Top 5: Scientific Breakthroughs That Made 2019 an Unforgettable Year of Human Progress – The Weather Channel
Facial reconstruction of A. anamensis by John Gurche using 38-lakh-year-old (3.8-million-year-ago) hominin cranium.
From discovering cures for life-threatening diseases to exploring outer space, from unearthing new facts about human history to making incredible strides in artificial intelligence, humanity achieved exceptional breakthroughs in the field of science and technology in 2019.
As the year comes to an end, it is time to look back at some of those glorious scientific revolutions that will shape our future. Here are our picks for the most significant scientific advancements of 2019:
5. Hello Sun? Earthlings are going beyond your influence!
A simulated landing process of Chang'e-4 lunar probe at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 3, 2019.
Launched in January 2006, the interplanetary space probe New Horizons from the US space agency NASA steered past the Kuiper Belt object 486958 Arrokoth (then nicknamed Ultima Thule) on January 1, 2019. The Kuiper Belt is the region beyond the known planetary system of solar system, and this was the farthest flyby ever conducted by any human-made spacecraft.
Also this year, on November 4, NASA's Voyager 2 reached the interstellar mediuma space between star systems, well beyond the influence of our solar system. Voyager 1 had earlier achieved this feat in 2012. Voyager 2, its successor, was launched in the year 1977.
Also, China's moon mission, Chang'e 4, successfully made a soft landing on the far side of the Moonbecoming the first ever mission to do so. Named after the Chinese moon goddess, the mission is attempting to determine the age and composition of the Moon's unexplored region.
4. Quantum leap in computing
Representational image
Of all the progress made in computing research in 2019, the biggest breakthrough was perhaps the realisation of quantum computing.
Right in the first month of 2019, technology giant IBM unveiled Q System Onethe first quantum computer outside a research labbringing a rather abstract concept into the public imagination. Unlike the bits of information in computers we use, a quantum computer uses quantum bits, or qubits, enabling an exponential rise in the amount of data it can process and store.
Also Read: Rewind 2019: A Look Back at Significant Developments in Indian Science This Year
Further, a team of researchers from Australia and Singapore developed a quantum-powered machine that can accurately simulate future outcomes arising from different set of alternatives. Meanwhile, another study at Yale University showed that we can catch a qubit between the quantum jump and alter its outcomes. This was an exponential jump in fine-tuning the quantum systems as the outcomes need not be completely random and abrupt.
While other research also helped in conceptualising quantum drives with immense storage capacity, the biggest news was from Google. The search giant confirmed in October that it had achieved quantum supremacy. To put things in perspective, researchers at Google claim that the quantum computer solved in three minutes a problem that would have taken 10,000 years even for a supercomputer.
3. Revolutionary research in medical science
Representational image
Medical researchers are always striving to push the envelope of human resilience and efficiency. The year 2019 saw progress on both these fronts, with the development of potential cures for multiple life-threatening diseases and gene-editing promising to be more effective than ever.
This year, twin drugs were developed for Ebola and were found to be effective in nearly 90% of the cases, making the seemingly incurable condition treatable. Researchers also discovered potential cures for bubble boy disease, a condition where babies are born without disease-fighting immune cells, for cystic fibrosis, a painful, debilitating lung disease, as well as for pancreatic cancer.
Moreover, after decades, HIV research finally yielded some fruitful results this year with patients positively responding to treatments. After a long gap of 12 years from the day the first patient was cured of HIV infection that causes AIDS, another patient was cured in March 2019. Researchers had been relentlessly trying to replicate the treatment that cured the infection for the first time in 2007.
Furthermore, using CRISPR gene-editing technology, scientists have found potential treatments for cancer patients, even those with whom the standard procedure was not successful. In October, researchers produced scientific evidence that new gene-editing technology has the potential to correct up to 89% of genetic defects like sickle cell anaemia.
2. Imaging the faraway invisible wonder
Image of the black hole at the center of galaxy M87
Named the top scientific breakthrough of 2019 by the journal Science, this incredible photograph of a black hole was taken using eight radio telescopes around the world to form a virtual instrument that is said to be the size of the Earth itself.
The first-ever image of a black hole, released on April 10 this year, was taken by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration team. The gravity of a black hole is so strong that even light cannot escape its pull, and to capture an image of something that does not emit light is no easy task.
EHT imaged the silhouette (or shadow) of a massive black hole called M87 which is located at the centre of a galaxy 55 million light-years from Earth. M87 has enormous masswhopping 6500 million times the mass of the Sun. The image shows a ring of light coming from the gas falling into the event horizon (the boundary from beyond which nothing can escape) of the black hole.
1. Retracing the origins of humans
Craniofacial reconstruction process of Rakhigarhi cemetery individuals (BR02 and BR36).
Humankinds fascination with the question 'Where did we come from?' has persisted over centuries. Yet, some of the biggest breakthroughs in answering this question were made this year, starting with the discovery of a previously-unknown species of ancient humans. Named Homo luzonensis, this small-bodied bipedal species was discovered in the Philippines and is said to have lived on the island of Luzon 50,000 to 67,000 years ago.
