In the first two decades of the 21st century, science has been enriched by a number of discoveries that in the future can significantly affect the quality of life of every person. What is it worth just to obtain stem cells from the skin of an adult, which makes it possible to grow the necessary organs without the use of embryonic cells!
The fundamental discovery of gravitational waves gives humanity hope for traveling between stars, and the new material graphene will very soon be used to produce high-capacity batteries. However, first things first: in the rating below, we tried to systematize the most important scientific discoveries of the 21st century according to the degree of their significance for humanity.
TOP 10 most significant scientific discoveries of the 21st century
10. BIONICS. Bioprostheses controlled by the power of thought have been designed
Until recently, people used plastic dummies or even hooks to replace their lost limbs. In the last two decades, science has made huge strides in creating bioprosthetics that are controlled by the power of thought and even transmit sensations from artificial fingers to the brain. In 2010, the English company RLSSteeper introduced a bioprosthetic hand, with which a person can open doors with a key, break eggs into a frying pan, withdraw money from an ATM, and even hold a plastic cup.
A disposable cup is easy to crush if you apply too much force, but scientists have found that the force of the fingers can be varied. Control signals for this are removed from the pectoral muscles of the body.
Another company, Bebionic, in 2016 produced a bionic prosthetic arm for the disabled Nigel Ackland, which can not only be controlled by the power of thought. In addition to this, the product is equipped with sensitivity sensors connected to the nerve endings of the stump. In this way, feedback is achieved so that the patient can feel touch and warmth. Currently, bioprostheses are quite expensive, but thanks to the development of 3D printing, their wider availability is predicted in the near future.
9. BIOTECHNOLOGY. The world's first synthetic bacterial cell has been created
In 2010, a group of scientists led by Craig Venter achieved a breakthrough in an ambitious project to create nothing less than new life. Biologists took the genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium and systematically removed genes from it, one by one, to determine the minimum set necessary for life. It turned out that it should include 382 genes, which constitute, as it were, the basis of life. After this, scientists compiled an artificial genome from scratch, which was transplanted into the cell of the bacterium Mycoplasma capricolum, from which its own DNA complexes had previously been removed.
The artificial cell, which even received its own name - Cynthia, turned out to be viable and began to actively divide.
This success opens up enormous opportunities for biotechnologists to create much more complex organisms with specified parameters. Already, artificial cells are being constructed that can produce vaccines and even fuel for cars, and in the future, biologists hope to create a bacterium that would absorb carbon dioxide. Such a microorganism could help eliminate the greenhouse effect on Earth, as well as terraform Mars and Venus.
This is what the world's first multiplied artificial cell, Cynthia, looks like under an electron microscope
8. ASTROPHYSICS. Planet Eris and water discovered on Mars
The largest discoveries of the 21st century include two “space” finds. In 2005, a group of American astronomers from the Gemini Observatory, Yale and the University of California discovered a celestial body moving beyond the orbit of Pluto. Further research showed that the small planet, called Eris, is only slightly smaller in size than Pluto. In 2006, this celestial body was photographed by the Hubble orbital telescope, discovering a fairly large satellite orbiting around it, called Dysnomia. Eris is believed to have physical characteristics similar to Pluto, and its surface is likely covered in bright white ice, as the planetoid's albedo (reflectivity) is second only to Saturn's moon Enceladus.
The second biggest discovery of the 21st century in solar system exploration is the discovery of water on Mars. Back in 2002, the Odyssey orbiter discovered signs of water ice beneath the planet's surface. In 2005, the European Mars Express probe photographed craters with clear traces of water flows, and the American Phoenix probe finally dispelled doubts. In 2008, he landed in the vicinity of the North Pole and, in one of the experiments, successfully isolated water from the Martian soil. The guaranteed presence of moisture on the Red Planet removes the main limitation for its colonization. America plans to launch a manned mission to Mars as early as the 2030s, and Russia is also developing a nuclear engine for this purpose.
7. NEUROLOGY. Memories recorded and rewritten in the brain for the first time
In 2014, researchers from the University of Massachusetts succeeded in implanting false memories into the memories of experimental mice. Fiber optic wires were implanted into their heads and connected to areas of the brain responsible for memory formation. Using them, scientists sent laser signals that affected certain areas of neurons. As a result, it was possible to achieve both the erasure of some of the mice’s memories and the formation of false ones. For example, rodents forgot that they once had pleasant encounters with females in a certain area of the cage and no longer sought to go there. At the same time, scientists were able to create new memories that the “dangerous” compartment of the cage was actually attractive and the mice tried to end up there.
At first glance, these results look like child's play, and even with dubious ethical implications. Meanwhile, neurophysiologists have succeeded in the main thing - to find the areas of the brain responsible for memory (the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) and to create, albeit still primitive, methods of influencing them. This provides broad prospects for improving ways of influencing the brain, and in the future it will make it possible to treat phobias and mental disorders. It is possible that in the foreseeable future it will be possible to create devices for batch uploading data into the human brain for rapid learning of sciences that require memorizing a large amount of data, for example, it will be possible to master a foreign language in the shortest possible time.
