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Three astronomical “disaster” occurred in rapid succession, a sudden increase in the humans to prevent the Earth experienced space “uninvited guests” attacks of a sense of urgency. Celestial fall events can advance warning? Some scientists believe that, based on existing scientific methods, effective early warning certain challenges remain. However, Russia meteorite rain the previous day, local time on February 14, the United States University of California at Santa Barbara, a team of scientists announced a novel plan: using solar energy to build a giant laser beam phased array to monitor and advance the destruction of Earth-threatening asteroids.

Russia says impossible to stop the meteorite

Including Russia, a number of countries have tracking observation system of asteroids, but advanced enough for the time being. Russian Ministry of emergency situations of national crisis management Center Director yigeer·suoluohuofu said that this meteorite is too small, we cannot be tracked.

Space Agency of the Russian Federation Minister of strategic planning, project management and objectives Youli·makaluofu said that the meteorites fell is very fast, very small angle to the atmosphere. Therefore, use the available means to track it is impossible.

United States NASA’s main track is at or above 1000 meters in diameter of celestial bodies. In other words, the asteroid 2012DA14 and Russia falling meteorites are not a major target in the territory.

Astronomical community is expected, near the Earth of similar size asteroid 2012DA14 celestial body, only about one-tenth was found. It is worth mentioning that, discovered by amateur astronomer 2012DA14 last year.

“These celestial bodies, size small, very easy to be found, their orbits very close to the Earth. “California Institute of technology Professor of Aeronautics and applied physics baoluo·dimotajisi said,” this reflects the challenge for space observation. ”

In addition, many meteorites does not give out light itself, only if you are very close to Earth may be observed. Coupled with the telescope can be effective only at night observation, if the meteorite struck during the day, astronomers are almost impossible to advance warning.

Planets with laser beams “disappear”

Very low probability of dangerous celestial bodies colliding with Earth, many scientists have for many years research on Chinese enterprises ‘ countermeasures, such as earlier anticipated danger dangerous and effective disarmament.

Former astronaut David schweickart believes that, in theory, if a planet is about to hit the Earth with hazards, you can launch spacecraft, run along the trajectory approach hit the planet, the planet “push” from the trajectory of colliding with Earth.

According to United States space news 15th report, back in Russia meteorite event occurred the day before, University of California at Santa Barbara Professor Philip · M。 Arthur Lubin and his scientific team has proposed a deal with threats of strikes the planet programme.

Planet aiming system proposed under this programme the initials DE-STAR, the principle is the space collect solar energy, transformed into destructive laser beams fired at hit planets, planetary orbits to deviate from or even planets in space “evaporates”.

This programme in accordance with the scale of 4 versions of the system are listed. Among them, DE-STAR 2 of about 100 meters in diameter, the size of the international space station, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, you need to launch in batches, assembled in space; more advanced volume is DE-STAR 2 DE-STAR 4 100 times, theoretically capable of using solar-powered laser beams emit enormous energy every day, a year for a 500-meter-diameter planet “evaporates”.

California State jiali·xiusi University of technology researchers believed that programme “is not as film like Star Wars fantasy”, all the system components that already exist, only the current level and advanced level as much as expected.

In addition, some moviegoers believe that trying to follow science-fiction movie plot, large hit planet launches the bomb, eliminate the impact hazard. European Space Agency spokesman boenhade·Feng·weie said that space objects hit the Earth is “global challenges”, requires States to find solutions, but it is determined, nuclear explosive solution no feasibility of Hollywood.

Russia lusilan·puhuofu the strategies and technologies analysis centre Director said in an interview with the media, yet no country can really solve the problem of asteroids threatening Earth. In the foreseeable future, implementation of interception is impossible in a certain way. Even if the future can be achieved using some blocking, nor a large number of applications, because the costs were very high.

The brain is the most complex and the most mysterious of organs of the human body, date, how the human brain works is still incomplete. Early in the last century 90 ‘s, United States President George Bush senior made the “Decade of the brain” plan, followed by Japan and Europe have been followed up and carried out in-depth research on the brain. Obama will unravel brain mysteries as the United States focused on technology development, proposed at a cost of more than $ 3 billion, took 10 years.

Just started a second Obama term, will unravel brain mysteries as the United States focused on technology development, and wishes to take this revitalizing the United States economy. The New York Times said, the Obama administration conceived of this grand plan comparable with the human genome project, whose ultimate goal is to draw a complete map of human brain activity, and to fully unravel brain mysteries.

