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- In the color of events: petals against germs and sound transmission without headphones
In the color of events: petals against germs and sound transmission without headphones
Russian engineers have created a new facility for manufacturing microchips, and their Chinese colleagues have proposed assembling a telescope in orbit. At the same time, American scientists have found a way to personally deliver sound directly into the ear without headphones and without discomfort to others. In addition, Russian materials scientists borrowed the microrelief of the petals for antibacterial coatings and created a testing machine for studying composites from miniature samples. This is stated in the collection of the most interesting scientific news prepared by Izvestia.
New chip manufacturing equipment
A new plant for the production of microelectronics has been created in Russia. This is a complex for plasma chemical deposition (PCO) on silicon wafers of 300 mm. The equipment was developed at NIITM (part of Element Group of Companies).
— PHO technology is one of the basic processes in the production of microcircuits. The significance of the project lies in the fact that the country is building its own technological line for the production of chips. Previously, imported equipment was used to perform this operation, and domestic machines were designed for 200-millimeter substrates," Georgy Yeritsyan, head of the Advanced Research and Development Department at NIITM, told Izvestia.
The transition to 300mm wafers is important because it makes Russian microelectronics competitive, the scientist noted. Compared to the 200-millimeter format, there are more than twice as many chips on such plates. In addition, the new equipment makes it possible to master promising technologies up to the 28 nm topology.
During the development process, the scientists produced a prototype, which consists of four technological modules combined by a common robotic transport system for moving the plates. The acquisition of clusters from modules allows you to flexibly configure equipment for specific productions.
The developers expect that, in addition to the Russian market, the new technology will be in demand abroad, where our country can become an alternative supplier of solutions for microelectronics manufacturers.
Flowers suggested the shape of antimicrobial surfaces
To protect themselves from colonies of pathogenic bacteria, plants create a complex relief pattern on the surface of the leaves. Scientists have proposed adopting this method to create effective antimicrobial surfaces.
Specialists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Tambov State Technical University and the Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics of the Ufa Institute of Physics and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences participated in the project.
They filled the petals of roses, daisies, pansies and magnolias with silicone. Then colonies of E. coli were planted on the resulting casts and examined.
— We have carefully studied the relationship between the surface structure of the petals and their resistance to colonization by microorganisms. This allowed us to develop an algorithm for predicting the antibacterial properties of synthetic materials whose surface mimics plant tissues," explained Maria Barshutina, senior researcher at the Laboratory of Controlled Optical Nanostructures at MIPT.
According to the results of the experiment, roses and daisies have the most difficult petal relief. They also have the most pronounced antibacterial properties. According to scientists, applying a "floral" relief on the surface is a promising method of protection against microbes. Such coatings will be in demand in the manufacture of medical equipment and collective items (door handles, railings, etc.). The advantage of the method is that it scales easily.
Tests on mini-samples of composites will accelerate the creation of aircraft
Researchers from Skoltech, MAI and MISIS have developed an innovative methodology for the study of aviation and space composite materials. The new method will allow testing on a volume of material up to 1 cubic cm instead of dimensional samples.
To implement the technology, scientists have manufactured a testing machine — a laboratory complex that fits inside a scanning electron microscope. During the tests, the samples are fixed to the frame and deformed in a controlled manner.
— Composites have intrinsic heterogeneity of properties. Traditionally, tests are carried out on large samples, which requires high material consumption and complex experimental facilities. We have shown that the same data can be obtained on miniature samples. Moreover, the latter are easier and cheaper to make. And if there are a lot of them, you can collect a lot of statistics," commented Evgeny Statnik, one of the developers, a researcher at the Skoltech System Design Center.
At the next stage, the data obtained is used for computational and experimental correlation. This combination of experimental and computational data allows for a more complete understanding of the properties of the material. The device allows for bending, stretching and compression tests.
Scientists have proposed a way to transmit sound without headphones
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania (USA) have developed a technology that allows you to direct sound in such a way that it can only be heard in a certain area — the "enclave". At the same time, in other areas, even nearby, the sound will not be picked up.
The essence of the development is in special radiators and converters that direct sound waves at two slightly different frequencies. Each of these rays does not make a sound by itself, it occurs at the point of intersection and interaction of the waves.
— We use two ultrasonic transducers in combination with an acoustic meta-surface, which emit self-adjusting beams that intersect at a certain point. A person standing at this point can hear the sound, but any other person standing nearby cannot. This creates a privacy barrier between people for private listening," said Yun Jing, one of the authors of the study.
In the future, the development can be used as the basis for systems that will allow creating personal audio broadcasts for each passenger in a car or airplane. At the same time, they will be able to do without headphones.
Chinese scientists will assemble a megatelescope in orbit
Scientists from China presented the concept of a telescope that will be assembled in orbit. Information about this was published by the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA). The length of the device will be 10 m, and the weight will be about 18 tons.
To launch the structural elements into space, they plan to use a heavy launch vehicle "Changzheng-5" ("Great Trek"). Depending on the capabilities of the cargo platform, the launch can be divided into two or more stages.
The first option involves assembling the telescope using a robotic arm at the Tiangong orbital station ("Heavenly Palace"). The second is an autonomous assembly in low orbit using the telescope's own robotic arm.
According to the latest project, the central module will first be launched into low orbit. It will deploy solar panels and a robotic system with seven degrees of freedom.
Then the following modules will be delivered in separate launches. The robot arm will assemble the telescope components from them — the main and secondary mirrors. After that, the device, using its own fuel, will move to the target orbit.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
