This year, scientists for the first time successfully detected gravitational waves with mind-bogglingly long wavelengths. It is highly likely that these gravitational waves were created after black holes orbiting each other collided and merged, as shown in the illustration. (ILLUSTRATION BY MARK GARLICK, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)
It’s been another great year for science. The latest results of human scientific research are all interesting and pose new mysteries for us. Introducing the most fascinating discoveries of 2023, selected by National Geographic.
1. Detecting giant ripples traveling through space and time
For the first time, astronomers have detected gravitational waves with mind-bogglingly long wavelengths. These “cosmic ripples” are likely distant echoes of supermassive black holes interacting and merging billions of light-years away. Researchers discovered the giant ripples by detecting subtle time changes in radio signals from pulsars (neutron stars that rotate at high speed and emit pulses of radio waves).
This discovery suggests that there were far more supermassive black holes in the early universe than previously thought. Continuing research on new types of gravitational waves is expected to help elucidate the origin of the universe in detail and better explain the invisible matter and forces that control the universe. (Reference article: “Extraordinary gravitational waves detected, wavelength ranging from several light years to several tens of light years, first evidence”)
2. A device that translates the thoughts of the brain, a hope for people who have lost their words
A research team at the University of Texas at Austin uses a new system that uses AI to create sentences by “translating” human brain activity.Achievementslisted. The device, called a “semantic decoder,” uses functional MRI scans to extract brain activity in response to things like podcasts and images. Rather than translating thoughts sequentially, the system creates a dictionary of brain activity patterns in response to specific words or images, and uses this dictionary to match brain activity to what the person is thinking.
The technology, which relies on AI language-generating algorithms, is currently in its infancy, but it’s already raising difficult questions about inner privacy and ethics in non-intentional situations. But for families of people with communication disabilities, the research could offer new hope.
3. Is an ancient whale the largest animal in history?
New fossils of an ancient whale that lived on the coast of what is now Peru more than 37 million years agoanalyzeThe investigation revealed that it may have been 17 to 20 meters long and weighed more than 300 tons. If scientists’ estimates are correct, it would be the largest animal ever known on Earth. Although the blue whale has a long body length of about 30 meters, it only weighs around 200 tons. (Reference article: “Is it heavier than the largest animal, the blue whale? New species of ancient whale discovered”)
Gallery: 11 surprising scientific discoveries of 2023 – 7 photos and images (click on photo to go to gallery)
Was the ancient whale “Percetus colossus” discovered in southern Peru the largest animal ever? (PHOTOGRAPH BY GIOVANNI BIANUCCI)
Next page: Tyrannosaurus had lips
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