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February 27, 2018

Deep space communications goes commercial

The commercial tracking system will use the GHY-6 antenna at Goonhilly(Credit: GES - Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd)

Commercial spaceflight may bring to mind flashy images of dramatic rocket launches and sleek space capsules, but it also means the infrastructure to support such endeavors. Case in point is a co-operative project between Britain and the European Space Agency to establish the world's first commercial deep-space tracking and communications station in Goonhilly, Cornwall. Using a repurposed 32-m (105-ft) dish built in 1985, it will be able to communicate with spacecraft millions of miles away.

We're seeing a renaissance of space flight with multiple missions to Mars as well as ones to intercept asteroids, comets, and even venturing out into the Kuiper Belt. The trouble is that all these spacecraft require ground stations back on Earth to track and communicate with these far-flung missions and many of these stations, like those of NASA's Deep Space Network, were built in the days of the Space Race in the 1960s.

And while new networks, including ESA's three deep-space dishes in Australia, Spain and Argentina, have alleviated some of the data-link congestion, future missions including private companies seeking to mine the asteroids or colonize the Moon or Mars threaten to quickly overwhelm the system. This is especially true as the Europeans ready to launch their BepiColombo mission to Mercury, along with the Solar Orbiter, Euclid, and Cheops probes.

"The amount of science data flowing in from ESA's current missions, not to mention from future missions with improved instruments, is growing strongly," says ESA's Pier Bargellini, responsible for network operations. By the middle of the next decade, ESA's deep-space communication needs for supporting today's missions, like ExoMars, and upcoming spacecraft, like Juice, is expected to exceed our present capacity by around half. We are considering urgently how to bridge this gap."

The first step in solving this problem is being taken at the famous Goonhilly Earth Station. As Britain's primary telecommunications ground station, Goonhilly was the site of the world's first transatlantic television transmission on July 11, 1962 when a live television signal was transmitted between the United States and Europe via the Telstar satellite.

Today, Goonhilly is a sprawling complex of 140 acres (57 hectares) with 60 radio dishes carrying radio, television, telephone, and internet traffic. One of these dishes, GHY-6, is being upgraded over the next two years to provide tracking and communication links with commercial deep-space missions as part of a €9.5 million (US$12 million) investment from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, which will be later supplemented by ESA. The first test links will be with ESA mission, including Mars Express.

"Once the station upgrade work is complete, in about 24 months, Goonhilly will be able to complement ESA's own stations, and provide deep-space tracking for the Agency's missions as well as those of other space agencies or from private space start-ups aiming to exploit the Moon or mine asteroids," says Klaus-Jürgen Schulz, who is responsible of ESA ground station engineering.

Source:

ESA, NewAtlas

February 23, 2018

How brain scans can read your mind to reconstruct the face you're thinking of

by Unknown, in science

Neuroscientists have developed a system that can digitally recreate images seen through someone's eyes, like faces, from an EEG brain scan(Credit: University of Toronto Scarborough)

It's frustrating to have a clear mental image of something but not be able to exactly get it across in words or a drawing. Now, a team of neuroscientists from the University of Toronto Scarborough has developed a way to digitally recreate exactly the image someone is thinking about, by scanning their brain.
So-called mind-reading technology is getting eerily accurate. Along with allowing people to control prosthetics with their thoughts, these systems have quickly advanced from picking out what number you're thinking of to decoding more complex concepts. It's all happening so fast that some researchers have proposed new human rights regarding how the brain can be read or manipulated.
The new study was designed to see whether specific images could be plucked out of a person's mind. To test out the idea, the team hooked people up to electroencephalography (EEG) equipment and then showed them pictures of faces on a computer screen. The EEG system recorded their brain waves, and after running the data through machine learning algorithms the system was able to digitally recreate the face that the test subject had just seen.
"When we see something, our brain creates a mental percept, which is essentially a mental impression of that thing," says Dan Nemrodov, co-author of the study. "We were able to capture this percept using EEG to get a direct illustration of what's happening in the brain during this process."

Dan Nemrodov (left) and Adrian Nestor (middle), with one of the study participants in an EEG...

