Galloping across Europe: Energy molecules and a spaceship explosion
Russia has successfully launched the Angara-A5 rocket and created a chameleon material in which light controls magnetism and vice versa. Scientists have also come up with a new simple way to obtain phosphors from europium, and roboticists and designers have shown fashionable bionic prostheses and smart clothes. At the same time, researchers from Germany (including those of Russian-speaking origin) have obtained a stable high-energy molecule from nitrogen atoms. At the same time, the pressurized tank of this gas probably caused the explosion of the Starship. This is stated in the collection of the most interesting scientific news prepared by Izvestia.
Protection of banknotes and cancer detection systems will be created from europium
Scientists from the Lebedev Institute of Physics, the Higher School of Economics, and Lomonosov Moscow State University have proposed a new way to create ultra—precise sensors based on europium, a rare earth metal.
Some europium compounds emit a red glow under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. This property is used to create displays, laser technology, and sensors. However, previously, complex combinations of ligands and ions were used to obtain this effect, which give additional characteristics to the central atom (europium). Russian scientists have developed a method by which only one ligand is needed to obtain new properties.
The key achievement is the extraordinary stability and increased luminosity of the resulting polymer. Its luminescence is 1.5–3 times more intense than that of the initial unstable crystals. The new material also has a unique spectral "fingerprint".
— No more than ten similar polymer complexes are known in the world. At the same time, ours turned out to be the most stable and most effective in luminescence. The study helped us understand how to form such structures," Victoria Goncharenko, a junior researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Spectroscopy of Luminescent Materials at the FIAN, told Izvestia.
Project participant Victoria Goncharenko studies the structure of samples using a diffractometer
According to scientists, simplification of synthesis and the ability to control the properties of the material at the creation stage open the way to the development of cheaper and more effective phosphors. In addition, the resulting substance can be used to mark banknotes, highlight pathologies in organic tissues, or detect leaks of harmful compounds.
Scientists have developed a magnetic and light crystal chameleon
Scientists from the Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the N.S. Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have created a unique photomagnetic material in which, by acting with light, magnetic properties can be controlled and, conversely, light characteristics can be changed using magnetic fields.
As the developers explained, they combined magnetic erbium salts and photosensitive organic molecules to achieve the effect. As a result, a crystal was formed, the components of which have a mutual influence.
— Such materials can become the basis for devices where light will control magnetic processes, and magnetism will influence optical signals. This is valuable for nanotechnology, where minimization of energy consumption and high reaction speed are required," experts reported on the website of the PHC PHFMH RAS.
Experts have suggested that such crystals may be in demand in next-generation data storage and processing systems. For example, in ultrafast quantum computers and memory devices, where information is transmitted by photons — particles of light — and encoded using the magnetic properties of the material. Another possible direction is to create flexible screens where colors change under the influence of light.
Cyborg people showed fashionable prosthetics and smart clothes
A gala screening of the "On Wings" competition was held as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The event is dedicated to adaptive fashion. In its final part, bionic prostheses and clothing items that help people with disabilities, diseases and disabilities lead an active life were demonstrated.
The competition jury selected the best projects from 286 applications. In particular, the cyborg girl Veronica Levenets appeared on the catwalk as a model. She faced the problem of an undeveloped hand due to a birth injury and learned how to handle an artificial limb.
A participant with a bionic prosthetic arm
The model demonstrated a prosthesis made by Russian specialists with a coating made using space technology of chemical metallization with unique know-how. The result of this treatment was a mirror surface with improved properties.
In general, the participants of the competition covered a wide range of life situations, creating useful devices for people with lost limbs, congenital pathologies, injuries after burns and surgery. The presented solutions are adapted for practicing various sports. The developers paid special attention to models for military veterans.
Scientists have created an "explosive" molecule for the fuel of the future
Researchers from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen (Germany) have been able to obtain a new nitrogen molecule, hexanitrogen. Unlike the usual, most common diatomic form, it consists of six atoms. Its chemical formula is N₆.
As the scientists explained, different forms of nitrogen are interesting because they can store a huge amount of energy. The problem is that such molecules usually disintegrate instantly. Therefore, explosives are created on the basis of nitrogen-containing compounds.
At the same time, it was possible to obtain a substance that turned out to be relatively stable. Hexanitrogen is not arranged as three diatomic nitrogen molecules joined together, but rather as two groups of three nitrogen atoms (N₃). This is what stabilizes it. At room temperature, such a molecule exists for about 36 milliseconds (which is a lot for such compounds), and if it is cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature (-196 ° C), it can last for more than 100 years.
According to experts, in the future, such compounds may find application in energy or materials science. For example, it can be used to create an economical, environmentally friendly and efficient rocket fuel of a new generation.
Unsuccessful Starship test and successful launch of Angara-A5
On June 18, the Starship spacecraft exploded at the SpaceX test stand at the Messi proving ground in Texas during its refueling with cryogenic fuel — liquid methane and oxygen. The incident occurred a few minutes before the static firing tests, a key stage before the flight tests.
SpaceX's Starship Spacecraft
— The sudden energy impact resulted in the complete loss of Starship and damage to the surrounding area. As a result of the explosion, several fires broke out at the test site, which do not pose a danger to personnel, the company said after the explosion.
According to preliminary conclusions of SpaceX specialists, the cause of the disaster was the failure of a reservoir of a composite pressurized cylinder containing nitrogen gas located in the bow of the Starship.
According to experts, this is the fourth major failure with Starship in 2025. The previous ones — on the seventh, eighth and ninth flight tests — also ended with its destruction. In particular, this may be the reason for the postponement of the NASA Artemis 3 mission, which is supposed to deliver astronauts to the Moon in 2027.
Launch of the Angara-A5 space rocket
At the same time, on June 19, the Russian heavy-class launch vehicle Angara-A5 was successfully launched in Russia from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region. The launch was carried out in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Despite the test status, the rocket, in conjunction with the Briz upper stage, for the first time launched real spacecraft into geostationary orbit (at an altitude of about 36 thousand km). Thus, the entire flight route was worked out. In total, this was the fifth flight in the history of Angara-A5. Prior to that, three launches were carried out from the Plesetsk cosmodrome and one from Vostochny.
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