#locomotion power cell

[sw5w]

Artoo Rolls Back to His Companions

STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones 00:35:01 - 00:35:02

[sensualnoiree]

astro health notes pt.3

Libra: Balance and Aesthetic Charm

Ruling Anatomy: Libra rules the kidneys, bladder, veins, sense of touch, insulin regulation, and lower back. It embodies distillation, filtration, and balance.

Health Connections: Librans prioritize balance in diet, work, and relationships. However, they might face kidney ailments, skin breakouts, and lower back weaknesses when overexerted. They tend to have attractive features, yet might experience health issues related to kidneys and skin.

Distinctive Traits: Libra ascendants radiate beauty with glowing complexions, defined features, and symmetrical bodies. Their charm and symmetrical appearance draw people to them.

Challenges: Excessive blood, often linked to moisture of Sanguine humor, can lead to lethargy, high blood pressure, and cranial disorders like apoplexy and strokes.

Scorpio: Reproduction and Physical Vitality

Ruling Anatomy: Scorpio rules reproductive organs, genitals, prostate, rectum, and urinary tract, reflecting both procreation and elimination.

Health Connections: Susceptible to sex organ problems, skin eruptions, cystitis, and urinary tract diseases, Scorpios often face emotional health-linked illnesses. Their ruling planet, Pluto, ties to cell formation and reproductive function, giving them strong, voluptuous bodies with remarkable recuperative powers.

Distinctive Traits: Scorpio risings captivate with mesmerizing, piercing eyes, sharp features, and powerful physiques often exhibiting a serious demeanor.

Challenges: Scorpios may experience sluggishness, mental dulness, watery sinuses, and eye issues. Severe cases can lead to dizziness, vertigo, or faintness, reflecting the sign's vulnerabilities.

Sagittarius: Motion and Physical Activity

Ruling Anatomy: Sagittarius governs the liver, sacrum, hips, and thighs, orchestrating locomotion and movement.

Health Connections: Physical activity is crucial for Sagittarians to avoid stagnation and potential weight gain issues. They might suffer from chronic aches in hips and thighs, sciatica, gout, and hip-related problems.

Distinctive Traits: Open-faced Sagittarius ascendants, with broad foreheads and cheerful expressions, possess an athletic build, often showcasing expressive storytelling with their bodies.

Challenges: Tension in neck and shoulders, headaches, nosebleeds, and heat-related conditions like giddiness and nausea can affect Sagittarians.

[reasonsforhope]

"California just cracked down on pollution from transportation in two major moves, part of an effort to improve air quality and cut carbon emissions at the same time. 

On Friday, the California Air Resources Board unanimously approved a rule that would ban the sale of diesel big rigs in the state by 2036. The mandate, which will apply to about 1.8 million trucks — including those operated by Amazon, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service —  is reportedly the first in the world to require trucks to ditch internal combustion engines. The news came one day after California became the first state to adopt standards to limit pollution from trains. 

Trucks and Diesel

The regulations are intended to improve air quality and trim carbon emissions from transportation, the source of about half the state’s greenhouse gases. Trucks and trains spew diesel exhaust, full of soot that contains more than 40 cancer-causing substances, responsible for an estimated 70 percent of Californian’s cancer risk from air pollution. 

The trucking rule requires school buses and garbage trucks to be emissions-free within four years. By 2042, all trucks will be required to be “zero-emission,” meaning there’s no pollution coming out of their tailpipes. The deadline comes sooner for drayage trucks, which transport cargo from ports and railyards to warehouses — typically short routes that require less battery range. New drayage trucks must be “zero-emission” beginning next year, with the rule applying to all drayage trucks on the road in 2035. 

Currently, medium and heavy-duty vehicles account for a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions statewide. In August, California clamped down on pollution from passenger vehicles with a plan to end the sale of new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.

People breathing pollution from freeways and warehouse hubs have long called for stricter air standards. In the port cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles, some 6,000 trucks pass through every day, exposing residents to high levels of ozone and particulate matter, pollutants linked with a range of problems including respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease. Long Beach residents who live the closest to ports and freeways have a life expectancy about 14 years shorter compared to people who live further away...

Trains and Locomotives

According to the new rules, the state is banning locomotive engines that are more than 23 years old by 2030. It also bans trains from idling for more than 30 minutes, provided that they are equipped with an engine that can shut off automatically.

The stage for the rule was set by a single line buried in the Biden administration’s proposed auto emissions rules, in which the Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering allowing states to regulate locomotives. Still, California’s new rules may spark a legal battle with the rail industry, which argues that the state doesn’t have the authority to make such sweeping changes.

Though railroads only account for about 2 percent of the country’s carbon emissions from transportation, switching to trains powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells would provide some benefits in the effort to tackle climate change. The public health gains would be even bigger: The California Air Resources Board estimates its new rules for trains, passed on Thursday, would lower cancer risk in neighborhoods near rail yards by more than 90 percent.

“This is an absolutely transformative rule to clean our air and mitigate climate change,” Liane Randolph, the chair of the air quality board, said ahead of the vote on the trucking rules on Friday. “We all know there’s a lot of challenges, but those challenges aren’t going to be tackled unless we move forward … if not now, when?”"

-via The Grist, 4/28/23

[wildishmazz]

i’ve been dying to hear your thoughts on the starlight express revival have you been is it worth it what do you think about the changes they made

Well... they did exactly the one thing I said would make the least sense(made Greaseball female despite the fact that Greaseball, of all characters, depends on being incapable of understanding what it's like on the wrong side of any flavour of systemic oppression), removed pretty much any sense of character(which at least means female Greseball doesn't stick out too much as a baffling decision among all the others), and telling the story seems to have been shunted to the very bottom of the pile of priorities, several places below "cover everything with holographic glitter" and pretty much on par with "adjust the keys of the songs to accommodate the fact that there are now altos and sopranos playing roles originally written for tenors and basses".

Introducing the concept of hydrogen power is a great idea(stars are made of hydrogen! Being powered by hydrogen is harnessing the power of the stars! What could be more appropriate for the Starlight Express??), but it's pretty much been plonked down with a shrug and an "I dunno, someone else figure out how to incorporate it into the text, I'm off for lunch.". There's a truck carrying around apparently unwanted hydrogen cells for... some reason? who is largely derided by all and sundry for... some reason? but is then able to couple up with Rusty to give him a power boost... somehow?

Many of the secondary and tertiary characters have been rejigged and renamed(the other competitors are no longer National Engines, which I can get behind, the stereotypes were always risky), including amalgamating Flat Top and CB into a new hybrid Slick Oil who is just vaguely antagonistic and rude until "Wide Smile". This falls narratively flat, because we already disliked Slick - there's no sense of betrayal or horror at the revelation that such a Nice Guy(tm) has revealed himself to be a gleeful mass murderer, just a confirmation that an unpleasant individual is, indeed, nasty. The other Freight(Porter and Lumber - Porter after Cole, Stilgoe is still at hand) join in with Slick in sabotaging Rusty, then sing "Right Place, Right Time" at him, claiming that they've been cheated too. Which um. My dudes. That was you.

