2014年8月26日 星期二

working on submarine that would ‘fly’ in an ‘air bubble’ ;中國研發高超音速技術,旨在改變現代戰爭格局?

Seems unlikely to be able to do "Shanghai to San Francisco in 100 minutes," but it could still be way faster than today's fastest submarines.
The plan draws from a Cold War research on a technology called...
WASHINGTONPOST.COM



The Chinese are reportedly working on submarine that would ‘fly’ in an ‘air bubble’

 August 26 at 4:55 AM  
In the annals of vehicular locomotion, the submarine is the equivalent of the Walkman. It dazzled the masses when it hit, flexing nuclear-tipped missiles that completed the so-called “nuclear triad” of deterrence.
But other technologies soon surpassed it in terms of speed and agility. Now, years later, the submarine may be making a comeback — at least theoretically. Researchers at the Harbin Institute of Technology in northeast China tell the South China Morning Post that they’re hard at work on a submarine that the newspaper claims could travel the 6,100 miles from “Shanghai to San Francisco in 100 minutes.”
That’s not in the cards. But there’s plenty of reason to believe a submarine could be built that would significantly exceed the speed of today’s fastest models, which lumber along at a speed of 40 knots (about 46 mph.) It all has to do with friction and how to conquer it.
The reported plans for the super-fast Chinese submarine draw on research that reaches back to the Cold War on “supercavitation,” a technology that creates a friction-less air “bubble” around a vessel that allows it to “fly” underwater, facilitating incredible speeds. The Russians have developed torpedoes that travel faster than 230 mph using that approach.
Now researchers at Harbin’s Complex Flow and Heat Transfer Lab are reportedly figuring out how to use that science to build submarines.  “We are very excited by its potential,” lead researcher Li Fengchen, a professor of fluid machinery and engineering, told the South China Morning Post. “…Our method is different from any other approach, such as vector propulsion,” which involves engine thrust. Rather, he would lubricate the vessel in a special liquid that would reduce water friction until the vessel would reach speeds high enough to enable “supercavitation.”
How could a vessel reach such high speeds in the first place? And how would it be steered? Li says the liquid membrane would navigate the vessel. “By combining liquid-membrane technology with supercavitation, we can significantly reduce the launch challenges and make cruising easier,” he told the Chinese publication.
Increasing or decreasing the liquid membrane would manipulate friction to steer the ship. The specifics of the research are being kept under wraps for now, South China Morning Post reporter Stephen Chen told the Washington Post.
“These studies in China do not go to academic papers, but the technology is being tested in the laboratory,” he wrote in an e-mail. “The scientists have received pressure from authorities due to the sensitivity of the research and they hope the matter can cool down a bit.”
The potential of supercavitation has not gone unnoticed by the U.S. Navy. “Some technologies innovations have so significant an impact on our way of doing business that they are often described as ‘disruptive technologies,’ with the potential to change the future,” said a 2002 paper published in Undersea Warfare, the official publication of the submarine force. One of them, it said, was “‘supercavitation’ techniques.”
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency was once reported to be doing much the same, and Popular Science says the project would have allowed the “delivery of men and material faster than ever.” That’s exactly the end game for the Chinese research team: civilian transportation — or even swimming.


