The year 2017, almost gone, was a year of high-profile discoveries - space agencies began to use reusable rockets, patients can now fight cancer cells with their own blood cells, and a group of scientists discovered a lost continent called Zeeland in the Southern Hemisphere.

These and other mind-blowing discoveries and incredible scientific achievements of 2017 are described in more detail below.

Zealand

An international team of 32 scientists has discovered a lost continent in the South Pacific - Zealand. It is located under Pacific waters, on the seabed, between New Zealand and New Caledonia. Zealand has not always been under water, as scientists have been able to find fossilized remains of plants and land animals.

New life form

Scientists have been able to create laboratory conditions something closest to new form life. The fact is that the DNA of all living beings consists of natural pairs of amino acids: adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine. Most of the DNA is built from these nitrogenous bases. However, the scientists were able to create an unnatural base pair that coexisted quite comfortably with the natural base pairs in E. coli DNA.

This discovery can influence the further development of medicine and may contribute to a longer retention of drugs in the body.

All the gold in the universe

Scientists have learned exactly how all the gold in the universe (as well as platinum and silver) is formed. In the process of collision of two very small, but very heavy stars, located at a distance of 130 million light years from Earth, one hundred octillion dollars worth of gold was formed.

For the first time in the history of stellar observation, astronomers have witnessed the collision of two neutron stars. Two massive space bodies were heading towards each other at a speed equal to a third of the speed of light, and their collision led to the creation of gravitational waves that are palpable on Earth.

Secrets of the Great Pyramid

Scientists have taken a fresh look at the Great Pyramid of Giza and discovered a secret hall there. Using a new scanning technology based on high-speed particles, scientists have discovered a secret room in the depths of the pyramid, which no one had even suspected before. So far, scientists can only speculate why this room was built.

A new way to fight cancer

Scientists can now use the human immune system to fight some cancer cells. For example, to fight childhood leukemia, doctors extract a child's blood cells, modify them, and inject them back into the body. So far, this process is extremely expensive, but the technology is developing and has great potential.

New indicators from the poles

Not all discoveries in 2017 were positive. For example, in July, a huge piece of ice broke off the Antarctic ice sheet, becoming the third largest iceberg on record.

In addition, scientists argue that the Arctic may never regain the title of the eternally icy pole.

New planets

NASA scientists have discovered seven more exoplanets that could theoretically support life as we know it on Earth.

In the neighboring star system TRAPPIST-1, as many as seven planets were observed, at least six of them are solid, like the Earth. All these planets are in a zone favorable for the formation of water and life. What is most remarkable about this discovery is the proximity of the star system and the possibility of further detailed study of the planets.

Farewell to Cassini

In 2017, the Cassini robotic space station, which had been studying Saturn and its many moons for 13 years, burned up in the planet's atmosphere. This was the planned end of the mission, which scientists deliberately went to in an attempt to avoid Cassini colliding with possibly habitable moons of Saturn.

Just before its death, Cassini circled Titan and flew through the icy rings of Saturn, sending unique images back to Earth.

MRI for babies

The tiniest babies being treated or examined in the hospital now have their own MRI, safe to use in the same room as the babies.

Reusable rocket booster

SpaceX has invented a new rocket booster that doesn't fall back to Earth after a rocket launch and can be used multiple times.

Boosters are one of the most expensive parts of launching a rocket into space, and usually they all end up on the ocean floor immediately after launch. A very expensive disposable device, without which it is impossible to reach orbit.

However, SpaceX's new heavy boosters can be retrofitted relatively easily and cheaply, saving $18 million per launch. In 2017, Elon Musk's company has already carried out about 20 launches, followed by a booster landing.

New advances in genetics

Scientists have become one step closer to being able to edit human DNA, saving him from birth defects, diseases and genetic abnormalities even before birth. Oregon geneticists have successfully edited the DNA of a living human embryo for the first time.

In addition, eGenesis announced that it will soon be possible to transplant large life important organs from pig donors. The company has succeeded in creating a genetic virus blocker that does not transmit animal viruses to humans.

Breakthrough in quantum teleportation

The possibility of quantum information teleportation has long been studied by scientists. Previously, it was possible to teleport data over a distance of several tens of kilometers.

For the first time in the history of quantum teleportation, a Chinese scientist managed to transfer information about photons (light particles) from Earth into space using mirrors and lasers.

This discovery could dramatically change how we transmit information around the world and transport energy. Quantum teleportation could lead to an entirely new kind of quantum computers and information transfer. The Internet of the near future could be faster, more secure, and virtually unhackable.

