Some Scientific Developments of 2018

Some Scientific Developments of 2018

1) Gene-edited babies

 A Chinese Scientist claims to have created the world's first genetically edited babies resistant to contracting HIV through the gene-editing tool CRISPR, causing an uproar within the scientific community.

2) ET, that you?

The first interstellar object - 'Oumuamua' was found to be neither a comet or an asteroid so Harvard University astronomers suggested  that Oumuamua may be an extraterrestrial solar sail.

3) There is a car in space

SpaceX successfully test-launched the Falcon Heavy rocket with two boosters landing back on earth safely and aboard was Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster just chilling by itself.

4) 12 years to disaster

An IPCC report warned that global temperatures may cross 1.5 degree Celsius as soon as 2030. The planet has already warmed up to 1degree and is on track to produce record greenhouse gas emissions.

5) Microplastics

Microplastics were found in all levels of the human food chain suggesting its presence in 50% of the world population. Microplastics could enter the bloodstream and aid the transmission of toxic chemicals into the liver.

6) End of mosquitos?

With the help of CRISPR, humans built a gene drive that eliminated the mosquito population in a lab and the technology is planned to be implemented in Africa.

7) Ozone hole is healing faster

A UN assessment shows the ozone hole over Antarctica is recovering faster than previously thought and might be healed completely by 2050.

8) Atomic thin memory 

University of Washington led team encoded information on atom only a few layers thick. This can revolutionise both consumer electronics and make hard drives smaller in size and with large memories.

9) Neutrino detection

An Antarctica-based research centre traced a neutrino with energy more powerful than anything man-made, making it the first such detection which will make studying black holes easier.