6 Science Breakthroughs That You Need To Know About

Check out the most significant scientific developments in the world of science, covering both past and future breakthroughs.

From astronomy and environmental issues to the next epidemic, many scientific articles on these and other topics are released each year. Basically, it's hard to tell the difference between legitimate research and the sort of "junk science" that is intriguing but ultimately unhelpful. Many significant advances have been made in recent years, frequently leading to a veritable boom of knowledge. Read on to know some of them.

The search for alien civilizations is simpler than ever before

In 2021, scientists presented a report proposing the possibility of a clean planet harboring life. They depicted a planet roughly 2.6 times the size of Earth with an abundance of oceans and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Although humans wouldn't survive in these conditions, other kinds of life may. Biosignatures, like methyl chloride & dimethyl sulfide, can be discovered more quickly and readily in watery worlds.

CRISPR-based gene editing in blood

CISPR is often used on cells that have been removed from the body and then manipulated in vitro. Consequently, it is a time-consuming and costly process that is frequently followed by chemotherapy. In June of 2021/22, a patient with a rare genetic condition was injected with the CRISPR Cas-9 gene editor. This instance of transthyretin amyloidosis was effectively treated, resulting in a decrease in the levels of damaging enzymes in the afflicted tissues and organs.

Among predators, electric eels have some of the highest levels of contentment

In the past, electric eels had a reputation for being solitary predators, but that all changed when Smithsonian ichthyologist C. David de Santana uncovered a subterranean lake inside the Amazon River basin. Volta's electric eels, he found, hunt in schools by surrounding their prey and whacking them with about 860 volts. His study was published in Ecology and Evolution. If eels go fishing in packs, they are more likely to catch fish than if they went fishing alone.

The Debut of The James Webb Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope, which is both the biggest and most powerful space telescope ever built, was just launched by NASA. Over the following six months, once the spacecraft has traveled almost 1 million miles over 30 days, the sensors will be unfurled, aligned, and calibrated. The launch was plagued by many setbacks. Its trajectory over the next few decades will mirror that of Earth's orbit. One day we may find evidence of life on other worlds.

The world's fastest quantum computer

Quantum computers can do calculations that would take the most powerful supercomputers days or weeks to complete. Through the use of quantum physics principles, quantum computers can do very powerful calculations, which have far-reaching implications for many other disciplines, including astronomy, information technology, engineering, public safety, and many more. In November of 2021, IBM released the 127-qubit Eagle.

Titanium prosthetic heart

Creating a fully functional artificial heart has been a focus of research for almost 50 years. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide each year. The Australian team that developed the titanium BiVACOR heart used spinning disc technology.