Word: newmans
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...early 1960s, the supremely influential critic Clement Greenberg was ordaining that painting had a historic destiny that could be realized only in work in which distinct form and deep space gave way to flat, thin washes of color. Some very good art would meet that description, by Barnett Newman, Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis and so on. But a lot of it had a distinct whiff of the endgame about...
...suit, which exerts the appropriate force on the astronaut's body. The system works, but many scientists consider it to be out of date because it requires bulky equipment and a life support system that weighs almost 300 lbs. "These suits are fine for space shuttles or stations," Newman says. "But not for exploration." In fact, estimates show that astronauts typically end up expending about 70% to 80% of their energy just moving around in their suit...
...suit creates the same kind of pressurized environment, simply by wrapping layers of specially patterned nylon and Spandex fabric tightly around the body, a method that Newman's been working on for seven years. When the material is properly wrapped, according to maps of the wearer's body in motion, it creates a mobile, skeleton-like shell that protects and supports the astronaut. When the new suits roll out, each one will be tailored to the individual astronaut and slipped on like a snug wetsuit - a "second skin," says Newman. One kink she's still trying to work out: figuring...
Aside from its more appealing profile and wearability, Newman says, the BioSuit will likely be safer for astronauts than the old-style suits. Currently, when an astronaut's suit is punctured, he or she has to go back to the base to undress and decompress. With the new suits, astronauts could simply slap a patch over the tear. The BioSuit also provides a level of resistance that helps the body maintain muscle mass, since astronauts lose about 40% of their brawn during space travel. So, if the suit doesn't end up making it to Mars, researchers say it could...
...Newman estimates that the new suit, funded in part by the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, will be ready in about 10 years - probably about the same time NASA will start sending people to Mars and other moons. "If astronauts ever want to take more than a few steps and explore, they will need new suits," says Newman...