Earth is not necessarily the best planet in the universe. Researchers have identified two dozen planets outside our solar system that may have conditions more suitable for life than our own. Some of these orbit stars that may be better than even our sun.
Scientist Dirk Schulze-Makuch says there are potential ‘superhabitable’ planets. They are older, a little larger, slightly warmer and possibly wetter than Earth. Life could easily thrive on these planets because they circle more slowly-changing stars. These stars have longer lifespans than our sun.
The 24 top contenders for superhabitable planets are all more than 100 light years away. Said Schulze-Makuch. “We have to focus on certain planets that have the most promising conditions for complex life. However, we have to be careful to not get stuck looking for a second Earth because there could be planets that might be more suitable for life than ours.”
Habitability does not mean these planets definitely have life, merely the conditions that would be conducive to life.
While the sun is the centre of our solar system, it has a relatively short lifespan of less than 10 billion years. It took nearly 4 billion years before any form of complex life appeared on Earth. So, many stars like our sun might run out of fuel before complex life can develop.
K dwarf stars, on the other hand, are somewhat cooler, less massive and less luminous than our sun. K stars have the advantage of long lifespans of 20 billion to 70 billion years. This would allow orbiting planets to be older. This gives life more time to advance to the complexity currently found on Earth. However, to be habitable, planets should not be so old that they have exhausted their geothermal heat and lack protective geomagnetic fields. Earth is around 4.5 billion years old, but the researchers argue that the sweet spot for life is a planet that is between 5 billion to 8 billion years old.
Size and mass also matter. A planet that is 10% larger than the Earth should have more habitable land. One that is about 1.5 times Earth’s mass would be expected to retain its interior heating through radioactive decay longer. And, it would also have a stronger gravity to retain an atmosphere over a longer time period.
Water is key to life and the authors argue that a little more of it would help, especially in the form of moisture, clouds and humidity. A slightly overall warmer temperature, a mean surface temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius greater than Earth, together with the additional moisture, would be also better for life. This warmth and moisture preference is seen on Earth with the greater biodiversity in tropical rain forests than in colder, drier areas.
Sound exciting? We think so too! Soon, we may know if there is a planet out there that offers a more comfortable life than our home planet. Watch this space.
EVERYONE IS TRYING to come up with new sustainable food options. And we need to: soon we will hit 9 billion people on this planet. But also, it is good to think about food options that will help us age well.
Ole G. Mouritsen is a professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food Science. He says we need alternatives to the juicy steak. And, the answer is in the ocean. We need to look at sea creatures that are NOT being eaten now, but could be. Harvesting these creatures will emit far less CO2 than beef, pork and chicken.
Future Diets and Sprat
Says Professor Mouritsen, “The climatefriendly bycatch fish currently used for pig feed or fish oil live near the bottom of the ocean. They include: sand lance, a fish which digs into the sandy bottom to lay eggs; sprat, a relative of herring which is widespread in Danish waters; and the black-mouthed gobi, another small, but tasty and overlooked fish.”
Sprat alone could satisfy 20 percent of Denmark’s protein needs. And by fishing for sprat, we can avoid the over-exploitation of more wellknown fish species such as cod, plaice and salmon.
Seaweed and algae are also an overlooked and extremely climate-friendly food source. However, only 500 of 10,000 species are currently exploited and recognised as food. This is despite the fact that marine algae are packed with incredibly healthy nutrients and vitamins.
Future Diets and Seaweed
Similarly, seaweed, squid and molluscs are only fished to a small extent, with 30 out of approximately 800 species being used for food globally. “Even though seaweed, squid and molluscs contain important fatty acids and vitamins, and can taste great, we remain reluctant to count these species among our food sources.”
But let’s not forget vegetables. New technology can actually give vegetables the umami taste of meat. “Sweetness signals calories and survival to the brain, and umami signals that we are consuming something good for our muscles. Many seafoods, marine algae and vegetables have the potential to taste great.” By fermenting or adding enzymes to vegetables, sweet and umami tastes can be brought out.
Says Professor Mouritsen, “Several Asian food producers have something called ‘shio-koji’, which can also be made at home. Koji is a salty solution of dead microscopic fungi with active enzymes. By adding it to sliced broccoli and putting them in the fridge for a few hours, you’ll be able to taste more sweetness and umami in the pieces of vegetable.”
