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The past decade has been full of incredible scientific breakthroughs. From the discovery of water on Mars to advancements in memory manipulation, and even the enigmatic phenomenon of “dark matter,” these achievements show that if the coming years mirror the last, we are truly on the cusp of an exciting era in science.
10. Reprogramming Stem Cells
Stem cells are fascinating. They are just like any other cell in your body, except they have the unique capability to transform into any type of cell they choose at will. This means, for instance, they could turn into a red blood cell if your body needs one, or a white blood cell, muscle cell, nerve cell, and so on... you get the picture. Anything.
While this ability is impressive, we've known about stem cells since 1981. What we didn’t discover until 2006, however, is that virtually any cell in your body can be reprogrammed into a stem cell. The process is surprisingly simple. Shinya Yamanaka was the first to accomplish this feat by inserting four specific genes into a skin cell. In just two to three weeks, that skin cell was transformed into a stem cell capable of becoming any other type of cell in our bodies. This discovery has revolutionized regenerative medicine, as it provides a single source of cells that can be used to repair damage caused by diseases.
9. The Discovery of the Largest Black Hole
In 2009, a group of astronomers set out to measure the mass of a newly discovered black hole, named S5 0014+81. They had no idea that it would turn out to be over 10,000 times more massive than the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, making it by far the largest black hole known to humanity.
This colossal black hole weighs in at around 40 billion solar masses—imagine multiplying the mass of our sun by 40,000,000,000, and you get a rough estimate of the mass of this single black hole. Even more astonishing is that it formed relatively early in the universe's history, just 1.6 billion years after the Big Bang. This suggests that black holes of such massive size can grow at an incredibly rapid rate.
8. The Manipulation of Memory
This could easily be mistaken for something straight out of Inception. In 2014, scientists Steve Ramirez and Xu Liu successfully turned negative memories in mice into positive ones, and vice versa. By implanting light-sensitive proteins into the mice and shining light into their eyes, they triggered the transformation.
As a result, the mice began to fondly remember the negative events they had experienced, while positive memories were viewed as negative. This breakthrough holds great potential for treating individuals suffering from PTSD or severe grief from the loss of a loved one. It could become an incredibly important discovery in the near future.
7. A Brain-like Computer Chip
What was once believed to be impossible just a few years ago, IBM achieved in 2014 by releasing a computer chip that mimics the functioning of the human brain. With 5.4 billion transistors and consuming 10,000 times less power than traditional computer chips, SyNAPSE operates by simulating the synapses in your brain—specifically, 256 million of them. These can be programmed for any task, making SyNAPSE highly useful in supercomputers and distributed sensor systems.
SyNAPSE's performance is not limited by the constraints of traditional computer designs. Its unique, event-driven architecture means it only activates when needed, conserving power and reducing heat. This groundbreaking technology could drastically reshape the computing landscape in the coming years.
6. A Step Toward Global Robot Domination
In 2014 (a year filled with remarkable events), 1,024 “kilobots” were tasked with arranging themselves into the shape of a star. Without any additional guidance, they collaborated and successfully formed a perfect star. They were slow, clumsy, and bumped into each other a few times, but they ultimately completed the task on their own. If one got stuck or confused, it would communicate with its neighbors, who would help it get back on track.
So, what practical uses could this have beyond a Skynet-like scenario? Tiny robots injected into the bloodstream could assemble into swarms to combat disease. Larger ones could be deployed for search and rescue missions, and even bigger ones might be able to form entire buildings. Sure, they could potentially form armies and turn against us in a summer action blockbuster, but let's stay optimistic, shall we?
5. Confirmation of Dark Matter's Existence
Dark matter is an elusive form of matter that helps explain many perplexing astronomical phenomena. Here's an example: Imagine a galaxy with the mass of a thousand planets. When we calculate the total mass of these planets and compare it to the way the galaxy and its planets move, the numbers don’t match up. The movements suggest there is far more matter than we can observe, which is why it's called “dark matter.”
In 2009, multiple US laboratories revealed they had detected dark matter on sensors deep inside an iron ore mine located half a mile underground. Two particles were found that showed all the expected characteristics of dark matter. While further verification is ongoing, the initial readings strongly suggest these particles are indeed dark matter. This could be one of the most groundbreaking discoveries in physics in the last century.
4. Could There Be Life on Mars?
Possibly. In 2015, NASA published images that revealed long, dark streaks on Mars' surface, which appear and vanish with the changing seasons. This offers solid proof that liquid water exists on Mars today. While we’ve known that water existed on Mars in the past, discovering that it’s still there now is a game changer. It brings us closer to answering the age-old question of “Life on Mars?” because liquid water is generally associated with the potential for life.
The presence of water would also be crucial for future manned missions to Mars, expected around 2024. Astronauts could reduce the amount of resources they need by utilizing the water available on the Martian surface, making the journey more feasible.
3. Trappist-1
TRAPPIST-1 refers to a star system situated about 39 light-years away from our solar system. What makes it stand out? Well, for one, it has a star that’s only 12 times less massive than our sun. It also has at least seven planets orbiting it, three of which are in the habitable zone where conditions might possibly support life.
This is a monumental discovery. At just 39 light-years away, it’s relatively close, and the fact that three Earth-sized planets reside in the habitable zone makes this the best opportunity yet for finding life beyond Earth. While all seven planets could potentially harbor liquid water, the three in the habitable zone are the prime candidates. It’s even conceivable that if life does exist there, we could detect and confirm it from right here on Earth. That’s pretty exciting.
2. Gravitational Waves
Gravitational waves are distortions in the space-time continuum that move at the speed of light. These were first proposed by Albert Einstein in his Theory of General Relativity, which suggests that mass causes space-time to bend. Events like black holes merging emit gravitational waves, which were detected in 2016 by various LIGO laser detectors passing through Earth, validating Einstein’s predictions made a century earlier.
This is a groundbreaking moment in astronomy, confirming a key aspect of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. It now enables us to rely on tools like LIGO for future observations of significant cosmic events.
1. Reusable Rockets
Indeed, not just the boosters—an entire rocket. SpaceX, the private space exploration firm headed by billionaire Elon Musk, has successfully landed rockets multiple times on a remote-controlled platform in the ocean.
The success has become routine, with SpaceX now considering it a standard procedure for their missions. This innovation has saved the company billions, as the rockets can be repaired, refueled, and reused instead of being discarded into the ocean, bringing humanity closer to the goal of reaching Mars.
