The body of life: fiery amoebas and insect drones with "aerobatics"
In Russia, a non-contact method of drilling rocks using millimeter radiation has been tested. In addition, medical scientists have developed a nanogel for rapid wound healing, and neurophysiologists have created a device for stimulating critical thinking. At the same time, researchers from the United States have created an AI insect robot that is close to living prototypes in flight characteristics, and naturalists have discovered a new type of heat-resistant record-breaking amoebas. The most interesting events from the world of science can be found in the weekly Izvestia collection.
Millimeter waves will help to produce endless energy
Researchers from the Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences proposed a project for contactless drilling using millimeter radiation. It vaporizes even the hardest materials of the earth's crust — granites and basalts.
The technology will allow to reach hot dry rocks at a depth of 10-25 km, where temperatures exceed 4000 ℃. Extracting this heat to the surface will make it possible to create unlimited energy sources anywhere on the planet.
In the proposed project, radiation is directed to a depth — to the bottom — through waveguides, explained one of the initiators, Academician Sergey Alekseenko, scientific director of the ITF SB RAS. It vaporizes the rock, and then the vapors are brought up by purging with an inert gas.
— The advantage of domestic specialists is in leadership competencies in the creation of gyrotrons (sources of millimeter radiation) with megawatt power. The country has also accumulated experience in researching the interaction of microwave radiation with substances and creating transmission lines for powerful radiation," commented Alexander Vodopyanov, Head of the Department of Plasma Physics at the IPF RAS.
He said that in the test tests, the basalts were evaporated by a 10 kW source. If you increase it to a megawatt, the drilling speed will be several meters per hour.
The new gel will double the speed of treatment of complex wounds
Medical scientists from Sechenov University have developed a nanogel that significantly accelerates the repair of damaged tissues. The development is based on cerium oxide and collagen. The drug stimulates cell growth and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Collagen is a part of the body's connective tissues and ensures their strength and elasticity. During wound healing, it reduces the severity of inflammation and activates substances that are involved in the regeneration process. However, researchers are looking for ways to improve the properties of this protein.
— Collagen and cerium oxide nanoparticles had a synergistic effect. The former acts as a matrix for cell growth, while the latter fight inflammation, protect cells from oxidative stress, and stimulate their growth and division," explained Ekaterina Silina, head of the Laboratory of Life Sciences at Sechenov University.
She reported that in animal experiments, wounds treated with the new compound healed twice as fast as with standard therapy. In the future, the researchers plan to test the technology on damage caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes. The goal is to create a universal remedy for the treatment of complex wounds.
The "generator" of critical thinking will prevent deception
Specialists from Lobachevsky University (UNN) have presented a prototype device that, according to the developers, will help elderly people maintain critical thinking. The helmet-like device stimulates the gamma rhythms of the brain, which are associated with high activity of the central nervous system.
— The brain decreases its functions after 35 years of age. Most often, we notice memory loss. But the most important thing that characterizes old age is the loss of critical thinking. Therefore, older people often become victims of scams. To restore this function, we offer our device," explained Maria Vedunova, Director of the Institute of Biology and Biomedicine at UNN.
She explained that the device is designed to be used simultaneously with mental activity — reading books or solving problems. This will allow for a more powerful brain response. A pronounced effect will appear after several months of procedures.
At the same time, the UNN tested a device for stimulating alpha rhythms. They are characteristic of low brain activity. The action of this device is aimed at reducing stress.
Amoebas set record for survival in hot water
Scientists from Syracuse University (USA) have discovered amoebas that successfully exist and can divide at 63 °C. This is a record for eukaryotes, organisms whose cells contain a nucleus. The discovery refuted the idea that only bacteria and archaea can survive and develop in such conditions. The research has also expanded the range of potentially habitable worlds for eukaryotes.
"Taken together, our results change the understanding of where and how eukaryotic life can exist," the authors of the study said in a scientific article.
The new species was found in a geothermal stream in the Lassen-Volkanik National Park in California. The creatures were named Incendiamoeba cascadensis, which translates as "fiery amoeba from the Cascade Mountains."
The researchers also found that at 70 °C, these organisms form cysts, a temporary life form with a protective shell, and after the return of normal conditions, they become active again.
Insect robots with AI have mastered "aerobatics"
The sluggishness of insect drones is one of the main problems of miniature robotics. Unlike natural objects, such vehicles move only along smooth trajectories and with small accelerations.
A breakthrough in this field has been made by scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). They made a flying robot weighing 0.75 g with flapping wings, which showed record-breaking maneuverability.
For example, during test flights, it performed sideways jerks with an acceleration of up to 11.7 m/s2. At the same time, the maximum lateral velocity (when moving sideways) was about 2 m/s. In addition, the robot completed a series of 10 "dead loops" in 11 seconds. It also demonstrated resistance to a 1.6 m/s crosswind.
The developers achieved such results thanks to a controller based on an innovative neural network. It is capable of efficient operation with limited computing resources. Thanks to her, the drone acquired dynamics comparable to live insects, learned to feel external influences and react quickly to them.
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