6. PHYSICS. Higgs boson or “God particle” discovered
In July 2012, a discovery occurred, for which the $6 billion invested in the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (CERN) near Geneva was spent. Scientists have discovered the so-called “God particle”, the existence of which was predicted back in the 60s by British physicist Peter Higgs. It was named after him. Thanks to the experimental proof of the existence of the Higgs boson, fundamental physics has received the last missing link for constructing a prenormalizable quantum field theory. This theory is a continuation of classical quantum mechanics, but qualitatively changes the view of the picture of the microworld and the Universe as a whole.
The practical significance of the discovery of the Higgs boson is that scientists have the prospect of developing antigravity and developing engines that do not require energy to operate.
To do this, you need “nothing at all” - learn how to remove the so-called. the Higgs field, which binds elementary particles, preventing them from flying apart. In this case, the mass of an object with a neutralized field will be equal to zero, which means it will cease to take part in gravitational interaction. Of course, such discoveries are a matter of the very distant future.
5. MATERIALS SCIENCE. Created ultra-strong material graphene
Graphene is a material unique in strength and many other properties, which was first obtained by Russian physicists (working in Britain) Konstantin Novoselov and Andrei Geim in 2004. 6 years later, scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for this, and today graphene is actively being researched and already used in some products. The unusualness of the material lies in several of its features. Firstly, it is the second most durable (after carbine) of the currently known materials. Secondly, graphene is an excellent conductor with which unique electronic effects can be achieved. Thirdly, the material has the highest thermal conductivity, which again allows it to be used in semiconductor electronics without fear of overheating.
Particular hopes are placed on graphene in terms of its use in high-capacity batteries, which are so lacking in electric vehicles.
In 2017, Samsung introduced one of the first graphene-based batteries with a capacity 45% higher than its lithium-ion counterpart of comparable size. But the most important thing is that the new battery charges and releases its charge 5 times faster than usual. It is noteworthy that we are not talking about a completely graphene battery, but about a hybrid battery, where the innovative material is used as an auxiliary one. If, more precisely, when developers create a completely graphene battery, this will become a real revolution in energy. The main problem in the widespread use of graphene is the high cost of its production and shortcomings in technologies that do not yet allow obtaining an absolutely homogeneous material. However, the number of patent applications using graphene has already exceeded 50 thousand, so there is no doubt that in the foreseeable future the unusual material will significantly affect people’s quality of life.
4. BIOLOGY. Stem cells were obtained not from embryos, but from mature tissues
In 2012, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the English biologist John Gurdon and his Japanese colleague Shin Yamanaka. They created a real sensation among biotechnologists by creating stem cells from ordinary cells, i.e. capable of forming any organs. To do this, scientists introduced only 4 genes into mouse connective tissue cells and, as a result, fibroblasts turned into immature stem cells with all the properties of embryonic ones. Any organ can be grown from such material – from the liver to the heart.
Thus, researchers not only theoretically, but also practically proved the reversibility of cell specialization, which cannot be overestimated.
Until recently, it was believed that stem cells could only be obtained from embryos or umbilical cord blood. The first is ethically questionable, and the second forced people (mostly rich) to bank stem cells immediately after the birth of a child so that they could use it for treatment in the future. The discovery of physiologists has removed these restrictions and now every person (at least theoretically) has access to stem cell treatment and cloning of organs containing the “native” DNA of the body.
3. ASTROPHYSICS. The existence of gravitational waves has been proven
The discovery of gravitational waves is considered the greatest scientific achievement of 2016, and perhaps the entire second decade of the 21st century. In 2017, their discoverers, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Using two interoferometric observatories LIGO and VIRGO, located in the USA and Italy, scientists were able to record gravitational waves formed as a result of the merger of two black holes at a distance of 1.3 billion light years from the Sun.
Thus, the researchers experimentally confirmed the reliability of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, which predicted the presence of gravitational waves at the beginning of the twentieth century (at the theoretical level).
Subsequently, LIGO and VIRGO recorded two more gravitational bursts from the collision of neutron stars. The outstanding value of the discovery lies in the confirmation of the curvature of space-time under the influence of massive objects. This means that the travel of starships through “null space” and “hypertransitions”, described thousands of times by science fiction writers, is quite possible, although they are a prospect for the distant future. It is probably no coincidence that one of the discoverers of gravitational waves, Kip Thorne, based on the results of his research, published a book, “Interstellar. Science behind the scenes,” the title of which echoes the famous film.
According to Einstein, space-time in the vicinity of the Sun looks something like this, bent under the influence of a massive star. Now this picture has been proven experimentally
2. PHYSICS. Successful experiments on long-distance quantum teleportation have been carried out
Quantum teleportation does not mean the movement of physical objects, but the transfer of information about the state of an elementary particle or atom. The most important point here is distance - until the beginning of the 21st century, such a connection could only be ensured at the microcosm level. A breakthrough came in 2009, when scientists from the University of Maryland managed to transmit the quantum state of the ytterbium ion to 1 meter. Then Chinese scientists firmly seized the initiative in this area of research.