An effort is clearly being made to be progressive with gender, but it doesn't look like it's coming from a place of any deep understanding. Casting an enby as Electra - great! But all their understudies are cis men. Removing early noughties Pussycat Dolls-inspired slut-drop anthem "Whole Lotta Locomotion" - great! But replacing it with an obvious rewrite of "Rolling Stock: reprise" rather than simply revert to the unobjectionable "A Lotta Locomotion"? Why would you do that?Give the coaches a badass new "We've had it up to here with this bullshit, and we're not taking it any more!" song - great! But rather than that replacing the "you're worth so much more than you think you are, now play mind games until you get your toxic ex back" song that gave Buffy and Ashley a chance to shine in the old show, where it would be appropriate in the plot, it's used as an introduction and there is no song for Belle and Tassita(as they now are) to show off in. It also randomly includes a snippet of "Tyre Tracks and Broken Hearts" which I assume is meant as a loving tribute to Jim Steinman, but unfortunately is such a distinctive and compelling melody that it sticks out like a sore thumb that it's never heard again. Mixing up the genders of the coaches by adding a boy - great! But now you can't use "coach" interchangeably with "woman" to make any sort of wider point, and that hasn't been carried through the rest of the show.

The cast are uniformly brilliant. I don't like the fact that Greaseball is being played by a woman, but by god, when Al Knott is on that stage it belongs to her and she has the range to flip around the octaves of material that resists being sung by her like a goddamn vocal acrobat. I don't like Control being in among the toy train characters(purely personal preference, I accept it as making a precedented amount of sense - they're now emphasising the fact that it all takes place in a child's dream, and if Clara can dance with the Nutcracker and Alice can talk to the Queen of Hearts, it's consistent for Control to be able to hand Dinah a box of tissues), but the girl I saw was an exceptionally good young performer, and legit looked like she was Momma's daughter. Rusty is 17. Seven-bloody-teen. And he's rivaling the first Rusty I fell in love with, who was 19(I was 13 I swear it's not weird). The way he holds a note while gliding down what looks like a 30 degree ramp alone distinguishes him. I have never seen a Dinah with better comedic chops. "UNCOUPLED" had me in stitches.

The costumes are disappointing. Like I said, they're very shiny. Everything is holographic, Greaseball is even lenticular. But there is little to no characterisation in the costumes - there are precious few details that tell you anything about who they are, they're just shiny blocky shapes. If you look really hard, maybe you can say that Dinah still has some tablecloth, and Wrench has spanner sets sticking out of her arms and legs as wings, and Electra has lightning strike balloons stored in a backpack. They look absolutely ridiculous, but they do imply electricity. Coming from the same designer as the costumes in Six, this is not only disappointing but surprising - I would have sworn that the Six queens were directly inspired by Starlight Express, they look like Tudor-inspired OC coach fan creations, but apparently Gabriella Slade had never even seen John Napier's designs before being asked to come up with something different. I assume she was under some severe limitations wrt not replicating anything that was his copyright, beyond basic features like safety pads and the skates themselves. I don't think the concept of using the costumes to convey the characters was copyrighted, though.

The beginning includes the "When the night is darkest" lullaby and I swear I nearly cried.

The "Starlight Sequence" is gorgeous. I don't know if it's been transposed into a different key to sit where both Momma and Rusty can sing it comfortably or if one of them just has that wide a range, but the horrific clunking great key changes mid-phrase that made the song physically painful to listen to in 2018 are not there. And the starfield that lights up for "I am the Starlight" is a kaleidoscope of pastel multicolour points sitting just above your head and all around the auditorium - that moment is properly magical.

Bloody, bloody "I Do" is still fucking there. It has still not undergone a second draft since it debuted in 2012.

There's a lot of dialogue/recit that's been inserted between songs, and it all kinda sounds like devised theatre that was initially improvised by people who were running out of ideas. Somehow it gives it the impression of being an amdram show with an inexplicably huge budget at some moments.

It is excellently performed, the music is still good, it is visually exciting. If you want to see some very talented young people performing familiar songs in a visual spectacle and you don't care about whether or not it makes any sense, it's very enjoyable.

[nighmares-art-and-stories]

Their Mind is a World

War is a constant in society. It could never be forgotten or forgone, only lessened, as there would always be disagreements between people and civilizations. To lessen the impacts of a real war between species, all sects of the Galactical Council have designed a series of arenas allow warring species to fight it out without the threat of injury, famine, or disease. These arenas are designed so that they could read the thoughts of a sapient and project them in an equivalent of a holographic VR.

The warrior walked down the hallway, white and blue lights filtered down from the artificial lights on the celling. His claws stabbed mercilessly into the floor, sending a small shock of pain every time he stepped down. The warrior mentally exercised his mental warrior, Talagor. Directing it as the mind character jumped hoops and ran through walls.

The warriors reached a door and used a claw open it when another paw grabbed his, stopping him.

Another member of his species stood there, wearing a protective white robe over its translucent scales. The warrior waved his free hand at the scholar lazily.

“Let go of my hand.”

The scholar looked straight into the warrior’s eyes before flashing them a binding yellow.

“It’s procedure to brief you on who you’re going to fight.”

The warrior flicked an antenna back, before clicking, “I have heard, it’s another pathetic mammal. I’ll be fine.”

The scholar slowly let go of the warrior’s claw before sighing, “Alright, follow me into the mind sphere.”

They walked into the room. It is dark. The scholar then flicked a switch flooding the room with light. It’s a dome shaped structure, large pillars supported a holographic screen, wires and electrodes hung from it like large spiderwebs. Two robotic podiums stood facing each other. The warrior then nodded at the scholar then walked into the larger robotic podium. Cuffs locked round his wrists and feet with a dull click. Almost a heartbeat later, he saw the puny mammal walk into the other podium.

It has a bipedal mode of locomotion with two manipulators. Artificial skin and scales hung off it’s gaunt yet muscular body. Another mammal in a white coat grabbed the wires hanging on the ceiling and pasted them onto the other creature’s head. The scholar that has followed him into the room did the same.

A mechanical voice filled the room, “Initiating holograms. Integrating minds. Integration complete.”

The warrior closed his eyes and sent his mind warrior to the fight.

.o0o.

Talagor opened his eyes and took in his surroundings. It is black, all black with no light to grace the desolate landscape. Talagor summoned a plasma shooter in one hand and a torch in the other and took cautious steps forward. The torch shed a small sliver of light, a small calming comfort in the shifting sea that is its mind.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

An ancient timbre that rumbled in the blackness, a cacophony of man, woman, elder and child that made something in Talagor want to sing with it. That voice spoke with no words, but he has understood it anyway. He cocked his plasma shooter and shot blindly into the blackness

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The musical voice startled him. Talagor spin around, shifting the plasma gun into a handheld cannon, and pointed it at the voice behind him. 

