Contents:
- How can the universe be “endless”?
- When will teleportation be possible?
- Why does time feel slower when we are kids?
- Can you 3D print a human?
- Can we control light with our minds?
- If we freeze a human, can we bring them back to life?
- How can you become invisible?
- What is the science behind déjà vu?
- Can mammoths and dinosaurs come back into existence?
- Why are snowflakes symmetrical?
How can the universe be “endless”?
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According to the infinite divisibility theory, there is an infinite number of layers in the universe: atoms make up stars and planets, which form into galaxies, which form the universe. Consequently, you can choose to study any of the layers, which is a little like traveling: you can visit every country in the world, but there will still be totally different regions within one country left to see. As a result, there will be an infinite number of places for a traveler to experience.
When will teleportation be possible?
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Unfortunately, it won’t happen in the near future because we are still to develop quantum teleportation technologies. Here is how it works in theory: let’s imagine we have bound particles that make up a whole. When they are moved in space, changes in one article lead to changes in the others. So if we were to move an object, we would first have to find a way to split it into atoms and then turn them into information transmitted in space. It’s even harder with people because we are yet to invent a way for transporting such a complex organism as the human body.
Why does time feel slower when we are kids?
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According to researchers, our perception of time depends on how vibrant our days are. A child will have a wealth of new experiences and discoveries within one day, which is why this day will feel endless. When we grow up, our days tend to become more or less the same, making us think that our life is flying by out of our control. But there is a way to slow down time: just do something new more often – for instance, travel to new places.
Can you 3D print a human?
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Bioprinting or 3D printing organs is a rapidly developing technology that in the future will make it possible to print a new organ to compensate for a damaged one. There are a few steps to this process: first, a digital model of the organ is made using MRI scanning and computer tomography. Then, layer by layer, the model is bioprinted. However, as the human organs are made up of tissues, which are in turn made up of a variety of cells, we need to develop a multijet 3D printing technology with different cell types for ink. Can we print the human brain with all of its functions? This question is still open.
Can we control light with our minds?
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So far, we can’t exactly do that with our minds, but there are various technologies with which we can control light. For instance, at ITMO’s Center for Usability and Mixed Reality, students are working on devices that will be able to change lighting conditions based on a person’s emotional state. This way, researchers can visualize our feelings.
If we freeze a human, can we bring them back to life?
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This idea was first tested on animals, namely, hamsters. After temporarily freezing their subjects, the researchers started thinking if there was a way to quickly revive them. A microwave oven prototype was used to revive the hamsters, which survived and continued their normal existence. When it comes to freezing humans, this is another question left yet to solve: we need to find out at what temperature and for how long to freeze a person in order for them to keep their brain activity, consciousness, and personality upon their revival.
How can you become invisible?
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We use the refraction index to describe the way light behaves in a substance. This index is always above zero in all natural substances. However, researchers hypothesize that it depends not only on a substance’s chemical compounds, but also on the way atoms are positioned there. That’s why they suggested that we can develop substances (metamaterials) with specially positioned atoms (metaatoms) – this would allow us to control a substance’s refraction index, making it invisible. To sum up, so far there is a developed theory for invisibility, but in order to achieve it, we will first have to hone the technologies for metamaterials’ development.
What is the science behind déjà vu?
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Why do we think we’ve already done something or been somewhere, but we can’t remember when? The feeling of déjà vu is still being actively studied, but there are a couple of theories for how it works. It can be that several electric pulses occur instead of one in a short amount of time, and our brain interprets it as though two different situations took place with a long period between them. Alternatively, déjà vu takes place because of similar memories. Say, you are walking down a street and it smells familiar. As your brain starts to piece the similarity between your past and present experiences, you get a feeling of déjà vu.
Can mammoths and dinosaurs come back into existence?
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This is highly unlikely because of a few unsolvable problems. First, DNA disintegrates over time, and it has been a long time since dinosaurs or even mammoths went extinct. Second, even if there was biological material left, it has to be enough for studying and cloning animals. Potentially, dinosaurs and mammoths can be bred artificially, however in this case we will not be able to confidently say that they will look like their prehistoric ancestors. The bones and remains found now allow the researchers only to suppose what their owners actually looked like and whether they were winged or furry.
Why are snowflakes symmetrical?
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Snowflakes are small water droplets. At the time of their crystallization, they are in identical ideal conditions in the air and they start to quickly grow along the six axes, turning into the symmetrical crystalline grating characteristic of water. As a snowflake falls to the ground, its surrounding conditions, such as temperature and pressure, change. This stretches or compresses it, resulting in a unique pattern along each of the axes. American scientist Kenneth G. Libbrecht spent many years studying the shapes and properties of these water crystals in his special laboratory, where he grows artificial snowflakes.