Every year, scientists make the most incredible discoveries, from insignificant to turning points in the history of all mankind, from completely accidental to those that researchers have been working on for years and decades. Breakthroughs occur in absolutely different areas from space exploration and archeology to biology and many other scientific fields. Some of these discoveries help us understand some of the world's most puzzling mysteries, or let us see for the first time something completely unbelievable. Intrigued? From the Martian tsunami to the Shroud of Turin, here are 25 of the most amazing discoveries that are hard to believe.

25. Headless Vikings of Dorset

In June 2009, archaeologists made a shocking discovery near the coastal town of Weymouth in the English county of Dorset (Weymouth, Dorset). During preparatory work On the opening of the new highway, local workers stumbled upon mass graves in which they found 54 skeletons and 51 skulls. The remains were buried in the area of ​​a Roman quarry that had long since been abandoned. Experts believe that among the buried corpses were those who were decapitated during a public execution.

24. Galilean satellites

When in January 1610 the famous Italian Renaissance astronomer Galileo Galilei (Galileo Galilei) pointed his brand new telescope into the sky, he did not suspect that he would soon discover the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter, now known as the Galilean ones. By and large, until that very moment, no scientist had imagined that other planets could also have their own satellites.

23. The evolution of microbes

Antibiotics and vaccines have already saved millions of lives, but to the surprise of scientists, some microbes are evolving and changing faster than we can find a way to destroy them. The flu virus, for example, mutates so fast that last year's vaccines no longer help fight new strains. It turns out that some hospitals are infested with bacteria that have become almost immune to antibiotics, and if so, even a small cut can lead to life-threatening infections.

22. Moa birds

When moa bones were discovered for the first time in the 1830s, biologists could not immediately get used to the idea that these were the remains of birds. These bones were so unusual and large that scientists were reluctant to recognize their belonging to the bird class. Today we know that moa were huge animals and could not fly. They lived mainly in New Zealand, but did not survive to this day. Their extinction occurred approximately between 1300 and 1440 AD. The reason for the disappearance of such an unusual species was the exorbitant hunting of the Maori tribes, whose representatives settled the island at the end of the 14th century.

21. Yonaguni Monument

In 1987, while searching for a good place to watch hammerhead sharks, the head of the Yonaguni-Cho Tourism Association, Kihachiro Aratake, noticed unusual solitary formations resembling architectural structures in sea water. The find was made off the coast of Yonaguni, the southernmost landmass in Japan's Ryukyu archipelago. Until now, there is no consensus in the scientific community about whether this formation is natural, whether a person put his hand to it, or whether this place is completely the fruit of people's labor.

20. Baghdad Battery

If you have lived for a while without electricity, you should know that batteries and accumulators are a very important source of energy. The Baghdad battery proves that humanity tried to create batteries several thousand years ago. The battery is a set of 3 artifacts found in the Iraqi district of Kuzhut Rabu near Baghdad. The 2000-year-old find consists of a ceramic pot, a metal cylinder and a rod. If a pot is filled with vinegar or a similar liquid, it can produce up to 1.1 volts of energy. Written explanations for the use of this ancient device were not found, but archaeologists agreed that most likely it was just an ancient battery.

19. Baby in the coffin of a mummified priest

Researchers from the University of Lund in Sweden (Lund) were incredibly surprised by the results of scanning the coffin of a Scandinavian mummified priest. Scientists have discovered the remains of a tiny baby hidden under the feet of a man. Archaeologists believe that the child could either be a relative of the clergyman, or someone else's illegitimate child, whose remains were placed in a coffin so that the dead baby could be buried according to religious customs, despite its wicked origin.

18. Infrared

Infrared rays were discovered by the British astronomer William Herschel in 1800 when he was studying the heating effects of different colors. In his experiments, the scientist used a prism to decompose light into a color spectrum, and thermometers to measure the thermal effect of each individual color. Today, infrared radiation is used in many areas of our lives, including heating systems, search engines, meteorology and astronomy.

17. Temperatures below absolute zero

Previously, scientists believed that −273.15 ° C is absolute zero, below which it is impossible to fall, and which is the limit for thermodynamic temperature scale. Nevertheless, a team of researchers from the German Max Planck Institute (Max Planck) was only recently able to refute the theory of absolute zero. Under vacuum conditions, the scientists managed to cool the cloud of gas atoms to below −273.15° C. The result of the experiments was so unexpected that the researchers at first had no idea what to do with the frozen particles.

