Mission Rosetta and Philae landing probe on the surface of the nucleus of the comet 67P / Churiumov-Gerasimenko opens the list of the greatest scientific achievements of the year, traditionally announced at the end of the year by the journal “Science”. In the list of the top 10 discoveries 2,014 years, among others, the groundbreaking work in medicine, robotics, biology and paleontology.
The Rosetta lander and it became famous in November when Philae – the first manmade object – dropped onto the surface of the nucleus of the comet 67P. Exciting maneuver – as it turned out – did not go exactly as planned. Systems did not work, which had anchored probe landing site, so still bounced twice to get stuck in the cocked position under the cliff.
The data from the lander and the Rosetta probe parent has already produced relevant data on the construction of a comet. You can expect that as we approach the 67P to the Sun, these data will be even more interesting. ROSINA spectrometers set (Rosetta Orbiter Sensor for Ion and Neutral Analysis) has helped to identify the core shell particles of water, methane, hydrogen, and the rarer substances such as formaldehyde or hydrogen cyanide. Further studies should help to verify the theory, supposedly comet to Earth could bring water and organic molecules, and thus help in the emergenc e of life.
“Landing Philae was an amazing success, which became loud around the world, but the groundbreaking importance all Rosetta mission, which will help scientists track the entire process of transformation of the comet when approaching the Sun “- says Tim Appenzeller of” Science “. “The breakthrough discovery should either solve a problem, and that science could not help myself for a long time, or open the possibility of further research” – adds Robert Coontz. In the case of Rosetta most significant research is yet to come.
The other nine scientific discoveries, which “Science” decided this year to draw attention, already presented in random order.
Research conversion of dinosaurs into birds: series of works, which are based on a comparison of skeletons reveal how the birds have developed a lighter skeleton, developed in many species and survivors before 66 million years .
Young blood cure ailments of old age: , researchers have demonstrated here that the blood taken from young mice, and even the agent contained therein GDF11 may “rejuvenate” muscle and brain of old mice . On this basis has already started clinical trials in which patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease receive blood plasma of young donors.
Robots that work: new software and interactive small robots have shown that they are able – as termites – collectively and without supervision by a man to perform simple tasks.
integrated circuits that mimic the architecture of the brain: and nżynierowie IBM and other companies have created the first large-scale integrated circuits which, in their work following the method of compiling the data typical of the human brain.
The restoration of beta cell: Two groups of scientists have developed independent laboratory cell culture methods resembling insulin secreting beta cells of the pancreas, which gives new possibilities for diabetes research.
Indonesian cave art: , the researchers found that the drawings discovered in a cave in Indonesia come not before 10,000, but nearly 40,000 years, which means that “artists” from Asia created images that can be considered as art, not later, and perhaps even earlier than our ancestors in Europe.
Manipulation memory: researchers used Optogenetics, a technique that allows the manipulation of neuronal activity with the use of light to change the emotional tenor of memories in mice, remove some of the memories and make other, false.
CubeSats: miniature, cheap satellites in the shape of a cube side of 10 centimeters, fired into orbit for educational purposes for many years, in the past year, however, began to yield the first results of actual scientific research.
The expansion of the genetic alphabet: the researchers constructed a bacterium E. coli which in addition to the normal DNA nucleotides, guanine, thymine, cytosine and adenine includes two other X and Y. This synthetic bacteria can not multiply outside of the laboratory, the researchers want to use them to create new proteins on request.
“Science” also draws attention to other areas, which this year had a significant impact. It also stresses the response to the epidemic of Ebola virus in West Africa, the study of changes in the Arctic ice cap, or the development of new, complex methods of immunotherapy in the fight against cancer.
Grzegorz Jasinski
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