In May, researchers deciphered a four-decade old mystery by identifying a 160,000-year-old human jawbone found in the Tibetian Plateau nearly 40 years ago. The fossil was of Denisovan, an enigmatic ancestor species of humans who ranged across Asia until some 50,000 years ago. The discoverymade despite the absence of DNA in the jawhelped scientists understand this species better. In September, another group of researchers further refined the picture of Denisovans whose traces still linger in the DNA of a few modern humans.
In August, descriptions of a nearly 38-lakh-year-old remains of a skull belonging to a bipedal ancestor of humans baffled the world. This skull proved that two of our ancestor speciesA. anamensis and A. afarensismay have overlapped for at least 100,000 years. This evidence of the existence of these two of our ancestor species at a similar timescale busts the long-held belief that human evolution follows a single lineage, i.e. one species coming after the other.
In a first-of-its-kind attempt, scientists have generated an accurate facial representation of people from the Indus Valley Civilisation in October. Nnother important study showed that the ancestral homeland of every human alive today traces back to a region south of the Zambezi River in northern Botswana. Building on the previous genetic evolution studies, the researchers used ethnolinguistic and geographic frequency distribution data from the genomes of over 1000 southern Africans to trace back the origin of modern humans.
Exponential growth continues
India has also contributed immensely in all scientific domains over the past few years and is now only behind China and the US in terms of the number of published research studies. Building exponentially on the success of previous decades, scientists around the world have made immense contributions from improving our daily life to understanding the mysteries of the universe.
With so much exciting research pouring in from all corners of the world, it isn't easy to even keep track of the incredible pace at which science is progressing. While we have tried to cover a few iconic annual scientific highlights in this article, there are thousands of other important discoveries, studies and achievements that shaped science in 2019.
And as yet another potential-filled year dawns on our planet, The Weather Channel India will keep you tuned in about all the exciting news, updates and breakthroughs from the world of science.
So for your daily dose of weather, environment, space and science stories, stay tuned to weather.com and stay curious!
See the original post here:
- Quantum Machines and Hamamatsu Photonics Forge Partnership for Enhanced Quantum Computing Control - Quantum Computing Report - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Keysight Introduces Industry-First Testing Solution for Post-Quantum Cryptography - Quantum Computing Report - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Australia bets on US startup that aims to build the first massive quantum computer - Semafor - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Australia just made a billion-dollar bet on building the world's first 'useful' quantum computer in Brisbane. Will it pay off? - The Conversation - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Japan to expand export restrictions on semiconductor and quantum computing technology - DatacenterDynamics - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Harnessing quantum information to advance computing - Nature.com - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- University of Sydney Secures $18.4 Million AUD ($12 Million USD) Government Funding for National Quantum Innovation Hub - Quantum Computing Report - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- HSBC and PayPal join group pioneering quantum-safe cryptography | bobsguide - Bobsguide - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Q-Day approaching: Can Ethereum survive a quantum emergency? - Cointelegraph - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Rigetti Computing Launches the Novera QPU Partner Program - HPCwire - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Is quantum computing an enabler for the decarbonisation of aviation? - Airbus - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing Meets Genomics: The Dawn of Hyper-Fast DNA Analysis - SciTechDaily - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Steady progress in approaching quantum advantage | McKinsey - McKinsey - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Rigetti Computing Delivers Novera QPU to Horizon Quantum Computing for Singapore-Based Hardware Testbed - GlobeNewswire - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- John Martinis on Bridging Theory & Reality in Quantum Computing - The Quantum Insider - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- NVIDIA is helping Japan build their bleeding-edge ABCI-Q quantum supercomputer with HPC and AI - TweakTown - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- 3 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Now: Q2 Edition - InvestorPlace - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Compact Quantum Light Processing: Time-Bending Optical Computing Breakthrough - SciTechDaily - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Springing simulations forward with quantum computing - Phys.org - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- MIT scientists tune the entanglement structure in an array of qubits - MIT News - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Chaotic Links Theory: Exploring the Intersection of Classical Cryptography and Quantum Potentiality - hackernoon.com - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing Stocks: An Investment in the Future - Value the Markets - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- UK Tightens Controls on Quantum Computing Exports And Cryogenics Firms Could Feel The Chill - The Quantum Insider - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Pasqal and Welinq Partner to Develop Quantum Interconnects - High-Performance Computing News Analysis - insideHPC - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing, Inc. (QCi) Breaks Ground with Underwater LiDAR Prototype - Quantum Computing Report - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Quantum Cloud Computing Secured in New Breakthrough at Oxford - TechRepublic - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Researchers Achieve Major Advancement in Quantum Technology - AZoQuantum - April 26th, 2024 [April 26th, 2024]