16. Martian tsunamis

Recently, scientists published studies proving that about 3.4 million years ago, an explosion erupted on the surface powerful tsunami. This discovery literally stunned members of the astronomical community. Experts believe that the red planet suffered a lot from two meteorite impacts, which provoked huge tidal waves that could reach up to 50 meters in height.

15. Stone balls of Costa Rica

In the area of ​​the river delta on the small island of Isla del Cano, located in the territorial waters of the Republic of Costa Rica (Isla del Caño, Costa Rica), you can find very unusual stone formations. Also known as petrospheres, these man-made orbs are scattered all over the island - over 300 such orbs have already been found on Isla del Cano. For the first time in our time, these stones were found in the 1930s, when workers were clearing a site for a banana plantation here. According to researchers, the balls were made by the ancestors of the indigenous people who lived here at the time of the Spanish invasion. Their exact age and purpose is still unknown.

14. Mandela effect

Today, science fiction writers and some scientists are thinking about parallel worlds, but have you heard about parallel memories? Self-described psychic Fiona Broome says that while most people remember the death of legendary South African President Nelson Mandela in 2013 from old age and disease, there are those who remember his death in the 1980s when Mandela was still in prison. The woman called this strange phenomenon the “Mandela Effect”, although all over the world people talk about alternative memories that are not at all about the apartheid hero.

13. Tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun

The tomb of King Tutankhamen, preserved almost intact, was discovered by Egyptologists Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in 1922. Tutankhamen was one of the most famous pharaohs, and his death at the age of 18 is still a mystery. ancient egypt. The news of the archaeological find was so widely reported in the media around the world that it even spurred a revival of public interest in history. ancient civilization.

12. Hurricane on Saturn

In 2013, a NASA spacecraft orbiting Saturn registered a massive hurricane. The epicenter of the storm was about 2,000 kilometers in diameter, and the speed of the clouds reached 530 kilometers per hour. On Earth, hurricanes feed warm ocean waters, but there are no oceans and seas on Saturn. And this leads scientists to a dead end, because it is not clear how even then to explain the occurrence of such a serious storm on a distant planet.

11. Songs of humpback whales

Humpback whales make strange sounds that scientists have been unable to decipher for decades. In 2015, off the Hawaiian island of Maui, researchers recorded a completely new type of whale sound. The mysterious noise is so low that it is barely audible to the human ear. Biologists still cannot understand how humpback whales make these sounds, and what their purpose is.

10. Moving stones

The Death Valley National Park in California, USA, despite its gloomy name, boasts a very positive attitude, because even stones come to life here. At the beginning of the 20th century, the public first heard about the migratory stones of this reserve, and since then many versions have been put forward about how they move. The experts offered a choice of both the theory of alien interference and magnetic influence, and the antics of animals or simple pranksters. But the answer was found quite recently - it turned out that the stones were displaced under their own weight during strong winds moving the rock over a thin layer of ice.

9. Child sacrifice

In 1999, archaeologists working in Argentina's Llullaillaco volcano made a shocking discovery when they discovered three mummified children left to die of cold during an ancient Inca religious ritual. The cruel tradition was carried out by the ancient Incas, most often in honor of any important events or to avert natural disasters.

8. Mary Celeste

Mary Celeste was an American merchant ship stranded in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores. The ship sailed from New York to Genoa on November 7, 1872, and was rediscovered only on December 5. The ship still had almost all the supplies, and even the personal belongings of the crew and the captain lay in their places intact. But the very team of Mary Celeste was not in sight. Since then, no one has heard of them, and this case is still considered one of the biggest mysteries in the history of modern navigation.

7. Black holes

Black holes can rightfully be called one of the strangest and most fascinating celestial objects we have ever discovered in deep space. These are spatio-temporal regions that have such a powerful gravitational force that it is simply impossible to get out of there. Albert Einstein was the first to predict the existence of these objects back in 1916 with only the theory of relativity at his disposal. The term "black hole" itself appeared in 1967, and was coined by the American astronomer John Wheeler (Wheeler), but for the first time a black hole was truly discovered only in 1971.

6 Antikytra Mechanism

It may sound crazy, but the first analog computer was built around 100 BC. The Antikythera Mechanism is ancient version computer, which was used to predict the location of astronomical bodies and eclipses. Discovered in July 1901 among the remains of a crashed ship off the Greek island of Antikytra, this device was supposedly designed and assembled by Greek scientists between 200 and 100 BC.