Brain-reading studies generally involve one of two methods – EEG and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The former measures the electrical activity in the brain through a cap full of electrodes, while fMRI uses a magnetic field to monitor blood flow in different parts of the brain. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but EEG is more commonly used, less expensive, and can record faster changes.
"fMRI captures activity at the time scale of seconds, but EEG captures activity at the millisecond scale," says Nemrodov. "So we can see with very fine detail how the percept of a face develops in our brain using EEG."
That high time accuracy allowed the team to determine that it only takes about 170 milliseconds for the human brain to create a decent mental picture of a face it's looking at.
In future, the team wants to expand the technique to be able to recreate objects other than faces, and do so over longer periods of time, allowing virtual reconstruction of images that a person remembers seeing more than a few seconds ago.
"It could provide a means of communication for people who are unable to verbally communicate," says Adrian Nestor, co-author of the study. "Not only could it produce a neural-based reconstruction of what a person is perceiving, but also of what they remember and imagine, of what they want to express. It could also have forensic uses for law enforcement in gathering eyewitness information on potential suspects rather than relying on verbal descriptions provided to a sketch artist."

Source: University of Toronto Scarborough, NewAtlas

February 19, 2018

7 STRANGE vehicles to get you from A to B

by Unknown, in vehicle

The Bird of Prey bike takes a form typically limited to one-off rides for speed record attempts, and tries to make it more appealing to the mainstream cyclist

The rise of the internet and sites like Kickstarter has facilitated a spread of ideas like never before – some fun, some world-changing and a whole lot that can only be described as weird. The realm of transport is a particularly good place to see oddball creations in action, and while the seven presented here might not be the most effective in getting you where you need to go, they would certainly turn some heads along the way.

Blizwheel ESkates

The Blizwheels electric skates have a top speed of 15 mph (24 km/h) and a range...

Why bother with regular old roller skates when you can effortlessly glide along on electric versions? Better yet, a pair that can folded flat so you can stow them away in a drawer when you get to the office? From the outside, the Blizwheel ESkates look like a set of dinner plates strapped to your ankles, but on the inside are some nifty mechanics, including a motorized wheel with solid rubber treads, a fold-out platform for your feet and another set of stability wheels to even it all out.
With a top speed of 15 mph (24 km/h) and a range of 15 miles (24 km) per charge, these electric roller skates can be controlled via a finger-worn device that triggers acceleration as the user bends the digit and deceleration when they straighten it out. At US$569 a pop, they fell short of their Kickstarter goal, but the success of rivals like the RocketSkates tells us we haven't seen the last of this kind of design.

A single, spinning ball

The Üo scooter balances its rider on a single rubber ball

The more you reduce the amount of wheels on a scooter, the more balancing skill you ask of your rider. To offset this, creators have come up with various self-balancing mechanisms to prevent meetings with the pavement, but none quite like the handiwork of German electrical engineer Olaf Winkler.
His Üo scooter does away with wheels entirely in favor of a single rubber ball, which keeps the rider on the move thanks to a set of motorized omni wheels that send it spinning in the desired direction. Acceleration, braking and turns can initiated by leaning, and a small joystick on top of a telescoping stick can be used to pivot. Like the Blizwheel ESkates, the Üo failed to meet its funding goal on Kickstarter, although this approach is one we're not all that confident of seeing again.

Extreme parenting

Back in 2012, pro skateboarder Tony Hawk caused quite a stir by taking his then four-year-old, helmet-less daughter for a spin around his backyard bowl. It is unclear whether the team at Quinny drew inspiration from The Birdman's antics, but they probably weren't among his critics, having since launched a stroller that doubles as a skateboard to bring some extra adrenaline to your afternoon amble.
During its development, the team received its fair share of feedback from potential customers about the safety of the Longboardstroller. They responded with "multiple safety innovations," including a padded bumper bar and a handbrake. That might still not be enough for some, but those interested in giving it a whirl can order a Longboardstroller through Quinny's website for $745 (European customers only).

Scooters go tubular

With a range of 7.5 mi (12 km) and an ability to tackle inclines of 10...

Folding electric scooters have proven particularly fertile ground for innovative ideas, and the GoTube is certainly one of the smoother solutions we've come across. It can have you zipping across campus at up to 10 mph (16 km/h) one minute, and then strolling between classes with what looks like a tube of architectural blueprints the next.
With a range of 7.5 mi (12 km) and an ability to tackle inclines of 10 degrees, the GoTube obliterated its Kickstarter goal after launching in December 2016, although a cursory glance at the comments there suggests that there is quite a bit of discontent among backers. So buyer beware.

