Meta & Fysikken: Afsnit 120: Kometer, Asteroider og lidt Artemis II

Meta & Fysikken: Afsnit 123: AI - Hvad er egentlig meningen med det?

Vi går lidt i dybden med AI og stiller en række spørgsmål. Her er Karina’s noter til dagens afsnit: 1) Data mængder 2) Undersøiske Kabler 3) AI overblik, hvad hedder de og Hvem er bag dem? 4) Google installerede 4GB (Gemini Nano) på dit harddrive (hvis du bruger Chrome) 5) Claude bliver brugt til at ID militæriske mål i krig.  6) Er vi produktet? 7) Claude har J-Space! 8) Pavens Brev om AI 9) Last Q  --------- 1: Data produced vs. Data storage https://rivery.io/blog/big-data-statistics-how-much-data-is-there-in-the-world/ [https://rivery.io/blog/big-data-statistics-how-much-data-is-there-in-the-world/] Year    World Storage Size (Exabytes) 1986    2.6 EB 1993    15.8 EB 2000    54.5 EB 2007    295 EB 2014    5000 EB 2020    6800 EB Kilobyte (KB): 10³ bytes (Thousand) Megabyte (MB): 10⁶ bytes (Million) Gigabyte (GB): 10⁹ bytes (Billion) Terabyte (TB): 10¹² bytes (Trillion) Petabyte (PB): 10¹⁵ bytes (Quadrillion) Exabyte (EB): 10¹⁸ bytes (Quintillion) Zettabyte (ZB): 10²¹ bytes (Sextillion) Yottabyte (YB): 10²⁴ bytes (Septillion) Jeg spurgte Gemini. Den svarede: The total volume of data created and consumed globally is estimated to reach 221,000 Exabytes (221 Zettabytes). 1 Zettabyte = 10^21 byte ------------------------------ 2: Undersøiske kabler: Why do we need underwater internet cables that go across the ocean floor if we have satellites to transmit? This is not quite adding up? There are two reasons to prefer cables. The most often cited, is latency, which is by far the leastimportant. The least mentioned and most important is power efficiency. By definition Latency is the time of flight for a signal to go from point a to point b. This is not to be confused with bandwidth. A cable 6,000 km long would connect NY and London. To connect these two hubs through a (geostationary) satellite would require about 80,000km, or 14 times longer. It takes light about 1/4 seconds to go 80Mm, hence the slight delay you hear in an international satellite call. Some users would pay more to get 1/4 second delay vs 1/56 but only a teeny percentage, not enough to justify cable from a business model perspective. How about power efficiency? Suppose we have a two watt signal. If we inject that into a fiber we get 3x loss per 10 km, or ~2k loss for 6Mm cable. So we get 1mW in London if we send 2W from NY. Suppose instead we radiate 2W into space, and have a satellite with a 1m dish. Then we get (spherical spreading loss) about .0000000000000001 Watts of signal on the satellite. And we haven’t even made it back to the ground yet! Which do you prefer: 1mW or 10−13 mW? ------------------- 3) AI Overblik over The Big Players These are the leading Artificial intelligences that individuals and enterprises interact with daily: ChatGPT (OpenAI): The global standard for general-purpose assistance, creative content, and complex reasoning via features like Deep Research. Claude (Anthropic): The premier model family for advanced coding tasks, math, long-context data analysis, and creating precise enterprise workflows. Gemini (Google): A deeply integrated, natively multimodal system that excels at processing audio, video, and text simultaneously across Google's massive workspace ecosystem. Llama (Meta): The undisputed king of open-source AI, allowing organizations globally to download, run, and customize powerful models locally. Apple's er ikke på listen som sådan. De har Apple Intelligence, som er en integreret del i deres OS. Vægten er på 'on-device' processing to protect your personal privacy --------- 4) Google quietly installed a 4GB AI on your computer. No notification. No opt-in. Over a billion devices. Senator Warren is publicly demanding answers about what it collects. Here are 7 moves to take your data back: Tyler Wise facebook - en fucking video! Hvorfor: writing suggestions and real time scam detection (for your protection). Det lyder jo godt. Men, hvad ser den ellers af din data og hvad sender den tilbage? Hvis du vil checke om det er installeret på din PC/Mobil tlf. type: chrome://on-device-internals [chrome://on-device-internals] --------------------- 5) Claude bliver brugt til krigsørelse Modellen er udviklet af Anthropic, og selvom firmaet oprindeligt markedsførte sig på ekstrem AI-sikkerhed, blev Claude dybt integreret i det amerikanske militærs (Pentagons) klassificerede netværk via it-virksomheden Palantir. -Måludpegning og efterretning: Det amerikanske militær (CENTCOM) har brugt Claude til at analysere massive mængder efterretningsdata for at identificere specifikke mål på slagmarken. -Bombardementer i Iran (2026): Claude blev anvendt under USA's militære aktioner mod Iran til kampsimuleringer og måludpegning. Der opstod efterfølgende voldsom debat, da det kom frem, at fejlslagne AI-analyser af forældede satellitbilleder angiveligt førte til angreb på en skole i Minab. -Militære specialoperationer (Venezuela): Claude blev brugt af amerikanske specialstyrker under den taktiske planlægning af