Advancements and breakthroughs in science and technology in 2021

The year 2021 is about to pass in a festive atmosphere and in the shadow of the Omicron variant. Looking back at the development in the field of science and technology in the past 1 year, what strides and breakthroughs has mankind made? 

1. New evidence ends the investigation into the cause of the dinosaur's extinction

New research has found compelling evidence that the investigation into the extinction of the dinosaurs may finally be closed. (Photo: Shutterstock)

There have been several theories about what led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, such as a series of volcanic eruptions, asteroids hitting the Earth, and other global catastrophes. The new study, published in the February 24 issue of Science, finally closes the investigation.

The study said that, from all the evidence collected so far, it can be concluded that the extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by an asteroid hitting the Earth 66 million years ago. Studies estimate that 75% of the creatures on the planet gradually starved to death and became extinct in the 20 years after the impact, including dinosaurs.

2. New research reveals the real cause of death of the inhabitants of Pompeii

The ancient city of Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. (Photo: Shutterstock)

In AD 79, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy claimed the lives of about 2,000 inhabitants of Pompeii. In the Pompeii ruins that were excavated later, many people were found still in their usual position when they died. This makes the disaster very mysterious, proving that these people all died in an unexpected state and in a very short period of time.

A study published March 2 in Scientific Reports, revealed that the inhabitants of Pompeii were suffocated by dense volcanic ash in just 17 minutes, unlike previous conjectures of being ' buried alive' by lava, or burned by hot air.

3. Quantum entanglement moves to the macro level: 'Uncertainty principle' is broken

Diagram of two particles in the quantum entangled state.

Quantum entanglement is one of the strange phenomena within the quantum field. When 2 or more particles are bound together in a certain way, no matter how far apart they are in space, their states are still bound together.

Previously, scientists had only observed quantum entanglement in the microcosm, a magical state where two particles are kept in sync in space. A research report published in the journal Science on May 7, said that this phenomenon was also observed at a macroscopic scale and found that it broke the classical uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics (temporary). translated as the Uncertainty Principle).

The researchers used aluminum drum heads only about 10 micrometers on both sides, used microwave photons to vibrate their drum membranes, and found that they were able to maintain a synchronized state of quantum entanglement. . Previous research is limited by the 'uncertainty principle', which cannot accurately measure objects that are quantum entangled with each other, can only be estimated through speculation. But this study breaks this principle for the first time and makes it possible to measure objects in a quantum entangled state.

4. There is a supernormal amount of radioactive elements on the surface of Mars

An asteroid impact crater on the surface of Mars captured by NASA's MRO.

Based on the results of analysis of data collected by the stationary Mars InSight probe, a study published in the journal Science on July 23 revealed that the Martian crust is more radioactive than the Martian crust. what was known before. The radioactive elements contained in the Martian crust are 13 to 20 times higher than previously detected values ​​by satellites, the researchers said.

The findings of this study are consistent with the theory put forward by the American plasma physicist John Brandenburg. A study presented by Mr Brandenburg in 2015 claimed there was evidence that there were massive nuclear explosions on Mars in ancient times. Its scale is very large, can completely change the climate and environment on Mars, making Mars as barren as it is today.

5. Plants do not 'evolve' gradually, their 2 mutations are 250 million years apart

Plants on Earth have grown by leaps and bounds.

According to the theory of evolution, plants on Earth gradually evolved from the simplest plants such as mosses, to terrestrial plants, and then to flowering plants, with increasing complexity. However, a study led by Stanford University has found that plant growth on Earth has occurred twice, with a period of up to 250 million years. For such a long time, plants have not 'evolved' at all. The study was published in the journal Science on September 17.

The researchers describe that at the beginning of the Devonian (a geologic period in the Paleozoic), about 420 million to 360 million years ago, terrestrial plants experienced their first wave of prosperity. In those days, there were no trees on the ground, only grass, bushes that could grow up to 20 feet (about 6 m) tall.