新聞報導

中國研發高超音速技術,旨在改變現代戰爭格局?
中國最近試射高超音速飛行器的行動雖然失敗,但仍然引起了國際社會的廣泛關注。因為這是一種能夠改變全球軍事力量平衡的關鍵技術。如果中國成功,美國現有的導彈攔截系統將如同廢鐵。
Überschallflugzeug Falcon HTV-2
美國Falcon HTV-2高超音速飛行器(資料圖片)
(德國之聲中文網)香港《南華早報》本週五(8月22日)援引兩名與中國軍方有緊密關係的消息人士報導稱,中國人民解放軍第二次高超音速飛行器試驗失敗。
該報導透露,中國正在尋找用極高的速度躲避導彈防禦系統並發射核武器的方法。最新的一次發射試驗是於8月7日在距離中國山西省省會太原市大約300公里左右的某導彈和衛星發射中心進行的。消息人士向《南華早報》透露,高超音速飛行器發射不久後解體。該報曾向位於北京的國防部詢問此事,​​但未收到任何回复。據報導,美國五角大樓將此中國產飛行器賦予WU-14的編號。《華盛頓自由燈塔網》也曾於本週二援引一位不願意透露姓名的美國政府官員報導了中國最新試射高超音速飛行器的消息。
"用導彈打子彈"
美國華盛頓《防務新聞》周刊亞洲部負責人顏文德(Minnick Wendell)指出,高超音速飛行器史無前例,它基本上是一個能夠在極高高度,以高超音速飛行的航天器。這種航天器能夠被用作轟炸、偵查、甚至在必要的時候打擊空間目標。
更重要的是,高超音速飛行器能夠在亞軌道空間飛行,再以最高10倍於音速的速度飛向目標,時速可超過每小時12000公里。對於世界第一軍事大國美國的導彈防禦系統來說,以這種速度飛行的飛行器是無法攔截的。顏文德表示:"就好比用導彈打一顆子彈,它的速度太快了,我們根本無法將其擊落。這就是可怕的事實。"
非一日之寒
常年關注中國軍力發展的顏文德向德國之聲表示,進行此類高超音速飛行器的發射試驗,不是短時間內能夠完成的事情。這說明,中國已經於至少10年前就投入大量精力研發高超音速飛行器技術。中國也正在研發一種自帶噴氣裝置的彈頭,能夠在目標區域內隨機改變航向,躲避例如來自愛國者-3型攔截系統的點對點攻擊。
《南華早報》報導稱,美國是除中國以外世界上唯一一個擁有高超音速技術的國家。 中國首次於2014年1月成功試射了一個高超音速飛行器。同時,俄羅斯和印度也正在研發相關技術。顏文德認為,中國目前看來正在不惜一切代價開發超高速飛行器。
Überschallflugzeug Falcon HTV-2
顏文德(Minnick Wendell):“高超音速飛行器將改變現代戰爭格局”
進攻型武器國防需要?
中國中央政府的衛星技術專家王旭東(音)向《南華早報》表態稱,開發這樣的系統是中國國防需要。王指出:中國有必要加速開發導彈發射能力,因為中國人民解放軍的武器系統比美國的防禦系統要弱,而且美國的防禦系統已經部署在世界各地。這意味著,按照當前的技術水平,中國必須從本土發射導彈,而且很容易被防禦系統攔截。而美國在各地都擁有軍事基地,可以定期的用智能手段檢測解放軍的軍事發展狀況。
王旭東坦言:"在軍事衝突中,解放軍發射的所有導彈都會在進入大氣層之前被美軍防禦系統攔截。"台北的中國高等政策研究會秘書長丁樹範(音)向《南華早報》表示,如果北京方面能夠成功的研發高超音速飛行器,美國現有的導彈防禦系統就可能會過時。屆時WU-14就會成為中國的全球打擊武器,並帶來巨大威脅,而且 可以直接向美國發起挑戰。
一位未透露身份的高超音速技術專家今年一月曾向《南華早報》表示,中國已經有超過100個來自研究機構和大學的團隊參與相關項目的研發。在顏文德看來,中國正是能用這樣的方法在經濟上"拖垮"美國。因為美國國防開支嚴重不足,所以華盛頓方面希望保持現狀,最不希望看到的就是像中國這樣的國家投身於全球軍備競賽。
作者:任琛
責編:李魚

