人类迁居太空面临哪些问题

早在20世纪初,俄罗斯著名科学家、现代航天学和火箭理论的奠基人康斯坦丁·齐奥尔科夫斯基（1857—1935）就认为,未来人类迁移到地球之外居住是必要也是可能的。他的根据是：随着世界人口的日益增加,将导致地球上缺乏足够的空间和资源,人们将不得不考虑在其他星球寻找新的居住地。但是自20世纪中期人类首次进入太空以来,在探索宇宙方面并没有多大进展。     

寻找新地球

大家都知道,宇宙中只存在一个地球,但是不久的将来,可能会出现另一个新地球,接着又出现一个。 人类用了数千年的时间来研究地球,又用了几个世纪去探索与地球相邻的行星,宇宙视野一直在拓展。至今为止,天文学家已经确定的围绕除太阳以外的其他恒星旋转的行星已经有370多颗。     

Potential of cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy for the detection of prokaryotic cells on minerals

Detecting mineral-hosted ecosystems to assess the extent and functioning of the biosphere from the surface to deep Earth requires appropriate techniques that provide, beyond the morphological criteria, indubitable clues of the presence of prokaryotic cells. Here, we evaluate the capability of cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy, implemented on a scanning electron microscope, to identify prokaryotes on mineral surfaces. For this purpose, we used, as a first step, a simple model of either unstained or stained cultivable cells (Escherichia coli, Deinococcus radiodurans) deposited on minerals that are common in the oceanic crust (basaltic glass, amphibole, pyroxene, and magnetite). Our results demonstrate that the detection of cells is possible at the micrometric level on the investigated minerals through the intrinsic fluorescence of their constituting macromolecules (aromatic amino and nucleic acids, coenzymes). This allows us to distinguish biomorph inorganic phases from cells. This easily implemented technique permits an exploration of colonized rock samples. In addition, the range of spectrometric techniques available on a scanning electron microscope can provide additional information on the nature and chemistry of the associated mineral phases, which would lead to a simultaneous characterization of cells, their microhabitats, and a better understanding of their potential relationships.     

洁齿

在一个世纪以前及更早的时候,要想在自然环境下拍摄到野生动物,简直无法想象的困难。1906年,美国《国家地理》杂志首次刊登了74张夜行动物的照片,之后,就开始不断展现野生动物摄影突破性的成就。这张1966年摄于锡兰     

苏联早期的“警棍”和“凉鞋”“短剑”导弹

赫鲁晓夫唬住了美国人1960年1月14日,赫鲁晓夫在苏联最高苏维埃会议上以《为了永久和平与友谊而裁军》为题发表演说,首次形成了国家核军事理论。该理论认定弹道导弹应在军事战略中占据中心位置,并应成为欧洲战争及有超级大国参加的战斗中的决定因素。赫鲁晓夫认为,新的战争将从使用核武器的大规模突袭开始。     

Establishment of a rearing system of the extremotolerant tardigrade Ramazzottius varieornatus: a new model animal for astrobiology

Studies on the ability of multicellular organisms to tolerate specific environmental extremes are relatively rare compared to those of unicellular microorganisms in extreme environments. Tardigrades are extremotolerant animals that can enter an ametabolic dry state called anhydrobiosis and have high tolerance to a variety of extreme environmental conditions, particularly while in anhydrobiosis. Although tardigrades have been expected to be a potential model animal for astrobiological studies due to their excellent anhydrobiotic and extremotolerant abilities, few studies of tolerance with cultured tardigrades have been reported, possibly due to the absence of a model species that can be easily maintained under rearing conditions. We report the successful rearing of the herbivorous tardigrade, Ramazzottius varieornatus, by supplying the green alga Chlorella vulgaris as food. The life span was 35 +/- 16.4 d, deposited eggs required 5.7 +/- 1.1 d to hatch, and animals began to deposit eggs 9 d after hatching. The reared individuals of this species had an anhydrobiotic capacity throughout their life cycle in egg, juvenile, and adult stages. Furthermore, the reared adults in an anhydrobiotic state were tolerant of temperatures of 90 degrees C and -196 degrees C, and exposure to 99.8% acetonitrile or irradiation with 4000 Gy (4)He ions. Based on their life history traits and tolerance to extreme stresses, R. varieornatus may be a suitable model for astrobiological studies of multicellular organisms.     

Control of Lunar and Martian dust--experimental insights from artificial and natural cyanobacterial and algal crusts in the desert of Inner Mongolia, China

Studies on the colonization of environmentally extreme ground surfaces were conducted in a Mars-like desert area of Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, with microalgae and cyanobacteria. We collected and mass-cultured cyanobacterial strains from these regions and investigated their ability to form desert crusts artificially. These crusts had the capacity to resist sand wind erosion after just 15 days of growth. Similar to the surface of some Chinese deserts, the surface of Mars is characterized by a layer of fine dust, which will challenge future human exploration activities, particularly in confined spaces that will include greenhouses and habitats. We discuss the use of such crusts for the local control of desert sands in enclosed spaces on Mars. These experiments suggest innovative new directions in the applied use of microbe-mineral interactions to advance the human exploration and settlement of space.     

新型除氧喷嘴的雾化性能

对新型撞击式除氧喷嘴产生的雾滴尺寸、分布与喷嘴几何参数及工作压力的关系进行了研究。测量使用激光大粒径测量仪,其实时测量范围为75～3000μm。该喷嘴在工作压力为0.1～0.6MPa 时产生,雾滴的索太尔平均粒径小于900μm,粒径随供水压力增加而减小。应进一步研究这种喷嘴的几何参数,特别是射流孔口直径及孔口至撞击杆的距离对雾化的影响,以提高它的雾化性能。     

未来十年发动机市场展望

据《国际展望》预测,未来10年中,航空涡轮发动机受到全球航空市场的拉动,持续强势,在2009年有望突破11000台,并将在2013年出现缓慢衰退前一直保持增长的态势。     

四川烹饪:火辣辣的口味火辣辣的性情

"西餐很乏味,没味没趣,"在成都最好的川菜馆之一蜀风园,侯伟一边吃着清蒸牛蛙一边说:"小孩子倒是喜欢吃西餐,但四川人很挑剔,如果味道不好,我们不会吃."