So if you want to live forever, seeking out these healthy life-extending foods could be a good start!
Looking for a night out with old-school showmanship and theatrics? Then this magic spectacular at Sanctuary Cove is for you.
Bored of the cinema? Can’t find anything on streaming services to watch? TV boring? Then do something new! Matt Hollywood’s Illusions Magic Show is something different and fun! And now is a great time to go, before international tourism reignites again and you have to fight every man and his lorikeet to get a seat.
Magic and illusion shows have been around a long time. And there’s a good reason why. Humans have always been fascinated by trickery. It is a performing art that never loses its appeal, even in high-tech 2020.
Magic is as Old as the Hills
History tomes are dotted with stories about travelling magic shows and tricksters enthralling crowds with their shenanigans throughout the ages. But it reached a crescendo in the late 19th‑century, when “the Golden Age of Magic” gripped the imagination. Magicians like Harry Houdini achieved widespread commercial success. This kind of magic show became a mix of Broadway theatre, spectacular, and amazing illusions, all rolled into one. In fact, the genre has marched intact into modern times, and even thrived on TV, with people like Derren Brown and David Blaine becoming wildly popular.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, many people freaked out by magic shows associated the industry with the devil and the occult. So, many stage magicians simply capitalised on this, and used the devil in their advertising for their shows. It only added to its popularity.
In recent years, magic shows have gone absolutely stellar in Las Vegas. Illusionists such as David Copperfield still reign supreme in the city (although his show has been put on hold due to Covid-19).
If you want a slice of this magic spectacularstyle show on the Coast, then you can. Master Illusionist Matt Hollywood puts on quite the show at Sanctuary Cove and now at Broadbeach every week. This performance covers all the big‑ticket magic items, such as levitation, sawing people in half, disappearing tricks, and audience interaction. He also chains himself to dangerous things which makes you feel genuinely worried about who will tell his mum that he didn’t make it.
Magic VIP tickets
We here at Silver Magazine were invited along to the show as VIP guests to check it out and report back. While we would love to tell you about all the things that happened, we kind of can’t, because it would ruin the surprise.
What we can say is this. The show is very much of the variety of old-school entertainment that is hard to find these days. The kids in the audience absolutely loved it, especially when they were asked to help with tricks and illusions. Adults were dragged into the show, risking things like watches and wallets, much to their delight. It seemed like Matt Hollywood was trying to get to every single person in the audience with his skullduggery.
The biggest draw of the night, however, is Matt Hollywood himself. Looking like a charismatic magic Ken Doll, he’s witty, confident and never acts like he’s under pressure, despite being chained to something that might actually scalp him in front of Gold Coasters looking for a thrill.
Many celebs have been to Matt Hollywood’s show here at the Coast. So much so, that there’s a discreet celebrity and VIP entrance available. So you may even get some people-spotting done on the night.
Matt also does private events. Whether you are having a small intimate gathering for 15 guests, or a larger and more elaborate corporate event for 600 guests, then he can put on a roving magic show that will blow all your other Christmas parties or events out of the water. Can someone please hold one of these events and invite us, thanks.
With the school holidays upon us, grab the grandkids and check it out!
The show is now on every Friday & Saturday night at 6.30pm at Sanctuary Cove and every Wednesday at The Roosevelt Lounge in Broadbeach. Bookings are essential.
Halcyon Greens, Australia’s largest lifestyle community, scored a rare double win at the prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Queensland Awards for Excellence held recently.
The $325 million over-50s lifestyle community at Pimpama was named the state’s best Master Planned Development as well as the best Seniors Living Development of 2020.
The award comes off the back of the community’s win at the Master Builders Association Gold Coast at their awards in July. The community’s $20 million Recreation and Lifestyle precinct won Best Tourism and Leisure Facilities over $10 million, beating out hotels and tourist resorts on the Gold Coast.
Halcyon Joint Managing Director, Dr Bevan Geissmann said he was humbled at the achievements and industry recognition for Halcyon Greens’ pioneering over 50s lifestyle community.
“Our vision for Halcyon Greens was to create a modern, country club-style community, the size and scale of which has never been seen in over 50s living. Halcyon Greens really is Australia’s biggest lifestyle for over 50s – the scale and variety of functionality across Halcyon Greens’ leisure facilities rival those found in many Queensland 5-star tourism resorts.”