After that, plant growth stalled. It was not until the end of the Cretaceous period (100 million to 66 million years ago) that a large number of complex flowering plants suddenly appeared on Earth and ecological environments became close to what humans would expect. see now.

6. An isolated region found in the solar system

Diagram of the solar system.

A study published October 15 in the journal Science Advances shows that, at the very beginning of the formation of the solar system about 4.5 billion years ago, there was a clear circular gap in the cloud of gas and dust. disk around the Sun.

This could ultimately explain why meteors from the solar system are clearly coming from two regions, it is this circular void that divides the solar system into two places, the inner ring and the outer ring with different distances. compared to the Sun.

Of the meteorites found on Earth, one comes from regions closer to the Sun, and another comes from regions farther from the Sun. This study found that during the early stages of the formation of the solar system, the magnetic fields in regions farther from the Sun were stronger than those in regions closer to the Sun.

This means that the accretion ability of the outer planets of the solar system is stronger than that of the inner planets. Jupiter, a gas giant, is located in the outer solar system.

7. Earth is in a giant magnetic tunnel

Diagram of the Earth in a tunnel with a very large magnetic field.

A study published in the Astrophysical Journal on December 10 shows that our planet and the entire solar system are located in a giant magnetic field tunnel. The length of this tunnel is about 1,000 light years.

The researchers found that the tunnel has a certain curvature. Charged particles and magnetic fields form a long, thin wire-like structure that fills the tunnel. The study also specifically mentions that two large-scale celestial structures were initially thought to be unrelated, the 'North Polar Spur' and the 'Fan Region' that were part of this tunnel, and lies parallel to the Earth, on both sides.

8. There are at least 2 species of prehistoric humans 3.7 million years ago

Fossils of human footprints were found in Argentina 20,000 years ago.

For a long time, scientists believed that the ancient human skeleton discovered by scientists in 1974 (later named Lucy) was the only ancient human race. However, a study published in the journal Nature on December 1 re-analyzed some fossilized footprints that were originally thought to be bears and found that they were actually left by prehistoric humans and not a race of bears. Lucy people. These footprints come from an era similar to when Lucy lived.

This discovery means that more than one human species lived on Earth at the same time 3.7 million years ago. According to the researcher, judging from the various clues on the fossil site, that area had the complete natural environment of Africa during the prehistoric period. This place is not only home to at least two types of humans, but also birds, antelope, hyenas and other animals. .

9. Half of Earth's water resources come from the solar wind

Diagram of the Earth under the influence of the solar wind.

A study published in the journal Nature Astronomy on November 29 shows that the initially charged particles in the solar wind turn into water when they encounter space dust! This discovery finally solves the mystery that scientists previously posed about the source of water on Earth.

Scientists only know that meteorites falling to Earth will bring water to Earth, but the proportion of heavy water contained in meteorites' water is higher than on Earth. The researchers calculated that if the water sources produced by dust radiation and the water sources from meteorites were mixed in a 50:50 ratio, the ratio of Deuterium and hydrogen isotopes in the water sources would result The result is exactly the same as the ratio of water on Earth. As a result, researchers believe that at least half of the water on Earth comes from the interaction of wind and solar dust.

10. NASA's probe enters the Sun's atmosphere for the first time

Image of the Parker probe entering the Sun's atmosphere. (Photo: NASA)

The Parker Solar Probe launched by NASA will fly closer to the Sun each time it passes the Sun. It passed the Sun for the 10th time this year and entered the Sun's atmosphere for the first time. The probe sent back a video of the first time it passed through the 'pseudo-Riemannian manifold' in the corona (or heliosphere, the ring of light emitted by space around the Sun), which NASA thinks like flying into the 'eye of the storm'.

This time, NASA also discovered that the surface of the corona is not a smooth spherical surface, but is not flat and has many wrinkles. The findings were published in the December 14 issue of Physical Review Letters.