5. RNA interference

In 1998, during a series of experiments, scientists found that gene expression (the process of transforming hereditary information from genes to functional RNA or protein) is controlled by a phenomenon later called RNA interference. This process protects us from viruses that try to invade DNA and controls gene expression. For their work on this phenomenon, scientists Craig Mello and Andrew Fire (Craig Mello, Andrew Fire) were awarded Nobel Prize in the field of physiology and medicine. Later, this discovery contributed to the study of gene silencing - turning off genes that causes diseases such as high blood pressure and a number of other ailments.

4. Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin is one of the most mysterious archaeological discoveries of all time. It is believed that this fabric is the same shroud in which Jesus Christ was buried. This long piece of fabric is stained with blood, and the dark imprint of a human body is clearly visible on it. The Catholic Church officially announced the existence of this item as early as 1353, when it appeared in the church of the French commune of Lirey. However, the legend of the shroud has existed for much longer, and the first mention of it was known as early as 30 or 33 AD.

3. Voynich Manuscript

Perhaps one of the most mysterious manuscripts in the history of mankind, the Voynich manuscript is an amazing artifact, the origin and belonging of which is still completely unknown. The manuscript is full of plant illustrations, strange symbols and diagrams, and is written in a cryptic language that does not belong to any civilization known to historians and archaeologists.

2. Extraterrestrial neutrinos and Antarctica

Using equipment from the IceCube Neutrino observatory in Antarctica, physicists recently finally found evidence for cosmic rays beyond our own. solar system. These energy beams are very difficult to detect, so scientists have to rely on studying neutrinos (subatomic particles) that are produced when the beams interact with their surroundings.

1. Mass burial of animals

In 1971, paleontologists discovered a huge animal burial in a cornfield in Idaho. Once there was a pool of a large reservoir, and this place became the last refuge for the skeletons of almost 200 animals. Apparently, these animals died of asphyxiation about 12 million years ago and were hidden for a long time from prying eyes under a deep layer of volcanic ash. After an unexpected discovery, this place was given the status of Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park.

Photo sources:
25 - MaxPixel; 24 - Kevin Gill / flickr; 23 - serendigity / flickr; 22, 12, 8, 7, 4, 3, 1 - Wikimedia; 21 - Vincent Lou; 20 - Boynton / flickr; 19 – frankjuarez / flickr; 18 - AIRS, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder / flickr; 17 - Guy vandegrift, Gas thermometer and absolute zero; 16-Pixabay; 15 - Rodtico21, Stone spheres of Costa Rica. Museo National; 14-Pixabay; 13 – Carsten Frenzl; 11 – hit Welles Wwelles14, Humpback stellwagen edit; 10 – Mike Baird / flickr; 9 – grooverpedro, Momias de Llullaillaco en la Provincia de Salta (Argentina); 6 - Marsyas; 5-Pixabay; 2 – Wikipedia

We offer a selection of interesting scientific discoveries the last time.

See death. This month, British scientists made an interesting discovery: they captured on camera the spread of death. The process itself was a blue glow that, in the literal sense of the word, permeated the cells of the body while it was dying. The very goal pursued by scientists from the Research Council for Biotechnology and Biological Sciences was to deepen knowledge in the processes of death in order to further try to increase human life expectancy. (According to the Daily Mail. Photo: DailyMail)

Ancient Mayan temple. Archaeologists discovered an ancient temple in the jungles of Guatemala last year. Presumably, this temple belonged to the Mayan tribes 1600 years ago and was called the “Temple of the Night Sun”. The temple itself is adorned with gigantic masks of the Mayan solar god.

New animal species in Peru. Between 2009 and 2012, a group of biologists from Mexico and Peru went in search of new animal species to the northern part of Peru - national reserve Tabaconas Namballe. During the entire expedition, they discovered many new species of mammals. Among them - unknown species night monkey. Only last year, scientists managed to agree that this species of monkeys was really not known to science. Disputes over some other species of mammals are still ongoing. (according to nationalgeographic.com, photo: National Geographic)

Solar systems and planets. In April 2012, scientists discovered an interesting star in the constellation South Hydra. The Sun-like star is 127 light-years from Earth. At least 9 planets revolve around it, which makes this solar system the largest known. Our solar system has only 8 official planets. (according to nationalgeographic.com, photo: National Geographic)

Baby teeth and dictators. Scientists have made an interesting conclusion why, most likely, dictators are born. Approximately 1 in 2000 babies are born with one erupted tooth. For a mother, feeding such a child turns into real torment. The child feels a lack of attention, and with age, subconsciously tries to win it more and more. Anthropologists claim that people like Julius Caesar, Hannibal, Napoleon, Mussolini, and Hitler were born with an erupted tooth. (according to www.mentalfloss.com, photo: open sources)