中國要軟件趕美.....China plans to oust Microsoft, Apple and Android with own software

  • 朋友,擦亮眼:20年前他們說要有自己的CPU。最近強國不斷放話:他們要在軍事高科技上突破.......
     ·  · 
  • The team from the Chinese Academy of Engineering aims to displace Windows XP in one to two years from China’s desktop computers and Android from mobile devices in three to five years (via Guardian Technology)
China plans to oust Microsoft, Apple and Android with own software
The Chinese Academy of Engineering software will replace rival programmes created in the west
china Google
Microsoft, Google and Apple targeted as China aims to displace western rivals with own operating system. Photograph: Jason Lee/Reuters
China is planning its own desktop and mobile software to oust imported rivals from Microsoft, Apple and Google.
The unnamed desktop version is due for release in October with its own app store, independent of western companies, with a version for smartphones and tablets due in three to five years.
Chinese authorities hope to displace Google’s Android software, and the many modified open-source versions of Android, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported via the state-run People’s Post.
Computer technology became an area of mutual suspicion between China and the US after the NSA revelations and a number of cyber security rows, including allegations of state-sponsored hacking and the creation of espionage backdoors in both hardware and software.
China banned Microsoft’s Windows 8 from government computers in May with the majority of computers still running Windows XP, according to the Chinese newspaper, which is no longer supported by Microsoft.
Microsoft also faces a monopoly investigation in China related to Windows and Office.

Levelling up

Ni Guangnan from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who has been developing the software since March, said that effort was designed to bring China’s software up to par with the country’s technology hardware from companies like Huawei, which powers a significant number of mobile networks through its infrastructure business.
“Creating an environment that allows us to contend with Google, Apple and Microsoft – that is the key to success,” Guangnan said.
The new Chinese software will see an alliance of over 13 software companies with 80 research units bound together through standardisation to create the new desktop and mobile ecosystem complete with local app stores.
Guangnan aims to displace Windows XP in one to two years from China’s desktop computers and Android from mobile devices in three to five years.
“At present, China’s mobile operating system developers include more than a dozen companies, but they can not be said to be based on independent intellectual property rights, using Android customisation,” Ni Guangnan said. “You must change the past approach, instead of copying the previous model integrate the resources accumulated in the past with a state-run unified operating system.”

Previous efforts

This is not the first time China has tried to create its own operating system (OS) software. The Chinese Academy of Sciences released a Linux-based OS in 2000 called Red Flag, with desktop, server and productivity software in use in schools and government.
The Linux-based China Operating System was later released in January by the Academy targeting mobile devices.
The National University of Defense Technology also developed “Kylin OS”, which was designed as high-security software for government. A consumer version based on Canonical’s Ubuntu Linux was released in April 2013.
It is unclear whether the new software from Chinese Academy of Engineering will be based on previous efforts, but will likely involve Linux.

老鼠體內長出人體胸腺----全球首見 動物體內 育出完整器官

http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/807807

全球首見 動物體內 育出完整器官

2014-08-26

人工培育細胞重新編程

〔國際新聞中心/綜合報導〕最新一期「自然細胞生物學」期刊刊登的研究成果指出,蘇格蘭科學家運用細胞重新編程技術,將人工培育的細胞與其他細胞混合,進而在老鼠體內培育出完整的人體器官。這是全球首見學界在活體動物體內培育出功能與結構完整的器官,為邁向免除器官移植必要性的重要一步,十年內可望有成,安全且有效地運用在人類身上。
  • 胸腺位於心臟附近,負責生產在免疫系統中扮演主要角色的「T細胞」,其作用是專門對付感染。 (取自BBC網站)
    胸腺位於心臟附近,負責生產在免疫系統中扮演主要角色的「T細胞」,其作用是專門對付感染。 (取自BBC網站)

老鼠體內長出人體胸腺

英國愛丁堡大學布萊克本團隊不用一般製造「白板」(blank slate)幹細胞的步驟,而是從老鼠胚胎中取出結締組織(connective tissue)的纖維細胞,透過啟動細胞的「開關」,將纖維細胞直接轉化成完全不同的細胞株,進而製造出所謂的「胸腺上皮細胞」(TECs)。接著團隊將胸腺上皮細胞與其他種「胸腺」(Thymus)細胞相混合,再移植到老鼠體內,在那裡,這些混合細胞自發性地自我組織,四週之後,長成結構完整的器官。
胸腺位於心臟附近,作用就像免疫系統中樞,對抵禦感染至關重要。如果把免疫系統比做軍隊,胸腺的作用就像是作戰基地,而系統內的T細胞,就像是裝備好武器的士兵,準備抵禦外來入侵者。胸腺有缺陷的患者缺乏可運作的T細胞,因此對感染極度缺乏抵抗力,而骨髓移植患者的胸腺若有缺陷會特別危險,因為他們接受移植後,需要可作用的胸腺來重建免疫系統。

