Extremófilos

https://g-code99.github.io/extremofilos.github.io/dist/

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1M_8s8AvuLsCh-DxOe-mqH_cMyVNCDXOV/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110387152993142784810&rtpof=true&sd=true

How does it exactly work?

You can feel like you are in space! This is a virtual reality game.

Firstly, this game allows you to scan your face, identifying the approximate age and gender, in this way, it will generate a 3D avatar, which will be the astronaut who must complete the mission called “Biological Research in view of Extreme Astronomic Conditions”, then the player will be able to explore space, however, he will face the extremes conditions, high doses of radiation or lack of oxygen, among others; the game could remind you of the conditions in which the astronaut finds. The mission is to look for the space superheroes to survive, in this case, the biological superheroes are the Extremophiles, if the astronaut finds the Extremophile, he will be able to acquire his superpowers or abilities to continue exploring space. Also, when the superhero is chosen, the user will be able to see a letter with their characteristics, which includes:

• Scientific name
• Description
• Superpower
• Applications

Image 1. Some of the superhero cards that you can find in the B.R.E.A.C Game.

We know that today few users have access to information on aerospace and astrobiological research, so this game is based on educational and technological elements, many times the investigations of the extreme are complex and a low percentage of the population knows about them, thanks to this, game users from children to young people will be able to meet them and find out about them. We want to promote knowledge, love for space, and research that help us improve the earth and one day conquer space. Nowadays, in 2022, we have not found a platform where you can interact and learn from extremophiles. Finally, with all the visual and audiovisual elements added to virtual reality, you will feel that you are in space; we want it to be an inclusive platform where everyone can enjoy it.

B.R.E.A.C Game short thriller, to watch here: https://youtu.be/UT37KBQJhTw

Our superheroes selection

Extremophiles are living beings or organisms that can survive in extreme environments or inhospitable environments, this is really incredible. They can also reproduce and thrive in extreme environments. They exist in geochemically or physically extreme conditions. Extremophiles can live and reproduce in environments that would kill most other living beings, some of them are believed to be on other planets, currently, there is evidence that they have been sent into space to be studied, they even seek to be applied in biomedicine. The superheroes were designed from scratch and based on research images, they now have a friendly and fun look in the game.

Superheroes (extremophiles):

• Nematodes
• Tardigrades
• Ferroplasma acidarmanus
• Deinococcus radiodurans 
• Cyanobacteria
• Methanocaldococcus jannaschii 
• Natronobacterium
• Pyrolobus fumarri

Image 2. Some of the superheroes that you can find in the B.R.E.A.C Game.

Do you want to see all of them? Follow the next link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jMUElfrdIVlsh8QHoda_9LoV6rfFJwRn?usp=sharing

Do you want to see all the cards? Follow the next link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1J0mh0_SbBtEu4HknVL3UxvkpOI3fBhmu?usp=sharing

Our target audience. 

Our target audience is mainly people who are interested in knowing and learning about space exploration and its description, importance, and application of extremophile organisms. It is aimed to kids, teenagers, and young adults. Furthermore, the presence of people studying STEM careers is required to solve; however, subjects such as physics, mathematics, and astrobiology, present difficulties. We seek to interest people in exploring the wonders of space through a game, at the same time give the experience of being in space. Our goal is to cross borders and also be inclusive, which implies that all types of audiences will be able to live this experience, implementing accessibility features. 

Why did we choose this challenge?

We chose this project because we decided to take the experience of being in didactic and fun levels at the same time, we want the experience of being in space to be immersive and capable of transmitting the same stress that organisms have in space, we want the information about extremophiles could have a wider reach and be understood by everyone. There is a lack of platforms where you can learn about space, its conditions, and the organisms that have been able to survive. This is a necessity to promote change, we seek to motivate people to have a better world and conquer space through technology and information that is easy, fast, and fun to access.

How we developed this project?

The project was worked remotely and face to face, with a multidisciplinary team of engineers in computer systems and robotics, astrobiologists and graphic design. The characters and letters about them were designed and created, they were designed by us using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. All the information of the letters as textures were obtained from different databases. For the development of the web page, HTML and CSS are used, while APIS and javascript are used for the face scanner. Our main page and a demo written in javascript, we use geometry to design 3D figures and we put textures on them according to the game texture. This game implements Virtual reality and the Internet of Things.

Why B.R.A.C is important?

The game not only adapts to new technologies, this also presents understandable and correct information about extremophiles and space conditions, At present, this kind of game is also lacking (although there are mainly space games, those whose objective is only for leisure), this is one of the reasons NASA wants more platforms in these challenges. We want to inspire people to be part of a great change, where from childhood they know that space needs them and the whole world.

