Hello, and welcome to The Edge, the newsletter that brings you groundbreaking stories from the frontiers of technology and science.
We’ve got some great stories for you today including new discoveries about our bones, a star in its thirties and record-breaking prefabricated skyscrapers. For today’s Start-up Stories we’ll be talking about Strukshur. As always, we’ve added extra stories under each article should you find yourself in a curious state of mind.
The star that’s a millennial
We are shook. Image credit: ALMA/NRAO/AUI/NSF, B. Saxton/NASA/ESA
Astronomers May Have Found a Star That’s Just 33 Years Old
A team of astronomers believe they have found a star that’s only seven years older than Oliver, the guy who writes these newsletters. Specifically, the star is believed to be 33 years old
In 1987, a supernova dubbed SN 1987A was detected 170,000 light-years away, in a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Until recently, there was doubt about whether or not the neutron star survived the supernova and didn’t just collapse in on itself, forming a black hole. However, a new paper suggests that it might have survived. If that’s the case, the star would be no older than 33 - a millennial, in other words. This would make the neutron star would be the youngest known to mankind.
To make the discovery, high-resolution imagery from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) was used, enabling the team to get a good look at what remained after SN1987A. Inside the core of the supernova, they found a hot “blob”, which is probably a gas cloud shrouding the star. The fact that the gas is heated hints towards a star lies hidden in the midst of everything. According to lead author Dany Page, an astrophysicist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, “In spite of the supreme complexity of a supernova explosion and the extreme conditions reigning in the interior of a neutron star, the detection of a warm blob of dust is a confirmation of several predictions.” It will take time before the star’s existence is confirmed so until then, we’ll have to wait.
The oldest star ever found.
You’re part star
We are the universe. Image credit: NASA/Victor Tangermann
Your Bones Are Made Out of Exploded Star, Scientists Say
A new study has revealed that half the calcium in our universe originated from a “calcium-rich” supernova. This has big implications for us as it means that our teeth and bones are made from what is essentially the remains of an ancient supernova.
Around 55 million light-years from Earth, an extremely bright event took place. The event in question was a supernova. Luckily, astronomers in countries around the world were quick to spot the event and turn their telescopes toward the explosion. In fact, astronomers were so quick that many were able to observe the supernova just ten hours after it happened. According to Raffaella Margutti from Northwestern University, a senior author of the study, “The explosion is trying to cool down. It wants to give away its energy, and calcium emission is an efficient way to do that.”
Astronomers managed to catch the event just in time to determine that it was the most calcium ever to be emitted from a single event (that we’ve observed).
How it’ll look when Betelgeuse goes supernova.
WhatsApp getting big upgrades
WhatsApp improving accessibility. Image credit: The Verge
WhatsApp Working on Multiple Device Support With Chat Sync
WhatsApp seems to be working on new support for multiple devices with synchronised chat history.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is testing the ability to let users use their account on multiple devices, which includes a separate iPad app. Currently, WhatsApp can be used on multiple devices through WhatsApp web, which is linked to a user’s phone account. Right now, WhatsApp Web requires a phone to be on and connected to the internet to work, but the new features won’t need that phone connection and will allow people to use WhatsApp on multiple devices at the same time.
The feature, rumoured for months, will also support chat history sync, meaning users can synchronise messages across devices.
Did Facebook’s purchase of WhatsApp pay off?
Construction revolution
Will prefab skyscrapers become the norm? Image credit: ADDP Architects
Malaysia-Made Skyscrapers Will Rise In Singapore, Tallest Prefabs of the World
Singaporean firm ADDP Architects are currently working on two new skyscrapers. What’s interesting about this is that the skyscrapers will be the first prefabricated skyscrapers, towering at 192 metres.
Both skyscrapers will be erected in Singapore’s Bukit Merah District and will also house 988 apartments in total. Large parts of the buildings are being put together in Senai, Malaysia. Currently, the tallest prefabricated building is the 140-metre tall Clement Canopy, also one of ADDP’s projects.
The towers have been designed in such a way that noise is heavily reduced during construction. And, given that the buildings are going to be prefabricated, waste is reduced as the factory’s waste output is much easier to manage.
Modern construction materials are amazing.
Start-up Stories
Strukshur
Image credit: Strukshur
Construction, like many industries, is becoming ever-more dependant on online tools. Strukshur’s goal is to make online construction collaboration easier than ever before.
Strukshur is a groundbreaking online design and project management platform which lets homeowners and contractors collaborate all the way from project ideation to project completion.
Specifically, the software lets house owners and house remodelling contractors organise and manage decisions that need to be made, all while actual remodelling and building take place. This streamlines workflows and improves project management. Additionally, house owners can create idea boards for any room by use of Pinterest pins, which can then be shared with contractors. Next to this, Strukshur improves project transparency by improving visibility into subcontracts and budgets, as well as timelines, schedules and finishes.