Semi-prone cycling

The Bird of Prey bicycle can be ordered for the rather serious sum of US$4,800

The so-called Bird of Prey bike takes a form typically limited to one-off rides for speed record attempts and tries to make it more appealing to the mainstream cyclist. Its creators bill a few advantages over the traditional upright cycling position, including better aerodynamics, better handling and even better safety.
"On a standard bicycle if you put on the brakes in a panic stop you will fly over the handle bars face first," Aldrige told us when it launched back in 2015. "In a panic stop on a Bird of Prey Bicycle it is impossible to go over the handle bars ... The rider's body mass is low, which is the reason it is impossible."
If you're convinced and these features are ticking your boxes, the Bird of Prey can be ordered through the website for the rather serious sum of $4,800.

Step onto this laptop-sized panel and glide away

The WalkCar from Japan's Cocoa Motors is around the same size as a laptop

The WalkCar from Japan's Cocoa Motors is basically a small platform that you stand on and shift your weight to start moving along, thanks to four tiny wheels underneath, an electric motor and battery. Each charge is claimed to provide an hour of use, and offers a top speed of 16 km (10 mph).
When announced in 2015, the WalkCar seemed like another audacious transport concept that would never see the commercial light of day. But in 2016 Cocoa Motors opened up preorders for the vehicle. As it stands, the preorder button is still the closest thing you'll find to a purchase option, but if you've got some patience and US$1,280 to spare, then you can take your place in the line.

A brush with danger?

The Solowheel brush serves a number of purposes

Solowheel first arrived on the scene in 2011 with an electric unicycle that uses a self-balancing gyro system to keep riders upright. Fast-forward to 2018 and the company is turning to a decidedly low-tech solution for wonky first-timers, deploying large brushes on either side of the wheel exactly where you might find training wheels on a bicycle.
These vertical bristled matrices – ok, brushes – are intended to make hopping aboard a Solowheel less intimidating. Beyond adding to the vehicle's stability, the brushes also turn riders into inadvertent street sweepers, and any effort to clean up city sidewalks deserves a high-five from us. Currently on Kickstarter, Solowheel owners can add a stabilizing brush to their setup for an early pledge of US$69, with shipping slated for May 2018.

Source: NewAtlas

February 18, 2018

Mercedes' 1,000+ hp Project One Hypercar inspires 3,100-hp powerboat

by Unknown, in science

The 515 Project One makes its debut at the 2018 Miami International Boat Show

For more than a decade, Mercedes and Cigarette Racing have been creating some cross-industry synergy, a collaboration that has resulted in eight special edition boats inspired by Mercedes sports cars. There have been some superlative machines, including the AMG Electric Drive Concept and the GT S Concept, and now that Mercedes-AMG is busy building its most advanced hypercar of all time, it follows that the ninth team-up boat is just as cutting edge. With 3,100-hp of Mercury Racing engine might and a carbon fiber and Kevlar-heavy build, the 51-foot (15.5-m) 515 Project One can slice through the water at speeds up to 140 mph (225 km/h). It's like an F1 race car for the open seas.

Who said you have to wait for a supercar to be fully prepared before building a boat in its honor? Mercedes-AMG revealed a Project One concept car at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The car won't start rolling out to buyers until next year, but the show car was clearly enough to get the Cigarette folks moving on their own Project One, a potent powerboat revealed this week at the 2018 Miami International Boat Show.
The 515 Project One measures 51 ft 5 in (15.7 m) long and has a widened 9.5-foot (2.9-m) beam, providing enough room to keep six people comfy. The boat has 30 percent more surface area than Cigarette's 50-foot (15.2-m) Marauder while offering comparable performance.

