5 New Scientific Discoveries in 2024
Sideprojects・15 minutes read
PhD student Alexia Lopez discovered the massive Big Ring of Galactic clusters, challenging cosmological limits, along with the Giant Arc, surpassing expectations, while new battery technologies and space discoveries continue to push the boundaries of science and innovation.
Insights
- Alexia Lopez discovered the Big Ring, a massive circle of Galactic clusters 9.2 billion light years away, challenging established cosmological principles with its 1.3 billion light years diameter, surpassing the expected length of Cosmic structures.
- Researchers are developing insect-like robots utilizing shape memory alloys for rapid movement, achieving speeds of 6 mm/second with tiny actuators. These robots, like the Water Strider, inspired by insects, hold potential for diverse applications such as robot-assisted surgery, environmental monitoring, and artificial pollination in challenging plant environments.
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Recent questions
What is the Big Ring in space?
A massive circle of Galactic clusters 9.2 billion light years away.
What are the benefits of water batteries?
Sustainable, cheaper alternative with 80% capacity retention.
What is the significance of the calcium-based battery?
Promises cheaper alternative with high energy density.
What is the James Webb Space Telescope's discovery?
Revealed oldest black hole in observable universe.
What are the potential applications of insect-like robots?
Robot-assisted surgery, environmental monitoring, materials manufacturing, artificial pollination.
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Summary
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Astounding Discoveries in Science and Technology
- In 2024, PhD student Alexia Lopez discovered a massive circle of Galactic clusters 9.2 billion light years away, named the Big Ring, with a diameter of 1.3 billion light years and a circumference of 4 billion light years.
- The Big Ring challenges established cosmological principles, particularly the upper limit for Cosmic structure, as it surpasses the expected length of 1.2 billion light years.
- Adjacent to the Big Ring is the Giant Arc, discovered in 2021 by the same student, spanning 3.3 billion light years, both structures dwarfing the Milky Way's cluster of galaxies.
- The Australian team developed recyclable water batteries with a water-based electrolyte, offering a sustainable and cheaper alternative to traditional batteries, retaining 80% capacity after 700 charging cycles.
- The Chinese team created a calcium-based battery promising a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries, with potential for thin fabric integration and high energy density.
- The James Webb Space Telescope reexamined galaxy GNZ11, revealing the oldest black hole in the observable universe, growing at an unexpected rate, challenging current models of black hole formation.
- Retro, the first cloned Rhesus monkey using somatic cell nuclear transfer, was successfully created in 2024 by researchers at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Washington State University developed insect-like robots, MiniBug and Water Strider, the smallest in the world, with impressive movement speeds of 6 mm/second, achieved through tiny actuators.
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Tiny robots with shape memory alloy actuators
- Shape memory alloys are utilized in tiny actuators within robots, allowing rapid movement through heating and cooling of wires made from this material. The water Strider robot can move its fins over 40 times per second, inspired by insect models. Researchers aim to incorporate insect-inspired speed enhancements and develop a miniature battery for untethered operation. Potential applications for these small robots include robot-assisted surgery, environmental monitoring, materials manufacturing, and even artificial pollination in challenging plant environments.
