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- Heaven's Edge: moving "wings" of satellites and new missions to deep space
Heaven's Edge: moving "wings" of satellites and new missions to deep space
Russian scientists have prepared projects for new research missions to deep space, and a French-American startup has proposed an innovative way to change the orientation of satellites in outer space. This, as well as a new version of why ancient animals died out, an effective way to study artificial biotissues and how the soil of northern cities "breathes" - in the rating of science news for the week, prepared by "Izvestia".
Allergy to pollen could be the cause of the extinction of mammoths
Scientists from Israel, Russia and Italy found in the remains of mammoths , extracted from the Siberian permafrost, fragments of immunoglobulin. These are defense proteins that the animal body produces to fight foreign agents. Such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and allergens. According to experts, the paleontological find may indicate allergic diseases in mammoths, which could lead to the extinction of the species.
- The development of allergies to plant pollen, changes in allergic pollen toxicity and increased pollen release period or the emergence of a large number of flowering plants during global climate change - these factors could have led to reduced sensitivity to odors in animals during the breeding season," the scientists report in a scientific publication.
According to the researchers, this could have led to a decrease in sexual reproduction, triggering a population decline and eventual demise.
"Flapping wings" will help satellites change orientation
Engineers from the French-American startup Samara Aerospace have won a contract from SpaceWERX (a division of the U.S. Space Force - the space service of the U.S . Armed Forces) to build a flight model of the world's first satellite with "flapping wings".
The designers explained that the proposed mechanism features symmetrical solar panels that are connected by hinges made of piezo material. This piezo element changes shape under the influence of an electric field, causing the panels to make rapid synchronized movements. The result is a vibration that causes the satellite to turn around its center of gravity.
Usually , to change orientation in space , vehicles use the rarefied atmosphere, or the magnetic and gravitational fields of the planet, or the pressure of sunlight and wind. The proposed solution allows the satellite to rotate without physical support.
Specialists have already conducted a series of ground tests of the design. The concluded contract will allow them to create a flight model and test it in space conditions.
Urban soils produce moreCO2 compared to natural areas
Scientists from the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and Wageningen University ( the Netherlands) have analyzed the so-called soil respiration - the release of carbon dioxide from the ground caused by the activity of microorganisms - in and around the city of Apatity in the Murmansk region.
The results demonstrated that urban soils contain on average 2.4 times less carbon than natural soils. However, the increased activity of bacteria leads to an increase inCO2 emissions. Specialists believe that this is due to the higher temperature of urban soils and a greater content of organic matter in them. Moreover, more carbon dioxide is formed in spring, during snowmelt, when microbes wake up.
According to scientists, the study will help to create soil substrates that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in cities while preserving microbial diversity.
New 3D visualization method will help grow artificial biotissues
Scientists from the Sechenov University of the Russian Ministry of Health have proposed an innovative approach for 3D visualization of porous collagen matrices used to grow biotissues. Previously, the problem was that collagen does not contrast well with biological cells.
To solve the problem, experts have selected a special component that does not damage living cells, but "illuminates" matrices in X-rays in computed microtomography.
- The method involves contrasting samples in a three-percent solution of phosphorus-tungstic acid in distilled water with subsequent scanning. The mechanism of action of the chemical compound is that it firmly binds to collagen and cell masses and ensures their visibility in micro-CT. At the same time, the difference in signal intensity between collagen fibers and living tissues allows to distinguish them well from each other, - one of the authors of the development, junior researcher at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine of Sechenov University Sergei Tkachev told "Izvestia".
The introduction of the method will help to more accurately manage the formation of biotissues. This may be in demand when creating implants or research bioequivalents, and in the future - for the development of bioelectronics and biocomputers.
The Russian Federation has developed projects for long-distance space expeditions
The Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences has prepared projects of new spacecraft for studying deep space. These are an X-ray observatory "Spektr-RGN" and gamma-ray observatory "Spektr-RGM". They will continue the mission of "Spektr-RG" - now the only domestic satellite to study the remote regions of the Universe.
The purpose of the first spacecraft is to work out technologies for navigating X-ray pulsars. Like beacon signals, they can be used as landmarks in space. The second spacecraft will study objects in the sky by examining the spectral lines of chemical elements. This will provide information about many events that occur in space. For example, about processes inside stars and galaxies.
«Спектр-РГ»
- Thanks to Spectrum-RG, outstanding results have already been obtained. However, it is necessary to move further and develop the competencies that have been developed. The Spectr-RGN project is a relatively simple experiment that can be realized quickly and at low cost. It is necessary both from the scientific point of view and for the development of space technologies. "Spectr-RGM" - more complex, it will be based on the developments obtained during the implementation of "Spectr-RGN" - told "Izvestia" Deputy Director for Research and Head of the Department of High Energy Astrophysics IKI, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Lutovinov.
To create the first apparatus, if funding is received, scientists will start in 2025, and the second - in the next five years. They plan to launch them into space in the early and mid-2030s, respectively.