Cigarette widened the boat to seat six comfortably

The Mercedes-AMG inspiration behind the 515 is much more than just a silver-and-black paint job, as the boat went through a full lightweighting regimen. The weight-optimized composite structure makes strategic use of carbon fiber, Kevlar and E-glass. The entire deck is crafted from carbon fiber, which not only saves weight but also lowers the center of mass. The inner structural laminate of the hull, forward bulkheads, cabin liner, engine hatch, consoles and storage hatches also feature carbon fiber construction. Kevlar enhances the strength of the tabbing bulkheads and framing edges.
Cigarette says that despite being 10 extra feet (3 m) of boat, the 515 actually weighs about 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) less than 2016's Mercedes-inspired Miami boat, the 41-foot SD GT3.
As usual, Cigarette worked with Mercedes design mastermind Gorden Wagener to properly mold its special edition boat in the image of the Mercedes car at hand. The boat's matte black and silver paint and hull badging tie directly into the Project One car, though we do think they should have also brightened the flanks with that little Petronas-green wave of energy that features on Mercedes' Frankfurt show car. On board, the boat wears an exposed carbon fiber weave on its seat backs and Dinamica microfiber trim.

Garmin 12-in touchscreens and Mercedes-AMG-inspired trim onboard the 515 Project One

"By directly translating Formula 1 technology from the track to the street, the Mercedes-AMG Project One is our most ambitious and awe-inspiring vehicle yet," says Tobias Moers, Mercedes-AMG GmbH chairman of the board of management. "It is incredible to see our vision reimagined for the water in such an impressive and highly compelling form."
The boat also includes a race-style cabin with custom forward bed, a dual-compartment cooler, LED lighting, custom-fitted cabin and cockpit carpet, dual 12-in Garmin 8212 navigation touchscreens, a carbon fiber gauge cluster, shore power and a JL Audio sound system.
With the 2013 AMG E-Drive boat, Cigarette followed Mercedes' alternative powertrain ambitions, but the 515 Project One doesn't attempt to employ any of the Project One car's innovative hybrid drive technology, instead relying on the power of dual Mercury Racing 1,350/1,550-hp Quad Cam 4 Valve engines and M8 stern drives. A staggered engine configuration deeper in the vee of the boat helps to lower center of gravity, increase stability and improve dynamics.

The payoff: Putting the 515 Project One to work on the open water

Though there's no electric power, the engines have an electronically adjustable dual-calibration feature. Race Mode unlocks the full 1,550 hp of each engine, requiring race fuel, while Pleasure Mode limits output to 1,350 hp running on 91 octane fuel.
The Cigarette 515 Project One can be seen at the Miami boat show, which opened on Thursday and runs through Monday. It's billed as a one-of-a-kind creation, but Cigarette will offer pricing information upon request.

Source: Mercedes-Benz, NewAtlas

February 14, 2018

Magnetic microbot flip-flops through tricky terrain in the body

by Unknown, in science

The microTUM robot, visible just under the U on this US penny, uses magnets to drive itself through different terrain inside the body(Credit: Purdue University/Georges Adam)

If tiny robots are going to one day be making fantastic voyages through our bodies, they'll need to learn how to tackle the treacherous terrain in there. Engineers at Purdue University have developed a new magnetic mini-robot named microTUM, which moves by tumbling end over end and can clamber over bumps, trenches and hills, in wet or dry conditions.
Measuring just 800 microns long and 400 wide, the microscale magnetic tumbling robot (μTUM or microTUM) looks to be in a very similar vein (pun intended) to Max Planck's Millirobot. Both machines are elongated with magnetic ends, allowing them to be controlled with a rotating magnetic field. The middle section can carry drugs or other payloads to deliver them directly to where they're needed in the body.
"Robotics at the micro- and nano-scale represent one of the new frontiers in intelligent automation systems," says David Cappelleri, co-author of a study describing μTUM. "In particular, mobile microrobots have recently emerged as viable candidates for biomedical applications, taking advantage of their small size, manipulation, and autonomous motion capabilities. Targeted drug delivery is one of the key applications of these nano- and microrobots."
But the human body is a varied and hostile environment for a robot, and moving through it is a challenge. Frictional forces on a microscopic scale can make it hard for a microbot to move, and biological fluids also add resistance. Plus, because there isn't much magnetic material in that tiny machine, it takes a relatively powerful magnetic field to get it moving.
The head-over-heels motion is critical to the μTUM's mobility, the team says. Not only does that require a lower-strength magnetic field, but the robot always keeps one foot on the ground, allowing it to scale steeper inclines.