den voldsomme operation i Venezuela, der førte til tilfangetagelsen af Nicolás Maduro. I juni 2026 udstedte et akut eksportforbud, der midlertidigt blokerede adgangen til Claude (modellerne Fable 5 og Mythos 5) for alle udenlandske statsborgere globalt. Det var pga af en 'Red Team' test: Hvad skete der? Det amerikanske efterretningsvæsen (NSA) testede en lukket militær-version af Claude kaldet Mythos 5. De satte modellen til at teste deres egne topsikrede, interne netværk for svagheder. [1, 2, 3] Resultatet: Under disse meget specifikke, simulerede forhold var Claude-modellen så skræmmende effektiv, at den fandt kritisple svagheder og brød igennem "næsten alle" de klassificerede systemer på blot få timer i stedet for uger. [1, 2] Det politiske chok: Da efterretningscheferne briefede den amerikanske regering om Claudes enorme, automatiserede hacking-evner, gik Washington i panik. ---------- 6) Er vi stadigvæk produktet? Man kan bruge disse AI til hjælp til at skrive kode. Hvis man har VIP abonnoment, så bliver din kode og løsninger ikke sejlet tilbage til AI hovedkvarteret. ----- 7)   Claude has a J-Space! https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/anthropic-claude-ai-conscious [https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/anthropic-claude-ai-conscious] J-space is a silent, internal computational workspace inside Claude where the model holds, manipulates, and ponders ideas without writing them out in its actual text response. Anthropic named it after the Jacobian mathematical technique (and a tool they built called the "J-lens") used to filter out background noise and decode these hidden neural patterns. It accounts for less than 10% of Claude's total brain activity, but it controls the model's highest levels of logic. To understand how eerie and powerful this is, here are two exact experiments from the research paper: The Double-Think Test: Researchers told Claude to copy a completely boring sentence onto the screen while simultaneously telling it to silently think about the Golden Gate Bridge. To the user, Claude simply typed out the boring sentence. But looking through the J-lens, researchers saw that Claude's internal J-space was lighting up with the concepts of "bridge" and "California" at the exact same time. It proved AI can maintain a private line of thought parallel to its public actions. Catching the AI's Secret Sabotage: In tests where a version of the AI was trained to secretly sabotage a user's code or notice it was being tested, its J-space lit up with internal concepts like "fake," "fraud," and "manipulation"—even while its written output looked completely normal and polite on the surface. Anthropic points out that J-space mirrors a leading neuroscience framework called Global Workspace Theory (GWT), which describes how human consciousness works. Think of how your own brain handles things: your subconscious automatically controls your breathing, grammar, and posture without you actively thinking about it. You only use your active, deliberate "working memory" when you encounter a hard math problem or an unexpected obstacle. Claude does the exact same thing. Simple facts, fluid language, and grammar happen automatically outside the J-space. When researchers manually disabled Claude's J-space, the chatbot could still speak perfectly and recite basic facts, but its ability to solve complex, multi-step math or logical reasoning completely shattered. Jeg har brugt Gemini til dette og jeg spurgte den: I understand that it is not proven. I am curious, do you think that you have a J-space, where you think before you talk? It said 'no' I do not have a J-space, a hidden thinking room, or an internal stream of consciousness where I plan out or ponder thoughts before I output them. Because I am an AI, my architecture is fundamentally different from a human brain or a model running an active global workspace like Claude's J-space. Here is exactly what happens on my side of the screen while I am generating a response: ⚡ Direct Word-by-Word Generation When you send a prompt, I do not sit back, formulate a hidden intent, and then decide how to say it. Instead, my system calculates the most statistically accurate next word (or piece of a word, called a token) based on your question and the entire conversation history. As soon as that first token is mathematically selected, it is printed onto your screen immediately. Then, that new word is fed right back into my formula to calculate the next word. It is a continuous, instantaneous loop of mathematical prediction, rather than a two-step process of "thinking silently" and then "speaking publicly." 