1 similar to the human genome project

It was reported that Obama plans to discuss next month when the Government’s draft budget, formally proposed this name for the BAM (maps of brain activity) research projects. This programme will be devoted to research on the human brain thinking activity, to the extent possible, draw complete maps of brain activity.

The scheme’s participants will include federal agencies, private foundations, as well as the team of neuroscientists and nano-scientists. They will work together to enhance the awareness of qianyige neurons in the human brain, a better understanding of human perception, behavior, and eventually solved the mystery of human consciousness.

Scientists have very high expectations of this scheme, if the success of the project, a number of brain-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, etc, are accurately positioned, so as to look for new treatments possible.

In addition, draw a map of the human brain, it would be possible to bring about breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. These will go a long way-led United States of economic development.

The plan is expected to take ten years, at a cost of more than $ 3 billion. But Obama believes that high investment is worth it, “in the study of the human genome, we each put in a dollar, get a $ 140 return. “He used as an example, that BAM plan for United States lucrative returns. United States human genome project at a cost of $ 3.8 billion, as of 2010, the United States has obtained US $ 800 billion in return.

BAM plans to eventually spend may not be less than the human genome project, but experts estimate that item if successful, United States from which benefits would be larger than the human genome project benefit more. But due to the current United States financial constraints, the Federal Government will approve the amount of funds available, is still unknown.

2 explain how humans think

Yuehan·dangnage, Professor of Neuroscience at Brown University is one of the core members of the scheme.

When Mr nag said, “the most interesting to me and puzzling question is how the brain will translate thought into action? Although brain imaging techniques, and cell-based research for the brain mechanism provides some insights, but for deep brain works, we still did not know very well. ”

If you compare the brain of a city, the current technology, can enable us to see the approximate outline of the city, are unable to understand what’s going on inside. BAM is to journey to our brain draws a navigation map, each of these ideas come from, how to translate into action, are indicated on the map.

There are about 100 billion neurons in the brain, external stimulation, each neuron will convey the power of “impulse”, very large neuron organization will also respond to conscious or unconscious.

Colombia University neuroscience Professor Rafael · You Sidi is explained, the plan is not a static map of the final draw, but more like a high resolution video. Through this dynamic map, a single neuron by stimulation of react, and how neurons interact, how eventually these are transforming actions, thoughts, feelings, and even the last, you can see clearly.

BAM plans another important significance, is consolidating existing distributed research. Neuroscience Research Assistant Institute of Pan 璟wei of Beijing news reporters “(I guess) there are tens of thousands of laboratories in the world doing this type of research, each laboratory can study several loops of certain brain regions, but BAM plans to integrate these studies. ”

Pan 璟wei explains, “it’s like everyone else with a few pieces of the puzzle, but don’t know what other’s puzzle is like, much less know that spell what good looks like. This project is in fact in the integration of research resources and ultimately spell over the ‘ map ‘. ”

3 draw a rat brain Atlas

In 2010, the United States has also launched a “human connection group plans”, the aim of which is to draw main lines between the different parts of the brain, and then reveals the connections between individual differences, BAM plan is in development on this basis.

In addition to United States Government funding, there are several private companies, including Google and Microsoft plan to provide financial support.

On January 17, the three government institutions, a neuroscientist, nanotechnology experts, and representatives from Google, Microsoft and Qualcomm California Institute meeting, determine whether there are drawn to collect and analyse BAM plans massive data computing facilities. Answered in the affirmative were given at the end of the Conference, they also said that as part of the plan, United States should build a series of National Observatory similar brain “inspection station”.

In fact, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has long been interested in brain research, “the brain is an amazing computer, we do not know how it works. “Because the human brain samples to a large number of access, Paul Allen invested US $ 100 million, funded a drawing of the mouse brain Atlas.

In 2006 scientists had drawn three dimensional figure of 21,000 genes in the brain of rats, although using rat brains have many weaknesses, but similar to mouse and human genome 90%, still provides significant resources to research on the human brain.

Research an important finding was that the mouse 80% gene are expressed in the brain, this goes well beyond previous estimates. After the research is completed free of charge on the Internet, Web site hits each month more than 4 million times, every day, about 250 scientists use their results.

4 at a cost of great scientists oppose

Neuroscience Research Assistant Institute of Pan 璟wei agrees that United States map of the human brain this project is very much like the human genome project, or the large Hadron Collider project, in the field of brain science is unique.

