A conservative estimate for the width of the 4.6-Gyr continuously habitable zone (CHZ) is 0.95 to 1.15 AU. The HZ evolves outward in time because the Sun increases in luminosity as it ages. The width of the HZ is slightly greater for planets that are larger than Earth and for planets which have higher N2 partial pressures. Between these two limits, climate stability is ensured by a feedback mechanism in which atmospheric CO2 concentrations vary inversely with planetary surface temperature. Conservative estimates for these distances in our own Solar System are 0.95 and 1.37 AU, respectively the actual width of the present HZ could be much greater. The outer edge of the HZ is determined by the formation of CO2 clouds, which cool a planet's surface by increasing its albedo and by lowering the convective lapse rate. The inner edge of the HZ is determined in our model by loss of water via photolysis and hydrogen escape. Our basic premise is that we are dealing with Earth-like planets with CO2/H2O/N2 atmospheres and that habitability requires the presence of liquid water on the planet's surface. Some of the things the new fund will focus on include ingredients and flavorings for plant-based meat, reversing climate change, agricultural tech for more sustainable farming practices and synthetic biology like enzymes that can be used for the “circular economy,” or breaking down waste products into new materials.A one-dimensional climate model is used to estimate the width of the habitable zone (HZ) around our Sun and around other main sequence stars. Main Sequence’s close relationship with CSIRO also gives its startups access to the agency’s ecosystem of research and facilities, including ones that can be used to produce new food tech, synthetic biology or laser tuning. Other Main Sequence portfolio companies include telehealth software platform Coviu, subterranean drone technology developer Emesent, IoT satellite connectivity startup Myriota and quantum computing firmware designer Q-CTRL. “Now that we have locked that down as a methodology, we’ve done several venture science deals already and will be a doing a lot more of that.” “Companies are moving very quickly out of Australia and into China and other parts of Asia, all from the venture science model,” said Zimmerman. Subterranean drone mapping startup Emesent raises $2.5M to autonomously delve the deep Its works with universities, CSIRO’s networks of 3,500 scientists across different sectors and other research agencies to find potential founders. So in addition to backing great founders who are working in one of our thesis areas, we will create companies to solve the problems and we do that as a partnership instead of on our own,” Main Sequence partner Mike Zimmerman told TechCrunch. “Especially in the deep tech space, you don’t always have a company for every problem you’re trying to solve. One major focus will be decarbonization and addressing climate change, and that investment area will be led by Main Sequence partner Martin Duursma. Main Sequence’s second fund will look at issues including healthcare accessibility, increasing the world’s food supply, industrial productivity and space. It starts by identifying challenges, then brings together scientists, a team, industry partners and investors to launch startups. The firm works closely with scientists and researchers to commercialize their technology through its “venture science” model. Launched in 2017 by government agency CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), Main Sequence now manages a total of $490 million AUD, including the CSIRO Innovation Fund. This is Main Sequence’s second fund and its oversubscribed raise included returning investors Horizons Ventures, Hostplus, Lockheed Martin, Temasek, private investors from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Mutual Trust, and family offices. Main Sequence, the venture firm founded by Australia’s national science agency, announced today a new $250 million AUD (about $194.3 million USD) fund to invest in deep tech startups. Main Sequence’s team (top row from left to right) Virginia Crawter, Bill Bartee, Mike Nicholls, Phil Morle (bottom row from left to right) Stella Xu, Mike Zimmerman and Jen Baxter.
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