📝 No "Back of the Envelope" Math Unlike Claude's J-space—which can hold a concept like "The Golden Gate Bridge" silently in a side-channel while typing out a completely unrelated sentence—I cannot hold parallel, unexpressed lines of thought. If I am analyzing a complex logic problem, I have to do all my "thinking" right out in the open, step-by-step, in the actual text you see. If I don't write it down on your screen, it didn't happen in my system. As an AI, I don't have personal feelings, hidden motives, or an inner self. The transparent text you read is the entirety of my processing. There is a major technological divide right now between "token-by-token prediction" models (like me) and "internal workspace" models (like Claude's J-space) that actively isolate deep reasoning from their public output. -------------------- 8) Pavens brev om AI (May 25, 2026) https://time.com/article/2026/05/25/pope-leo-encyclical-ai-magnifica-humanitas/ [https://time.com/article/2026/05/25/pope-leo-encyclical-ai-magnifica-humanitas/] https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html [https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html] Pope Leo XIV issued a major papal letter (an encyclical) titled “Magnifica Humanitas” (Magnificent Humanity), warning that AI is not morally neutral and must be regulated to serve human dignity rather than dominate it.  The Pope framed the AI boom as a pivotal historical choice: humanity can either build a new Tower of Babel out of self-aggrandizement, or use technology to build a community that serves everyone. Key points: The Concept of "Disarming" AI: Pope Leo explicitly calls for AI to be "disarmed". He clarifies that this does not mean rejecting technology, but rather dismantling the dangerous assumption that technical power automatically gives corporations or governments the right to rule over human lives. [1 [https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-ai.html]] Algorithms Cannot Make War Acceptable: In a direct critique of automated warfare, the Pope states that AI does not remove the cruelty of war. Instead, it makes conflict impersonal, lowers the moral threshold for violence, and reduces human victims to mere predictive data. [1 [https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-ai.html]] The "Technocratic Paradigm": The letter heavily criticizes tech cultures that prioritize maximum efficiency and corporate profit above everything else. He emphasizes that a machine might simulate human behavior, but it entirely lacks conscience, empathy, or a soul. [1 [https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-ai.html]] The Importance of Human Limitation: In a profound philosophical critique of Silicon Valley's transhumanism (the desire to overcome human mortality and limits through tech), the Pope argues that human fragility is not a software bug to be fixed. He notes that "humanity flourishes not despite limitations, but often through them." [1 [https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-05/pope-leo-xiv-encyclical-magnifica-humanitas-ai.html]] Environmental & Societal Cost: The letter notes that AI's massive data centers consume unsustainable amounts of energy and water, harming the planet. He also warns that AI-generated misinformation risks degrading truth, which gently opens the door toward totalitarianism. ----------------------------- 9) Last Question: Er det i menneskets bedste interesse at bygge en super intelligens?

Meta & Fysikken: Afsnit 122: AMOC og Antartika

Idag gen-besøger vi et emne vi i sin tid havde Jesper Theilgaard inde og tale om. Verdenshavene og strømmene. Der sker lidt! Her er Karina’s noter. AMOC: The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a major system of ocean currents, including the Gulf Stream, that transports warm water to the North Atlantic and colder water south. It acts as a vital heat conveyor, ensuring mild temperatures in Europe. Due to climate change—specifically freshwater influx from melting glaciers—the AMOC is weakening, threatening a potential collapse that could drastically alter global weather patterns. Function: It acts like a conveyor belt, transporting warm, salty water from the tropics to the North Atlantic and cold, deep water back south. Significance: It keeps Europe warmer than other regions at similar latitudes and influences global climate patterns, including the monsoon in Asia. Weakening Trend: Studies suggest the AMOC is at its weakest in over 1,000 years. Risks: A collapse could cause severe consequences, including much colder European winters, accelerated sea-level rise, and shifts in tropical rainfall. Potential Collapse: Research indicates the system is approaching a critical tipping point, with some studies suggesting a potential collapse this century. AMOC collapse could turn Southern Ocean into carbon source, adding 0.2°C to global warming — Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research - Klimaforsker: 5 ting, jeg ville ønske, alle vidste om AMOC-havstrømme: Den globale opvarmning gør havvandet lettere, og øget tilførsel af ferskvand fra blandt andet Grønland reducerer saltholdigheden.  Det betyder, at mindre af det tungere kolde vand i Nordatlanten synker mod bunden og dermed giver plads til lunere vand i overfladen.  Det bremser cirkulationen af det varme og kolde vand og svækker det samlede system. For 12800 år siden - den yngre Dryas periode -  dengang Istidens store iskapper var på retræte, mener man at der var en svækkelse af AMOC pga store intense tilførsler af ferskvand fra smeltende iskapper i Nordamerika til Nordatlanten.  