Tie and vision. After many years of research, American scientists came to the conclusion that in 67% of men, visual impairment is associated with a tightly tightened collar. This is especially true for those who wear a tie. A tight tie restricts blood flow to the eyes. It also affects blood pressure. (according to Stephen Juan, "The odd body", photo: public sources)

Chimpanzee and deceit. The conclusion was made by zoologists from Sweden. They found that a chimpanzee named Santino, who constantly threw stones at zoo visitors, prepared the weapon in advance. Santino has been under surveillance for a long time. Without giving a look, he waited for the visitors to reach a certain place, and then quickly took out and threw a stone. Scientists concluded that such an action is the result of a well-thought-out plan, which means that chimpanzees are capable of deceit. (according to the journal PLoS ONE and the ScienceNOW website, a photo: open sources )

happiness and food. British scientists came to the conclusion that only food can bring true happiness to a person. Everyone knows that a hungry person often has a bad mood, but as soon as he eats, his mood improves. In the first place among the “products of happiness” were all kinds of sweets and french fries - for most people, these products are associated with relaxation. Next on the list are red and black caviar. It is associated with wealth and luxury. (according to www.geo.ru, a photo: open sources)

Mars and water NASA experts have come to the final conclusion that in the distant past there was water on the red planet suitable for living organisms. They managed to make such a conclusion with the help of the Opportunity rover. spacecraft found a piece of ancient clay that could only form in the presence of water. (according to bbc.co.uk, photo: NASA)

Over the past 10 years, many amazing discoveries and achievements have taken place in the world of science. Surely many of you who read our site have heard of most of the items on today's list. However, their significance is so high that once again it would be a crime not to mention them at least briefly. They need to be remembered at least for the next decade, until new, even more amazing scientific achievements are made on the basis of these discoveries.

Stem cell reprogramming

Stem cells are amazing. They perform the same cellular functions as the rest of the cells in your body, but, unlike the latter, they have one amazing property- if necessary, they are able to change and acquire the function of absolutely any cells. This means that stem cells can be converted, for example, into erythrocytes (red blood cells) if your body lacks the latter. Or in white blood cells (leukocytes). Or muscle cells. Or neurons. Or ... in general, you get the idea - in almost all types of cells.

Despite the fact that stem cells have been known to the general public since 1981 (although they were discovered much earlier, at the beginning of the 20th century), until 2006, science had no idea that any cells of a living organism can be reprogrammed and transformed into stem cells. Moreover, the method of such transformation turned out to be relatively simple. The first person to explore this possibility was Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka, who turned skin cells into stem cells by adding four specific genes to them. Within two to three weeks, from the moment the skin cells turned into stem cells, they could be further transformed into any other type of cell in our body. For regenerative medicine, as you understand, this discovery is one of the most important in recent history, as this sphere now has a virtually limitless source of cells needed to heal the damage your body has sustained.

Largest black hole ever discovered

"blot" in the center - our solar system

In 2009, a group of astronomers decided to find out the mass of the black hole S5 0014+81, which had just been discovered at that time. Imagine their surprise when scientists learned that its mass is 10,000 times greater than the mass of the supermassive black hole located at the center of our planet. Milky Way, effectively making it the largest known black hole in the known universe so far.

This ultra-massive black hole has the mass of 40 billion suns (meaning if you take the mass of the Sun and multiply it by 40 billion, you get the mass of a black hole). No less interesting is the fact that this black hole, according to scientists, formed during the earliest period in the history of the universe - just 1.6 billion years after the Big Bang. The discovery of this black hole contributed to the understanding that holes of this size and mass can increase these figures incredibly quickly.

Memory manipulation

It already sounds like a seed for some Nolan's Inception, but in 2014, scientists Steve Ramirez and Xu Liu manipulated the memory of a laboratory mouse, replacing negative memories with positive ones and vice versa. The researchers implanted special light-sensitive proteins into the mouse's brain and, as you might have guessed, simply shined a light into its eyes.

As a result of the experiment, positive memories were completely replaced by negative ones, which were firmly entrenched in her brain. This discovery opens the door to new types of treatment for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or who cannot cope with the emotions of losing loved ones. In the near future, this discovery promises to lead to even more surprising results.

