Science & Technology: what does 2012?
Science & Technology: what does 2012?
The year 2011 brought us a lot of news in science and technology, like crashing birds , a hard disk of bacteria , the retirement of the shuttle ,the scam of Diederik Stapel and the departure of André Kuipers . What will 2012 bring?
The Higgs particle is found
In 2011, scientists saw a glimpse of the famous Higgs particle . This is a missing particle that plays an important role in the standard model of particle physics. If this particle is found, scientists can build on the standard model. If not, then it’s time for another theory. CERN has been searching years for the Higgs particle, but came very close last year. In 2012 it is likely that the Higgs particle is actually found.
The world does not end
Whether you believe in the Mayans or not: the world does not end in 2012 . Chances are December 21, 2012 go unnoticed. The Mayan calendar consists of thirteen cycles of 144,000 days. The last day is December 21, 2012. ”What the Mayans actually predicted before that date, there was a god on earth, but they do not mention that the earth would perish,” explains researcher Guillermo Bernal of the Center for Maya Studies at the University of Mexico. ”The end of the world is a Western interpretation of the calendar.”
Welcome home Kuipers
In June 2012 astronaut Andre Kuipers landed on Earth after a mission of five and a half months.Kuipers has already broken several Dutch records (including longest spaceflight and most space flights). The question is whether these records over the next year by another Dutch astronaut will be broken. Probably not. André Kuipers is not only a passionate craftsman, but he is also sociable. One thing is certain: the future Kuipers has plenty to do. His mission – Promise – namely consists of 57 scientific experiments, carried out by the astronaut.
Severe solar storms?
Scientists fear that solar storms this year’s Olympics upset . Although the peak of the solar maximum only in May 2013 , next year we can already expect a lot of sunspots and solar flares. Communication systems can be damaged by solar flares and magnetic storms: massive explosions in the atmosphere of the Sun Result: no live images from the Olympics. A nice side effect is that this year we might be able to enjoy beautiful northern lights.
Vostok more at your fingertips
In 2012 Russian scientists probably reached the Vostok Lake. This is a more isolated beneath the surface of Antarctica. The lake has been millions of years off from the outside world, so the question is what scientists find. Since its discovery in 1993, scientists working on the Vostok more accessible.The Russians have a hole drilled 3,720 meters. This means they only have to drill 30 meters. From December 2011 the Russians started drilling again, then again as it was summer in the Antarctic.
Curiosity lands on Mars
NASA Mars Rover’s biggest ever landed on Mars in August 2012 . Curiosity descend into the crater, Gale. This crater is a special mountain with many rich minerals. Scientists explore this mountain Willd. Curiosity is equipped with the latest technologies, including two cameras and ten powerful tools. We look forward to the first pictures of the robber.