Image 3. Page web where you can find the DEMO and more information.

Feel free to check our code.https://github.com/g-code99/extremofilos.github.io

Face recognition code https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mnUirVOr8Yt6x4VzMIo2S8aje6rqqrcD?usp=sharing

We used many resources from space agencies, for example, the Mexican and Japanese space agencies and NASA, we obtained information on extremophiles. In addition, research articles about these agencies published by scientists working in one of these space agencies were obtained. It should be noted that many of the images were taken from NASA databases and galleries. Other important bases were national geographic and PubMed, for information and images. To obtain the 3D models of the planets, satellites, and space equipment, we used the resources provided by the NASA 3D Resources Web page, the 3D objects allowed us to obtain a better visualization of the extreme conditions of those planets and to obtain a better design in the video game demo, to associate the information of each planet we resorted to the data provided by NASA in Solar System Exploration, the tremendous facility to explore our solar system contributed to the improvement of the visual field of the demo and the correct distribution and identification of the planets and satellites that were used in the video game and the web page, the use of these resources facilitated the elaboration and design of objects in the third dimension with which we could interact in space. 

Participating in the NASA Space Apps Challenge is an incredible experience and makes many of our qualities or virtues increase with every ounce of information we absorb in the creation of a good idea and how to implement it so that it has benefit for stakeholders, It is a challenge that pushes our levels of creativity and technicality to a limit never seen before, in each movement or exchange of words we learn something new, the multidisciplinary team leads to constant feedback of the information we possess, we also complement each other and we manage to fulfill at least our main objective. In the face of setbacks and mistakes, we always support each other, and a positive attitude always requires people with enthusiasm and a desire to develop interesting things for society. When the team was created we felt committed to each other, we appreciates each other's work despite the complexity of the task at hand. Exploring new areas and investigating them complements and enhances our profile as technicians or professionals.

"The only way to get to space is working together for the innovation"

-Extremófilos

NASA and SPACE AGENCIES RESOURCES

• https://humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov/risks/
• https://genelab-data.ndc.nasa.gov/genelab/projects
• https://images.nasa.gov/details-sonify_galactic_all
• https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/home/F_Astronauts_Need_Fun.html
• Models | 3D Resources (nasa.gov)
• Home – NASA Solar System Exploration
• https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html
• https://www.esa.int/Education/Moon_Camp/Classroom_resources
• https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/hazard-5-environments 
• https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/classroom-materials/tradingcards/
• https://living-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/publicly-invited-research/2016-2017/B01-3/index.html
• https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/HWHAP/deep-space-healthcare
• https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/space-medicine/concerns.asp

Others Resources

• Castelle, C. J. & Roger, M. (2015). The aerobic respiratory chain of the acidophilic archaeon Ferroplasma acidiphilum: A membrane-bound complex oxidizing ferrous iron. ScienceDirect. Recuperado 30 de septiembre de 2022, de https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.04.006
• Cardona, M. C. (s. f.). Estudio de la haloadaptación de Salinibacter ruber ante condiciones que simulan el océano del satélite Europa [Tesis de maestría]. UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DEL ESTADO DE MORELOS.
• Ingham, R. E. (2018). Nematodes. En SSSA Book Series (pp. 459–490). Soil Science Society of America.
• Sánchez, C. I. & Benintende, M. C. (2019). Cyanobacteria populations in rice soils: Rotation effects. ScienceDirect. Recuperado 30 de septiembre de 2022, de https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ram.2018.01.001
• Stojanovic, D., Fojkar, O., Drobac-Cik, A., Cajko, K., Dulic, T. & Svircev, Z. (2008). Extremophiles: Link between earth and astrobiology. Zbornik Matice srpske za prirodne nauke, 114, 5-16. https://doi.org/10.2298/zmspn0814005s
• Palacios, K. & Peñuela, G. (2019, 31 diciembre). Morphological characteristics of cyanobacteria and dominant phytoplankton in reservoirs in Antioquia: A focus based in biovolume. Revista U.D.C.A. https://doi.org/10.31910/rudca.v22.n2.2019.1306
• Mars, K. (2022, 23 febrero). What Happens to the Human Body in Space? NASA. Recuperado 1 de octubre de 2022, de https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace/
• Microsoft. (2018). How role models are changing the face of STEM in Europe. Retrieved from https://news.microsoft.com/europe/features/girls-in-stem-the-importance-of-role-models

#Education #GAMES #SpaceApps2022 #BiologicalSuperhero #STEM #Prototype #Extremophiles