Teens Create Ultrasound Waves Device to Remove Microplastics

Daily Upsider on August 23, 2024

Two high school students have developed a novel water filtration device that uses sound waves to remove microplastics from water. The device, which leverages high-frequency acoustic waves to trap up to 94% of microplastic particles in a single pass, has shown promise in lab tests. The students are now using prize money from a prestigious award to scale up their invention.

Microplastics are pervasive, found in the atmosphere, on Mount Everest, and in the deepest parts of the ocean. They have also been detected in various human organs. Their ability to effect human hormone production and health is a very real concern. Addressing this widespread contamination is challenging, but Justin Huang and Victoria Ou from Woodlands, Texas, may have found a solution.

Their device, no larger than a pen, uses ultrasonic sound waves to push microplastics away from the water’s exit point. This method improves on previous designs that used ultrasonic waves to address microplastics in wastewater and drinking water.

After receiving the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations and first place in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, Huang and Ou plan to refine their technology. They hope to enhance it with professional equipment and prepare it for large-scale production.

During their research, they discovered that wastewater treatment plants lack effective microplastic regulation due to cost and regulatory gaps. Huang and Ou envision their technology being used in wastewater treatment plants, industrial textile facilities, rural water sources, laundry machines, and even fish tanks.

10,000 Year-old Monolithic Complex

Daily Upsider on August 22, 2024

The discovery of Göbekli Tepe in southern Turkey challenges everything we previously knew about early human civilizations. This massive, monolithic site, with over 90% still unexcavated, dates back over 10,000 years.

Göbekli Tepe is a significant archaeological mystery, comparable to the pyramids. Recent studies of the symbols on its pillars suggest that the site might record an astronomical event that marked a major shift in human civilization. Researchers believe the symbols could represent an early solar calendar, used to track time and seasonal changes. The V-shaped symbols might denote individual days, with a pillar showing a calendar of 365 days, 12 lunar months, and 11 extra days. Notably, the summer solstice is marked by a V on a bird-like figure, possibly depicting a constellation from that era. Nearby statues with similar markings could represent deities.

The carvings might represent the world’s earliest lunisolar calendar, predating other known calendars by millennia. Göbekli Tepe also presents evidence that ancient people recorded a comet strike around 13,000 years ago (11,600 BCE), which could have triggered the end of the Ice Age, sea level rises, and shifts in agriculture leading to early civilization.

The discovery also supports the theory that Earth faces increased comet strike risks when crossing the paths of comet fragments, which we see as meteor streams. Dr. Martin Sweatman from the University of Edinburgh, who led the research, noted that Göbekli Tepe’s inhabitants were keen sky observers, likely due to the impact of the comet strike on their world.

Dessert Turned Medicine?

Daily Upsider on August 22, 2024

A recent study found that adding honey to yogurt helps the beneficial bacteria in yogurt survive longer in the GI tract. This finding supports the ancient Greek recognition of honey as a medicinal food, valued for over 2,000 years.

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, bacteria found in yogurt, are crucial for a healthy gut microbiome and can enhance bowel function throughout digestion. The study highlights that up to 25% of Americans experience unsatisfactory bowel function, indicating significant digestive issues for many.

The study compared yogurt with honey to yogurt with sugar over two 2-week periods. Although the study didn’t achieve all its goals, it did show that yogurt with honey increased Bifidobacterium animalis levels in participants’ stools. The authors suggest future research should include individuals with specific digestive issues like constipation or IBS.

Chris Kresser, co-founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, noted that while the study’s outcomes were mixed, honey’s health benefits are well-documented.

Apple Finally Capitulates

Daily Upsider on August 21, 2024

After extensive negotiations earlier this year, Spotify just announced that it has received approval from Apple to display pricing information in its iOS app for users in the EU. This move is not part of Apple’s new business rules under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, but rather a result of new antitrust regulations specifically targeting music streaming apps imposed by the EU.

Apple typically takes a 30% commission on subscriptions and in-app purchases made through apps distributed via its platform.

Spotify, like many other companies, has criticized this fee structure, arguing that it is anti-competitive. Spotify contends that Apple’s commission forces them to either raise prices for consumers subscribing through the App Store or absorb the cost themselves. Apple also took measures to block Spotify’s ability to display their normal pricing info.

Back in March, Apple was fined €1.84 billion (nearly $2 billion USD) by European regulators for violating antitrust rules. Spotify and Apple have also clashed over a Spotify app update that would allow the company to share pricing details with EU users.

Now, Apple has approved Spotify’s decision to opt into the music streaming entitlement, and the updated language is live in the Spotify app. This allows Spotify to display pricing for its subscriptions, digital goods, and its newer collection of audiobooks. This includes plans with audiobook streaming, as well as options for users to purchase additional listening hours or individual audiobook titles.

However, Spotify will not be able to include a direct link to its website in the app, as doing so would require paying Apple a 27% commission on those sales—something Spotify has chosen to avoid. Instead, the app will only refer users to Spotify’s website without explicitly stating the domain name or .com address. Spotify revealed that Apple even prohibited the use of “spotify.com” in text, even when not hyperlinked, to circumvent the commission fees.

To coincide with the launch of this pricing information, Spotify will run a promotion in the EU encouraging users to upgrade their subscription plans through its website—a practice it has long been able to do on Android without any issues.

Quantum Computer Power

Daily Upsider on August 21, 2024

Quantum computers may still be years away from being powerful enough to perform useful tasks, but it’s becoming increasingly likely that fully functional, error-corrected quantum computers will be operational within the next five to 10 years.

Quantum computers are advanced machines that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics, using quantum bits (qubits) that can exist in multiple states simultaneously, allowing them to process complex computations far more efficiently than classical computers. This capability enables quantum computers to solve certain problems, such as factoring large numbers or simulating molecular structures, exponentially faster than traditional computers.

This will be a major breakthrough for scientists tackling complex problems in chemistry and material science. However, it also poses a significant threat to current encryption methods, such as the RSA algorithm, which currently secures sensitive internet communications like online banking. While traditional computers would take decades to crack RSA encryption, quantum computers could potentially break it with ease.

This looming threat has driven the development of post-quantum cryptography algorithms. On Tuesday, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published the first set of standards for these algorithms: ML-KEM (formerly CRYSTALS-Kyber), ML-DSA (previously CRYSTALS-Dilithium), and SLH-DSA (initially submitted as SPHINCS+). For many companies, this signals that now is the time to begin implementing these new cryptographic standards.

The question of when quantum computers will be capable of breaking RSA encryption is still open to debate, but it’s increasingly accepted that this could happen between the end of this decade and 2035. Gil, a cybersecurity expert, emphasizes that businesses should start considering the implications of a world where RSA encryption is no longer secure. He warns that a patient adversary could start collecting encrypted data now, with the intention of decrypting it in the future once quantum computers become powerful enough.

Despite the urgency of the situation, Gil notes that few businesses—and perhaps even fewer government institutions—fully understand the gravity of the problem, let alone are taking steps to address it. He describes the awareness and action level as being in its infancy.

One reason for the lack of action, Gil suggests, is the absence of established standards until now, making the new NIST standards particularly significant. Additionally, the long-standing belief that quantum computing was perpetually “five years away” has led to skepticism and a tendency to delay action.

Gil acknowledges that many CISOs are aware of the threat, but they often lack the urgency to act, partly due to uncertainty about which solutions to implement and the overwhelming task of migrating from current cryptographic protocols to new ones. He warns that this transition could take decades and will be a massive challenge for institutions and society as a whole.

If you want to learn more about the subject, check out this video that dissects the issue further.