He cracked his eyes open, only for them to fling open in surprise. Power flowed off the being like the waves in a raging ocean. Her steps are light and breezy like the wind have come and made her its vessel. One soft paw held a raging wildfire and the other held a blue ribbon of a river. Plants have wound around her shoulders like green shawl. Her eyes are closed, like she is asleep.

Talagor felt his mouth dry. His mouth coated in sand and chalk. “What do you mean?”

The being smiled, “You won’t want to wake my brothers.” The ancient timbre came back, giving the being’s voice an extra echo.

“Brothers?”

The being’s smile grew wider, sharper. If Talagor could see her eyes, he would wish for a quick death. “Yes, of course, I’m merely a drop in my master’s mind. A powerful drop maybe, but a drop ne’er the less. You do not want to see the rest.”

Talagor felt it, something behind him, something as wild as it is primal. He spun around, throwing his torch as far as he can away. It landed a few claw lengths in front of him. The fire from the torch illuminated a face. The eye of the creature is wild, searching. It bared its teeth at him and growled. After a while of staring, the skin and fur of the creature sloughed off revealing the sickly white skeleton.

 He heard the tsk, tsk, tsk of the being behind him. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The being shook its head before she used the fire to chase the darkness away.

The darkness melted away slowly as if it wanted to cling to the landscape for a while longer. When it melted away fully, the world was grey, then colors slowly came in. The sky is a deep blue, almost black, the same color as Talagor’s blood. The ground is pitted with smoking pits. Liquid rocks welled from massive cracks in the earth, setting the red vegetation ablaze. He could see the scorch marks from where he has shot before and from the scorch marks from the torch.

The being opened her eyes, it is almost indescribable. Twin black voids that contain a spark behind them. A wild thing danced around the spark, its teeth flashing. A legion of voices sounded from the being’s mouth, “I have warned you not to look but you did anyway. I have tried to befriend you, but you responded with teeth. I’ll respond with mine.”

The mist behind the being melted away.

A serpent few in the sky, the large sword-like claws slashing the air. Red drops started to fall from the pink clouds in the sky. A pack of wolves pounded past. Talagor raised his gun and shot at them. They shifted into large writhing shadows full of gnashing claws and bright shining teeth.

Laughter sounded behind him. “We may be weak when we are apart but together, we make a flood!”

Talagor turned around in time to see pearly white teeth closing in.

Then,

Nothing.

Taglist:

@alaralee

[foxdrabbles]

Your writing makes my day every time I see it. If you’re asking for more prompts, maybe anything with Pudding and another op of your choice?

"Miss Mayer? Are you in here?"

"Hi Pudding! What's up? Are you done with the Meeboo blueprints already?"

"No, no, not yet. I came to ask if you had the wiring diagrams for the drill attachment anywhere. There's a bunch of stuff hidden under a weld that I can't get at."

"Yeah, they should be... Somewhere around here. How is the power efficiency looking?"

"Not too bad, all things considered. You're right, you're about at the limit of what the quad-cell can put out. But I think if you split the system, use a double-cell for the locomotion servos and a different double for - "

" - for the brain, of course! And then you can overload one system for the self-destruct, that'll save on materials... maybe we'll have room for some extra explosive fuel, too! Make up for what we're losing..."

"Hang on, you were intentionally overcharging the batteries? That can't be - "

"How else would I make them explode? Anyway, here's the arm diagram you wanted. Anything else you need?"

[depressedhangrybitch]

I feel like we don't really talk about Thomas Midgely Jr.

The man who is single-handedly responsible for creating the 2 most destructive chemicals of the 20 century. Chemicals that should have never been created.

So I am here to change that.

While Thomas Midgely died in November 1944. At the time of his death, the public sang his praises and his contributions to the automobile industry and coolant industries. Today, however, he is effectively canceled. If you ever Google him you won't find any positive on him.

Thomas started his career at the National registered company or NCR in Ohio where another one of his colleagues started his path to fame Charles Kettering, who was also relatively famous because of his contributions to the automobile industry.

He was famous for creating the first electric cashier register and electric ignition system which changed the locomotive industry.

Which brings us to what his inventions actually were.

Deadly Invention #1

Leaded gasoline:

Kettering was originally the one who tasked Midgely to solve the pesky and horrible problem of engine knocking. Engine knocking wasn't just any sound, it was a sensation that was felt by people throughout their driving in the cars of that time. This knocking also sometimes suddenly stopped the power flow to the engine which was quite problematic as a car just suddenly stopping anywhere could both be dangerous and unpredictable.

Midgely soon realized that this was not an engineering problem but a chemistry problem, and while Midgely was passionate about chemistry he wasn't a chemist. So to start his research he took the basis of chemistry as his starting point.

The periodic table.

Midgley tested 33000 compounds and finally came to a solution.

LURIUM.

The engine knocking was dissipated by lurium however, lurium left a 'satanic garlic smell' in its wake which was not a solution Midgeley was looking for.

Midgely however soon concluded that, the heavier the element that is added to petrol, the more the knocking dissipated. Which was finally what turned him to lead. He tested this by adding a spoonful of lead to the engine and BOOM!! as if by magic the knocking completely dissipated.

This virtually overturned the automobile industry overnight. The limitations that first made people reluctant to buy a car were gone and thus registered car users in the US tripled exponentially.

However, this had dire consequences. Today, it is suspected that over 40000 - 80000 people especially children died every year of lead poisoning between the first usage of leaded gasoline to its ban.

But how did we find out about lead poisoning?

Enter Dr. Clair Patterson, he initially had the plan to measure the age of the earth by dating the oldest rocks known to mankind, however, he soon realized that he cannot truly get rid of lead from his lab which is a crucial thing to do in the dating process. He soon noticed that lead was everywhere due to emissions. In the blood of a human, in the hair of a human body, rocks that are far away from inhabited towns.

Dr. Clair Patterson, the man who suffered for his accomplishments.

Due to his efforts, gasoline was finally banned in the US but people still suffer through its consequences. But why did it take so long and such hardships to ban leaded gasoline?

The main reason is that lead poisoning is very subtle until the very end. When lead enters the bloodstream the RBCs confuse it with other minerals that the cells actually need that are zinc, iron, etc.. Since lead mimics other viral minerals so well cells absorb them and this began their dance of death. Slowly they self-destruct and since there is no communication the brain fails to understand what is happening with the body as lead blocks neurotransmitters amongst the cells.

Perhaps I will explain more about Dr. Patterson's journey to ban leaded gasoline in a later post.

Now we are finally at

Deadly Invention #2

CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons

It was an age-old problem, i.e. to actually reverse the effect of heat on food items and to actually make a machine that emitted cold instead of warmth. which was when Midgley had another stroke of genius; CFCs.