Although significant, but BAM has also been opposed by some scientists. In their view, the Government should not be spending heavily on a single project, not to mention the project also lacks clear objectives. United States biologist maikeer·aisen said: “someone has to stand up and explain to members of Congress the importance of basic research, rather than costly science projects proposed by catering to their tastes. “In his view, large biological items is not conducive to personal discovery-driven scientific development.

University of California, San Diego aide·Waer, an associate professor of psychology, said that “I prefer blossom in the field of scientific research. Instead of all the funds to finance a major project, rather than funding more scientists conduct their own research. ”

At the same time, some scientists say, compared with the draw the genome, mapping of brain activity challenges are much larger. United States national institutes of health experts situoli·landisi that just research and development tool used to draw out all of the information required, it takes at least 5 years.

For questions, claiming to be participating in the brain Ralph · J · Dr Greenspan responded, “is different from, which is essentially a more complex issue, means that genome project is very easy. But for this project, our problem is more difficult and more interesting: how brain activity patterns as a whole, which eventually drives people to action? ”

United States “brain blueprint” plan, Europe has also recently announced a proposed at a cost of 1 billion euro plan, using the best research results about the inner workings of the brain, to build a super computer simulated human brain.

Unsolved mysteries of human brain x

1. how neurons encode?

Neurons are special cells of the brain, contains a lot of information. This information is encoded in neuronal activity?

2. how to store and retrieve memories?

New knowledge will change the structure of the brain, but how, why long memories can also be extracted?

3. What is baseline brain activity?

Brain 20% oxygen consumption body, 2% body weight only. Resting brain activity, baseline activity of what significance?

4. how the brain simulations of future?

Simulation is one of the characteristics of the brain in the future, we know little of this ability.

5. what emotion is?

Emotion is a State of the brain, is for a simple response to external stimulation mode, how did it come out?

6. What is wisdom?

Wisdom comes in many forms, why are billions of neurons are grouped together can control knowledge?

7. how the brain controls the time?

Out of sync of sensory input will make people fall over one’s feet. How the brain processes different speed signal?

8. Why do I sleep and dream?

Research on sleep and dreams may play a role should not be underestimated in the treatment of the disease.

9. why the brain is constructed?

The sector represents different functions in the brain, which is how to combine the different functional areas?

10. What is consciousness?

Neuroscientists believe that awareness comes from substances in the brain, which is the most difficult area of Neuroscience for solving one of the puzzles.

At present, the scientists said, signs of colored light by observing distant planets, perhaps for the first time found life forms would be lichens and algae. Astronomers have now found in livable strip several rock stars, there might be liquid water on the surface, perhaps there are more signs of life on the surface. Accompanied by a more advanced and sensitive telescope, we were able to detect the planets reflect light, found important clues of planetary surface conditions.

Perspective view from space, the Earth releases a lot of near-infrared light, which is plant chlorophyll reflection out of the Earth. If a distant planets there are green plants, we see a similar “red edge”.

Germany Heidelberg Max-Planck astronomy SI de Haas-hegde and Li Sha-kaertengge believe that probably many rock stars have a higher heat, drying or the acidity is too high, it may survive some tenacious vitality of animals. Viewed from the distant space of these organisms is what could that be?

From space, you can watch the formation of the Earth’s life forms of reflection of light: lichens and dry areas, marine hydrothermal vents bacteria group of red algae in acid mine drainage. Watching from a distance, each type of microorganisms is a unique type of color, such as lichens, it will be more yellow than the algae or bacteria.

Hegde pointed out that the Find feature does not mean that there is any sign of life, but able to further narrow the extrasolar planets for more comprehensive search.

United States Northwestern University, Nicholas-Coan said, this is an attractive idea, at the same time, extrasolar planets exist microorganisms a higher probability than trees. He warned that the latest study has certain limitations. For example: the atmosphere of other planets may be entirely different from the Earth, the way they scatter light or will exceed expectations.

Coan said: “nature is more creative, far beyond the scope of what we know. ”

Scientists at Brown University has developed a wing to develop complex machine of the bats flying. Because bats are so light, at the same time unable to install monitoring devices in his possession and therefore cannot be a comprehensive understanding of bat flight, scientists at Brown University decided to use machine-wing to help scientists understand the secret of bats flying.

