solutions, which were allowed to evaporate and precipitate halite. The number, size, and distribution of fluid inclusions were highly variable, but did not appear to be affected by the presence of the bacteria. Many of the inclusions in crystals from inoculated solutions contained cells in populations ranging from two to 20. Microbial attachment to crystal surfaces was neither evident nor necessary for entrapment. Cells occurred exclusively within fluid inclusions and were not present in the crystal matrix. In both the inclusions and the hypersaline solution, the cells fluoresced and twitched, which indicates that the bacteria might have remained viable after entrapment. The fluorescence continued up to 13 months after entrapment, which indicates that little degradation of the bacteria occurred over that time interval. The entrapment, fluorescence, and preservation of cells were independent of the volume of hypersaline solution used or whether the solutions were completely evaporated prior to crystal extraction. The results of this study have a wide range of implications for the long-term survival of microorganisms in fluid inclusions and their detection through petrography. The results also demonstrate the preservation potential for microbes in hypersaline fluid inclusions, which could allow cells to survive harsh conditions of space, the deep geologic past, or burial in sedimentary basins.     

Planetary Radiation Budgets

The energy state of a planet depends fundamentally on its radiation budget. Measurements made from space over past decades have led to significant revisions of ground-based estimates, both of the reflected fraction (the Bond albedo) of solar radiative flux and of the emitted thermal infrared radiation flux, for the Earth as well as for the other planets. After a brief survey of methods and difficulties in accurately determining planetary radiation budgets, we note contradictions in existing tabulations of global parameters, in particular Bond albedo. For the Earth, such contradictions are unjustified, considering that global and annual means as well as the seasonal cycle of Earth Radiation Budget components have now been determined with high accuracy. The Earth's Bond albedo is close to 0.3. Net storage of energy in the Earth-ocean system is close to zero, with a well-established annual cycle of amplitude close to ±12 Wm⁻². Some contradictions remain for the other terrestrial planets. For the giant planets, modern reduced values of the Bond albedo imply reduced but still significant internal energy generation.     

CASH 2021: commercial access and space habitation

Issues about commercialization of space have been a growing concern in the past decade for the space community. This paper focuses on the work from a team of 51 students attending the Summer Session Program of the International Space University in Bremen, Germany. CASH 2021 (Commercial Access and Space Habitation) documents a plan that identifies commercial opportunities for space utilization that will extend human presence in space, and will chart the way forward for the next 20 years. The group selected four commercial sectors that show the most promise for the future: tourism, entertainment, space system service, assembly and debris removal, and research and development/production. The content of this document presents the results of their research. Historical activities in each of the commercial sectors are reviewed along with the current market situation. To provide a coherent background for future commercialization possibilities a scenario has been developed. This scenario includes a postulated upon ideal future and includes social, political and economic factors that may affect the space industry over the timeline of the study. The study also presents a roadmap, within the limited optimistic scenario developed, for the successful commercialization of space leading to future human presence in space. A broad range of commercially viable opportunities, not only within the current limits of the International Space Station, but also among the many new developments that are expected by 2021 are discussed.     

Use of Optical Characteristics to Identify Orbiting Material

Knowledge of the observable properties of orbital debris is necessary to validate debris models for both the low Earth orbit (LEO) and the geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). Current methods determine the size and mass of orbital debris based on knowledge or assumption of the material type of the piece. Improvement in the knowledge of material is the goal of the research described herein. The process of using spectral absorption features to determine the material type is explored. A review of the optical measurements of orbital debris as well as current research in the area is discussed. Reflectances of common spacecraft materials are compared. The need for, and advances made possible by obtaining real data are explored. The prospects of the venture are investigated.     

How Galactic Cosmic Ray models affect the estimation of radiation exposure in space

The radiation environment in space is a major concern for human spaceflight because of the adverse effects of high levels of radiation on astronauts’ health. Therefore, it is essential to perform radiation risk assessments already during the concept studies of a manned mission. Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) have been identified to be one of the primary sources of radiation exposure in space.     

Modeling of Venus, Mars, and Titan

Increased computer capacity has made it possible to model the global plasma and neutral dynamics near Venus, Mars and Saturn??s moon Titan. The plasma interactions at Venus, Mars, and Titan are similar because each possess a substantial atmosphere but lacks a global internally generated magnetic field. In this article three self-consistent plasma models are described: the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model, the hybrid model and the fully kinetic plasma model. Chamberlain and Monte Carlo models of the Martian exosphere are also described. In particular, we describe the pros and cons of each model approach. Results from simulations are presented to demonstrate the ability of the models to capture the known plasma and neutral dynamics near the three objects.     

Doppler Radar for Impact Drag Measurements

A Doppler radar tracking system has been used successfully to measure impact drag coefficients for several water-entry configurations. Hemisphere-cylinder and cone-cylinder models were launched vertically into a tank of water at velocities between 100 and 200 feet per second. These launchings were evaluation tests for a system to be used in a new facility at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory?the Hydroballistics Tank. Planned launchings in that facility will be at velocities up to 3000 feet per second. Knowledge of the drag coefficient profile (CD versus depth of penetration) is important in the design of high-velocity water-entry weapons.     

Statistically Optimum Optical Data Processing with Automatic Focus Estimation

The problem of optimally processing data with unknown focus is investigated. Optimum data processors are found by the method of maximum likelihood under a variety of assumptions that apply to most of the situations arising in practice. The unknown focus may be either an unknown parameter or an unknown random variable; the signal may be of known form or a random function; it is further assumed that the signal is received in additive, white, Gaussian noise. The problems of jointly estimating other unknown parameters and, in the case of a random signal, jointly estimating the signal, are also treated. The asymptotic variance and correlation of the estimators is discussed. Electrooptical realizations of the maximum likelihood computers are given. An iterative method of solution of the likelihood equation is also discussed. The discussion and results are directly applicable to the processing of synthetic aperture radar data.