Before the invention of CFC, companies used coolants such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and methyl chloride. But ammonia was notorious after the disastrous catastrophe in an ice manufacturing plant that got destroyed because ammonia in that building caught on fire. sulphur dioxide and methyl chloride on the other hand were toxic gases and caused deaths all around the country.

The situation genuinely got so bad that the government almost passed a law that banned the usage of home fridges.

Midgley was once again tasked with another problem to solve. Find a coolant that was actually both safe and effective in its job.

Once again Midgley knew the answer will come from his passion, chemistry. He narrowed down the elements in the periodic table that were gaseous at low temperatures. finally, there was one element that caught his eye; fluorine.

Now, fluorine was highly toxic on its own, however, Midgley was hoping to combine it with another element that will together make a stable compound and render fluorine non-toxic.

In just a few hours, Midgley and his team came up with a compound in which they combine fluorine, chlorine, and carbon. a new class of compounds called chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs.

Kettering finally concluded that this compound was non-toxic, non-flammable, and essentially safe for both humans and animals. He quickly partnered with DuPont to commercially start the sale of this compound in bulk after a successful previous partnership with the company over leaded gasoline. CFC was finally ready for commercial sale under the catchy name 'Freon'.

In 1932, it finally made its debut. The timing was near perfect, 15 more people were killed by methyl chloride leak. Just like leaded gasoline, it was an overnight sensation and by 1939 DuPont sold 8 million fridges.

Soon other companies used this compound to create a new AC cabinet. It was not actually the freon that caused environmental damages but actually when freon was repurposed into a handheld product that will be catastrophic for the environment and whose price we are still paying today.

By the 1970s, freon was used in almost everything, from ACs to hair sprays.

It was around the time when 2 scientists created the aerosol version of freon to be used as an insecticide mist which gave birth to the aerosol industry that one scientist found out the disastrous consequences of CFCs.

Enter James Lovelock, the scientist who found out the environmental effects of freon in a most unexpected way.

i mean look at that face. so happy and cute. that is the face of the man whose passion and wife is science.

Lovelock actually began this drastic discovery when one day he decided to know whether the haze in front of his house was actually natural mist or chemical compounds from the urban cities. In order to measure this he created a device that will help him accurately measure the synthetic compounds in the air with an accuracy never seen before. In order to measure this, he went on a grand sea voyage from England to Antarctica and just like Dr. Patterson he found out that high concentrations of CFC's emissions were everywhere.

Lovelock presented his findings at a scientific conference in 1976, his findings intrigued 2 chemists who decided to research further on this issue. They found out that unlike other chemicals CFCs had no natural sinks in the earth where they can be naturally dissolved.

Since there were no natural sinks the gas went upwards and accumulated in the upper atmosphere. while roaming in the upper atmosphere the sun's UV rays will ultimately break it down. This chemical reaction will release chlorine from CFCs and thus begins the process of destruction of the ozone layer.

CHEMICAL REACTIONS TO UNDERSTAND BETTER.

Chlorine singlehandedly was responsible for the ozone hole in the atmosphere of Antarctica. this caused an immediate alarm amongst the scientific community because as we all know ozone layer provides a protective layer against the sun's UV rays and prevents us from catching numerous fatal health conditions, most common being skin cancer.

If the emission of CFCs continues at this rate then half of the earth's ozone layer will be gone by 2050. What's more is that in places like DC or Paris, just being outside for 5 minutes will cause severe sunburns. Skin cancer rate will skyrocket and by 2065 plant life will be affected. There will be a decrease in co2 absorption during photosynthesis in plants.

After the Montreal Protocol and international collaboration, CFC was finally banned in 1982. However, the ozone layer destroyed by Midgeley's compound since its use from the 1920s to 1970s is not expected to recover till 2050.

and this is the story of Dr. Thomas Midgely Jr.

next will be perhaps Dr. Clair Patterson.

[softrobotcritics]

Magnetoactive liquid-solid phase transitional matter

https://www.cell.com/matter/fulltext/S2590-2385(22)00693-2#articleInformation

Magnetically actuated miniature machines can perform multimodal locomotion and programmable deformations. However, they are either solid magnetic elastomers with limited morphological adaptability or liquid material systems with low mechanical strength. 

Here, we report magnetoactive phase transitional matter (MPTM) composed of magnetic neodymium-iron-boron microparticles embedded in liquid metal. MPTMs can reversibly switch between solid and liquid phase by heating with alternating magnetic field or through ambient cooling. 

In this way, they uniquely combine high mechanical strength (strength, 21.2 MPa; stiffness, 1.98 GPa), high load capacity (able to bear 30 kg), and fast locomotion speed (>1.5 m/s) in the solid phase with excellent morphological adaptability (elongation, splitting, and merging) in the liquid phase. We demonstrate the unique capabilities of MPTMs by showing their dynamic shape reconfigurability by realizing smart soldering machines and universal screws for smart assembly and machines for foreign body removal and drug delivery in a model stomach.

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A brief review of mechanical designs for additive manufactured soft materials.Soft Sci. 2021; 2: 2https://doi.org/10.20517/ss.2021.22View in Article

Tattoo-like epidermal electronics as skin sensors for human machine interfaces.Soft Sci. 2021; 1: 10https://doi.org/10.20517/ss.2021.09View in Article

A brief review on miniature flexible and soft tactile sensors for interventional catheter applications.Soft Sci. 2021; 2: 6https://doi.org/10.20517/ss.2022.05View in Article

Endoscopy-assisted magnetic navigation of biohybrid soft microrobots with rapid endoluminal delivery and imaging.Sci. Robot. 2021; 6: eabd2813https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abd2813View in Article

Reconfigurable magnetic liquid metal robot for high-performance droplet manipulation.Nano Lett. 2022; 22: 2923-2933https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c00100View in Article

Reconfigurable magnetic slime robot: deformation, adaptability, and multifunction.Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022; 32: 2112508https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202112508View in Article

Hard-magnetic liquid metal droplets with excellent magnetic field dependent mobility and elasticity.J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2021; 92: 60-68https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmst.2021.04.004View in Article

Programmable digital liquid metal droplets in reconfigurable magnetic fields.ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 2020; 12: 37670-37679https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c08179View in Article

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Unconventional locomotion of liquid metal droplets driven by magnetic fields.Soft Matter. 2018; 14: 7113-7118https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SM01281DView in Article

Reconfigurable multifunctional ferrofluid droplet robots.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2020; 117: 27916-27926https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2016388117View in Article

Electromagnetic three dimensional liquid metal manipulation.Lab Chip. 2016; 19: 3261-3267https://doi.org/10.1039/C9LC00503JView in Article

Magnetic liquid metal marble: characterization of lyophobicity and magnetic manipulation for switching applications.J. Microelectromech. Syst. 2016; 25: 1050-1057https://doi.org/10.1109/JMEMS.2016.2614303View in Article