Computer chip that mimics how the human brain works

This was seen as something fantastic a few years ago, but in 2014, IBM introduced the world to a computer chip that works on the principle of the human brain. With 5.4 billion transistors and 10,000 times less power to operate than conventional computer chips, the SyNAPSE chip is able to simulate your brain's synapse. 256 synapses, to be exact. They can be programmed to perform any computational task, which can make them extremely useful when used in supercomputers and various types of distributed sensors.

Thanks to its unique architecture, the performance of the SyNAPSE chip is not limited to the performance that we are accustomed to assessing in conventional computers. It turns on only when it is needed, which allows you to significantly save on energy and maintain operating temperatures. This revolutionary technology could truly change the entire computer industry over time.

One step closer to robot domination

Also in 2014, 1,024 tiny "kilobots" robots were tasked to combine into a star shape. Without any further instructions, the robots independently and collectively set about the task. Slowly, uncertainly, colliding with each other several times, but they nevertheless completed the task assigned to them. If one of the robots got stuck or “lost”, not knowing how to become, the neighboring robots came to the rescue, which helped the “losers” to orient themselves.

What is the achievement? Everything is very simple. Now imagine that the same robots, only thousands of times smaller, are introduced into your circulatory system and, uniting, they go to fight some serious disease that has settled in your body. Larger robots, also united, are sent to some kind of search and rescue operation, and even larger ones are used to build fantastically fast new buildings. Here, of course, one can recall some scenario for a summer blockbuster, but why escalate?

Dark matter confirmation

According to scientists, this mysterious matter may contain answers to many as yet unexplained astronomical phenomena. Here's one of them as an example: let's say we have a galaxy with a mass of thousands of planets. If we compare the actual mass of these planets and the mass of the entire galaxy, the numbers don't add up. Why? Because the answer goes much deeper than simply calculating the mass of matter that we can see. There is also matter that we cannot see. It is just what is called "dark matter".

In 2009, several American laboratories announced the discovery of dark matter using sensors submerged in an iron mine to a depth of about 1 kilometer. Scientists were able to determine the presence of two particles whose characteristics match the previously proposed description of dark matter. There are many rechecks to be done, but everything points to the fact that these particles are actually particles of dark matter. This may be one of the most amazing and significant discoveries in physics in the last century.

Is there life on Mars?

Maybe. In 2015, the NASA aerospace agency published photos of the Martian mountains with dark stripes at their foot (photo above). They come and go depending on the season. The fact is that these bands are irrefutable proof of the presence of liquid water on Mars. Scientists cannot say with absolute certainty whether the planet had such features in the past, but the presence of water on the planet now opens up many prospects.

For example, the presence of water on the planet can be of great help when humanity finally puts together a manned mission to Mars (sometime after 2024, according to the most optimistic forecasts). Astronauts in this case will have to carry with them much less resources, since everything you need is already on the Martian surface.

reusable rockets

SpaceX, a private aerospace company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, was able, after several attempts, to soft-land a spent rocket on a remotely operated floating barge in the ocean.

Everything went so smoothly that now landing spent rockets for SpaceX is considered a routine task. In addition, this allows the company to save billions of dollars in the production of rockets, since now they can be simply sorted, refilled and reused (and more than once, in theory), instead of just sinking somewhere in pacific ocean. Thanks to these rockets, humanity has become several steps closer to manned flights to Mars.

Gravitational waves

Gravitational waves are ripples of space and time moving at the speed of light. They were predicted by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity, according to which mass is capable of bending space and time. Gravitational waves can be created by black holes, and they were detected in 2016 using the high-tech equipment of the Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Observatory, or simply LIGO, thus confirming Einstein's century-old theory.

This is indeed a very important discovery for astronomy, as it proves much of Einstein's general theory of relativity and allows instruments such as LIGO to detect and track events on a vast cosmic scale in the long term.

TRAPPIST system

TRAPPIST-1 is a star system located approximately 39 light years from our solar system. What makes her special? Not much, except for its star, which has 12 times less mass than our Sun, as well as at least 7 planets wrapping around it and located in the so-called Goldilocks zone, where life could potentially exist.

Around this discovery, as expected, there are now heated debates. It even goes so far as to say that the system may not be habitable at all and that its planets look more like unsightly vacant space rocks than our future interplanetary resorts. Nevertheless, the system deserves absolutely all the attention that is now riveted to it. Firstly, it is not so far from us - only some 39 light years from the solar system. On the scale of space - around the corner. Secondly, it has three Earth-like planets that are in the habitable zone and are perhaps the best targets for the search for extraterrestrial life today. Thirdly, on all seven planets there can be liquid water is the key to life. But the probability of its presence is highest precisely on the three planets that are closer to the star. Fourth, if there really is life there, then we can confirm this without even sending a space expedition there. Telescopes like JWST, which is set to launch next year, will help solve this problem.