First, they managed to provide quantum communication at a distance of 120 km, and in 2017, they carried out the first space quantum teleportation from the Mo Tzu satellite to three ground laboratories, which were 1203 km away.
Such a scientific and technological leap will make it possible in the near future to create absolutely secure communication lines that even theoretically cannot be hacked by hackers. At a time when financial, business and private life is increasingly moving to the Internet, lines based on quantum teleportation promise to become a real panacea in the field of information security. In addition, based on this communication method, ultra-fast computers are being developed, which in the future will replace existing ones.
1. CYBERNETICS. A robot with a biological brain has been created
In 2008, scientists from England created, perhaps, the world's first cyborg - a half-living robot with a brain based on 300 thousand rat neurons. They were isolated from a rodent embryo, separated using a special enzyme and placed in a nutrient solution on an 8 cm plate. Scientists attached 60 electrodes to the resulting quasi-brain, which read signals from neurons and transmit them to an electronic circuit. They also serve to deliver signals to the brain. The first robot with a biological brain received its own name - Gordon, and was equipped with a platform for movement and an ultrasonic sensor that scans the terrain while driving. Signals from it go to the brain, and the impulses and feedback that arise there control movement.
The researchers were able to make Gordon learn because neurons have memory. Having hit an obstacle just once, the robot in 80% of cases no longer takes the wrong route. Moreover, as scientists say, Gordon is not controlled from the outside, but is controlled exclusively by gray matter inherited from the rat. Thus, the British have taken the first step towards creating full-fledged cyborgs based not on tens of thousands, but on billions of neurons, which will most likely happen before the end of this century.
Watch a video about the most important scientific discoveries of the 21st century on
20 most important discoveries of XXIcentury
Over the past 17 years, we have witnessed a huge number of important scientific discoveries that can change the future. Real breakthroughs have been made in medicine, physics, biology, genetic engineering, history, mathematics, astronomy and other fields. Some hypotheses and conclusions of scientists are so unique that they call into question the foundations of many fundamental sciences. Others have confirmed theories that were put forward many years ago. For skeptics who disdain science and say that your scientists are not capable of anything, and have not even learned how to cure cancer, let us give a simple example. Some four generations ago, in 1918, within a few months in Europe, from an influenza epidemic, according to various sources, from 50 to 100 million people died. The same number as live in Germany today (83 million). And this is the second most populous country in Europe. Mostly the young population died: 20-40 years old. How many deaths from influenza do you know today? Do I still need to prove anything? So, we list the 20 most significant scientific discoveries of the 21st century.
Discovery of gravitational waves
Almost a hundred years ago Albert Einstein spoke about them. This discovery was a clear confirmation of the theory of relativity. Any matter moving with acceleration emits gravitational waves. This historical breakthrough opens up facets previously unknown to science for humanity.
Archaeologists, using a special radar installation, discovered two secret rooms in the tomb. According to experts, the tomb in which the ruler of ancient Egypt previously rested was prepared for Nefertiti. But due to the sudden early death of Tutankhamun, he was placed here.
Ability to control the prosthesis
Not just control, but control using head signals. Previously, you could read about this in science fiction novels. Today it has become a reality.
Presence of water on Mars
The exploration of Mars with the help of rovers itself has become a global success of science. For a long time, many scientists were convinced that the fourth planet from the Sun was a lifeless desert, unsuitable for life. But the discovery of water ice on the planet suggests that there used to be seas and oceans on Mars, and, possibly, life similar to that on Earth.
Discovery of the Elixir of Youth
Higgs boson discovered
The existence of this elementary particle, which is responsible for the mass of all other particles, was spoken about by theoretical physicist Peter Higgs more than half a century ago. It was Higgs who predicted its existence. In 2012, during an experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, his prophecy was confirmed. The award (Nobel Prize) has found a hero!
Dinosaur soft tissue discovered
Previously, it was believed that any proteins decompose within several thousand years. died out millions of years ago, so no one looked for soft tissue in their remains. It turned out that there was a mistake. Molecular paleontologist Mary Schweitzer (USA) discovered soft tissue in the fossilized limb of a tyrannosaurus. The find is 65 million years old. T. Rex - again showed himself to be the coolest.
The existence of quark-gluon plasma has been proven
For the average person, this is complete nonsense. Let's explain it more simply: quark-gluon plasma is plasma with a temperature of four trillion degrees Celsius. You shouldn't put your finger there. The temperature is two hundred and fifty thousand times higher than in the depths of the Sun. It was obtained by physicists from the USA by colliding gold ions in an accelerator. Immediately their names were written in golden letters in the Guinness Book of Records.
The first completely synthetic chromosome with a genome was created in 2010. It was then inserted into a bacterial cell that had been stripped of its genetic material. After which the cell began to divide according to the laws of the new genome. A discovery that can change our entire lives is so promising.