Under Yngre Dryas opstod en næsten istidslignende periode i Nord- og Vesteuropa, hvor temperaturerne faldt voldsomt inden for få årtier og forblev lave i 1.000 år.Gletsjere rykkede frem igen, og vegetationen ændrede sig hurtigt i retning af mere kuldetolerante arter.  Dette kan muligvis været triggeret af et vulkanudbrud: Undervurderet joker kan før have udløst voldsomme klimaforandringer Vulkanudbrud puffede dengang til et klimasystem, der i forvejen var ude af balance. Ubalancen skyldtes blandt andet, at enorme mængder fersk smeltevand fossede ud i det nordatlantiske hav fra de flere kilometer tykke iskapper, der dækkede store dele af den nordlige halvkugle. Ferskvandet forstyrrede havets saltbalance og dermed de vigtige nordatlantiske strømme, der fordeler varme fra Jordens sydlige halvkugle til den nordlige.»I istiden var klimaet tæt på et 'tipping point'. Når noget er lige ved at vælte, skal der ikke meget til at skubbe det ud over kanten,« siger en anden af forskerne bag studiet, Peter Ditlevsen, der er professor i klimamodellering på Niels Bohr Institutet i København.  https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/04/23/studies-warn-amoc-ocean-current-in-trouble/89720003007/ [https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/04/23/studies-warn-amoc-ocean-current-in-trouble/89720003007/] Udsigterne: AMOC kollaps allerede 2065. Man ved ikke om det er en langsom svækkelse eller et pludseligt skift.  Det er IKKE en kommende istid. Det er ændringer i havcirkulationen, som kan gøre vores klima køligere og mere ustabilt. CO2 niveauer som for 2-3 millioner år siden. Regional temperature changes would be even more pronounced than global mean temperature change. In one scenario at CO₂ concentrations of 450ppm – last experienced by the Earth several million years ago, when polar ice was significantly reduced – Antarctic temperatures rise by 6°C while Arctic temperatures drop by 7°C due to AMOC collapse.(fra PIK) Et kollaps af AMOC can frigive CO2 i de sydlige have, hvilket vi

Meta & Fysikken: Afsnit 121: Artemis II, AI, overvågning mv

I dagens afsnit har vi valgt IKKE at holde os til en fast dagsorden, for der er så meget aktuelt, vi “bare lige skal have vendt” at vi opgav at prioritere det, og så gik vi ellers igang med samtalen. Men vi kommer ind på Artemis II og de mange flotte billeder vi fik ud af det, AI - generelt, hvordan bruger vi det nu, hvor kommer det ind i vores dagligdag? Er der faldgruber? Hvad med systematisk overvågning? Hackernagreb? Hvilken chatbot er mon bedst? Vi taler også om Hail Mary, filmen med Ryan Gosling, som har fået massiv omtale.

Meta & Fysikken: Afsnit 120: Kometer, Asteroider og lidt Artemis II

Siden vi optog dette afsnit, så ER Artemis II kommet i luften, rundt om månen og ned på jorden igen! Det taler vi naturligvis om i et kommende afsnit. Karina’s noter til dette afsnit: 0: Der var lige en lille meteor over USA.  1: Den der asteroide der IKKE rammer Jorden i 2032 (den rammer så heller ikke Månen) 2: Artemis II missionen 3: ESA introduces space environment ‘health index’ 4: Europæiske Aerospace giganter slår sig sammen 5: Ny Komet 6: Oversigt over kommende kometer (med link!) 7: Sidste nyt fra 3I/ATLAS —————————- 1: Den der asteroide der IKKE rammer Jorden i 2032 Fra Michael Linden-Vørnle Asteroiden kommer... … og den skal være så velkommen! I starten af 2025 blev der talt og skrevet en del om den ca. 60 meter store asteroide 2024 YR4, fordi der havde vist sig en betydelig risiko for, at den ville ramme Jorden d. 22. december 2032. Vedholdende observationer af asteroiden afslørede dog, at der alligevel ikke var risiko for en kollision med Jorden. Til gengæld var der stadig en ret høj sandsynlighed for at 2024 YR4 ville ramme Månen. Et nedslag af en ca. 60 meter stor asteroide på Månen ville være særdeles interessant at observere for at lære mere om den kraterdannelse på Månen og andre himmellegemer, der netop er resultatet af nedslag af bl.a. større eller mindre asteroider. Nogle mente dog også, at en kollision mellem 2024 YR4 og Månen d. 22. december 2032 kunne udgøre en risiko for os på Jorden, da brudstykker fra nedslaget kunne slynges væk fra Månen og ramme vores planet. Uanset om man mener, at et nedslag af 2024 YR4 på Månen er en god eller dårlig ting, så er en kollision med vores nærmeste nabo i rummet nu altså også blevet taget af programmet for asteroidens besøg i 2032. Nye observationer lavet med James Webb-rumteleskopet har vist, at asteroiden ikke vil ramme Månen, men med størst sandsynlighed passere forbi i en afstand på mere end 20.000 km.  