- Xanadu and SC Quantum Partner to Enhance Quantum Education and Research in the Southeast U.S. - Quantum Computing Report - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- 3 Steps Businesses Should Take to Prepare for Quantum Computing Disruption - TechSpective - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- How Thin Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) Will Power the Next generation of Coherent Ising Machines - Quantum Computing Report - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Quantum computing: a new frontier for the broadcast and media industry - RedShark News - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Navigating the Next Frontier: The Future of AI, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, and Advanced - Medium - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Xanadu and South Carolina Quantum Establish Partnership to Build the Quantum Workforce of Tomorrow - HPCwire - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing Fair: Shaping the future world of Defence - Royal Air Force - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Researchers create 'quantum drums' to store qubits one step closer to groundbreaking internet speed and security - Tom's Hardware - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- AI and Quantum Computing: High Risks or Big Boons to Fintech? - InformationWeek - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Unlocking the quantum future - MIT News - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Verifying the Work of Quantum Computers - Caltech - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing Could Destroy Bitcoin in 27 Years - BeInCrypto - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Surviving the quantum apocalypse with fully homomorphic encryption - Help Net Security - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- NVIDIA Amplifies Quantum Computing Ecosystem with New CUDA-Q Integrations and Partnerships at GTC - HPCwire - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Quantum groups combine to drive European quantum computing sector - Optics.org - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing Breakthrough: Scientists Develop New Photonic Approach That Works at Room Temperature - SciTechDaily - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- UMass Amherst Researchers Join $26 M Quantum Computing Effort to Build Internet of the Future - AZoQuantum - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing for Everyone | Events | What's On | The University of Aberdeen - University of Aberdeen - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing in Africa: A Journey to the 1960s Era - Tech in Africa - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Delinea Announces Industry-First Quantum-Safe Encryption to Secure Privileged Accounts in the Post-Quantum ... - PR Newswire - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Where are the Worldwide Quantum Networking Testbeds? - Quantum Computing Report - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- TRUMPF to Harness HLRS's Hawk and Hunter Supercomputers for Advanced AI and Quantum Computing Simulations - HPCwire - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Designing Infrastructure to Protect Quantum Information - AZoQuantum - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- UMass Amherst researchers join $26 million quantum computing effort to build internet of the future - EurekAlert - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Southampton to drive UK Quantum computing capability - Labmate Online - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- NVIDIA Announces New Supercomputer Projects, a Quantum Cloud, Academic Initiatives, and PQC Acceleration at Its Annual GTC Conference - Quantum... - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Center for Quantum Networks welcomes UMASS Amherst in $26m quantum networking deal - Innovation News Network - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- The 3 Most Undervalued Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in March 2024 - InvestorPlace - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Fault Tolerant Quantum Computers Will Arrive Earlier Than We Original Thought - Quantum Computing Report - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Beyond AI: How Nvidia is helping scale quantum computing - VentureBeat - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Machine Learning, Quantum Computing Can Transform Health Care, Including Diagnosing Pneumonia - Carnegie Mellon University - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- QC's Finest: The 3 Most Fundamentally Sound Quantum Computing Stocks - InvestorPlace - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Rigetti Computing, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results - The Quantum Insider - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- The Race to Build a Quantum Computer Is Paved With Gold - Says IDTechEx - PR Newswire - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Accelerating the Development of New Molecules - Promethium to Empower ML Models for Drug Discovery Using ... - PR Newswire - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Does Quantum Computing Inc (QUBT) Have What it Takes to be in Your Portfolio Monday? - InvestorsObserver - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- European MPs sound alarm over quantum computing's encryption threat - Innovation Origins - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- UMass Amherst Researchers Join $26 Million Quantum Computing Initiative to Shape the Future of the Internet - India Education Diary - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Quantum Computing and Networking Poised to Revolutionize Cryptography - BroadbandBreakfast.com - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Growing concenrs about quantum computers' ability to break commonly used encryption - NL Times - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Navigating the Future with Nokia Bell Labs: Pioneering Innovations in 6G, Quantum Computing, and Lunar Communications - Telecom Reseller - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Never-Repeating Patterns of Tiles Can Safeguard Quantum Information - WIRED - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Japanese joint research group win Prime Minister's Award with ultra high-performance computing platform using jointly ... - Fujitsu - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Rigetti Computing Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results - GlobeNewswire - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Already Up 104% YTD, Wall Street Predicts This Quantum Computing Stock Will Surge Another 58% - Barchart - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- IBM agreement boosts USC's quantum computing leadership - University of Southern California - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- QMware Announces Collaboration With NVIDIA And Oracle to Advance Hybrid Quantum Computing for Enterprises - The Quantum Insider - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- QMware Announces Collaboration with NVIDIA and Oracle to Advance Hybrid Quantum Computing for Enterprises - HPCwire - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- What Are The Opportunities Presented by Quantum Computing? - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of Engineering - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Eviden explores energy advantages in near-term quantum computing systems through research partnerships - GlobeNewswire - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Does Quantum Computing (NASDAQ:QUBT) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet? - Simply Wall St - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- Quantum computing isnt magicbut could be the next big thing, say executives at the Montgomery Summit - Fortune - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]
- QMware Collaborates with NVIDIA and Oracle to Advance Hybrid Quantum Computing for Enterprises - Quantum Computing Report - March 13th, 2024 [March 13th, 2024]