Memories recorded and rewritten
So far only in mice. They implanted false ones into the brain and erased the real ones. And unpleasant memories were replaced with pleasant ones. Soon this technology will reach people. There will be “Total Recall” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Neanderthal genes discovered in humans
Scientists have proven that we are all descendants of the Neanderthals. Their genes have been found in modern humans. If we remember how our ancestors behaved, then the behavior of many of our contemporaries is not surprising. After all, culture is just a recent addition to our psyche.
The petaflop barrier has been crossed
The next exascale barrier is expected to be broken by a new supercomputer at Los Alamos. The exascale barrier is a quintillion operations per second. I only know a quadrillion (thousand trillion) operations per second. But he's already considered slow. Hey, where's my old calculator?
The ancient warrior and hunter was much stronger and more resilient than modern man. This conclusion was made by scientists who laser scanned the skeletons of our ancient ancestors.
When women complain that there are no real men left, they are generally right. Thousands of years ago, a revolution occurred in society: from hunting, humanity moved to agriculture, and this affected the physical condition of sapiens. If an ancient hunter were one of the participants at the Olympic Games today, he would easily defeat all the trained, doped participants. The transition to a sedentary lifestyle negatively affected mainly men. They lost strength, agility, and reaction, but acquired shortness of breath, osteoporosis, hypertension and obesity.
Calcium tests in bones
This conclusion was made by scientists who laser scanned the skeletons of our ancient ancestors.
Having compared the data with the results of analysis of the bones of modern athletes, the researchers stated: bipedal mammals lost their initial physical skills when they moved from gathering and hunting to raising livestock, cultivating land and cultivating grain crops.
As a result of a sedentary lifestyle, motor activity decreased, physical endurance fell and continued to fall with each passing year.
Men stopped carrying heavy prey on their shoulders, spurting and running super long distances.
I imagine the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. At a distance of 100 meters, world champion Useit Bolt and the ancient hunter, warrior Nao, Son of a leopard from the Ulamr tribe. Nao wins!
Marathon distance. At the start is Dennis Kimetto and the Son of the Leopard. The Son of the Leopard comes first to the finish line by a huge margin.
Barbell. On the platform is weightlifting star Kianoush Rostami. A weightlifter sets a new world record in the snatch. Leo doesn't realize that the marathon distance has already been completed, he picks up the barbell and rushes along the treadmill with it.
Every day, dozens of important events occur in the world that affect a number of areas of human life. Since the beginning of the 21st century, science has not stood still for a minute and has been moving forward every moment, discovering new facets of the world around us and man himself. Over the past 15 years, the inhabitants of the planet have witnessed a whole list of various discoveries that place us on the threshold of evolution and a new era. The discoveries concerned both the sphere of high technology and medicine, history, biology, physics and other areas. Some of the scientists’ findings are quite surprising and unique, while others confirm hypotheses and theories put forward decades ago. So what are the most significant scientific discoveries that marked the 21st century and what does this mean for the modern world?
One of the most high-profile and outstanding discoveries in recent years has been n presence of water on Mars. For a long time, scientists from all over the world were sure that Mars was an empty, austere and uninhabitable planet. At the same time, members of NASA and ESA continued to conquer the inaccessible red giant, trying to unravel what secrets the cosmic body holds. Thanks to the device
Phoenix, which discovered a unique “white powder” on Mars back in 2008, experts were able to find out that there is water ice on the planet. In addition, scientists are confident that previously there were oceans and seas on the planet, and the latest research conducted in 2015 only confirms this theory. Experts suggest that previously there was life on Mars similar to that which is now observed on Earth.
Another very significant discovery of the 21st century can certainly be considered the possibility control of the prosthesis using brain signals . This rather significant achievement was recorded back in 2001, although attempts to influence the prosthesis using impulses coming from the brain had been made earlier. The first studies were carried out on mice, but at the beginning of the 21st century, Pierpaolo Petrusiello was able to control a biomechanical hand using a clear, targeted signal from the brain. This hand had connections and communication directly with the electrodes and nerve wires of the scientist. Thanks to the power of thought, the expert could easily control the prosthesis, performing a large number of functions. This became a significant impetus for the development of this area and now prostheses provide the wearer with a minimum of discomfort with maximum functionality.
The achievement of the current 2016 was discovery of gravitational waves by the scientific world , about which Albert Einstein spoke with delight decades ago. For the first time, the breakthrough became known only on February 11, although earlier experts were almost confident that their assumptions were correct. In fact, the discovery was an undeniable confirmation of the theory of relativity proposed by Einstein almost a hundred years ago. It turns out that almost any matter that successfully moves with acceleration is capable of regularly emitting so-called unique gravitational waves. This historical breakthrough is capable, as experts are sure, of opening up new previously unknown facets of the Universe to the world.
The next very outstanding and somewhat alarming discovery of the 21st century was rapid melting of glaciers . Contrary to all expert forecasts, the rate of melting of large glaciers has increased significantly in recent years. Moreover, this process is accelerating every year, which poses a very significant threat to coastal regions, as water levels in the world's oceans are rapidly increasing and entire cities can be flooded.