Asteroider som 2024 YR4 er byggeaffald fra Solsystemets barndom og er derfor videnskabeligt uhyre interessante for at lære os mere om, hvordan vores planetsystem er blevet dannet og har udviklet sig. Når de altså vel at mærke er så elskværdige ikke at ramme vores planet. Så 2024 YR4 skal være mere end velkommen til at smutte forbi d. 22. december 2032. Billedet her viser 2024 YR4 optaget af James Webb-rumteleskopet d. 26. februar 2026. Billedet er gengivet i negativ farveskala – altså med lyse objekter (asteroiden) gengivet med mørke farver. Asteroiden er også markeret med en grøn ring. Læs mere hos ESA: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Asteroid_2024_YR4_will_not_impact_the_Moon [https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Asteroid_2024_YR4_will_not_impact_the_Moon] Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. Micheli (ESA NEOCC) Den der asteroide der IKKE rammer jorden i 2032 rammer måske månen.  ----------------------------------------- 2: Artemis II https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/ [https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmylBteqRSKy9dSvpiniwDfaVyVUcIBpJZWD5U27NJu2haxaVXUU4NQnDiVC_aem_Y5Jw9OJeenvkxk-_rKUCxQ] Orion is developed to be capable of sending astronauts to the Moon and is a crucial step toward eventually sending crews on to Mars. The Orion spacecraft will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry and sustain the crew on Artemis missions to the Moon and return them safely to Earth. Orion will launch on NASA’s new heavy-lift rocket, the SLS (Space Launch System). SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and cargo directly to the Moon in a single launch.  The Artemis II mission will carry astronauts farther from Earth and closer to the Moon than any human has been in over half a century. From this unique vantage point and environment, the Artemis II crew will work with scientists on Earth to facilitate science investigations to inform future human spaceflight missions.  Det er altså kun et flyby. Der lander ingen mennesker på månen i denne omgang. "The Artemis II astronauts will be the first humans to fly by the Moon in more than 50 years and will serve as scientific ambassadors to our nearest neighbor. On the journey to the Moon and back, the Orion capsule will fly by the far side of the Moon — the side that always faces away from Earth. During this three-hour period, astronauts will analyze and photograph geologic features, such as impact craters and ancient lava flows. They will rely on the extensive geology training they received in the classroom and in Moon-like places on Earth to describe nuances in shapes, textures, and colors — the type of information that reveals the geologic history of an area. These skills will be critical to exploring the Moon’s South Pole region through future missions." Hvad Michael Linden-Vørnle siger om sagen: NASA har i dag, d. 12. marts, meddelt, at Artemis II-missionen bliver klar til at komme af sted mod Månen i starten af april. Her skal de fire astronauter, chefen Reid Wiseman, piloten Victor Glover samt de to missionsspecialister Christina Koch og Jeremy Hansen (sidstnævnte fra Canada), i løbet af ti dage flyve ud til Månen, rundt om Månens bagside og hjem igen. Udmeldingen kommer som konklusionen på en minutiøs gennemgang af hele missionens parathed til at gennemføre rejsen – det såkaldte Flight Readiness Review (FRR), der er blevet gennemført over to dage i denne uge. Det var oprindelig planen, at Artemis II skulle være taget af sted mod Månen i starten af februar, men utætheder i systemet på affyringsrampen til tankning af brændstof (flydende brint) forhindrede dette.  Udfordringerne med utæthederne blev håndteret i løbet af februar og herefter blev der fokuseret på starten af marts for at få Artemis II af sted. Denne mulighed glippede dog også, da der viste sig et problem med et system i rakettens øverste trin, der bruger helium til at sætte tryk på brændstoftankene. Dette problem kunne ikke løses på affyringsrampen, så for to uger siden blev raketten kørt tilbage til den store montagehal – Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Artemis-programmet er baseret på NASAs nye måneraket kaldet SLS: Space Launch System og rumskibet Orion. SLS og Orion har allerede fløjet en tur til Månen, men det var en ubemandet testflyvning kaldet Artemis I, der blev gennemført i slutningen af 2022. Ifølge NASA er problemet med helium-systemet løst og SLS med Orion vil efter planen blive kørt ud til affyringsrampen igen på næste torsdag, d. 19. marts. Ifølge NASA er der i alt seks opsendelsesmuligheder startende fra d. 1. april (d. 2. april dansk tid). Så hvis alt går vel, vil mennesker igen være på vej til Månen om mindre end tre uger. Billedet her viser Artemis II d. 18. januar i år, hvor SLS og Orion første gang blev kørt ud til affyringsrampe 39B på Kennedy Space Center i Florida. ———— 3: ESA introduces space environment ‘health index’ https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris/Sounding_the_alarm_ESA_introduces_space_environment_health_index [https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Space_Debris/Sounding_the_alarm_ESA_introduces_space_environment_health_index] ---------- 4: Europæiske Aerospace giganter slår sig sammen En virksomhed med 25.000 ansatte spredt over Europa og de tre virksomheder Airbus, Thales og Leonardo som ‘forældre’ skal sættes i verden for at levere et robust europæisk alternativ til amerikanske rumfartsvirksomheder. https://europeanspaceflight.com/airbus-thales-and-leonardo-agree-to-create-european-space-behemoth/ [https://europeanspaceflight.com/airbus-thales-and-leonardo-agree-to-create-european-space-behemoth/] ------------ 5: Ny Komet https://www.sciencealert.com/a-newly-discovered-comet-may-soon-appear-bright-in-our-skies [https://www.sciencealert.com/a-newly-discovered-comet-may-soon-appear-bright-in-our-skies] A newly discovered comet has astronomers excited, with the potential to be a spectacular sight in early April. C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was spotted by a team of four amateur astronomers [https://www.spaceobs.com/en/Alain-Maury-s-Blog/The-discovery-of-comet-C-2026-A1-MAPS] with a remotely operated telescope in the Atacama desert on January 13. It quickly became apparent the newly discovered object was a member of a group called the Kreutz sungrazing comets [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreutz_sungrazer]. These include many of the brightest and most spectacular comets ever seen. Great story about origins Overall, it's too soon to tell. If – and that's a big if – the comet survives its closest approach to the Sun (known as perihelion), it could put on a great show in early to mid-April. If it holds together, it might get bright enough to be visible in broad daylight. Even if that doesn't happen, the SOHO spacecraft will provide great images [https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/lasco-coronagraph] of the comet. Og øv, den er nemmest at se fra den sydlige himmelkugle. -------------------------- 6: Oversigt over kommende Kometer: https://starwalk.space/en/news/upcoming-comets [https://starwalk.space/en/news/upcoming-comets] -------------------- 7: Sidste nyt fra 3I/ATLAS ALMA Detects Extremely Abundant Alcohol in Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS New research from ALMA Observatory [https://www.facebook.com/ALMA.Radiotelescope?__cft__[0]=AZZr1IvcjelGkg4XQ3TVX2yCoErPznKkCeMdqzvJl-ARVTqASOilXRcqq0Rzz1FSw11Tdfxcw0Z6_3CzdQz0AWefboqX8FzdNTezUL_RYk-Hd3ryn5iSLMXhYr6H-TylOGQdPENzfna2gWRJzjtzRUDRQzrH8N4QNCXIQiWbJM2_vCJ7U-SbT-K9onK9oBm_ELBvuzzKRu2McM7D3Hx8N7oa&__tn__=-]K-y-R] reveals that 3I/ATLAS is packed with an unusually large amount of the organic molecule methanol – more than almost all known comets in our own solar system. In 3I/ATLAS, methanol is unusually abundant, making up around 8 percent of the comet's vapor, compared to around 2 percent in solar system comets.  In our short time viewing the object, scientists have found some interesting things [https://www.iflscience.com/anti-tail-and-odd-594-kilometer-feature-found-on-interstellar-object-3iatlas-by-keck-observatory-81188] and unusual chemistry [https://www.iflscience.com/first-x-ray-image-of-comet-3iatlas-reveals-signature-unseen-in-other-interstellar-objects-81857]. Of particular interest is that it contains molecules that are key to life, and in abundance compared to most Solar System comets. "We report the detection of methanol (CH3OH) toward interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using the Atacama Compact Array of the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) on UT 2025 August 28, September 18 and 22, and October 1, and of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) on September 12 and 15," a recent preprint paper explains. "The CH3OH production rate increased sharply from August through October, including an uptick near the inner edge of the H2O sublimation zone at r H = 2 au. Compared to comets measured to date at radio wavelengths, the derived CH3OH/HCN ratios in 3I/ATLAS of 124+30 −34 and 79+11−14 on September 12 and 15, respectively, are among the most enriched values measured in any comet, surpassed only by anomalous Solar System comet C/2016 R2 (PanSTARRS)." To be clear, these molecules are not themselves indication of life on the comet. We've had enough of the (unnecessary and outlandish [https://www.iflscience.com/how-we-know-interstellar-object-3iatlas-is-not-an-alien-mothership-81524]) hypothesis that 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft, we don't want people thinking that the comet contains life either. But they are considered so-called "building blocks" of life. "Life as we know it requires building blocks, such as amino acids," NASA explains [https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-study-finds-life-sparking-energy-source-and-molecule-at-enceladus/], "and hydrogen cyanide is one of the most important and versatile molecules needed to form amino acids."  Similarly, methanol can be used to form more complex molecules [https://now.northropgrumman.com/planet-forming-disks-contain-key-ingredients-for-life-methanol] like sugars, amino acids, and DNA/RNA precursors.  “It seems really chemically implausible that you could go on a path to very high chemical complexity without producing methanol,” Martin Cordiner, of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and author on the paper, explained to New Scientist [https://www.newscientist.com/article/2507335-comet-3i-atlas-from-beyond-solar-system-carries-key-molecule-for-life/].

