- Статьи
- Science and technology
- In a heartfelt breakthrough: a record-breaking humpback whale and the new dangers of fructose
In a heartfelt breakthrough: a record-breaking humpback whale and the new dangers of fructose
A humpback whale has made a unique swim across three oceans to find a mate, setting a migration record among marine mammals. Fructose promotes tumor growth. A Chinese rocket is preparing to fly to Mars, and Russia is developing new reusable rocket engines. Read about this, as well as about the technology that will make Russia a leader in semiconductor production, in the rating of science news of the week, compiled by Izvestia.
Reusable engines will ensure the return of rockets to Earth
Russian scientists and engineers are developing new reusable rocket engines. This was told in an interview with Izvestia by Pavel Chupin, general designer of ODK-Kuznetsov. According to the designer, during each flight the engines will be able to perform several activations, which is achieved due to the technology, when the ignition of the fuel mixture is made with the help of either reusable pyros or electric ignition system. This differentiates the development from traditional solutions that utilize single-use pyrotechnics.
Aviation and space engine building company ODK-Kuznetsov in Samara
"Of the new projects, preliminary design of the first and second stage engines operating on the oxygen-kerosene pair for the latest ultra-light launch vehicle is now underway. Their thrust in various conditions will be 3-4 tons-force. It is assumed that the reusable Russian engines will safely return the rocket stages to the ground," he said.
The thrust vector will be controlled by electric actuators. This will make it possible to change the position of the engine nozzle relative to the axis of the rocket and thereby correct its trajectory.
At the same time, the engine control system will allow to change the thrust in a wide range of signals from the control system of the launch vehicle. Together, all these rocket engine systems provide a wide range of maneuverability and reusability.
Semiconductor crystal production unit
In Russia created the first domestic installation for the production of gallium nitride crystals on 200-millimeter silicon substrates. According to scientists, the development will make it possible to localize one of the important stages in the production of power and ultra-high-frequency microelectronics. Such devices, in particular, include chargers for both household appliances (phones, speakers, laptops, etc.) and large industrial equipment (electric cars, machine tools, drones, etc.).
"The characteristics of gallium nitride allow it to be used as part of the most powerful devices. For example, in control microelectronics for fast charging stations. Due to the durability of the obtained components, energy replenishment is faster than with the help of modern technologies," Yulia Sukhoroslova, Director of Electronic Engineering at Element Group of Companies, told Izvestia.
She noted that at present the market of gallium nitride components is only being formed, but its prospects can be compared with the scale of silicon electronics turnovers.
The Chinese are creating a rocket to fly to the Moon and Mars
China's promising Changzheng-9 rocket will fly to Mars. "Changzheng-9", powered by liquid oxygen and methane, will be used during manned missions to the red planet in the future. About this the designer of the Chinese Research Institute of Rocket Technology (CALT) Lun Lehao told in an interview with the Xinhua news agency.
Both stages of the rocket will be fully reusable and can be reused even after being retrieved from seawater. The rocket will have a diameter of 10.6 meters and a height of about 114 meters. Its payload capacity to near-lunar orbit will be 50 tons.
"Changzheng-9" is being specially developed to launch next-generation spacecraft and lunar landing modules. The development of the rocket is on schedule and tests of the first stage power system have been successfully completed.
Fructose promotes the growth of cancer cells
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered that fructose increases circulating lipids that cancer cells use to build membranes.
Experts learned that the main outcome of fructose metabolism in the liver is an increase in the concentration of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) in the blood, which move easily through the body and are actively taken up by tumor cells. Oncocytes use the lipids to proliferate and enlarge.
The study demonstrated that tumor growth in animals that were fed a meal with high amounts of fructose was accelerated twofold in some cases. However, when tumor cells were isolated, the effect disappeared. Scientists have cited avoiding foods with fruit sugar as a possible important preventive measure for cancer patients.
The sharp rise in fructose consumption in recent decades may be linked to an increased incidence of cancer in people under 50. Researchers suggest avoiding fructose for cancer.
A whale swam across three oceans in search of a mate
A humpback whale has made a unique swim across three oceans to find a mate, setting a migration record among marine mammals. Researchers have been following its movements for almost a decade, which has allowed a better understanding of the behavior of these animals.
Humpback whale migrations are considered among the longest in the animal kingdom, usually reaching 8,000 kilometers. However, this male surpassed the usual distances, traveling more than 13 thousand kilometers, which is almost a third of the circumference of the Earth.
Scientists first recorded the whale in 2013 off the coast of Colombia in the eastern Pacific Ocean. In 2017, he was spotted in the North Pacific, and in 2022 - in the south-west of the Indian Ocean near Zanzibar. Thus, its route traveled through three oceans, including the Atlantic Ocean.
The whale was identified from photographic materials, recording the characteristic features of its appearance.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