The team uses a complex system of joints, flexible membrane of Silicon elastomer, a pulley system and servo motors used with bat wings were made from the same quality of a machine-wing. The machine has 25 movable joints and the wings free angle 34 degrees, you can hit off the bat’s wings fold movement, or you can change the height and direction of flight at very high speed.

According to foreign media reports, NASA in the United States on Wednesday local time press conference to announce the latest findings about the black hole. NASA officials said that the press conference will be held at one o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the Conference will be published by the two x-ray telescopes–NASA nuclear spectroscopic telescope array (NuSTAR) XMM–Newton telescope and the European Space Agency-the latest observations.

NGC4526 Galactic Center black hole, its quality is 450 million times the Sun times

Participate in the meeting of scientists in Pasadena California Institute of NuSTAR project principal investigator Fiona-Harrison, Cambridge University astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Guido ruisalite, as well as the European space agency head of Astrophysics and fundamental physics department Arabic-Palmer.

NASA will broadcast the meeting posted on the network’s video images of the telescope.

Nuclear spectroscopic telescope array to blast off June 2012, its mandate is within the period of two years to study the universe’s high-energy x rays, the task team, which will help scientists better understand the birth of galaxies, the growth of black holes and other astronomical phenomena.

In contrast, XMM-duty in Newtonian telescope time is much longer, which launched in 1999, with the aim of detecting x-ray radiation since the universe was born. (Shang Li)

Russia Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on 16th supported the establishment of a new system, to identify and protect against threats from space. Russia car ya bin Basque 15th is “just” meteorites, and about 1200 people were injured. Less than 24 hours later, an asteroid “wiping” the Earth. Two incidents triggered concern.

-Russian plan to build system

Russia Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin 16th on a personal micro-blog messages: “humanity must set up a system to identify and respond to those objects that pose a risk to the Earth. ”

Rogozin said that he intended to 18th Dmitry Medvedev submitted a plan to the Prime Minister on how to deal with similar meteorite fall events.

The same day, Russia adopted by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the State Duma aliekexie·pushikefu micro-blog calls upon States United seeks to address “against objects” approach.

“Instead of fighting each other in the Earth, we should set up a joint defense system of asteroids … … Don’t make (military) European space defence system, United States should join hands with us to establish ‘ defense system against asteroids. ”

Russia has been opposed to the United States, led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the establishment of a missile defense system in Europe.

Building on space objects hit the Earth, “space defense system” was not mentioned for the first time. Russia space agency Deputy Director weitalie·daweiduofu said at a conference held last year in Saint Petersburg, Russia needs to give priority to development strategies for asteroid defense system.

Us discussing countermeasures

Car ya bin Basque event not only for Russia alarm, United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, space and technology, 16th said that the hearing will be held within the next few weeks to discuss how to deal with asteroids that might pose a threat to Earth.

Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Science, space and technology, California House of Dana·luolabakeer said that the meteorite fall Russia car ya bin Basque reminds all humanity, need of threats posed by near-Earth asteroids to be vigilant.

“We expect asteroids 2012DA14 sweeps across the Earth … … Calculate it does not affect the Earth, “luolabakeer said,” is, unfortunately, we did not anticipate the meteors in Russia over the explosion. ”

Talk about has not been able to detect the cause of falling meteorites, luolabakeer said that the United States spends millions of dollars to search for and tracks asteroids and comets, but volume is unlikely to hit Russian meteorites, is not in the list of search.

Some researchers speculate that this fall Russia meteorite 15 meters in diameter, about 7,000 tons.

Luolabakeer said: “I was more worried, Comet and asteroid (possibly hit the Earth), we have no plan to protect Earth … … Sol impact, may also not be able to hit objects push away from the track. ”

Experts say the first-mover advantage

In fact, some researchers have started to “defend the Earth” programming.

Meteorite event the day before, United States University of California at Santa Barbara Professor Philip · M · Arthur Lubin and his research team published a set of programmes to respond to threats of celestial bodies. Arthur Lubin said that, in the face of “La soupe aux Choux” threat, humans should be based on “logic and reason” discussions “have forward-looking measures, rather than reactive.”

Arthur Lubin and his research team principle of the programme is to transform solar energy into destructive laser beams, shoot hit objects, orbits of celestial bodies to deviate from or even celestial bodies in space “evaporates”.

Programme 4 version of the system, different sizes. Among them, the DESTAR 2 about 100 meters in diameter, the size of the international space station, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, you need to launch in batches, assembled in space. DESTAR is DESTAR 4 volume 2 of the times, more sophisticated, in theory, capable of using solar-powered laser beams emit enormous energy every day, a year for a 500-meter-diameter planet “evaporates”.