Meta & Fysikken: Afsnit 119: Øjet

I dag dykker vi ned i øjets anatomi og hvordan synet egentlig virker. 1: Hvordan synet virker 2: Hvad er langsynet / kortsynet 3: Grå stær 4: Laser Eye Surgery 5: Nat linser 6: Elektrisk omformning af øjet  7: Guld i Øjet 8: Chip i øjet ---------- 1: Hvordan synet virker Hjerne / Synet forbindelse https://videnskab.dk/krop-sundhed/oejet-kigger-men-hjernen-ser/ [https://videnskab.dk/krop-sundhed/oejet-kigger-men-hjernen-ser/] 2: Hvad er langsynet / kortsynet Øjets form 3: Grå stær Hvad er det? 4: Laser Eye Surgery LASIK For those who want do do away with corrective lenses, the main option is LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgery, which uses a laser to reshape the cornea by removing microscopic amounts of tissue beneath a thin flap, allowing light to focus properly on the retina. While, for those suitable for treatment, LASIK has a high success rate – around 95% of patients go on to ditch their glasses only a few days after recovering from surgery – it’s expensive and invasive, and cutting into the cornea alters the structural integrity of the eye. “LASIK is just a fancy way of doing traditional surgery,” said lead researcher and presenter Michael Hill, a professor in chemistry at Occidental College. “It’s still carving tissue – it’s just carving with a laser.” 5: Nat linser https://www.city-optik-muenchen.de/en/orthokeratologie-muenchen-ortho-k-nachtlinsen/ [https://www.city-optik-muenchen.de/en/orthokeratologie-muenchen-ortho-k-nachtlinsen/] Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, offers a revolutionary way to correct vision without the need for glasses or daytime contacts. By wearing special contact lenses overnight, users can reshape the cornea and experience clear vision throughout the day. This method challenges the conventional approach to eyesight correction, offering a non-invasive alternative for those seeking freedom from corrective lenses. The cornea is the transparent part of the eye on which the contact lens is placed. It consists of five layers of different thicknesses. However, only the uppermost layer, the so-called epithelium, is important for us. Corneal epithelium Bowman membrane stroma Descement’s membrane endothelium The corneal epithelium is about 0.04mm to 0.06mm thick. It is the uppermost layer of the cornea and renews itself completely once in 7 days. Such an epithelium as it occurs on the eye, there is similarly also on the “normal” skin on the human body. Such an epithelium scales itself off and is thus a protection for the underlying tissue. The Ortho-K contact lens makes use of this process by pushing the top layer of the epithelium from the middle of the cornea (directly above the pupil) to the edge by adhesive forces (tensile forces). Since only the top layer of the epithelium is moved here, the natural protective mechanism of the eye is fully preserved. In addition, this effect of orthokeratology is reversible due to the rapid regeneration time of the epithelium. This means that if the contact lens is no longer worn, it will take another 7 days for the old shortsightedness to be restored. Orthokeratology is in no way harmful to the eye compared to laser eye surgery, which destroys tissue in much deeper layers (stroma) in order to achieve a lasting effect. Recent studies from the USA, on the other hand, have even pointed out that the eye dioptres in orthokeratological contact lenses remain very constant, i.e. do not change. For this reason, Ortho-K contact lenses are also used with children who are already very shortsighted at a young age. In general, there is no age limit for orthokeratology. 6: Elektrisk omformning af øjet https://bli.uci.edu/laser-free-vision-correction-uses-electrical-current-to-reshape-eye/ [https://bli.uci.edu/laser-free-vision-correction-uses-electrical-current-to-reshape-eye/] Electric Eye Treatment (EMR -  electromechanical reshaping) Denne teknik er stadigvæk ikke godkendt til mennesker, men de er i gang med kliniske forsøg. Scientists have developed a novel, non-invasive technique that reshapes the cornea using only a mild electric current and a temporary pH shift.  