One of the most “fresh”, but no less important scientific discoveries in the field of history, which became known the day before, is the discovery two secret rooms in the tomb of Tatunkhamun. During their work, archaeologists used special radar installations that combine methods for measuring coordinates and determining the properties of a number of objects using radio waves. According to experts, the tomb in which Tatunkhamun lay was previously intended for Nefertiti, but due to his early death, he was buried here.
In the course of research and experiments on laboratory mice, scientists in 2015 actually managed to discover a peculiar youth elixir . The essence of this achievement lies in the discovery of an amazing feature - when the blood of a young person is transfused into the body of an older one, certain metamorphoses occur in the latter’s body. Supposedly, young blood contains a factor called GDF11, which can actually rejuvenate the heart, significantly increase muscle strength, and stimulate the growth of neurons directly in the brain.
Another global achievement of humanity since the beginning of the 21st century - discovery of dozens of exoplanets . After exploring the solar system, the astronauts decided to conquer new horizons and move further - beyond the boundaries of the space we are familiar with. Thanks to super-powerful telescopes, scientists were able to find many unique exoplanets on which, theoretically, full-fledged life could exist, just like on Earth. Such discoveries may be evidence that we are far from the only living beings in the Universe.
Until now, despite the progress and constant improvement of medicine, cancer continues to remain one of the most terrible diseases, claiming millions of lives. More recently, scientists from the University of California discovered unique properties of artemisinin or wormwood . As it turned out, this plant is extremely effective in the fight against lung cancer, since it can successfully destroy about 98% of cancer cells in just 16 hours. This is a huge step forward, which will allow us to find new unique methods of combating the disease in the near future.
In addition to the above discoveries, scientists also managed to achieve obtaining stem cells through ethical use . Experts from several large universities, almost at the same time, were able to very successfully obtain full-fledged embryonic stem cells from mature skin cells of an adult. This will make it possible to grow individual organs for the human body that will not be rejected after transplantation.
Another impressive event of the 21st century - confirmation of the existence of so-called dark matter , which makes up a significant part of the Universe. Scientists were able to weigh the gas present in the Bullet cluster and prove that something mysterious and unique surrounds us. True, it is still unclear what dark matter actually is and what it is capable of. Its discovery, experts are sure, will completely change our understanding of the world.
Lisa Morskaya
In the first two decades of the 21st century, science has been enriched by a number of discoveries that in the future can significantly affect the quality of life of every person. What is it worth just to obtain stem cells from the skin of an adult, which makes it possible to grow the necessary organs without the use of embryonic cells!
The fundamental discovery of gravitational waves gives humanity hope for traveling between stars, and the new material graphene will very soon be used to produce high-capacity batteries. However, first things first: in the rating below, we tried to systematize the most important scientific discoveries of the 21st century according to the degree of their significance for humanity.
TOP 10 most significant scientific discoveries of the 21st century
10. BIONICS. Bioprostheses controlled by the power of thought have been designed
Until recently, people used plastic dummies or even hooks to replace their lost limbs. In the last two decades, science has made huge strides in creating bioprosthetics that are controlled by the power of thought and even transmit sensations from artificial fingers to the brain. In 2010, the English company RLSSteeper introduced a bioprosthetic hand, with which a person can open doors with a key, break eggs into a frying pan, withdraw money from an ATM, and even hold a plastic cup.
A disposable cup is easy to crush if you apply too much force, but scientists have found that the force of the fingers can be varied. Control signals for this are removed from the pectoral muscles of the body.
Another company, Bebionic, in 2016 produced a bionic prosthetic arm for the disabled Nigel Ackland, which can not only be controlled by the power of thought. In addition to this, the product is equipped with sensitivity sensors connected to the nerve endings of the stump. In this way, feedback is achieved so that the patient can feel touch and warmth. Currently, bioprostheses are quite expensive, but thanks to the development of 3D printing, their wider availability is predicted in the near future.
9. BIOTECHNOLOGY. The world's first synthetic bacterial cell has been created
In 2010, a group of scientists led by Craig Venter achieved a breakthrough in an ambitious project to create nothing less than new life. Biologists took the genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium and systematically removed genes from it, one by one, to determine the minimum set necessary for life. It turned out that it should include 382 genes, which constitute, as it were, the basis of life. After this, scientists compiled an artificial genome from scratch, which was transplanted into the cell of the bacterium Mycoplasma capricolum, from which its own DNA complexes had previously been removed.
The artificial cell, which even received its own name - Cynthia, turned out to be viable and began to actively divide.
This success opens up enormous opportunities for biotechnologists to create much more complex organisms with specified parameters. Already, artificial cells are being constructed that can produce vaccines and even fuel for cars, and in the future, biologists hope to create a bacterium that would absorb carbon dioxide. Such a microorganism could help eliminate the greenhouse effect on Earth, as well as terraform Mars and Venus.