Magnetically- and electrically-controllable functional liquid metal droplets.Adv. Mater. Technol. 2019; 4: 1800694https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201800694View in Article

Magnetically powered shape-transformable liquid metal micromotors.Small. 2019; 15: e1905446https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201905446View in Article

Ferrofluid droplets as liquid microrobots with multiple deformabilities.Adv. Funct. Mater. 2020; 30: 2000138https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202000138View in Article

Reconfigurable magnetic microrobot swarm: multimode transformation, locomotion, and manipulation.Sci. Robot. 2019; 4: eaav8006https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.aav8006View in Article

Swarming microdroplets to a dexterous micromanipulator.Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021; 31: 2011193https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202011193View in Article

Fluid-like soft machines with liquid metal.Matter. 2021; 4: 336-337https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2021.01.009View in Article

A stiffness-switchable, biomimetic smart material enabled by supramolecular reconfiguration.Adv. Mater. 2021; 34: e2107857https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202107857View in Article

Octopus arms exhibit exceptional flexibility.Sci. Rep. 2020; 10: 20872https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77873-7View in Article

Beyond muscles: role of intramuscular connective tissue elasticity and passive stiffness in octopus arm muscle function.J. Exp. Biol. 2021; 224: 242644https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.242644View in Article

Laser reprogramming magnetic anisotropy in soft composites for reconfigurable 3D shaping.Nat. Commun. 2020; 11: 6325https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20229-6View in Article

Reprogrammable ferromagnetic domains for reconfigurable soft magnetic actuators.Nano Lett. 2020; 20: 5185-5192https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01418View in Article

Magnetic multimaterial printing for multimodal shape transformation with tunable properties and shiftable mechanical behaviors.ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 2020; 13: 12639-12648https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c13863View in Article

Thermoset shape memory polymer variable stiffness 4D robotic catheters.Adv. Sci. 2022; 9: e2103277https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202103277View in Article

Magnetically addressable shape-memory and stiffening in a composite elastomer.Adv. Mater. 2019; 31: e1900561https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201900561View in Article

Magnetically tightened form-stable phase change materials with modular assembly and geometric conformality features.Nat. Commun. 2022; 13: 1397https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29090-1View in Article

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Article info

Publication history

Published: January 25, 2023

Accepted: December 5, 2022

Received in revised form: October 28, 2022

Received: August 18, 2022

[sw5w]

Artoo's Spotlight

STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones 00:13:34

Something odd I noticed here: the rim of R2's lower body where his retractable leg comes out has some of the motion sensor lights superimposed on top of it. This should normally be in shadow, but it looks like the the VFX artists were a little too aggressive adding areas to block out for effects. Or, as several people pointed out on Twitter, it may be the model that Kenny Baker would normally be operating, with the the leg tubes painted over.

[nikshahxai]

Mastering Emissionless Locomotives: A Green Revolution in Transportation | Nik Shah xAi

The transportation sector is one of the primary contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. To mitigate climate change, there is a pressing need to transition to more sustainable modes of transportation. Emissionless locomotives offer a promising solution to reduce the environmental impact of rail transportation.

Understanding Emissionless Locomotives

Emissionless locomotives are designed to operate without emitting harmful pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These locomotives can be powered by various alternative energy sources, including:

Battery Electric Locomotives: These locomotives store energy in batteries and use electric motors to propel themselves.

Fuel Cell Locomotives: Fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity, powering the locomotive's motors.

Hybrid Locomotives: These locomotives combine traditional diesel engines with alternative energy sources to reduce emissions.

Benefits of Emissionless Locomotives

Reduced Environmental Impact: Emissionless locomotives significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation.

Improved Air Quality: By eliminating harmful pollutants, these locomotives improve air quality in urban areas.

Noise Reduction: Electric and fuel cell locomotives produce less noise than diesel locomotives, reducing noise pollution along rail lines.

Energy Efficiency: Many alternative energy sources used in emissionless locomotives are more energy-efficient than traditional diesel fuel.

Challenges and Future Developments

Despite the numerous benefits, the adoption of emissionless locomotives faces several challenges:

Infrastructure: Upgrading existing rail infrastructure to accommodate electric and fuel cell locomotives, including charging stations and hydrogen refueling stations, is a significant investment.

Battery Technology: Advancements in battery technology are crucial for improving the range and performance of battery electric locomotives.

Hydrogen Production: The production of hydrogen for fuel cell locomotives must be clean and sustainable to avoid increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

However, ongoing research and development are addressing these challenges. As technology continues to advance, emissionless locomotives are expected to become increasingly viable and cost-effective options for rail transportation.

Conclusion

Mastering emissionless locomotives is essential for a sustainable future. By transitioning to these cleaner and greener technologies, the rail industry can play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. As research and development progress, emissionless locomotives are poised to become a cornerstone of a more environmentally friendly transportation system.

[theunderseaworld]

Alien creatures at the bottom of the sea?

The octopus is a fascinating and enigmatic creature, often likened to an alien due to its otherworldly appearance and extraordinary abilities. These remarkable animals, found in the depths of the ocean, have captivated scientists and the public alike, leading to the intriguing question: are octopuses the aliens, the alien creatures at the bottom of the sea? With their soft, boneless bodies, eight flexible arms, and large, expressive eyes, octopuses indeed resemble beings from another world. Their intelligence, problem-solving skills, and ability to change color and texture at will further enhance their reputation as the enigmatic "aliens" of the ocean.

Octopuses belong to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes squids and cuttlefish. They are known for their intelligence, which rivals that of many vertebrates. Studies have shown that octopuses can navigate complex mazes, use tools, and exhibit short and long-term memory. Their problem-solving abilities are particularly impressive; for example, they can unscrew jar lids to access food inside and even learn to mimic other species for protection or predation. These behaviors have led some scientists to ponder the evolutionary origins of such advanced cognitive functions in a marine invertebrate.

One of the most striking features of octopuses is their ability to change color and texture to blend into their surroundings. This camouflage capability is achieved through specialized skin cells called chromatophores, which contain pigments that can expand or contract to alter the octopus's appearance. Additionally, octopuses have cells called iridophores and leucophores, which reflect light and contribute to their ability to mimic the colors and textures of their environment. This ability not only helps them evade predators but also allows them to ambush prey, making them formidable hunters.

Their unique locomotion also adds to the perception of octopuses as alien creatures. Unlike most animals that move in a linear or predictable fashion, octopuses can propel themselves using a form of jet propulsion. By forcefully expelling water through their siphon, they can shoot forward at high speeds, allowing for quick escapes from predators or sudden attacks on prey. Additionally, their arms are lined with suction cups, giving them an unparalleled ability to grasp and manipulate objects with precision.