Halcyon Greens is located on a 34ha island and is surrounded by native wetlands, nature reserves and is adjacent to Gainsborough Greens Championship golf course.
Dr Geissmann said key criteria of both UDIA categories was that the development must be large enough to generate a sense of community. “A strong sense of connection and enthusiastic community management creates the social fabric that binds Halcyon Greens; from a packed schedule of weekly events and activities to generous fundraising initiatives to the formation of more than 40 interest and sporting groups.”
The Seniors Living category judged entrants on their ‘regard for an energy and water-efficient lifestyle’ in addition to design standards and meeting specific needs of retirement-age residents.
“Driving everything we do is a deep commitment to delivering an outstanding master planned community with quality homes and an abundance of facilities to keep our homeowners active and socially connected,” Dr Geissmann said.
Australia’s biggest lifestyle community facilities:
■■ Recreation Club with fireplace, gym, dance floor, treatment rooms and salon
■■ The Lodge with fireplace, private dining, Gold Class-style cinema and library
■■ Pavilion including games and craft room
■■ Outdoor resort pool and fire pit
■■Heated 25 metre covered pool and spa
■■ Floodlit tennis court
■■ Floodlit pickleball courts
■■ Floodlit championship sized bowling green
■■ Bocce and wood firepit
■■Herb and vegetable gardens
■■ Landscaping includes fruit orchard and rose garden
Endoscopy is a diagnostic tool that could save your life. Gastroenterologist Kashif Sheikh says the quality of the procedure can make all the difference to clinical outcomes.
Dr Kashif Sheikh, The Gold Coast Private specialist, diagnoses and treats gastrointestinal disorders. He provides endoscopy assessments to diagnose conditions such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatic and liver disorders.
Dr Sheikh’s streamlined and comprehensive endoscopy service focuses on finding the right answers quickly, giving patients peace of mind, or the ability to start their treatment immediately for the best chance of recovery.
Maintaining quality and consistency, and ensuring endoscopy was performed to Australian standards by an experienced and accredited gastroenterologist, is critical to patient health.
Dr Sheikh said meticulous preparation was the first step to a successful diagnosis. “We work closely with patients to create an individualised plan with a variety of options that prepare them for their procedure while minimising the impact on their lives. This may include offering low volume liquid preparations or tablet-based preparations to flush out the bowel or clear the digestive tract. This dedicated focus on preparation reduces the need for repeat procedures and improves the detection rate of polyps and cancers.
“At Gold Coast Private Hospital, we have the latest technology with high definition that allows us to see inside the body in detail, providing a clear assessment of the anatomy which is the first step to successful treatment. We utilise the modern technology to its maximum potential – taking the time and attention to get the most benefits out of its functions. The combination of my experience, state-of-the-art scopes and a world-class private hospital means I can endeavour to provide optimal care for my patients.”
Dr Sheikh said while a quick diagnosis meant less stress and better outcomes for patients, a focus on follow-up and ongoing care was also critical. “We empower patients by providing detailed, verbal and written information about their diagnosis and clear treatment plans. It is important to remember that endoscopy is also a useful tool in excluding a significant problem, giving patients peace of mind and GPs the options to explore other management avenues if required. Regardless of the diagnosis, we work closely with GPs and other specialists to provide comprehensive, multi-disciplinary care that carries on long-past the endoscopic procedure to help keep our patients healthy now and into the future.”
Dr Sheikh said endoscopy was performed as a day procedure under sedation with the highly experienced team at Gold Coast Private Hospital’s Day Surgery Centre. “Modern anaesthetic techniques help to maximise early recovery, minimise postoperative discomfort and promote early, safe discharge. We work alongside specialist anaesthetists to provide the best sedation options for our patients so that in almost all cases, patients can go home on the same day as the procedure.”
In addition to endoscopy, Dr Sheikh provides specialist consultation services for a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders including liver and pancreatic disease.
For information contact: Dr Kashif Sheikh (MBBS MRCP FRACP) Suite 3, 82 Queen Street Southport 4215 P : 0755913155, F: 0755916114 E: recpetion@drob.com.au
Dr Sheikh offers no-gap for privately insured patients.