This is what the world's first multiplied artificial cell, Cynthia, looks like under an electron microscope
8. ASTROPHYSICS. Planet Eris and water discovered on Mars
The largest discoveries of the 21st century include two “space” finds. In 2005, a group of American astronomers from the Gemini Observatory, Yale and the University of California discovered a celestial body moving beyond the orbit of Pluto. Further research showed that the small planet, called Eris, is only slightly smaller in size than Pluto. In 2006, this celestial body was photographed by the Hubble orbital telescope, discovering a fairly large satellite orbiting around it, called Dysnomia. Eris is believed to have physical characteristics similar to Pluto, and its surface is likely covered in bright white ice, as the planetoid's albedo (reflectivity) is second only to Saturn's moon Enceladus.
The second biggest discovery of the 21st century in solar system exploration is the discovery of water on Mars. Back in 2002, the Odyssey orbiter discovered signs of water ice beneath the planet's surface. In 2005, the European Mars Express probe photographed craters with clear traces of water flows, and the American Phoenix probe finally dispelled doubts. In 2008, he landed in the vicinity of the North Pole and, in one of the experiments, successfully isolated water from the Martian soil. The guaranteed presence of moisture on the Red Planet removes the main limitation for its colonization. America plans to launch a manned mission to Mars as early as the 2030s, and Russia is also developing a nuclear engine for this purpose.
7. NEUROLOGY. Memories recorded and rewritten in the brain for the first time
In 2014, researchers from the University of Massachusetts succeeded in implanting false memories into the memories of experimental mice. Fiber optic wires were implanted into their heads and connected to areas of the brain responsible for memory formation. Using them, scientists sent laser signals that affected certain areas of neurons. As a result, it was possible to achieve both the erasure of some of the mice’s memories and the formation of false ones. For example, rodents forgot that they once had pleasant encounters with females in a certain area of the cage and no longer sought to go there. At the same time, scientists were able to create new memories that the “dangerous” compartment of the cage was actually attractive and the mice tried to end up there.
At first glance, these results look like child's play, and even with dubious ethical implications. Meanwhile, neurophysiologists have succeeded in the main thing - to find the areas of the brain responsible for memory (the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) and to create, albeit still primitive, methods of influencing them. This provides broad prospects for improving ways of influencing the brain, and in the future it will make it possible to treat phobias and mental disorders. It is possible that in the foreseeable future it will be possible to create devices for batch uploading data into the human brain for rapid learning of sciences that require memorizing a large amount of data, for example, it will be possible to master a foreign language in the shortest possible time.
6. PHYSICS. Higgs boson or “God particle” discovered
In July 2012, a discovery occurred, for which the $6 billion invested in the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (CERN) near Geneva was spent. Scientists have discovered the so-called “God particle”, the existence of which was predicted back in the 60s by British physicist Peter Higgs. It was named after him. Thanks to the experimental proof of the existence of the Higgs boson, fundamental physics has received the last missing link for constructing a prenormalizable quantum field theory. This theory is a continuation of classical quantum mechanics, but qualitatively changes the view of the picture of the microworld and the Universe as a whole.
The practical significance of the discovery of the Higgs boson is that scientists have the prospect of developing antigravity and developing engines that do not require energy to operate.
To do this, you need “nothing at all” - learn how to remove the so-called. the Higgs field, which binds elementary particles, preventing them from flying apart. In this case, the mass of an object with a neutralized field will be equal to zero, which means it will cease to take part in gravitational interaction. Of course, such discoveries are a matter of the very distant future.
5. MATERIALS SCIENCE. Created ultra-strong material graphene
Graphene is a material unique in strength and many other properties, which was first obtained by Russian physicists (working in Britain) Konstantin Novoselov and Andrei Geim in 2004. 6 years later, scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for this, and today graphene is actively being researched and already used in some products. The unusualness of the material lies in several of its features. Firstly, it is the second most durable (after carbine) of the currently known materials. Secondly, graphene is an excellent conductor with which unique electronic effects can be achieved. Thirdly, the material has the highest thermal conductivity, which again allows it to be used in semiconductor electronics without fear of overheating.
Particular hopes are placed on graphene in terms of its use in high-capacity batteries, which are so lacking in electric vehicles.
In 2017, Samsung introduced one of the first graphene-based batteries with a capacity 45% higher than its lithium-ion counterpart of comparable size. But the most important thing is that the new battery charges and releases its charge 5 times faster than usual. It is noteworthy that we are not talking about a completely graphene battery, but about a hybrid battery, where the innovative material is used as an auxiliary one. If, more precisely, when developers create a completely graphene battery, this will become a real revolution in energy. The main problem in the widespread use of graphene is the high cost of its production and shortcomings in technologies that do not yet allow obtaining an absolutely homogeneous material. However, the number of patent applications using graphene has already exceeded 50 thousand, so there is no doubt that in the foreseeable future the unusual material will significantly affect people’s quality of life.
4. BIOLOGY. Stem cells were obtained not from embryos, but from mature tissues
In 2012, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the English biologist John Gurdon and his Japanese colleague Shin Yamanaka. They created a real sensation among biotechnologists by creating stem cells from ordinary cells, i.e. capable of forming any organs. To do this, scientists introduced only 4 genes into mouse connective tissue cells and, as a result, fibroblasts turned into immature stem cells with all the properties of embryonic ones. Any organ can be grown from such material – from the liver to the heart.