Octopuses also exhibit remarkable regenerative abilities. If an arm is lost to a predator or through injury, it can be fully regrown, complete with functioning nerves and muscles. This regenerative power is not just limited to their limbs; octopuses have been observed healing other injuries with a speed and efficiency that seem almost supernatural. This ability to regenerate, combined with their flexible bodies, makes them incredibly resilient and adaptable to their environment.

The reproductive strategies of octopuses are equally intriguing and contribute to their alien-like mystique. Most species exhibit a semelparous reproductive strategy, meaning they breed only once before they die. Female octopuses lay thousands of eggs, which they meticulously care for until they hatch. During this period, the female often ceases to eat and devotes all her energy to protecting and aerating the eggs. This intense maternal dedication, followed by the female's death, adds a poignant dimension to their life cycle.

Furthermore, octopuses possess a highly unusual nervous system. Unlike most animals, where the central brain controls the body, octopuses have a distributed nervous system. Two-thirds of their neurons are located in their arms, allowing each arm to operate semi-independently. This means that an octopus's arm can continue to explore, manipulate objects, and even respond to stimuli even if it is severed from the central brain. This decentralized nervous system contributes to their extraordinary dexterity and problem-solving abilities, reinforcing the perception of octopuses as alien beings with advanced capabilities.

The study of octopuses has also led to significant insights into the potential for extraterrestrial life. Their unique evolutionary path, which has led to advanced intelligence and complex behaviors in a marine invertebrate, suggests that life on other planets could take forms that are vastly different from those on Earth. The octopus, with its alien appearance and extraordinary abilities, serves as a reminder that the universe may harbor life forms that challenge our understanding of biology and intelligence.

In popular culture, the octopus's alien qualities have not gone unnoticed. They have been featured in various works of science fiction, often depicted as intelligent extraterrestrial beings or as inspiration for alien creatures. Their ability to change shape and color, their intelligence, and their mysterious nature make them perfect candidates for the role of Earth's "alien creatures at the bottom of the sea." This fascination is not just limited to fiction; documentaries and scientific literature frequently explore the parallels between octopuses and potential alien life forms, highlighting their unique place in the natural world.

Despite their alien-like qualities, octopuses are also deeply affected by changes in their environment. Climate change, pollution, and overfishing threaten their habitats and survival. Their sensitivity to these changes underscores the interconnectedness of all life on Earth and the importance of preserving marine ecosystems. Protecting octopuses and their habitats is not only crucial for maintaining biodiversity but also for continuing to unravel the mysteries of these incredible creatures.

[pattywagon2go]

Train Talk Tuesday

Train Talk Tuesday: As promised, this post will be about Hydrogen trains, because god fucking damnit, I have had enough of this hydrogen bullshit in trains, and I figured it would make for a great post. In this, I will cover what hydrogen trains are, a few examples in the wild/proposed, why they're incredibly dumb and bad, and what we could actually invest in instead of these half-baked attempts at rail-based transportation, featuring the dumbfucks from the California Department of Transportation, or CalTrans, and the United Kingdom. If you're ready, then stand clear from the closing doors, for the train is now ready to depart.

First off, what is a hydrogen train?

Talkin About The (H2) Flow

True to its name, a hydrogen train is a train that is powered purely off of Hydrogen gas, the lightest element on the Periodic Table. You also sometimes see them referred to as Hydrail or Zero Emission Multiple Units, or ZEMUs (Which is a bit of a dumb definition, but more on that later). The Hydrogen gas stored in these trains can be used to power it in a few different ways, either by burning the gas through an internal combustion engine, or using fuel cells to generate electricity from the gas, which in turn powers electric motors which drive the train, in a similar vein to diesel-electrics. The big selling point about these so-called "ZEMUs" is that both methods of powering the train yield no harmful pollutants, as burning Hydrogen gas only creates water vapor, due to how combustion works, and fuel cells generate electricity via reactions with hydrogen and oxygen, hence their marketing as "zero-emissions". Some notable examples of hydrogen trains you can see in the real world include the Stadler FLIRT H2 built for Metrolink (see above), the Alstom Coradia iLint (see below), and an upcoming conversion of a Class 60 diesel locomotive to hydrogen combustion (with some...quirks, but more on that later)

Now, I want to make it clear here that something like this on-paper is something I'd fully support. I am not a conspiracy theory crackhead who thinks that climate change is a myth, so something that could provide necessary transportation with no pollution involved is something I would support. But, notice I said on-paper. In practice, hydrogen trains have a myriad of issues which don't paint them as the environmentally friendly solution you would think they would be, and on top of that, there's an older technology we have that makes these things completely irrelevant. But, let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Let's talk about the problems.

A Grey Green Lie

Now once again, from the surface, its easy to think that hydrogen is a clean alternative to fossil fuels, because hey, no greenhouse gases emitted during burning, unlike those fossil fuels, and we can just get hydrogen from water! It's the perfect fuel source!

Yeahhhh. I wish.

Unfortunately, a large portion of the hydrogen we source involves Methane gas, which is commonly sourced from natural gas deposits. The most common method of hydrogen production, Steam-Methane Reforming, involves using high-pressure steam and methane gas and forcing them to react with each other, which derives hydrogen from the methane. Now, if it wasn't bad enough that this process involved fossil fuels, this process does yield some amounts of Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide, the latter of which is to blame for climate change occurring. So even if the desired gas itself doesn't produce greenhouse gases while being used for energy, its production already involves not only a fossil fuel, but it produces the greenhouse gases that the desired gas was trying to avoid. (For additional reading, this is a good source)

The only source of hydrogen that has the potential to be clean all the way through is Green Hydrogen, which relies on electrolysis to derive hydrogen from water. The major problem with this approach is that compared to Grey Hydrogen, it is a much more expensive and resource intensive method of obtaining hydrogen, requiring more capital and energy overall to even make feasible compared to SMR with Grey Hydrogen, hence why this option is usually passed up. And even then, Green Hydrogen only has the potential to be 100% clean. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewability has stated that the current grid isn't ready for mass-hydrogen production yet, as most of the electricity generated for the United States still comes from non-renewable sources, which would negate the "clean" benefit of Green Hydrogen entirely. (Source for anyone curious) And even with a purely green powered grid, there's a certain other option regarding powering trains which blows hydrogen away to the far reaches of the universe. But, odd, I don't seem to be able to remember what it could be. Eh, maybe it will come back to me later.

So, what about that fancy hydrogen-powered FLIRT ordered by CalTrans? Well, its more than likely going to be fueled up by that Grey Hydrogen stuff, so any notion of it being a "clean" alternative is null and void. And on top of that, these dumbfucks have the AUDACITY to even call it a so-called "Zero Emission Multiple Unit". I-I just...WHYYYYYYY. I absolutely despise that name, because all it is for is to convince the general population that its this "clean" solution to transit woes and will bring on an "era of sustainability". Its a pure marketing stunt, and for that, I despise it with every fiber of my being.

