On Earth and Beyond
While the world is enjoying the summer and actively discussing the vacation-intensive season, we decided to talk about the more unique goings-on of 2021. For example, you may be interested to find out that the future is gradually penetrating our daily lives through events such as Mars being explored as part of a colonization program and the production of the first flying car being launched back here on Earth. But first things first…
In the Cosmos…
Life on Mars
On February 18th, 2021, the long-awaited landing of the American spacecraft took place on the Red Planet. This important event was heavily covered by the media and even broadcasted live. The Perseverance rover is the fourth attempt to probe Mars for evidence of life. Previously, the rover Curiosity was sent to the 4th rock from the Sun in 2012, but the new device has superiority over its predecessor. It boasts 23 high-quality cameras, better equipment to analyze Martian soil, and the latest equipment to perform geological research with. Moreover, Perseverance has a detachable solar-powered drone, which will test the possibility of flying on the planet and calculate the best route for the rover.
The rover is planned to be in operation until 2031. It will descend into the Jezero crater to the north of the equator. According to scientists, there was once a lake there, in which life could have existed.
The main mission of this campaign is to search for evidence that life could have existed on Mars, with the accompanying return of samples to Earth in 10 years. However, the mission has another important task – to develop the latest technologies for the possible colonization of the Red Planet.Perhaps one of the most important tools of the new envoy to Mars is MOXIE, which was designed to test the possibility of converting carbon dioxide into oxygen so that it can be used to sustain human breathing and fuel rockets.
James Webb Space Telescope Launch
Many of us have heard of the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched into orbit in 1990. To this day, this miraculous instrument has been dependably helping scientists observe the Universe. But as we have already mentioned, the future is already here and ready to present humanity with new and amazing technologies. Thus, on October 31st, 2021, another messenger will go to space to replace the Hubble. Of course, James Webb Space Telescope will surpass and outshine the obsolete telescope in every single aspect. Even the simple fact that the collecting area of the James Webb is six times larger than the old telescope – 25 square meters versus four and a half – is simply astounding!
The new space telescope will allow scientists to see the very first generation of stars, formed just two hundred million years after the Big Bang! Moreover, in addition to the standard scientific research on the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars, the James Webb Space Telescope will provide scientists with a unique opportunity to search for unexplored planetary systems with the potential presence of life!
On Earth …
Launch of the first flying car
An important moment for all mankind has finally come. The successful project of the first flying car has been actualized and its production has already started! The Terrafugia TF-X is the first hybrid vehicle of its kind and features a swivel rotor and fully autonomous operation. This baby boasts artificial intelligence that can independently set a route to a given point, identify obstacles on the way, and bypass bad weather conditions. Manual control will also be available in the vehicle, but only for small corrections to the set route, such as to prevent an accident or other unforeseen situations. The Terrafugia TF-X is an electric car vehicle and its declared range is currently 800 kilometers for a full charge.
EU will cancel daylight saving time
Some countries already decided to take this step several years ago, but the European Union is still shifting around its time. Previously, this practice helped save energy as it reduced the costs for governments to maintain power grids and other costs for businesses. But in the 21st century, this format only introduces a negative impact and confusion in the commercial workflow. Therefore, at the beginning of 2021, the European Parliament approved a bill that proposes to cancel the change of clocks to daylight saving time. The adopted document states that the countries that intend to stay in daylight saving time last changed their clocks in March 2021, and those still in winter time will change their clocks in October of the same year to match everyone else. Thus, when the daylight saving time cancelation is complete, all countries on the European continent will have a single time standard and there will be no more confusion.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
The opening of a huge museum in Egypt was postponed for a year for objective reasons. However, the grandiose project worth about $1 billion is already waiting for its day to shine. The facility is located two kilometers from the Giza pyramids, on a plot of land that covers about 480 thousand square meters. The museum will display artifacts from Ancient Egypt, including a complete collection of items from the tomb of Tutankhamen, which currently number over five thousand items. Also, the museum will combine the majority of all the archaeological finds that were unearthed in the country. It can be safely said that many of the ancient artifacts will be seen by the public for the first time.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is very important both for the tourism industry and for the cultural heritage of Egypt. According to estimates, it will become the largest archaeological museum in the world! The GEM is expected to open its doors to visitors in the second half of 2021.
Costa Rica will become the first fully carbon-neutral country
There’s some great news for those who are not indifferent to the planet’s ecological situation – it is illegal to produce greenhouse gases in the country of Costa Rica! Thus, Costa Rica will become the first country in the world to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions from transport, energy production, industrial manufacturing, and agriculture through the competent processing of waste and the introduction of alternative energy sources. All this will at least one step bring humanity closer to preserving the climate and ecology on our green planet. In addition, Costa Rica has banned the manufacture of disposable plastic products in 2021, which, coupled with carbon neutrality, will make this place one of the cleanest in the world!