The microTUM robot tumbles end over end to traverse tricky terrain inside the body

Tested in dry air, as well as in water and silicone oil, the team found that the microbot performed fairly well under all conditions, with different strengths in each. The oil slowed the μTUM down, for example, but allowed it to climb hills at inclines up to 60 degrees, while out in the open air the robot moved faster at the expense of some climbing ability.
"The ability to climb is important because surfaces in the human body are complex," says Maria Guix, co-author of the study. "It's bumpy, it's sticky."
With further work, the μTUM may eventually find use as an in vivo drug delivery system. Before then, the team plans to give the microbot a new vision-based control system to steer it more precisely, and develop the non-magnetic mid-section to carry payloads.
"Replacing this area with a compliant material or a dissolvable payload could lead to improved dynamic behavior, and in-vivo drug delivery, respectively, with far-reaching potential in micro-object manipulation and biomedical applications," says Cappelleri.

The research was published in the journal Micromachines. The team demonstrates the robots in the video below.

Source: Purdue University, NewAtlas

February 13, 2018

New research into CAR-T cell therapy could extend its use to solid cancers

by Unknown, in therapy

Research from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research could help CAR-T cell therapy be adapted to treat solid tumors(Credit: vitanovski/Depositphotos)

New research into CAR-T cell therapy by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) has revealed crucial mechanisms that could help the immunotherapy technique, which is currently only effective against blood cancers, be adapted for the treatment of brain tumors and other forms of solid cancers.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells are synthetically engineered T cells (a type of white blood cell) that are altered to identify and destroy cancer cells. The altered cells are better able to identify specific cancer antigens, which our bodies can have a difficult time recognizing as foreign cells.
In the therapy itself, T cells are removed from the patient's blood via leukapheresis, which can take up to two to three hours to complete, changed and then returned into the patient a few weeks later, once enough CAR-T cells have been created to launch a precise attack. Currently, there are two CAR-T cell therapies approved by the FDA in the United States – one for advanced or recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the other for large B-cell lymphoma.
These therapies are generally successful in these blood cancers, but have mixed results and can frequently cause severe side effects when treating solid cancers, such as brain tumors. One side effect, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), is a potentially fatal inflammatory response that can lead to high fevers, dangerously low blood pressure and even organ failure in some patients.
Dr Misty Jenkins, with colleagues Mr Alex Davenport, Associate Professor Phillip Darcy and Associate Professor Paul Neeson from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, said the new research showed for the first time how CAR-T cells interacted with cancer cells.

Dr Misty Jenkins led a team analyzing how CAR-T cell therapy targets and kills cancer cells

"We found that CAR-T cell receptors have the ability to rapidly identify and bind to tumour cells that would otherwise remain undetected in the immune system, and promptly kill them," Dr Jenkins says. "We have previously shown a correlation between cytokine production and the length of time the immune cells were latched onto the cancer cells. The longer the cells were in contact, the more cytokines were produced, causing ever increasing degrees of damage from inflammation."
Further research into the biological factors that contribute to the efficacy and side effects of CAR-T cell therapy may help in creating a better treatment and safer delivery techniques, so as to reduce the recurrence of CRS. Although brain tumors are often resistant to traditional cancer treatments and surgical removal can be difficult, the team hopes that their new findings will allow CAR-T cell therapy to be adapted for use against brain cancer and other solid tumors.
"Finding an optimum design for CAR-T cell therapy where we can kill tumour cells with limited invasion, inflammation and side effects could significantly improve the treatment of brain cancer," says Dr Jenkins. "Answering fundamental biological questions about how immune cells and cancer cells function and interact, as we have done in this study, is invaluable in the quest to find formidable treatments for fatal cancers."

The study can be found in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), NewAtlas

February 13, 2018

Cannabinoids shown to enhance tumor-killing effects of chemotherapy drugs

by Unknown, in THC

Pairing cannabinoids with chemotherapy drugs can enhance the tumor-killing efficacy of both compounds(Credit: OpenRangeStock/Depositphotos)