免除器官移植重要發展

一般而言,若胸腺有病變,可透過注入免疫細胞或出生後立即移植新器官來治療;但由於捐贈者缺乏,加上組織排斥等問題,這兩種方法都極為受限。愛丁堡團隊的新研究,就是想透過技術製造出替代器官,提供給免疫系統不佳的患者,最終目標則是製造出更複雜的器官來供移植。
科學家也曾在實驗室製造過小塊的心、肝,甚至大腦等器官,雖然那些器官都是以幹細胞培育,但其大小與功能的複雜性都非常有限,且無一成功地運用體外製造的細胞,來培育出完整器官。愛丁堡的研究是首度在活體動物體內製造出功能與結構完整的器官,對於人體運用邁出重要一步。

2014年8月25日 星期一

中國 高分辨率衛星

中國衛星發現本國最大毒品種植地?

官媒稱,中國最大毒品種植區被該國高分辨率衛星發現
Cannabispflanze in den USA
(德國之聲中文網)據中國官媒週一(8月25日)報導,該國一顆衛星發現了中國國內最大面積的 大麻種植區,以及數十個非法越境通道。
Uruguay Marihuana Legalisierung
最大面積大麻種植區?
中新社報導說,在吉林和內蒙發現了自1949年中共建政以來所曾發現的最大面積大麻種植區。
覆蓋全國的這一衛星監視還發現了數十個非法越境通道,其中包括位於華北的中朝邊境沿線和位於西部的 邊境沿線。
新疆與巴基斯坦、阿富汗以及多個前蘇聯中亞加盟共和國毗鄰。當地多年來頻繁發生騷亂。
報導沒有提供有關種植場的規模細節以及主管機構是否對此做出反應。
根據中國國家航天局網站21日提供的消息,相關衛星為“高分一號”,公安部利用了該衛星數據進行調查。報導稱,“高分一號”衛星還在福建發現了海上大型走私油庫等。
“有出入”
不過,8月25日下午,中國公安部禁毒局相關人員接受采訪時否認了上述信息,並稱“具體情況正在核查中,正在尋找信息來源”。而信息發布方,國家航天局新聞處負責人則飚示,“信息有出入”,而當日上午還在其官網高掛的該文章在下午已經被刪除。內蒙古公安廳禁毒禁吸支隊副主任聶磊直接否認在該自治區境內曾發現有如此大面積大麻種植。
中新社的報導中也沒有說明所發現的非法越境通道具體位於何處。
Symbolbild Drogen Droge Line Linie
北京政府稱,新疆地區穆斯林分離主義分子從巴基斯坦和阿富汗等鄰國的武裝分子那裡得到訓練和鼓動。
除大麻種植區外,衛星還在黑龍江、河北以及內蒙發現了多處罌粟種植區。
報導稱,這些發現為公安部提供了重要信息。
一般認為,高分辨率衛星有助於 增強中國軍隊的作戰能力,其中包括反制美軍隱形武器。根據美國《科學與全球安全研究》雜誌 ​​(Science & Global Security)提供的信息,衛星分辨率為30米,可辨識港口、基地、橋樑、公路及艦船;分辨率達到3—7米,能確認雷達、小股部隊、導彈發射裝置、坦克等目標;分辨率達到3米以內,能找出小型軍用車輛和單兵;5厘米分辨率的衛星則“足以看清士兵所持槍支的型號”。
作為中國高分辨率對地觀測系統的首發衛星,“高分一號”去年4月升空進入軌道工作,傳回衛星圖片。該衛星分辨率為2米,設計壽命5至8年,每4天可將中國全境“拍一次”。
本月19日,“高分二號”人造衛星被送入軌道,該衛星設計分辨率增加一倍,精確至1米。
據路透社稿編譯:凝煉
責編:李魚

2014年8月24日 星期日

Blood (BBC The Forum)



It's all in the blood… In The Forum this week, writer Lawrence Hill argues that blood is central to our identity. Forensic scientist Dr Gillian Leak explains how blood patterns at violent crime scenes can catch killers. And haematologist - or blood scientist - Professor Kikkeri Naresh, tells us about the latest advances in treating cancers of the blood. What else can this life-giving red liquid reveal?http://bbc.in/1wgIytD