But even that pails in comparison to the UK choosing to convert one of their old diesel locomotives to burn hydrogen. But, being the UK, they have to have some kind of stupid and weird quirk with it, and in this case, the locomotive itself won't be using hydrogen to power the train directly. Rather, its going to use hydrogen to heat water, in order to power a fucking STEAM TURBINE, to generate the electricity to power the locomotive.

I-I just-I don't even know what to say anymore.

There's honestly a lot more about hydrogen trains that I could rant about in this post, but so far, I haven't mentioned anything about what's the solution to this hydrogen craze. All I've talked about are what they are and why they suck. It is clear that we are in desperate need of a clean solution to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels which isn't these meme machines. I just cannot seem to figure out watt would fit the bill, though. What we need is something so truly electrifying, so powerful, something which would truly shock the minds of those in charge and would fix all of our current issues regarding our dependencies on fossil fuels for transit, and could be implemented on a scale so wide there would be next to no resistance to it being the undisputed key to the sustainability we so crave. If only...

Oh, but there is.

The Shock You Didn't Expect

That's right, every single one of the problems I mentioned with hydrogen trains we have already solved using regular electrification. Electric trains not only produce zero emissions while in operation, but they can also be powered by 100% renewable energy, making Green Hydrogen completely irrelevant. Trains can come in either locomotive hauled or multiple unit varieties, so if you wanted a true "Zero Emission Multiple Unit", we have that covered in the form of Electric Multiple Units, or EMUs. On top of that, an electric train doesn't have to carry any kind of fuel with it, meaning it can not only run for a theoretical indefinite period, not requiring any downtime for refueling, but it will always be inherently more efficient than anything which requires onboard fuel storage, due to a lower axle weight caused by freeing up space taken up by the fuel storage. Electrification is something that the United States is no stranger to, with the notable examples of early electrification being the Baltimore & Ohio railroad being the first railroad in the continental United States to open an electrified line for revenue service in 1895, to the great Pennsylvania Railroad, who's legacy of electrified rail corridors survive to this day as parts of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Keystone Corridor, to even recent examples in California, where up in the Bay Area, Caltrain has finished electrifying a large portion of their main line in preparation for electric revenue service. There are no obstacles to electrification, no excuses, no issues. This nation is fully capable of doing these kinds of projects.

So, conclusion time?

On the surface, a train powered by hydrogen seems like a logical step forward for rail-based transport in the pursuit for a greener future. Yet this green solution that we praise as our savior hides within a dark secret, for it has a heart of methane, and it will only further our dependencies on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the true green solution, electrification, continues to be shunned and shoved aside as we chase down new, unproven technologies in our thirst for sustainability salvation. If we are to truly perfect our transportation and achieve a status of carbon neutral, the path we must take won't be some unproven technology like hydrogen and batteries, but the path we took in the past, being proper electrification. It will definitely take a while for us to move on from our tie to fossil fuels, but if we know to avoid false promises like this hydrogen bullshit, then the move will be just that little bit faster.

[marketwire]

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Market Size was valued at USD 0.72 billion in 2021. The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle market industry is projected to grow from USD 1.2 Billion in 2022 to USD 46.8 billion by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 68.52% during the forecast period (2024–2030). Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are specially designed vehicles that are powered through hydrogen acting as a fuel and are used to supply power to the electric motors installed within them, thus ensuring emission free vehicle transmission. Vehicle powered with hydrogen fuel cells includes a reverse electrolysis process wherein hydrogen reacts with oxygen, thus producing electricity to power electric motors along with heat and water. The heat & water generated during this process exits through the exhaust as water vapor, thereby leading to zero or no emission.

Key Developments in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Industry

In September 2023, Toyota Motor Corporation launched a prototype hydrogen fuel cell electric Hilux. This technology helps to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel cell solutions to deliver carbon neutrality across the region. It uses core elements from the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric sedan – technology that has proved its quality in almost 10 years of commercial production.

In July 2023, Ballard Power Systems, Inc. signed an agreement with Ford Trucks to supply a fuel cell system as part of the development of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle prototype. This strategy includes an initial purchase order for 2 FCmoveTM.-XD 120 kW fuel cell engines that are planned to be delivered by Ballard to Ford Trucks in 2023. Furthermore, Ford Trucks plans to develop a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) F-MAX as part of the project.

In July 2023, Ballard Power Systems, Inc. received orders for a total of 96 hydrogen fuel cell engines from long-standing customer Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. The purchase orders include 52 fuel cell engines that will power Solaris Urbino hydrogen buses for deployment by public transport in Germany and 44 fuel cell engines that will power Solaris buses in European cities.

In January 2022, General Motors (GM) planned to broaden electrification, by expanding fuel cells beyond vehicles. It also continues to accelerate its growth as a platform innovator and has announced new commercial applications of its HYDROTEC fuel cell technology. HYDROTEC projects, which are currently in development, from heavy-duty trucks to aerospace and locomotives, are being planned for use beyond vehicles for power generation.

Downlaod report sample

Lack of refueling infrastructure for HFCV

The lack of refueling infrastructure for HFCV in most of the countries is due to the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations. For instance, in 2020, globally the hydrogen refueling stations are less than 800, which hampers the growth of HFCV vehicle sales. Furthermore, in many developing countries such as Brazil, African countries, and other countries limited presence of hydrogen vehicles and high cost for development which are also impact the growth of HFCV market. The development of HFCV in underdeveloped countries is slower than in developed countries.

Rise in adoption of HFCV in development economies

Increase in adoption of clean mobility solutions is observed globally due to climatic changes. Continuous usage of fossil fuels in automobiles is a major factor resulting in climate change. Vehicles that run on alternative fuels, such as natural gas, electricity, biofuel, biodiesel, fuel cell, liquid nitrogen, and dimethyl ether result in lesser carbon emissions. Increasing environmental concerns among consumers, introduction of stringent emission regulations, and launch of advanced vehicles supporting alternative fuels are expected to increase the adoption of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicle market during the forecast period.

Purchase report

Key players : 

The key players profiled in the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle market share include General Motors Company, HONDA MOTOR Co., Ltd, AUDI AG, Ballard Power Systems, Inc., BMW Group, Daimler AG, Hyundai Motor Group, MAN SE, Toyota Motor Corp., and Volvo Group which have been operating in the industry & are developing strategies & products for the growth of the market.

[surv1vrd]

regeneration  healing  factor  :  Users  possess  a  regenerative  healing  factor,  meaning  that  they  can  rapidly  heal  and  get  restored  to  their  optimal  and  full  health/state  at  an  extremely  fast  rate.  Unlike  Healing,  regeneration/healing  factor  is  a  process  that  happens  unconsciously  without  the  need  for  activation,  resulting  in  a  constant  state  of  optimal  health.