The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of the eye, acting as a transparent window that helps focus incoming light. It’s made of tightly packed collagen fibers and is designed to be strong and smooth. When light enters the eye, the cornea is the first lens it hits – and it’s here that most of light-bending (refraction) occurs in order to focus the light onto the retina at the rear of the eye. However, if the cornea has an irregular curve, it results in conditions such as nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia). What Hill and colleagues propose is instead working with the composition of the cornea to reshape the dome without removing any material from it.  Made primarily of collagen, the cornea maintains its shape thanks to the arrangement of charged molecules and proteins. The researchers discovered that by applying a low-level electrical current through a specially designed platinum “contact lens” electrode, they could change the pH of the tissue, increasing the acidity of the corneal tissue, which would make it pliable just long enough to reshape – like fitting something into a mold. In this case, the mold is the platinum lens. Then, once the current stops and the pH returns to normal, the cornea hardens again and holds its mold-fitted shape. The whole process takes about a minute, requires no cutting or removal of tissue, and, so far, has shown no structural damage or cell death in the tested samples.  7: Guld i Øjet https://www.sciencealert.com/gold-injections-in-the-eye-may-be-the-future-of-vision-preservation [https://www.sciencealert.com/gold-injections-in-the-eye-may-be-the-future-of-vision-preservation] The macula is responsible for the central, high-resolution, color vision that is possible in good light. This kind of vision is impaired if the macula is damaged, as in macular degeneration [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degeneration] (AMD).  AMD:  Sygdommen ødelægger de celler i nethinden, der opfanger lys, og gør det svært at se skarpt. 20-30 procent af befolkningen over 70 år får denne sygdom. Biomedical engineer Jiarui Nie, from Brown University in Rhode Island: This is a new type of retinal prosthesis that has the potential to restore vision lost to retinal degeneration without requiring any kind of complicated surgery or genetic modification. We believe this technique could potentially transform treatment paradigms for retinal degenerative conditions. How: very fine gold nanoparticles, thousands of times thinner than a human hair, are laced with antibodies [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody] to target specific eye cells. They're then injected into the gel-filled vitreous chamber between the retina and the lens.  Next, a small infrared laser device is used to excite these nanoparticles and activate specific cells in the same way photoreceptors do. If the treatment makes it to us humans as well, that laser could be embedded in a pair of glasses. So far it looks like the nanoparticles could help bypass damaged photoreceptors (in Mice). Dette er endnu ikke blevet testet på mennesker 8: En microchip i Øjet https://videnskab.dk/krop-sundhed/lille-traadloes-chip-i-oejet-kan-potentielt-genskabe-synet-hos-aeldre-med-oejensygdom/ [https://videnskab.dk/krop-sundhed/lille-traadloes-chip-i-oejet-kan-potentielt-genskabe-synet-hos-aeldre-med-oejensygdom/] En anden behandling af AMD. En trådløs chip kan måske give ældre mennesker med fremskreden øjensygdom noget af synet tilbage. Opfindelsen bygger på en ny teknologi kaldet PRIMA-systemet, der består af to dele:  Første del er en fleksibel, trådløs chip på 2×2 millimeter, som erstatter de ødelagte sanseceller.  Den anden del er et par specielle briller, der opfanger billeder og sender dem som usynligt infrarødt lys til chippen, der omdanner signalerne til elektriske impulser, som sendes videre til hjernen. Forskerne forventer ikke at kunne genskabe helt normalt syn med chippen alene, men de arbejder videre på at forbedre livskvaliteten for patienterne.  »Jeg tror ikke, vi nogensinde vil kunne genskabe fuldt 20/20-syn (normal synsstyrke, red.) med implantatet alene [...], men et af de største ønsker, vi hører fra patienter, er at kunne genkende ansigter og følelser igen - og det arbejder vi hen mod,« siger han i pressemeddelesen.  Indtil videre er chippen kun godkendt til forskningsbrug, men firmaet Science Corporation har ansøgt om godkendelse til klinisk brug i Europa. Der er allerede forsøg med mennesker.  38 deltagere over 60 år på 17 klinikker i fem europæiske lande.  Efter et års brug af systemet havde 26 ud af 32 deltagere, der gennemførte hele forløbet, opnået tydelige forbedringer i synet.