Oct 13, 2022
The National Debt Surpasses $31 Trillion as War in Europe Continues
The US National debt surpasses $31 Trillion. The war between Russia and Ukraine continues and could escalate into a nuclear conflict. Scientists grow plants on lunar soil. A new Brain implant uses thoughts to operate devices. Here are this week’s stories.
The US National Debt Surpasses $31 Trillion
According to a US Treasury report, the US national debt has surpassed $31 trillion, and now we are closer to the statutory ceiling of roughly $31.4 trillion, an artificial cap Congress placed on the US government’s ability to borrow. Over the past five years, the national debt rose nearly $10 trillion because trillions of dollars are being printed for the pandemic and now for Biden’s spending plans. Essentially, the US has borrowed $31 trillion by selling treasury bonds, bills, notes, floating rate notes, and Treasury inflation-protected securities to investors. Investors include US investors and banks, the Federal Reserve, governmental agencies, and even Foreign investors and governments, which hold more than 40% of the total. The US has to pay these investors back over time and interest, which the Federal Reserve keeps raising, and will likely spend over $500 billion this fiscal year just on interest payments. And as the national debt and interest rates continue to rise, this payment could soar to $1 trillion per year in a decade, which will take up nearly 20% of all federal revenues. So essentially, the US government borrows trillions of dollars from elite individuals and institutions and uses that money to fund legislation like the stimulus checks, where the money eventually flows back to the elites and then pays them back and interest, which the banks control, using our taxes.
The Russian-Ukraine War Continues
The war between Ukraine and Russia continues, and now there is a possibility of a nuclear conflict. Both sides are not willing to negotiate, and the media on both sides continues to portray a narrative that is just not true. So, how did we get here? Well after the fall of the Soviet Union, the US had assured Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that the US would not expand NATO further east from Germany. Still, NATO has expanded every decade, and now Russia borders five NATO members. In 2014, a coup occurred in Ukraine, which was openly supported by US and European countries to replace the government with a pro-west party. The Obama administration and the American news media portrayed the Revolution as a popular uprising against a corrupt and brutal government when in reality, it was just expanding the US’s power and influence. These actions by primarily the US and other western governments led to heightened tensions with Russia, and last year, Russia began preparations for an invasion. Instead of negotiating and preventing war, the Biden Administration and Ukraine began discussing NATO membership. Why has our government given $54 billion in arms and other categories to Ukraine instead of helping with issues like hunger, poverty, and education, which are all more prominent in our own country? Why did Hunter Biden make $11 million from being made a member of the Board of Directors of Ukraine Gas company Burisma despite having no knowledge of gas production, refining, or transportation? Why are we promoting this war and creating global oil, gas, and food scarcity?
Scientists Grow Plants on Lunar Soil
Scientists at the University of Florida have successfully grown plants in lunar soil from three Apollo missions for the first time. Fifteen years ago, these researchers made their first proposal and request for lunar samples, and the request was finally granted 18 months ago. They received 12 grams of lunar samples collected from the Apollo 11, 12, and 17 missions. The scientists then planted the seeds and provided water, nutrients, and light. Soon, the seeds actually sprouted and began to grow. All plants were growing differently depending on the sample type, and the ones in the Lunar soil grew more slowly and had stunted roots. The team studied the plant’s RNA, which showed that the plants were under stress. Further research will be required to determine the most efficient way to grow plants in the lunar soil, but this research could pave the way for growing plants on the moon that provide oxygen and food. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, “This research is critical to NASA’s long-term human exploration goals as we’ll need to use resources found on the Moon and Mars to develop food sources for future astronauts living and operating in deep space.”
Brain implant Uses thoughts to Operate Devices
A new brain implant developed by Synchron, an endovascular brain-computer interface company, can control digital technology just through thoughts. Synchron’s Stentrode is part of the first US clinical trial of a brain implant that returns the power of communication to severely paralyzed people. The implant is inserted through the jugular vein to reach the brain’s motor cortex, where it can pick up the thoughts denoting an individual’s intended actions. An eye-tracking device is used to control the movements of the computer cursor. The signals captured by a receiver in the chest are sent to the device, which allows people to use their devices with just their thoughts. This implant is meant for severely paralyzed individuals, and five people have received the implant. Several companies are working on this technology, including Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Musk believes that humans will need to merge with artificial intelligence to remain alive and created Nuralink. Last year, Neuralink shared a YouTube video of a Monkey playing the game pong with just its mind. Although this technology has many benefits and could cure many neurological conditions like addiction, paralysis, anxiety, and memory loss, it creates more issues like viruses and hacks. By connecting the brain to technology, we will eventually lose all the qualities that make us human and control over our body. The brain would become more vulnerable, and we need to avoid widespread adoption of this technology.
Above are my top stories for the week of October 10th, 2022. Thank you, and see you next week!