Cannabinoids, the group of active compounds found in cannabis, are currently getting a great deal of attention from researchers for their potential medical applications. Despite many studies still being in their nascent stages, early observations are showing these compounds can decrease the growth of cancerous tumors. A new study has found pairing cannabinoids with chemotherapy drugs can increase the tumor-killing effects of both.
A team of oncologists at the University of London studying the effects of cannabinoids on leukemia cells in vitro, has observed that not only did cannabinoids enhance the death of cancer cells when used in combination with chemotherapy drugs, but the order in which the compounds were administered was vitally important.
The cannabinoids were only effective in enhancing the treatment when administered after chemotherapy. The study reports that when the order was reversed, with the cannabinoids being administered before the chemotherapy, the effect was significantly diminished.
"We have shown for the first time that the order in which cannabinoids and chemotherapy are used is crucial in determining the overall effectiveness of this treatment," explains Dr Wai Liu, who led the study.
We are still in the very early stages of clinical research into the broader effects of cannabinoids on cancer, and it's important to remember that this study was only performed in vitro and animal studies are yet to come. The researchers also note that these results do not mean that smoking marijuana has any particular anti-cancer effect.
"These extracts are highly concentrated and purified, so smoking marijuana will not have a similar effect," adds Dr Liu.
The long term goals of research like this could result in cannabinoids enhancing the effect of lower doses of chemotherapy, meaning current treatments would be more efficacious with fewer side-effects. More studies are currently underway exploring the potential medical uses of cannabinoids, but it is possible that oncologists could soon have a new weapon in their arsenal to battle cancer.

The study was published in the International Journal of Oncology.

Source: St George's, University of London, NewAtlas

February 13, 2018

Massive marijuana report reveals drug's many health effects

by Unknown, in weed

Cannabis and its many effects on users are described by a massive report that looks at 10,000 scientific studies(Credit: hanohiki/Depositphotos)

There's been no shortage of studies conducted over the years on the effects of marijuana use. But the focus of those studies can be as varied as their conclusions, making it a challenge to wade through the reams of information and get a full read on the drug. A new and lengthy report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine seeks to remedy this by examining more than 10,000 scientific abstracts of cannabis studies published since 1999, reaching nearly 100 conclusions.
Like the many studies, the report issues a mixed bag of good, bad and inconclusive results. Some of the more significant conclusions are on the therapeutic effects of cannabis and its ability to considerably reduce chronic pain symptoms in adults. It also finds that marijuana use likely increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, various psychoses and social anxiety disorders. The scientists involved with the report point out areas where research is lacking, and suggest ways to improve such scientific efforts while enhancing data collection in support of this research.
With the growing acceptance and legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana use, getting a clear view of the effects of the drug, both harmful and beneficial, has never been more needed from a public health standpoint. "The lack of any aggregated knowledge of cannabis-related health effects has led to uncertainty about what, if any, are the harms or benefits from its use," states Marie McCormick, chair of the report committee and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. "We conducted an in-depth and broad review of the most recent research to establish firmly what the science says and to highlight areas that still need further examination. As laws and policies continue to change, research must also."
A nationwide survey found that 22.2 million Americans age 12 and older used marijuana in the past 30 days. Ten percent of use is solely for medical purposes and 90 percent primarily recreational, with 36 percent using it for both. Since 2002, the number of regular users (citing use in the past month) has increased steadily from 6.2 to 8.3 percent.
Regarding medical benefits, the report finds that oral cannabinoids (tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other chemical compounds) helped to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting that typically results from chemotherapy. It also helped reduce back spasms in adults with multiple sclerosis.
As for negative outcomes, using marijuana before driving increases the risk of a car accident. The report also finds a greater risk of ingestion (and poisoning) by children in states that had legalized medical marijuana.
Some good news for marijuana users: there's no evidence that smoking cannabis increases your risk of lung, head or neck cancer, like tobacco use does. But smoking marijuana on a regular basis will lead to more respiratory issues, such as chronic bronchitis, cough and phlegm production. At the same time, regular exposure to marijuana smoke may promote anti-inflammatory activity within the immune system.
Marijuana use is generally not good for mental health – users are more likely to report thoughts of suicide, while it can increase symptoms for individuals with bipolar disorder. But a history of cannabis use can help those with schizophrenia and other psychoses perform better on learning and memory tasks.
There is moderate evidence to suggest that using marijuana can lead to substance abuse and dependence on other drugs. Additionally, the younger you start using marijuana, the greater the likelihood of developing problem cannabis use. It's also not surprising that learning, memory and attention are impaired immediately after using marijuana, though there's no evidence of any negative long-term effects in those cognitive functions after you stop smoking.

Source: National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, NewAtlas