Regeneration  is  a  process  that  occurs  in  all  biological  entities,  but  a  regenerative  healing  factor  is  much  more  efficient,  seamless,  and  powerful.  So  much  so  that  users  can  recreate  lost  or  damaged  tissues,  organs,  and  limbs,  sometimes  slowing,  or  even  stopping  aging,  something  natural  regeneration  can  never  accomplish  (or  does  so  extremely  slowly).  The  rate  and  amount  of  healing  vary  widely;  some  can  regrow  missing  limbs,  others  must  put  the  limb  back  in  place  for  rapid  regeneration.  The  user  is  generally  in  very  good  physical  shape,  as  their  bodies  are  constantly  reverting  to  a  healthy  state,  granting  them  nigh-inexhaustible  stamina  and  vitality.

The  regeneration  process  also  increases  the  speed  of  processes  the  body  uses  in  the  healing  such  as  endorphin  production  to  mitigate  pain  reducing  the  amount  of  time  and  severity  the  subject  feels  discomfort  leading  to  an  increased  pain  threshold.  Other  processes  included  are  the  production  of  adrenaline  and  the  fight  or  flight  response  which  are  greatly  extended  by  the  increased  recovery  leading  to  increased  physical  performance  as  the  subject  gains  elevated  strength  and  energy  while  also  able  to  push  their  bodies  harder  due  to  decreased  sensation  of  pain.

At  higher  levels,  a  user  can  regenerate  not  just  their  cellular  tissues,  but  also  their  DNA,  undoing  genetic  mutations  and  breakdown,  as  well  as  maintaining  one's  youth  by  extending  telomeres.  If  advanced  enough,  the  ability  will  cause  the  body  to  cease  aging  as  the  cells  are  regenerating  and  dying  in  equilibrium,  granting  a  form  of  immortality.

life-force  absorption  :  The  user  can  absorb  life-force/energy,  vitality  and  health,  while  removing  it  from  the  source,  into  their  body  and  use  it  in  various  ways,  gaining  some  form  of  advantage,  either  by  enhancing  themselves,  gaining  the  drained  power,  using  it  as  power  source  etc;  either  temporarily  or  permanently.  zavi  needs  it  to  re-energize  herself  after  her  body  heals  itself.

immortality  :  Users  possesses  immortality,  a  state  where  one  has  eternal  life  and  is  undying.  They  never  age,  are  completely  self-sustaining,  free  from  all  bodily  necessities,  and  can  survive  virtually  any  kind  of  harm,  remaining  immune  to  all  forms  of  decay.  Any  damage  done  to  the  user  would  either  be  regenerated  or  simply  remain  non-fatal.  As  a  byproduct  of  having  everlasting  life,  users  may  have  an  infinite  reservoir  of  life  energy  that  fuels  the  dynamic  system  of  their  immortality.  zavi's  ability  for  immortality  is  tied  to  her  regenerative  healing  factor.

super  strength  :  Users  are  glaringly,  obviously,  and  unnaturally  stronger  than  their  race  because  their  capabilities  are  pushed  beyond  the  natural  level  and  superior  to  most  supernatural  beings  in  their  verse;  making  them  immensely  stronger  than  normal  members  of  their  species  (in  that  'verse)  can  be  achieved  by  any  method  of  training.

Depending  on  the  users,  they  are  capable  of  lifting  from  massive  vehicles  to  large  airplanes  and  able  to  lift  massive  boulders  and  locomotives  with  ease.  Their  high-level  immense  strength  enables  them  to  overpower  users  with  peak  human  strength  and  enhanced  strength.  Users  are  capable  of  tearing  through  the  strongest  metals  with  their  bare  hands  like  paper.  Offensively,  depending  on  the  users'  strength,  they  can  send  opponents  flying  several  miles  away,  create  cracks  in  the  lithosphere,  or  release  a  force  of  energy  equivalent  to  nuclear  weapons  upon  an  entire  city.

super  agility  :  Users  of  this  ability  are  several  times  more  agile  than  what  is  naturally  possible,  being  capable  of  dodging  projectiles  that  move  several  times  faster  than  light  due  to  physical  abilities  such  as  balance,  motor  coordination,  reflexes,  speed,  etc.  Therefore,  users  could  be  considered  one  of  the  fastest  beings  in  their  universe/verse.

psychic  immunity:  The  user  is  completely  immune  to  any/all  psychic  phenomena  regardless  of  its  nature  and  origin.  Their  mind  cannot  be  controlled,  damaged,  read,  influenced,  emulated,  altered,  detected  or  communicated  with,  forcing  users  with  telepathic  allies  to  rely  on  alternate  means  of  long-distance  communication,  usually  via  technological  or  magical  devices.

Simply  put,  the  users'  mind  cannot  be  entered  or  affected  in  any  way,  making  them  perfectly  immune  to  any  mind-related  effects  and  abilities.

superhuman  reflexes:  Users  have  glaringly,  obviously  and  super/unnaturally  superior  reaction  speeds  over  other  beings  in  their  universe  because  their  capabilities  are  pushed  beyond  the  natural  level,  making  them  able  to  react  faster  than  regular  beings.

[ramtracking]

CSX debuts its first hydrogen-fuel cell locomotive (updated) - Trains [ Hydrogen ]

CSX debuts its first hydrogen-fuel cell locomotive (updated) – Trains [News Summary] The switcher, No. 2100, was converted to hydrogen power at the railroad’s shop in Huntington, W.Va., as part of its partnership with CPKC… A little less than one year ago, CSX joined CPKC’s (Canadian Pacific Kansas City) program to develop hydrogen fuel cell (HFC)-powered… The locomotive was converted from an…

[jhavelikes]

Fundamental knowledge gaps exist about the plasticity of cells from adult soma and the potential diversity of body shape and behavior in living constructs derived from genetically wild-type cells. Here anthrobots are introduced, a spheroid-shaped multicellular biological robot (biobot) platform with diameters ranging from 30 to 500 microns and cilia-powered locomotive abilities. Each Anthrobot begins as a single cell, derived from the adult human lung, and self-constructs into a multicellular motile biobot after being cultured in extra cellular matrix for 2 weeks and transferred into a minimally viscous habitat. Anthrobots exhibit diverse behaviors with motility patterns ranging from tight loops to straight lines and speeds ranging from 5–50 microns s−1. The anatomical investigations reveal that this behavioral diversity is significantly correlated with their morphological diversity. Anthrobots can assume morphologies with fully polarized or wholly ciliated bodies and spherical or ellipsoidal shapes, each related to a distinct movement type. Anthrobots are found to be capable of traversing, and inducing rapid repair of scratches in, cultured human neural cell sheets in vitro. By controlling microenvironmental cues in bulk, novel structures, with new and unexpected behavior and biomedically-relevant capabilities, can be discovered in morphogenetic processes without direct genetic editing or manual sculpting.

Motile Living Biobots Self‐Construct from Adult Human Somatic Progenitor Seed Cells - Gumuskaya - 2024 - Advanced Science - Wiley Online Library