Every year, scientists make the most incredible discoveries, from insignificant to turning points in the history of all mankind, from completely accidental to those that researchers have been working on for years and decades. Breakthroughs occur in completely different areas from space exploration and archeology to biology and many other scientific fields. Some of these discoveries help us understand some of the world's most puzzling mysteries, or let us see for the first time something completely unbelievable.

Galilean satellites
When in January 1610 the famous Italian Renaissance astronomer Galileo Galilei pointed his brand new telescope into the sky, he had no idea that he would soon discover the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter, now known as the Galilean moons. By and large, until that very moment, no scientist had imagined that other planets could also have their own satellites.

The evolution of microbes
Antibiotics and vaccines have already saved millions of lives, but to the surprise of scientists, some microbes are evolving and changing faster than we can find a way to destroy them. The flu virus, for example, mutates so fast that last year's vaccines no longer help fight new strains. It turns out that some hospitals are infested with bacteria that have become almost immune to antibiotics, and if so, even a small cut can lead to life-threatening infections.

moa birds
When moa bones were discovered for the first time in the 1830s, biologists could not immediately get used to the idea that these were the remains of birds. These bones were so unusual and large that scientists were reluctant to recognize their belonging to the bird class. Today we know that moa were huge animals and could not fly. They lived mainly in New Zealand, but did not survive to this day. Their extinction occurred approximately between 1300 and 1440 AD. The reason for the disappearance of such an unusual species was the exorbitant hunting of the Maori tribes, whose representatives settled the island at the end of the 14th century.

Monument to Yonaguni
In 1987, while searching for a good place to watch hammerhead sharks, the head of the Yonaguni-Cho Tourism Association, Kihachiro Aratake, noticed unusual solitary formations resembling architectural structures in sea water. The discovery was made off the coast of Yonaguni Island, the southernmost landmass in Japan's Ryukyu archipelago. Until now, there is no consensus in the scientific community about whether this formation is natural, whether a person put his hand to it, or whether this place is completely the fruit of people's labor.

Baghdad Battery
If you have lived for a while without electricity, you should know that batteries and accumulators are a very important source of energy. The Baghdad battery proves that humanity tried to create batteries several thousand years ago. The battery is a set of 3 artifacts found in the Iraqi district of Kuzhut Rabu near Baghdad. The 2000-year-old find consists of a ceramic pot, a metal cylinder and a rod. If a pot is filled with vinegar or a similar liquid, it can produce up to 1.1 volts of energy. Written explanations for the use of this ancient device were not found, but archaeologists agreed that most likely it was just an ancient battery.

Infrared radiation
Infrared rays were discovered by the British astronomer William Herschel in 1800 when he was studying the heating effects of different colors. In his experiments, the scientist used a prism to decompose light into a color spectrum, and thermometers to measure the thermal effect of each individual color. Today, infrared radiation is used in many areas of our lives, including heating systems, search engines, meteorology and astronomy.

Temperatures below absolute zero
Previously, scientists believed that? 273.15 ° C - absolute zero, below which it is impossible to fall, and which is the limit for the thermodynamic temperature scale. Nevertheless, a team of researchers from the German Max Planck Institute (Max Planck) was only recently able to refute the theory of absolute zero. Under vacuum conditions, the scientists managed to cool the cloud of gas atoms to below −273.15° C. The result of the experiments was so unexpected that the researchers at first had no idea what to do with the frozen particles.

martian tsunami
Recently, scientists have published studies proving that about 3.4 million years ago, a powerful tsunami erupted on the surface of Mars. This discovery literally stunned members of the astronomical community. Experts believe that the red planet suffered a lot from two meteorite impacts, which provoked huge tidal waves that could reach up to 50 meters in height.

Stone balls of Costa Rica
In the area of ​​the river delta on the small island of Isla del Cano, located in the territorial waters of the Republic of Costa Rica (Isla del Cano, Costa Rica), you can find very unusual stone formations. Also known as petrospheres, these man-made orbs are scattered all over the island - over 300 such orbs have already been found on Isla del Cano. For the first time in our time, these stones were found in the 1930s, when workers were clearing a site for a banana plantation here. According to researchers, the balls were made by the ancestors of the indigenous people who lived here at the time of the Spanish invasion. Their exact age and purpose is still unknown.

