10 scientific breakthroughs in 2014

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) magazine has just announced the top 10 scientific breakthroughs in 2014.

The editors of the AAAS selected the first scientific breakthrough in the previous years to discover 'God's seed' (2012), cancer immunotherapy (2013).

This year, the robot event landed on the comet to learn life topped the list.

Video introduces AAAS top 10 scientific breakthroughs in 2014 - (Source: You Tube)

1. Robot responds to comets to learn about life

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta European spacecraft has made history when it successfully launched the Philae robot onto the comet surface 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This is the first space device in the world to successfully hit a comet.

Scientists confirmed that Philae discovered carbon-containing 'organic molecules' - the basis of life on Earth on comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

2. Prove the true 'origin' of birds as dinosaurs

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and the University of Oxford (UK) have successfully built the most comprehensive family tree ever since the evolution of dinosaurs to modern birds after they studied. , compare morphological features of 850 body parts of 150 dinosaurs and extinct birds.

3. 'Transfusion' therapy to fight aging

The American scientist's study showed that it is possible to 'reverse' old age in mice by replacing blood - injecting young mice 'blood with older mice.

The results showed that the brain function of mice receiving the young blood source was significantly improved through tests of awareness and memory, 'paving the way' for human studies to improve the aging process of aging. .

4. Robot 'cooperates'

Harvard scientists (America) successfully built an army of 1,000 tiny robots that organized to collaborate, work in groups like ants or bees to perform shaping or moving synchronously. This robotic army is called Kilobots, arguably the biggest ever.

Each robot has 3 legs and is about the size of a coin, with the ability to work collaboratively opens hope to help people perform difficult tasks in the future, such as 'crawling' into the rubble looking Search for victims after an earthquake.

5. Chip 'mimics' the human brain

IBM's multinational computer technology group based in the US has developed a new microprocessor, called the TrueNorth chip, that is able to 'mimic' the human brain.

TrueNorth chip combines 5.4 billion transistors, has 1 million neurons and 256 million programmable synapses with the aim of controlling devices such as proactively giving tsunami warnings, monitoring oil overflow or enforce the flow rules.

6. World's oldest 'Art' cave in Asia

Australian and Indonesian scientists have "uncovered the mystery" of cave paintings created by prehistoric people in Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, believed to be at least 40,000 years ago, suggesting Europe It is not the place that produces the abstract artistic ability of humans as previously thought.

This ancient painting work includes animal drawings and hand samples on the walls of the limestone caves in Sulawesi, discovered 50 years ago but has not been dated until today.

7. 'Stem cells' treat diabetes

The research group at Harvard Institute of Stem Cells (USA) published an important breakthrough in discovering the factors that when fed into stem cell culture environment will convert them into pancreatic β cells function for several weeks, opening up hope for stem cells to treat diabetes.

8. 'Delete memories' in the mouse

A group of American scientists have shown they can turn science fiction movies into reality, at least in the experiment of "erasing memories" of the optical engineering mouse - genetics optogenetics, opening expectations. new on human memory study.

9. 'Booming' mini satellite CubeSat

Mini CubeSat satellite, equivalent to a small box of size 10cm x 10cm and weighs about 1.3kg - was applied more than 1 decade ago and quickly favored by modern features and quality.

In 2014, more than 75 CubeSat satellites were launched into space to perform various tasks such as taking photos of the Earth or monitoring deforestation.

10. Expand the genetic code

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute, California (USA) announced adding 2 letters to the genetic code, based on a test of changing the structure of Escherichia coli bacteria that made it merge and replicate the two components. DNA is not present in nature (called X and Y).

This test shows that the letters A, T, G and C in DNA, which have existed for hundreds of millions of years, can be expanded through human intervention.

This finding will create many future applications such as the creation of new drugs and proteins that with the current four genetic codes cannot be achieved, but are also causing controversy, concerns around DNA interference as well as the ability to create artificial organisms.