Science-2018: first results
The Ten most important scientific events of 2018
Vladimir Guillen, Naked Science
Every year, scientists around the world make scientific breakthroughs that can improve life on Earth and change our perception of reality. Every event of this kind once again reminds us of what incredible things the human mind is capable of.
Breakthrough No. 1. Reversal of aging in mice
In a study published in March 2018 in the journal Cell, a team of Boston researchers led by Dr. David Sinclair announced the discovery of a way to reverse aging in mice. Aging in mammals is associated with the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) molecule, which is necessary for survival. Over time, NAD levels naturally drop, which leads to age-related diseases. When Sinclair discovered the possibility of increasing NAD levels with a dietary supplement in elderly mice, the cells were rejuvenated – and the overall health of the subjects improved.Ideally, Sinclair and his team hope to conduct the same experiment on humans. If the results match, scientists will be able to develop a dietary supplement that can slow down aging and reduce the likelihood of developing age–related diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Breakthrough No. 2. Changing gene expression after being in space
Also in March 2018, NASA announced an amazing discovery during its gemini program. As it turned out, time spent in space can actually change the expression of some genes. Upon returning from space, Scott Kelly's DNA underwent some changes. NASA sent Scott Kelly into space, and his twin brother Mark Kelly was left on Earth. When Scott returned, scientists carefully studied his physiology. Scott's results were compared with Mark's: for example, some changes in the expression of Scott's genes were detected. And although changes in gene expression during spaceflight are not uncommon, scientists believe that about seven percent of the changes are permanent. It is believed that the changes occur due to a combination of lack of oxygen, increased inflammation and changes in the nutrients received.
Breakthrough No. 3. Laboratory creation of a sheep and human chimera for growing human organs
On February 17th, scientists announced the creation of sheep embryos, which are 0.01% human, if we talk about the number of cells. This was the second successful creation of a human-animal hybrid: in 2017, embryos were obtained from pig and human cells. The embryos did not develop after 28 days. Scientists hope that growing human-animal hybrids will help develop a method for growing human organs in the laboratory.
Breakthrough No. 4. Determination of the source of high-energy neutrinos
On the twelfth of July, scientists published a study describing how they managed to find out the exact source of the neutrino, or "ghost particle". Neutrinos are subatomic, almost massless particles with no charge. They are no bigger than an electron and can travel through the universe in a straight trajectory without crashing into anything or interacting with other particles. In other words, they are difficult to register.
In September 2017, astronomers from the IceCube Observatory at the South Pole were able to register high-energy neutrinos and determine their origin. It turned out that they were emitted by the TXS 0506 +056 blazar 3.7 billion light-years from Earth, in the direction of the constellation Orion.
Scientists believe that the particles will help solve many mysteries of the cosmos. The ability of a particle to travel through space simplifies the task of understanding phenomena occurring billions of light-years from Earth. Neutrinos can also help scientists uncover the secrets of the universe's past – for example, why there was more matter after the Big Bang than antimatter. Some believe that this may even turn fundamental ideas about physics upside down.
Breakthrough No. 5. DNA nanobot capable of killing cancer cells
In February 2018, scientists announced a major breakthrough in the development of nanobots for tracking down and destroying cancer cells. During tests on mice injected with human cancer cells, robots were able to find the cells and cut them off from the blood source, as a result of which they dried up and died. No harm was done to other cells and parts of the body.
In essence, the treatment completely stopped the growth of the tumor. Scientists hope that nanobots will eventually help in the treatment of cancer patients.
Breakthrough No. 6. Detection of liquid water on Mars
Scientists have been trying for decades to find signs of liquid water on Mars. Despite the fact that the topography of the Red Planet and underground ice deposits hint at an aquatic past, scientists were unable to detect traces of liquid water until July 2018.
On July twenty–fifth, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) announced that researchers using the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding Instrument (MARSIS) found an underground lake on Mars - about 20 kilometers wide, at a depth of one and a half kilometers.
Breakthrough No. 7. Successful cloning of monkeys in China
While sheep, pigs, mice, cats, dogs and cows have been successfully cloned in the past, cloning primates has historically presented a serious challenge for scientists. On January twenty-fourth, 2018, the Shanghai Institute of Neuroscience announced the successful cloning of two monkeys named Hua Hua and Zhongzhong.
Scientists have applied the method by which the world-famous Dolly the sheep was cloned. They hope to use monkey clones to study human diseases.
Breakthrough No. 8. The oldest rock art
This September, researchers reported the discovery of the oldest drawing created by Homo sapiens. Archaeologists have found a stone scale with nine red lines in a cave in South Africa. They came to the conclusion that this object is about 73 thousand years old, that is, it is 30 thousand years older than all the drawings found earlier. Archaeologists believe that this image will help to learn about how people used symbols that eventually led to the formation of language and even civilization.
The drawing was found in the Blombos cave, 300 kilometers east of Cape Town. Scientists have also found teeth, spear tips, shell beads and tools made from bones. They are not quite sure what the painted lines were intended for, but they are sure that they were applied intentionally.
Breakthrough No. 9. Successful landing of the InSight module on Mars
InSight went to the Red Planet on May 5, 2018 from Vanderberg Air Force Base in California. The launch of this module was the first interplanetary mission launched from the West Coast of the United States. InSight took off on an Atlas V rocket together with MarCO-A and MarCO-B cubesats, which accompanied the module for the next 6.5 months.On November twenty-sixth, the probe landed on the Martian surface. This was the first successful landing on Mars since August 2012, when the Curiosity rover arrived on the Red Planet.For the next two Earth years, InSight will probe the surface and bowels of the Red Planet. To do this, the module uses two main scientific instruments: a thermal probe that will plunge five meters into the Martian crust, and a set of three incredibly accurate seismometers that will track "marsquakes", meteorite falls and other phenomena.
Breakthrough No. 10. Voyager 2 enters interstellar space
The Voyager 2 spacecraft, which began its mission back in 1977, has been exploring the Solar System for four decades. He became the only probe that studied Neptune and Uranus during planetary flights. At the end of its planetary mission, the spacecraft flew to the edge of the Solar System. On December tenth, NASA announced that on November 5, Voyager 2 entered interstellar space, becoming the second device created by humans and left the Solar System. The first interstellar traveler was the Voyager-1 spacecraft, which left the heliosphere in August 2012.
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