Photos from open sources
In the coming year, scientists, perhaps for the first time, will be able make out a black hole or even a “mole hole”, get a decisive information on the possible existence of microorganisms on Mars and in Antarctic Lake East, learn to decrypt the genome single cells, create a map of the “lines of communication” in the brain and bring the number of open exoplanets is up to a thousand. Radioastron look into the mole hole
Participants in the Russian astrophysical project Radioastron already in the first half of 2013 they’ll try to make out a black hole, more precisely, its “shadow”, and also, possibly, the “mole hole” – going beyond the limits of our space-time.
Russian space radio telescope “Radioastron” is intended to work in conjunction with a global terrestrial network of radio telescopes. Together forming a single ground-space interferometer with ultra-long base (VLBI) of very high angular resolution – up to seven microseconds.
In 2013, project participants plan to conduct joint observations with the largest ground-based radio astronomy observatory VLA (Very Large Array). Their goal will be the galaxy M87 in the constellation Virgin. At its center is a supermassive black hole, angular the size of which is about 30 microseconds. A high resolution “bundles” of VLA – “Radioastron” will make it possible to make out the “shadow” a black hole, the outline of its “event horizon.”
Single cell genome
Genetics will receive in their hands the technology of decoding the genome, as well as all variations of RNA copies of genes (transcripts) in a single cell. This means, in particular, that scientists will be able to detect for the first time. primary genetic breakdowns that lead to the development of cancer, and also to severe genetic disorders.
As some experts expect, in 2013 will be received the first data on how single cells work, in particular, brain cells by examining RNA molecules. Pending receipt new data on the functioning of the genetic apparatus by studying molecules RNAs that transmit genetic instructions to protein factories in cells.
In addition, in 2013, the pilot phase of the project will be completed. “Human Proteome” by the description of all human proteins organism.
Brain Map …
In 2013, the mapping project will begin to work in full force. connections between neurons in the human brain – Human Connectome Project As part of this project, whose total budget is 38.5 million dollars, scientists study the brain of 1.2 thousand adults volunteers, including 300 pairs of twins.
Researchers will record individual differences in neural connections between different areas of the brain to figure out how they can influence mental activity and behavior.
In addition, several other projects are expected to be explore neural connections in the brain at the cellular level.
… and the big bang echo
The European Planck Space Telescope will be the most accurate relict radiation map – cosmic microwave background, left over after the Big Bang. Previous measurements of variations in the properties of this background allowed to confirm the inflation theory expansion of the universe. And the new data received in 2003, helped to clarify information about the composition of the Universe – 5% of the usual matter, 22% is invisible dark matter, and 73% is dark energy.
The data “Planck” will clarify the details of this model, and, perhaps discover evidence that there are traces of new ones behind her, still unknown phenomena.
Traces of germs on Mars …
Curiosity rover can detect traces next year activities of ancient or modern Martian microorganisms. Already this year, a chemical laboratory in the “womb” of the rover discovered organic molecules – compounds containing chlorine, carbon and hydrogen, the so-called perchlorates.
However, while scientists can not say with certainty that these are “local” organic compounds, not brought by the rover from the earth.
In addition, the organic substances themselves are compounds carbon and hydrogen – do not always mean the presence of living organisms. In interstellar dust clouds, scientists have repeatedly discovered complex organic molecules, such as molecules alcohol or formic acid.
Scientists expect that in 2013 they will be able to detect on Mars is not just organic, but organic, bearing the traces of biological processing.
… and in the Antarctic lake
Russian polar explorers who will go to Antarctica in this Friday, will receive the first samples of water from the relic Antarctic Lake Vostok, which for millions of years has been isolated from the outside world is four kilometer thick ice.
In the past year, scientists, after decades of work, managed to drill a well to Lake Vostok. As expected, at the moment penetration into the lake of its water rushed up the well, and then they froze.
Now Russian scientists intend to drill freshly frozen again lake ice and get data on its possible “population” – about microorganisms. According to existing data, the water of Lake Vostok differs in extremely high concentration of oxygen. None of known microorganisms are not able to exist in such conditions.
Some researchers suggest that Lake Vostok may previously unprecedented organisms exist – oxygenophiles capable of survive in such extremely unusual conditions. Also not excluded that microorganisms may exist in the bottom sediments of the lake.
At the same time, the analysis of the first water samples of Lake Vostok (which splashed out of the well while drilling) showed that they are practically do not contain microorganisms, which means that the upper layers of water in this the lake is most likely sterile. Also in the coming year in another Antarctic lake – Ellsworth – plan to infiltrate British polar explorers.
Thousand exoplanets
Astronomers in the coming year, it is possible, will bring the bill open exoplanets up to a thousand. Currently known 854 exoplanets in 673 planetary systems.
This year, NASA’s Kepler orbiting telescope launched at March 2009, completed his main scientific mission and began additional studies that may continue as at least four years.
Over 3.5 years of operation, “Kepler” discovered more than 2.3 thousand “candidates” for exoplanets and confirmed the existence of more than 100 planets outside the solar system. Among them, there are planets, comparable in size to the Earth, as well as planets, located in the so-called “zone of life” – the area around the star, where on the surface of a planet similar to Earth there may exist liquid water.
Interstellar Voyager
The Voyager probe, launched more than 30 years ago, in the new year, likely to penetrate into interstellar space and transmit from there first data.
In early December, NASA announced that Voyager entered a new region – magnetic “high-speed highway” for charged particles on outskirts of the solar system. According to experts, this is the last the stage of the probe’s travel to interstellar space, which can take from a few months to a couple of years.
New Cancer Immunotherapy
The first results are expected in 2013. clinical trials of a new generation of molecules created by methods genetic engineering and “targeting” against malignant tumors. We are talking about bispecific antibodies BiTE (Bispecific T-cell Engager) that bind simultaneously to cancer cells and T lymphocytes.
According to scientists, using bispecific antibodies can be precisely deliver chemotherapeutic toxins to tumor cells drugs and radioactive isotopes, which will reduce side effects from the use of these funds.
What boson is found?
The Higgs boson theme will remain in global scientific trends and on next year.
While the Large Hadron Collider will go on long “holidays”, physicists, using the accumulated results, calculate get more accurate data about a particle found on it. Scientists will be able to find out if it is the expected “particle of God”, or the properties of this particle differ from theoretically predicted.
In accordance with the preliminary schedule of the accelerator, after the Christmas holidays on it for almost a month will be another proton-lead collision session was conducted. Further The LHC will be stopped for 20 months, after which it will start working on total energy, almost twice as high as current.
Hadron Collider Water Time NASA Solar System Telescope Exoplanets Black Hole
