mirrors

A company wants to sell sunlight on demand using gigantic mirrors in space. We have questions

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A Californian startup wants to sell solar light at night and, although it has not yet started, many scientists are already putting their hands together. They find it difficult to do it correctly for technical reasons, but they consider that it would be even more serious if these difficulties are resolved. The consequences for people’s health, the environment and the work of astronomers can be devastating. The longest day. The goal of Reflect Orbital is to launch into space a swarm of 4,000 satellites loaded with giant mirrors. These would capture sunlight from the illuminated side of the Earth and reflect it in dark areas. Thus, the solar panels could work 24 hours a day, not only when sunlight naturally falls on them. First steps. For now, the objectives of this startup have been developed only on paper. They already have their first satellite ready, which they have named Eärendil-1, in honor of a JRR Tolkien character. However, They are still waiting for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to of the United States gives the green light for its launch. In principle It is scheduled to take place throughout this month of Aprilbut there is no definitive date. Once in low Earth orbit, this satellite will deploy an 18-meter-wide mirror, which would be capable of illuminating a 5-kilometer patch on Earth. If all goes well, a swarm of 4,000 mirrors could be launched by 2030. The background is not good. There was already a project similar to this developed in Russia in the 1990s. The goal of the project, named Znamya, was to illuminate Siberia in the dark winter months. And they got it. However, the resulting light was so dim and the satellite so difficult to control that the mission was never completed. More than technical difficulties. Fionagh Thomson, researcher in spatial ethics at Durham University, explained in statements to Live Science who does not believe that the project is viable today, since the engineering involved is very complex. They already verified it in Russia. But that’s not all. Both this and other experts warn that a large amount of light pollution would be generated, which could affect the circadian rhythms of living beings in the illuminated environment. It could also dazzle aircraft pilots and make the work of astronomers difficult. Even astronomy enthusiasts trying to look at the sky with binoculars or a telescope could suffer vision damage if they encounter the light reflected from these satellites. After all, the population would not be notified before changing the direction of the mirrors. Worse than Starlink. starlink, Elon Musk’s telecommunications companyhas been receiving criticism for many years for the artificial way in which they illuminate the night sky. However, this company’s satellites accidentally illuminate the Earth. In this case it would be something deliberate and, therefore, even more intense and serious. It’s not worth it. All these risks are not worth it when you consider the results. And many other experts assure that the light that would be obtained would be too dim. The solar radiation that would reach the solar panels, for example, would be a minimum fraction of that which arrives during the day. In order to obtain a sufficient amount of light, an exorbitant number of satellites would have to be launched into space and that would be expensive and even more dangerous. Beware of space debris. If the mirror of Eärendil-1 will measure about 18 meters in diameter, the goal of Reflect Orbital is to launch satellites into space with even larger mirrors, up to 54 meters. In general, they would be giant objects; who would therefore be at greater risk of impacting with meteorites or space junk fragments. The more exposed surface, the more risk. This would not only mean the uncontrolled release of fragments resulting from the impact, it would also cause damage to the structure of the mirrors themselves. A leaky mirror would be even more difficult to control and its harmful effects could worsen. Therefore, although the goal of selling sunlight at night seems feasible on paper, in reality it is complicated and dangerous. We’ll see where all this goes. Image | Reflect Orbital In Xataka | Solar thermal plants are in the doldrums, so now they have two jobs: generating energy by day and hunting asteroids by night

The “Ozempic effect” that is filling the mirrors with unknown faces

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Thanks to Ozempic, many people have managed to fulfill a goal that had been chasing for years: losing weight faster. What was not expected is that it came with a collateral effect that was not on the prospect: an alien face. In the mirror there is another person. Fallen cheeks, loss of volume, sagging … and no, it is not natural aging. In social networks it has been baptized as “face Ozempic ”, a consequence of accelerated success in weight loss. According to Cleveland Clinicthese effects are not directly caused by the medication, but by the rapid loss of facial fat that accompanies weight loss. The trend. The conversation has gained strength especially after the testimonies of celebrities who have decided to talk about the physical changes they have experienced after using this type of medicines. One of the most popular voices has been that of Sharon Osbourne, British presenter, who has recognized having lost more than 15 kilos with Ozempic, but not without consequences. “I wouldn’t use it again. I look very thin and older, I regret it,” has declared In an interview with The Daily Mail. On the other hand, in social networks, many people are showing change with pride. On platforms like Tiktok, images of the before and afterhighlighting the physical transformation achieved with the use of Ozempic and similar medications. Science behind. From the medical point of view, the explanation is simple: if you lose very fast fat, you also lose it on your face. And not all the skin returns to its place. As detailed by Dr. Nyla Raja, Dermatologist with Clinic in Mayfair, In statements to the Evening Standard“When the thinning process is so accelerated, the skin does not have time to fall, which leads to sagging and a more aging appearance.” This loss of support in key areas such as cheekbones or jaw can cause the face to look more tired or aged than expected. It is not irreversible. Although the effects can be worrisome, there are solutions. Some dermatologists and nutritionists have agreed that the best way to avoid these consequences is to plan a gradual weight loss. According to Forbes has collectedmaintaining a rhythm of moderate weight loss, following a feed rich in protein and collagen, and practicing strength training can help preserve the facial structure. In some cases, aesthetic treatments such as radiofrequency, dermal fillings or even facial lifting are also resorted to correct the offalter. But… There are more effects. However, other unexpected ones are added to this phenomenon. According to The Independentthere are other secondary symptoms that are increasingly being documented. One of the most striking is “Ozempic language”, which is caused by oral dryness, which generates an alteration in taste. For its part, like has reported the same mediumDr. Tim Bradstock-Smith has pointed out that some patients experience “dry mouth, dental hypersensitivity and loss of volume on lips and cheeks, which compromises both aesthetics and oral health.” Besides, I know They have reported cases Blurred vision and, in rare situations, loss of vision associated with the use of semaglutida. The debate is no longer limited to the medical field. Ozempic, like other medicines to lose weight, has become a mirror of collective priorities: a culture of immediacy where the ideal body seems to be an injection of distance. But it is also true that, for many people, represents a real opportunity of recovering health, taking control over your weight and improving your quality of life. Reducing this conversation to aesthetic changes would be to simplify a deeply personal decision. Behind each treatment there are different stories, emotions and contexts. We live in a society every time more crossed by obsessions and trends that are born – and they are amplified – on social networks, where the ideal body is repeated with Filters and algorithms. At that cross, the direction that takes health, self -esteem and beauty is quite complex and dangerous. Image | Unspash and Instagram Xataka | Losing weight without losing muscle is the great challenge of drugs such as Ozempic. A protein keeps the key to face it

