We could live in asteroid megacities

Plus: We can now 3D print as much wood as we want, without cutting a single tree. Dec 21, 2022 [Blueprint]( Brace yourself, this is wild. (Their words, not mine.) In what the authors have described as a “wildly theoretical paper,” [we could live in asteroid megacities the size of Manhattan one day](. Sounds pretty crazy, sure, but it’s based on solid research. It’s a twist on the “O'Neill cylinder,” which was devised by physicist Gerard O’Neill in 1972, after NASA commissioned him to design a space habitat that could allow humans to live in space. But before you arrange a meeting with your estate agent to talk asteroid property prices, meet this guy. [This video]( introduces MARVEL, the quadrupedal robot that can climb walls and ceilings. Like Spider Pig, but even better. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. [How ISS’s new AI-powered program will help real-time monitoring of the climate crisis.]( [premium] A Vancouver-based software company has created a platform based on real-time AI analysis of hyperspectral satellite imagery. It enables the platform to anticipate potential forest fires and designate high-risk areas. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Meet MARVEL, the quadrupedal robot that can climb walls and ceilings.]( [Meet MARVEL, the quadrupedal robot that can climb walls and ceilings.]( It is quite MARVELlous, to be fair. [Must Read]MUST READ [Humans could live in Manhattan-sized asteroid megacities one day.]( [Humans could live in Manhattan-sized asteroid megacities one day.]( A “wildly theoretical paper” (their words, not mine) has outlined [how we could use asteroids as massive city-sized space habitats in the future](. The theory in question involves a large, spinning asteroid and an enormous mesh bag made of carbon nanofibers. …Maybe they had a point with the wild element. It’s a twist on the “O'Neill cylinder,” which was devised by physicist Gerard O’Neill in 1972, after NASA commissioned him to design a space habitat that could allow humans to live in space. The O'Neill cylinder is a spinning habitat made up of two cylinders that rotate in opposite directions, and are connected by a rod. They spin just fast enough to create artificial gravity but not so fast as to induce motion sickness. → Science fiction enthusiasts might have read about a similar concept recently, which was used for the titular spacecraft in The Martian author Andy Weir's latest novel, Project Hail Mary. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [We can now 3D print as much wood as we want, without cutting a single tree.]( We’ve already wiped out 54 percent of the total tree population on Earth – and uncontrolled deforestation is one of the main causes of frequent heat waves, droughts, and tsunamis. But what alternative do we have to cutting down trees? Well, since you ask, a groundbreaking study has looked into the possibility of creating the [world’s first 3D-printed lab-grown wood](. In fact, the team in question demonstrated that deforestation is now no longer necessary to produce timber. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [HEALTH]HEALTH [Metformin could lower the risk of joint replacement in type 2 diabetes patients.]( A collaborative study conducted has found that [metformin use in patients with type 2 diabetes could reduce the risk of joint replacement]( resulting from “osteoarthritis.” Currently, there isn’t a drug that can stop or reverse osteoarthritis. So the research team wanted to find out if metformin usage could decrease the risk of it developing. During the clinical trial, researchers compared the results of those treated with metformin and those not given the drug and found that daily use of metformin lowers the risk by up to 30 percent. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [How one small European country could hold the key to energy self-sufficiency.]( On October 19, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU had replaced two-thirds of its Russian gas imports since February by switching to other suppliers. Despite the EU’s reduction of its energy dependence on Russia, there is work to be done in the long term. To achieve autonomy from Russian energy, [the Union could learn from the experience of one of its members, Lithuania]( – a country which, since declaring its independence from the USSR in 1990, has been able to adapt to a complex geopolitical context to ensure its energy security. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS Humans could live in Manhattan-sized asteroid megacities one day. Would you consider living in a Manhattan-sized megacity? [Yes, it would be an adventure]( [I’d think about it, if it was safe]( [Not even if Matt Damon lived there]( [I am unsure either way]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you how long you think it will take for the new wind turbine cleaning tech to become commercially available, and 48 percent of you said a year or so, while a further 40 percent of you thought it would be within a decade. 48% A year or so 40% Within a decade 6% Hopefully in our lifetimes 6% It won't [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “It's much more likely that an asteroid will strike the Earth and annihilate life as we know it than AI will turn evil.” Oren Etzioni, American entrepreneur, Professor Emeritus of computer science, and founding CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. [9 best USB microphones to sing and croon with.]( [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [CLOKOWE WiFi Mini Projector]( [image]( [East Oak Outdoor Patio Heater]( [image]( [Broan NuTone Under Cabinet Range Hood]( [image]( [Manor Park Electric Fireplace TV Stand]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - [9 helpful SQL tips]( to create and maintain a top-notch database. [premium] - [Mysterious ichthyosaur graveyard]( may have been a breeding ground. (Science News) - How a thin-coated film could [upgrade photosynthesis and feed 9 billion people.]( [premium] - This [Venom-like magnetic slime robot]( was a big hit in 2022. (New Scientist) - This chip could massively [increase autonomous car computing power]( and save energy. [premium] - [The psychology of grief]( Why losing a pet dog or cat is like losing a family member. (BBC) - Californian company [modifies Tesla Cybertuck]( as a cool camper. [Subscribe to IE+ today.]( Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. 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