Thus, researchers not only theoretically, but also practically proved the reversibility of cell specialization, which cannot be overestimated.
Until recently, it was believed that stem cells could only be obtained from embryos or umbilical cord blood. The first is ethically questionable, and the second forced people (mostly rich) to bank stem cells immediately after the birth of a child so that they could use it for treatment in the future. The discovery of physiologists has removed these restrictions and now every person (at least theoretically) has access to stem cell treatment and cloning of organs containing the “native” DNA of the body.
3. ASTROPHYSICS. The existence of gravitational waves has been proven
The discovery of gravitational waves is considered the greatest scientific achievement of 2016, and perhaps the entire second decade of the 21st century. In 2017, their discoverers, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. Using two interoferometric observatories LIGO and VIRGO, located in the USA and Italy, scientists were able to record gravitational waves formed as a result of the merger of two black holes at a distance of 1.3 billion light years from the Sun.
Thus, the researchers experimentally confirmed the reliability of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, which predicted the presence of gravitational waves at the beginning of the twentieth century (at the theoretical level).
Subsequently, LIGO and VIRGO recorded two more gravitational bursts from the collision of neutron stars. The outstanding value of the discovery lies in the confirmation of the curvature of space-time under the influence of massive objects. This means that the travel of starships through “null space” and “hypertransitions”, described thousands of times by science fiction writers, is quite possible, although they are a prospect for the distant future. It is probably no coincidence that one of the discoverers of gravitational waves, Kip Thorne, based on the results of his research, published a book, “Interstellar. Science behind the scenes,” the title of which echoes the famous film.
According to Einstein, space-time in the vicinity of the Sun looks something like this, bent under the influence of a massive star. Now this picture has been proven experimentally
2. PHYSICS. Successful experiments on long-distance quantum teleportation have been carried out
Quantum teleportation does not mean the movement of physical objects, but the transfer of information about the state of an elementary particle or atom. The most important point here is distance - until the beginning of the 21st century, such a connection could only be ensured at the microcosm level. A breakthrough came in 2009, when scientists from the University of Maryland managed to transmit the quantum state of the ytterbium ion to 1 meter. Then Chinese scientists firmly seized the initiative in this area of research.
First, they managed to provide quantum communication at a distance of 120 km, and in 2017, they carried out the first space quantum teleportation from the Mo Tzu satellite to three ground laboratories, which were 1203 km away.
Such a scientific and technological leap will make it possible in the near future to create absolutely secure communication lines that even theoretically cannot be hacked by hackers. At a time when financial, business and private life is increasingly moving to the Internet, lines based on quantum teleportation promise to become a real panacea in the field of information security. In addition, based on this communication method, ultra-fast computers are being developed, which in the future will replace existing ones.
1. CYBERNETICS. A robot with a biological brain has been created
In 2008, scientists from England created, perhaps, the world's first cyborg - a half-living robot with a brain based on 300 thousand rat neurons. They were isolated from a rodent embryo, separated using a special enzyme and placed in a nutrient solution on an 8 cm plate. Scientists attached 60 electrodes to the resulting quasi-brain, which read signals from neurons and transmit them to an electronic circuit. They also serve to deliver signals to the brain. The first robot with a biological brain received its own name - Gordon, and was equipped with a platform for movement and an ultrasonic sensor that scans the terrain while driving. Signals from it go to the brain, and the impulses and feedback that arise there control movement.
The researchers were able to make Gordon learn because neurons have memory. Having hit an obstacle just once, the robot in 80% of cases no longer takes the wrong route. Moreover, as scientists say, Gordon is not controlled from the outside, but is controlled exclusively by gray matter inherited from the rat. Thus, the British have taken the first step towards creating full-fledged cyborgs based not on tens of thousands, but on billions of neurons, which will most likely happen before the end of this century.
Watch a video about the most important scientific discoveries of the 21st century on
It started quite recently, but quite a lot has already been achieved in the field of science and technology. And although most of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century have not yet been widely used, in the future they will help make people's lives comfortable and long.
Below are ten of the most significant inventions that are likely to find practical application in this century.
Boson-Higgs particle
Its existence was predicted back in 1960, but the particle was discovered only in 2006 in Geneva. This became possible thanks to the construction of the Large Hadron Collider. The Boson particle is also called the “God particle”, since it is the main building block from which the Universe emerged. This greatest discovery in physics of the 21st century will not only help create new substances in the near future, but will also become the basis for further achievements. For example, the production of engines that operate on new principles and allow one to cover enormous distances in a short time.
Stem cells from adult cells
Stem cells are used to grow human organs and tissues. This is relevant for the treatment of a number of diseases. Therefore, one of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century is the fact that people have learned to grow the organs needed for transplantation, and not to hope that a suitable donor will appear.
Previously, stem cells were obtained only from embryos. This was not only unethical, but also dangerous, since the cells were taken using a syringe that was used to puncture the placenta. And this sometimes led to miscarriage. In addition, the resulting cells had to be frozen for a long time. Only very rich parents could afford this.
