2023 was a year full of fascinating discoveries and amazing scientific achievements, here are our topic picks for this year's most fascinating breakthroughs!
1. Brain Decoders and Mind-reading Marvels
Unraveling the mysteries of the mind, researchers at the University of Texas have created 'mind-readers' using AI and medical technology. By translating a person's brain activity into a continuous stream of text, this brain decoding technology relies on MRI scans to pick up brain activity. The system creates a dictionary of activity patterns based on responses to words or images, cross-referencing them to other thoughts. While questions about privacy and ethics arise, this breakthrough holds great promise for families dealing with communication impairment.
2. T. rex had lips!
Beyond the iconic roar, researchers have uncovered surprising evidence that the Tyrannosaurus rex had lips. The hypothesis suggests that soft tissue covering the sharp teeth protected the dinosaur's mouth, maintaining peak conditions for attacks. This revelation comes after studying modern analogs of prehistoric animals, shedding new light on the T. rex's physical features.
3. Life's Potential on Saturn's Moon: Phosphorus Discovery on Enceladus
Recent chemical evidence suggests that Saturn's 6th-largest moon, Enceladus, may be capable of supporting life. Alongside carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, the discovery of phosphorus on Enceladus makes it a promising candidate for extraterrestrial life. Astronomers had previously found signs of the other five essential elements, adding momentum to the search for life beyond Earth.
4. AI Goes Mainstream
Artificial intelligence has finally gone mainstream in 2023, with models like ChatGPT gaining popularity. Accessible to anyone, these AI models based on deep learning, including ChatGPT, boast over 100 million monthly users by January 2023. This shift marks the beginning of a new era in the world of generative AI, surpassing expectations and resembling the AI promised in science fiction.
5. CRISPR's Breakthrough and Casgevy's Clinical Debut
Casgevy, a CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing tool, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first therapy approved for treating blood disorders. Specifically designed for Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-Thalassemia, Casgevy has shown promise in relieving pain episodes and reducing the need for red-blood-cell transfusions. However, accessibility challenges and potential side effects raise important considerations for the future of this groundbreaking therapy.
6. A Leap Forward in Moon Exploration: India's Lunar Triumph
India joins the ranks of lunar explorers as the fourth country to successfully land a lander on the Moon. Simultaneously, NASA announces its intended crew for the next planned Moon mission in 2024, featuring the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to head to the lunar surface. These developments mark significant strides in space exploration.
7. Frozen Miracles and the Future of Organ Preservation
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the University of Minnesota have successfully transplanted frozen kidneys into rats. This marks the first-ever transplant of a frozen organ, opening avenues for further studies on organ transplants. Beyond rats, recent reports of a monkey surviving two years with a pig kidney, aided by genetic modification, showcase the potential of frozen organ transplants!
8. Food of the Future: Lab-Grown Meat
As the world's population grows, the search for alternative high-protein foods has led to the approval of lab-grown meat in the United States. Regulators granted approval in June 2023, making the U.S. the second country to bring "cellular meat" to the market. This innovation addresses environmental concerns associated with traditional meat production, offering a sustainable solution to the growing demand for protein.
9. Mapping the Body
Efforts to better understand the human body received a boost in 2023 with projects aiming to map out vital organs and improve diversity in medical datasets. Researchers unveiled a comprehensive atlas of the lung, highlighting cellular features common in cancer and COVID-19. Additionally, the largest-yet brain atlas, released in October, includes over 3,000 cell types, some newly discovered. Recent initiatives to sequence genomes from diverse populations aim to shift medical datasets away from biases and improve healthcare for all.
10. A Breakthrough for Alzheimer's
In July, the FDA granted full approval for Leqembi, a groundbreaking drug designed to slow cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's patients. This first-of-its-kind treatment targets the main component of amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients—amyloid beta. By marking these plaques for clearance by the body's immune system, Leqembi offers hope for individuals battling Alzheimer's disease!
Bonus: Our favorite science pictures of the year!
Our favorite rising scientists:
This last April, two teenage girls from a New Orleans high school were the first to prove Pythagorean's theorem using trigonometry. Calcea R. Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson presented their findings in a meeting at the American Mathematical Society to explain what is now called the 'Jackson-Johnson Proof'. Their proof disproved the wide-spread belief that any alleged proof of the theorem based on trigonometry would be a logical fallacy. Having begun plotting their proof thanks to a math contest set for the Christmas break, the two are now starting their first year of university and set on becoming pharmacists and environmental engineers!
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