Siberia stays in the dark good of winter. In 1988, Russia had an idea to solve it: mirrors in space

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Towards the end of World War II, Some documents in Life magazine They revealed one of the many ideas that Hitler’s Nazi Germany had: a kind of solar projectile through A giant orbital mirror to destroy enemies or even whole cities. Obviously that never happened, but decades later it served as a slight inspiration for a Russian scientist who started from a fascinating idea: how could we extend the hours of the day? Convert the night. The truth is that the background idea is not new. Over the years, Humanity has sought to extend the day (Understood as day and light) with technological tools, from electric light to digital communications. However, in the 1990s, a group of Russian scientists tried to take this concept to the extreme: launch huge space mirrors to reflect sunlight towards the earth and prolong the day. Vladimir Syromyatnikov. The project we are talking about was directed by Vladimir Syromyatnikovone of the most influential space engineers in historyknown by Develop the ship’s coupling mechanism which is still used at the International Space Station. During the 80s, his interest focused on The design of solar candles that could use solar radiation To propel ships through space. However, in postsoviet Russia, obtaining financing for space projects required clear economic justification. Thus, Syromyatnikov reformulated his idea and presented it as One way to illuminate Siberia’s arctic regions during the dark winter monthsincreasing productivity in agriculture and industry. Yeah, I would try to turn on the sun for the polar regions of Russia After the night fell. Image of Znamya Znamya and his brief success. In 1988, Syromyatnikov founded the Space Regata Consortiumwith the support of Roscosmos and several state companies. His motto was very clear: “Diury light all night.” The idea not only promised to reduce electric lighting costs, but also Facilitate rescue in disasters, military operations and night construction projects. The first prototype, Znamya 2, He was sent to space in February 1993 aboard the progress M-15 ship and subsequently deployed from the MIR Space Station. Once in orbit, he began to turn to deploy its reflective surface. The mirror, 20 meters in diameter, achieved the feat of Reflect a beam of light equivalent to that of a full moon, illuminating an area of ​​5 km in diameter while crossing Europe and Russia 8 km per second, even Astronauts in Mir confirmed that they could follow the flash from space. The problem? The reflected light was more diffuse than expected and difficult to controland the weather was not taken into account. Plus: The cloudiness prevented the majority of observers on land to notice. Hours later, The mirror disintegrated by re -entering the atmosphere. ZNeamya 2.5. Despite its short duration, the experiment showed that the concept was viable, which promoted Znamya 2.5 planningwith a larger mirror and the ability to maintain the beam of light on a fixed point. Thus, in 1999 this second version was launched with A 25 meter diameter mirror. This time, when deploying, one of his fine sheets became entangled in an antenna from the Progress ship, tear the structure. The attempts to free her failed and the mirror had to be exorbitantburning in the atmosphere. The next step would be Znamya 3, with a 70 -meter mirror, capable of illuminating entire cities. What happened? That The failure of Znamya 2.5 and the lack of financing buried Syromyatnikov’s project and dream. In addition, the opposition of astronomers and environmentalists grew, arguing that Space mirrors could alter natural cyclesaffect astronomical observation and confuse wildlife. A man and his tireless search for light. Despite the failure, Syromyatnikov continued looking for financing to build a permanent mirro system. We talk about An estimated project of 340 million dollars. His vision was a world where cities would not need artificial light and the days had no nights. However, investors lost interest and the project was abandoned. Syromyatnikov continued his work on coupling systems until his death In 2006, dedicating his days to work without rest, in an ironic parallelism with his obsession with eliminate The night. The legacy. If you want, that was also the end of a space “exploration.” In any case, much less the background idea is over. Today, the idea of ​​taking advantage of sunlight from space has resurfaced In the investigation of orbital solar plantsthe same as They could send energy to Earth through microwave. However, Znamya is still a reminder of the limits of technology and the need to respect natural cycles. Russia’s attempt to convert the night and enlighten Siberia in winter was both a demonstration of human ingenuity and an experiment that, in the end, crashed with the laws of nature and resistance of the modern world. Image | QSI/MIR In Xataka | The Nazi plan to build a huge space mirror with which enemies and the Russian project that (almost) makes it a reality In Xataka | A secret simulator of the Cold War led to the US and Russia to a nuclear war. Since then they know what the red line is

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