Researchers said that the DESTAR 2 systems can be used to quickly respond to smaller celestial bodies, DESTAR 4 to pre-judge based on larger scale systems such as, “removal of any threats.”

Research teams are ready to bring this programme before peer review. Some researchers have found that basic technology required component of this programme already exists, just development, scale up these components.

In addition to defensive asteroid attack, research team believes that Arthur Lubin, DESTAR system also is expected to be used for asteroid minerals mining and deep space exploration trip. (Xinhua News Agency feature)

February 15 at close range flew over Earth’s asteroid 2012 DA14 valuation about $ 195 billion, as long as they can be captured. This is a planet Deep Space mining company Industries (DSI) minerals constitute speculation of scientists under the asteroids drawn. 2012 the DA14 is approximately one-second football fields in size, quality estimated from 16,000 tons to 1 million tons.

DSI experts speculated that if 2012 DA14 5% recycled water into rocket fuel–in space, this alone would amount to us $ 65 billion; if the quality of the asteroid 10% is easy to recycle metals such as iron, nickel – in space can be turned into construction material-its value amounting to us $ 130 billion.

United States NASA scientists observed a mysterious star, it acts like a huge universe of “Flash”, researchers think it may be a double star system is at an early state. The mysterious “Flash” more laws, 25.34 days will unleash a wave of light, mystery has not been the hidden stars behind it. Out the observation mission was NASA’s Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes, the two telescopes are often joint survey, respectively, in the visible and infrared bands observed cosmic objects.

Scientists will be the mysterious “Flash” celestial named LRLL 54,361, is shown in the figure issued by the mysterious light source behind the artist draws a double-star system, the star system is a scientist provides insight into the early stages of star formation mystery channel large amounts of gas and dust were quickly gathered together, under a mechanism of intervention in, forming a double-star system. LRLL 54,361 objects located within the IC 348 star forming regions, around approximately 950 light years from Earth.

Protostar system behind the powerful radiation releases occurred in their tracks when close to each other, a phenomenon known as the pulsing accretion, researchers said late in the evolution of stars have observed this phenomenon occurring in the system, in such a young star system, but also has not been the pulsing accretion of such intensity and regularity. According to the Space Telescope Science Institute of Baltimore zhanmusi·muzeruoer introduced: “LRLL 54,361 brightness variations of the original stars appear in the system a very accurate time, it was unbelievable. ”

Analysis by the Spitzer Space Telescope, reveals in detail the structures surrounding the star system, the two stars in the early evolution of stage, estimates no more than hundreds of thousands of years old. Scientists have discovered dust disks around stars there are upper and lower structures from Central the air of dust and gas around stars shaped into something like a Chamber constructed, which in a very eccentric orbit. Research team next plans to continue monitoring LRLL 54,361 raw material around the star system and its structure, scientists think that such binary systems are very rare and wanted to get more observation data of the binary orbit, from ESA’s Herschel space telescope will also participate in the investigation.

Members of the mission control centre in Moscow told the RIA news agency that on Monday from the Baikonur space launch site launches “progressive-M18M” cargo spacecraft docked with the international space station normally automatic. He said “butt in accordance with an order made on earth within the scheduled time automatically. ”

The new “progress” for the international space station, delivering water, eating lunch, fresh food, clothing, personal hygiene items, medical monitoring and research equipment. Spacecraft also brought relatives ‘ letters to members of the inspection team, complete sets of photographic equipment, audio and video display systems, and more.

Russia continues to safeguard major shipping between the ground and the international space station. “Progress” series cargo ships can supplement the consumables, including oxygen, water, food and the members of the inspection team clothing stocks, deliveries of experiments in space, installation and maintenance of special equipment, members of the study group messages, clean up the garbage accumulated in the space station, correction of orbit of the space station, conducting experiments and research in space.

Occurred a few days ago in Russia within the meteorite fall events in addition to which more than 1000 people were injured, also brought a lot of strange matter. From Russia miles Somerset nature reserve within the startling discovery of a mucus-like objects, and covers almost all parts of protected areas. According to the protected area staff and visitors in the mucus is “live”. These mucus each about 10 cm in diameter, will be rendered transparent. Current staff within the protected area the past few days was working on the analysis of these substances are associated with aliens.