Mandela effect
Today, science fiction writers and some scientists are thinking about parallel worlds, but have you heard about parallel memories? Self-described psychic Fiona Broome says that while most people remember the death of legendary South African President Nelson Mandela in 2013 from old age and disease, there are those who remember his death in the 1980s when Mandela was still in prison. The woman called this strange phenomenon the “Mandela Effect”, although all over the world people talk about alternative memories that are not at all about the apartheid hero.

Tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen
The tomb of King Tutankhamen, preserved almost intact, was discovered by Egyptologists Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in 1922. Tutankhamen was one of the most famous pharaohs, and his death at the age of 18 is still a mystery in ancient Egypt. The news of the archaeological find was so widely reported in the media around the world that it even spurred a revival of public interest in the history of ancient civilization.

Hurricane on Saturn
In 2013, a NASA spacecraft orbiting Saturn registered a massive hurricane. The epicenter of the storm was about 2,000 kilometers in diameter, and the speed of the clouds reached 530 kilometers per hour. On Earth, hurricanes feed warm ocean waters, but there are no oceans and seas on Saturn. And this leads scientists to a dead end, because it is not clear how even then to explain the occurrence of such a serious storm on a distant planet.

Songs of humpback whales
Humpback whales make strange sounds that scientists have been unable to decipher for decades. In 2015, off the Hawaiian island of Maui, researchers recorded a completely new type of whale sound. The mysterious noise is so low that it is barely audible to the human ear. Biologists still cannot understand how humpback whales make these sounds, and what their purpose is.

moving stones
The Death Valley National Park in California, USA, despite its gloomy name, boasts a very positive attitude, because even stones come to life here. At the beginning of the 20th century, the public first heard about the migratory stones of this reserve, and since then many versions have been put forward about how they move. The experts offered a choice of both the theory of alien interference and magnetic influence, and the antics of animals or simple pranksters. But the answer was found quite recently - it turned out that the stones were displaced under their own weight during strong winds moving the rock over a thin layer of ice.

Mary Celeste
Mary Celeste was an American merchant ship stranded in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores. The ship sailed from New York to Genoa on November 7, 1872, and was rediscovered only on December 5. The ship still had almost all the supplies, and even the personal belongings of the crew and the captain lay in their places intact. But the very team of Mary Celeste was not in sight. Since then, no one has heard of them, and this case is still considered one of the biggest mysteries in the history of modern navigation.

Black holes
Black holes can rightfully be called one of the strangest and most fascinating celestial objects we have ever discovered in deep space. These are space-time regions that have such a powerful gravitational force that it is simply impossible to get out of there. Albert Einstein was the first to predict the existence of these objects back in 1916 with only the theory of relativity at his disposal. The term "black hole" itself appeared in 1967, and was coined by the American astronomer John Wheeler (Wheeler), but for the first time a black hole was truly discovered only in 1971.

Antikytra Mechanism
It may sound crazy, but the first analog computer was built around 100 BC. The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient version of a computer that was used to predict the positions of astronomical bodies and eclipses. Discovered in July 1901 among the remains of a crashed ship off the Greek island of Antikytra, this device was supposedly designed and assembled by Greek scientists between 200 and 100 BC.

RNA interference
In 1998, during a series of experiments, scientists found that gene expression (the process of converting hereditary information from genes into functional RNA or protein) is controlled by a phenomenon later called RNA interference. This process protects us from viruses that try to invade DNA and controls gene expression. For their work on this phenomenon, scientists Craig Mello and Andrew Fire (Craig Mello, Andrew Fire) were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Later, this discovery contributed to the study of gene silencing - turning off genes that causes diseases such as high blood pressure and a number of other ailments.

Voynich manuscript
Possibly one of the most enigmatic manuscripts in human history, the Voynich Manuscript is an amazing artifact whose origin and identity are still completely unknown. The manuscript is full of plant illustrations, strange symbols and diagrams, and is written in a cryptic language that does not belong to any civilization known to historians and archaeologists.

Extraterrestrial neutrinos and Antarctica
Using equipment from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, physicists recently finally found evidence for the existence of cosmic rays outside our solar system. These energy beams are very difficult to detect, so scientists have to rely on studying neutrinos (subatomic particles) that are produced when the beams interact with their surroundings.

Mass burial of animals
In 1971, paleontologists discovered a huge animal burial in a cornfield in Idaho. Once there was a pool of a large reservoir, and this place became the last refuge for the skeletons of almost 200 animals. Apparently, these animals died of asphyxiation about 12 million years ago and were hidden for a long time from prying eyes under a deep layer of volcanic ash. After an unexpected discovery, this place was given the status of Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park.