In 2009 the scientific and informative channel "Discovery" summed up the results of work of scientists in the 21st century. The list of the most significant discoveries of this period was published. Discoveries are made in the fields of medicine, biotechnologies, space and climatology.
Thawing of glaciers
Climatologists, investigating ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, drew a conclusion – ices of the planet thaw much quicker, than it was supposed earlier. The most part of continental snowfields and glaciers can disappear, and powerful ices of the Arctic decrease with high speed. With such rates of thawing, in the near future the Arctic Ocean will be completely free from ice in summertime. Consequences of thawing are ambiguous. From one party, the thawed glaciers will become a water source for billions of persons in need, with another – increases in level of the ocean will be caused by disappearance of some islands and countries. By calculations of some authoritative scientists, to the end of the century the water level of the World Ocean should not rise more than by 1 meter.
Full thawing of ices of Greenland, will lead to increase in global sea level on 7 meters.
Mapping of a human genome
Densely cooperating, scientists of the world spent 10 years for interpretation of all human genome. In 2003 the scientists finally disclosed details of the structure of the person at the molecular level.
In each cell of the person there are 23 chromosomes. If to spread out them in one row, their length will be 91 cm.
Discovery of water on Mars
In 2008 the Phoenix spacecraft landed near the North Pole of Mars. Sampling of soil for analyses was its main objective. At one of the moments of functioning of the device the dash cameras noticed white powder in samples. As soon as pictures of the next few days began to compare, on the last of them white powder was already less. After careful analyses the scientists came to a conclusion that this white powder is water ice.
Scientific and ethical method of receiving stem cells
In 2007, independently of each other, the American and Japanese scientists, from skin cells of the person could grow embryonic stem cells. Scientists solved two problems at once. On the one hand – the new way does not violate ethical standards, with another – now from any cells of DNA of the person it is possible to grow up any body which at change will not be torn away by an organism.
Management of an artificial limb of brain signals
In 2009 the scientist Pierpaolo Petruziyello became the first person in the world which by means of power of thought could operate a biomechanical hand. The hand was connected to nerves of a stump of the scientist a wire and electrodes.
Detection of exoplanets
In 2008 the astronomers of the Habl telescope declared opening of the exoplanets rotating around far stars. At distance from 25 to 150 light years from Earth there can be planets on which there is life.
The most ancient ancestors of mankind
In 2009 the skeleton age about 4.4 million years was found in Ethiopia. As scientists assume - it is the ancient ancestor of the person, he went on two legs, but at the same time well climbed trees. Analyzing skeleton teeth, scientists drew a conclusion that the ancestor of the person ate various food.