Blood

Duration: 
45 minutes
First broadcast:
 
Saturday 23 August 2014
What do you see in a phial of blood? A life sustaining fluid teeming with millions of cells? Evidence to solve a terrible crime? Samira Ahmed explores blood in medicine, at crime scenes, and in our bodies and minds, with the help of Canadian writer Lawrence Hill who’s written a biography of the red stuff, Dr Gillian Leak, a forensic expert in crime scene blood pattern analysis, and Professor Kikkeri Naresh seeking to unlock the mysteries of blood cancer. 

Clip

Chapters

4 items
  • Lawrence Hill

    Lawrence Hill: photo courtesy of Lawrence Hill (mail@lawrencehill.com)
    Lawrence Hill is an award winning Canadian writer who has recently written a book called Blood: A Biography of the Stuff of Life. It is a very personal series of observations and investigations following the flow of blood,  literally and figuratively, through science, art, politics, religion and literature.

    Photo courtesy of Lawrence Hill
  • Gillian Leak

    Gillian Leak: photo by BBC (Shan Pillay)
    Dr. Gillian Leak is a blood pattern analysis and crime scene expert. She is an internationally recognized specialist in the field of blood pattern analysis and was formerly the UK's Forensic Science Service National Scientific Lead for the discipline.
  • Kikkeri Naresh

    Kikkeri Naresh: photo by BBC (Shan Pillay).
    Professor Kikkeri Naresh has worked in the field of haematopathology for over 20 years, leading and training health professionals across three continents.  At the Hammersmith Hospital and Imperial College in London he focuses on diagnostics, translational research and training in blood pathology, and has a particular interest in cancers of the blood.
  • 60 second idea to improve the world

    60 second idea The Forum: Blood donor bags (photo by BBC).
    Gillian Leak wants to develop artificial blood for medical purposes that doesn't require refrigeration and has long term storage capabilities. This would mean that it could be shipped at a moment’s notice to any disaster in the world and would be incapable of transmitting any type of disease. Where appropriate, drugs could be added to the sample prior to infusion if necessary.


太陽系八大行星


824天文科學史上的今天
2006年歷史上的今天(8/24),國際天文協會(International Astronomical Union, IAU)拍板定案,將「冥王星」(Pluto)從太陽系的〔九大行星〕排名剔除,並歸類其為「矮行星」。
自此,太陽系只有八大行星(Planet)。
那年天文協會開會,贊成除名的一方如是說,並非對冥王星有成見,但它的確與其它行星格格不入。它質量小於月球的五分之一。其它行星的軌道約略在同一平面,冥王星卻是傾斜到17度以上,而且還與海王星軌道交叉。
反對除名者這樣辯護,「冥王星」(Pluto)的確是環繞著太陽恆星運轉,它本身既不是「恆星」,也不是「衛星」,為什麼不算它是行星呢?
同時訴諸感性地說道,行星分類本是人為。1930年湯博(Clyde Tombaugh)發現冥王星後,排名存在至今也有七十六年了,歷經這麼多年來,一直都說九大行星,如今非要把它除名是蠻傷感的,難道不能當作歷史的結果加以接受嗎?
要求除名的那方則是振振有辭力陳,假如要說接受歷史結果,那麼在哥白尼指出地球並非宇宙中心之前,太陽與月球還被當成行星咧!難道也要延續此分類嗎?觀念本就應該隨著科學的進展而調整。
所以,國際天文學協會(IAU)重新將行星定義如下:
除了環繞恆星運行、本身不會發光的球形天體之外,再加上『能清除附近軌道上的其它天體』。業已知道冥王星是庫伯帶(Kuiper belt)上的眾多天體之一,而它未能清除庫伯帶上鄰近的小天體。所以,冥王星不算是行星。
就這樣。
請參閱資料:
《科學人》- http://goo.gl/LngbIl
《Scientific American》- http://goo.gl/rf6UvQ
《IAU》- http://goo.gl/ncuu2x
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