The use of adult stem cells solves the problem completely. And although this technology is still new and expensive, in the future replacing a failed organ with one grown from a test tube will become commonplace.
Recording new knowledge in the brain
Another of the greatest discoveries of science in the 21st century is the ability to record and erase information directly in the brain without volitional effort. An experiment to introduce new knowledge was successfully carried out on experimental rats. At the same time, the animals immediately perceived and used the knowledge. That is, they ignored certain places in the cage and certain types of food only because scientists recorded information in their brains about their danger to the life of the animals.
In the future, this discovery will increase the learning ability of people. It will be possible to prepare a highly qualified specialist in literally a few hours by simply recording the necessary knowledge and skills in his brain. It will also help rid people of negative memories and treat some mental illnesses.
Poincaré's conjecture became a theorem
The birthplace of this great discovery of the 21st century is Russia. Grigory Perelman, a Russian scientist and mathematician, proved Poincaré's theorem. Until this moment, it was just a hypothesis, that is, an assumption. Although for people far from mathematics, the very possibility of using such a discovery seems incredible, the facts suggest that, thanks to it, humanity will be able to build space stations and ships more rationally.
The theorem also provides answers to many questions. For example, it explains why large space objects: planets and stars are spherical. This is not just a great mathematical discovery of the 21st century, but a solution to one of the important problems facing humanity today.
Creation of graphene
One of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century is the creation of graphene. This ultra-strong material has unique superconductivity at household temperatures. At the same time, it is not only ultra-strong, but also ultra-light. So far, its production is expensive, but perhaps in a few years scientists will be able to reduce the cost, and then the use of graphene will become widespread.
Artificial creation of new life forms at the genetic level
The development of genetic engineering in the twentieth century has led to great scientific discoveries in the 21st century in biology and genetics. Thus, for the first time, man artificially created a new form of life at the molecular level. Scientists first removed part of the genetic material, leaving exactly those genes that are needed to support life, and then replaced them with new ones. The experiment was carried out on bacteria. It was successful: the bacterium not only did not die, but also began to multiply, passing on new artificial genes.
This discovery will make it possible to fight viruses and infections over time. Perhaps humanity will even be able to defeat incurable diseases, such as AIDS.
New generation prostheses
Previously, a prosthesis was a piece of rubber, plastic or wood that was shaped to the shape of the lost limb. Moreover, he performed different functions. If the prosthetic leg was used as an auxiliary support point, then wearing it was not much more convenient than a crutch. And with a prosthetic hand, which served more of an aesthetic purpose, it was almost impossible to grab anything.
The greatest discovery of the 21st century was the creation of completely new prostheses. Modern versions of them are sensitive. They can be controlled by the power of thought, and in terms of their capabilities, prosthetics are not inferior to a real arm or leg.
Ultrafast computers
The computer was invented in the last century, but the great discoveries of the 21st century in the science of Computer Science are still happening today. Thus, PCs operating on new principles have recently appeared. These are ultra-fast quantum computers capable of processing tetrabytes of information in a matter of seconds. Their main purpose is complex scientific and financial calculations, building computer models to predict future events. Unlike many other discoveries, ultra-fast PCs are already used in many areas of human activity, although only a few, mainly scientists, economists, and the military, have access to them so far.
Water on Mars
Among the greatest discoveries of the 21st century was the discovery of water on Mars. It is here either in a solid or liquid state. According to astronomers, the water on the red planet is salty, which is why it does not evaporate.
This fact was known before: traces of corrosion and dry riverbeds and lakes are visible on Mars. However, the fact that water is still on the planet was confirmed only in the 21st century. And this is very important. The presence of liquid water indicates a high probability of the existence of life on Mars, even in a primitive form (bacteria, protozoa). In addition, this is a planet that is the main object of colonization. The first Martian settlers will need water to live. And although today it sounds like science fiction, perhaps by the end of this century the first settlements of colonists from Earth will appear on Mars.
Quantum teleportation
Quantum teleportation is not the movement of any objects, as the process is usually demonstrated in films and described in science fiction novels. This is an instantaneous movement of quantum particles in space.
The main application of quantum teleportation is the transmission of information over long distances. This does not seem to be as great a discovery of the 21st century as others, but coupled with the potential capabilities of teleportation, its role increases. For example, when exploring other planets or building space stations, exchanging information at such a speed opens up great opportunities for research. And on Earth, an Internet operating at quantum speed would also be useful.
This is not the entire list of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century in science and technology. Thus, in less than two decades, the smartphone, wireless high-speed Internet, 3D printer and other equally significant things were invented. The human genome was completely deciphered and the secret of its origin was revealed.
Discoveries occur constantly, and if we compare the data with the same twentieth century, we can note that the horizons of scientists’ knowledge are expanding on the scale of not only the Earth, but the entire Universe. In addition, many of these discoveries entail the development of entire branches of science and industrial production. This means that even more interesting achievements await people in the future.
