News of the week selected by Impactscool – July 16th, 2018

The AI that helps to know the volcanoes 

A volcanic ash particle can help the researchers to determine the type of eruption that produced it and, consequently, to predict the type and magnitude of the next. A team of scientists from the Tokyo Institute of Technology has developed an artificial intelligence able to recognize the ash produced by the eruptions and thus help the volcanologists to predict future phenomena with greater certainty. The AI, a convolutional neural network, was trained by the group of researchers, who fed the system with 200 images of particles divided into 4 categories: block, vesicular, elongated or rounded. After training, the team tested their AI using about 40 different images for each type of particle: the system was able to correctly categorize 92% of the cases examined, while for the others it has nevertheless provided probability reports. The research, published in May in the journal Scientific Reports, could allow a step forward in the research on volcanic phenomena and provide important information in case of emergencies, indicating, for example, the extent of the areas to be evacuated.

Cardiac tissue printed in 3D

Thanks to bioprinting, a Chicago bio-medical company, Biolife 4D, was able to print human heart tissue. In particular, the team developed a cardiac patch, which contains multiple types of cells and includes preliminary vascularization. The patch could be used to treat patients with heart failure or to restore myocardial contractility, which is the ability of the heart to pump blood into the body. The whole process, carried out in a few days, has undergone several phases. Initially, a patient blood sample was collected, whose cells were converted into pluripotent stem cells, which can be reprogramed into specialized cells. These cells were converted into cardiac cells and used for 3D tissue printing. Thanks to the evolution of the Biolife 4D’s research, we will soon be able to print real human organs, thus improving the transplant process and eliminating the need to depend on donor organs.

Private space missions: Israel lands on the moon

The first privately funded spacecraft should land on the moon in February. After the United States, Russia and China, it could be Israel the fourth nation to cut through the lunar soil with an unmanned probe: are working on this mission the Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, and the non-profit organization SpaceIL, which since 2013 have been collecting private funds through the Google Lunar project, later abandoned by the Mountain View company. Finally, the target of the two Israeli realities is a bit closer: Ido Anteby, CEO of SpaceIL, told reporters during a press conference that the mission will start from Cape Canaveral in December while the moon landing of the probe was set for February 13, 2019. Once landed, the device will acquire images and video, before conducting for two days a magnetic field measurement experiment.

A new goal achieved for private space missions, waiting for Elon Musk to take us all to Mars.