2022-2023 was an exciting year for science! NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovered new things like infrared images of the universe and carbon dioxide outside of our solar system. The ongoing pandemic made scientists work harder to create new vaccines for the latest variants of the coronavirus and to find a universal vaccine for the flu. These Scientific Discoveries and innovations will help improve healthcare and our understanding of the world.
Some important things got more attention from the scientific community in 2022. The FDA approved lab-grown or “cultivated” meat, which was a big deal. There was also an advancement in xenotransplantation, where a human man received a heart transplant from a pig. This could mean more possibilities for transplants in the future. And scientists discovered human footprints from the ice age in Utah, which adds to our knowledge about the development of humans.
Here is a list of 25 major scientific discoveries and innovations from 2022 – 2023. These scientific discoveries come from many fields like biology, geology, engineering, paleontology, genetics, and artificial intelligence. Some of the most important discoveries could impact the future of healthcare, technology, climate, and more. You can read more about them to learn how they could affect the world.
Here is a list of 25 major scientific discoveries and innovations from 2022 - 2023.
These discoveries come from many fields like biology, geology, engineering, paleontology, genetics, and artificial intelligence. Some of the most important scientific discoveries could impact the future of healthcare, technology, climate, and more. You can read more about them to learn how they could affect the world.
1. In January 2022, an underwater volcano in the South Pacific called Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupted.
- It was the biggest volcanic eruption ever recorded, and it caused a lot of water to go into the air, which is not normal for volcanic eruptions.
- The water went up so high that it warmed up the Earth’s atmosphere and filled many Olympic-sized swimming pools.
2. Laparoscopic surgery is performed entirely by a robot for the first time
- For the first time, a robot successfully performed laparoscopic surgery, also known as keyhole surgery, without human assistance. The surgery was conducted in Italy and involved removing a patient’s diseased colon.
- The robot, Da Vinci was operated with great precision, resulting in a quicker recovery time and less scarring for the patient. The milestone marks a significant advancement in the field of robotic surgery and could lead to further developments in the future.
3. In January 2022, a British company called Engineered Arts unveiled a new robot at the Consumer Electronics Show called Ameca.
- This robot is unique because it looks very similar to a human, with teeth, a gender-neutral body, and very realistic facial expressions.
- Ameca can answer questions and have conversations with people. The company hopes to create more advanced robots like Ameca in the future.
4. In July 2022, scientists in Canada found the most well-preserved remains of a woolly mammoth ever discovered.
- The mammoth, which was a baby girl, is named Nun cho ga. In most cases, only the bones of mammoths are found because they are so old.
- However, because Nun cho ga was in a region with cold temperatures, her muscles, skin, and DNA were preserved. It is believed that Nun cho ga lived more than 30,000 years ago.
5. Breakthroughs in fungus communication
- Recent research has shown that certain types of mushrooms, such as ghosts, caterpillars, split gill, and enoki fungi, can communicate with each other by sending electrical signals through a network of underground mycelium.
- These signals are similar to the nervous system in the human body. Scientists have discovered that these mushrooms can use up to 50 “words” that resemble human language.
- However, researchers are not yet sure if this communication is related to human speech. It is believed that these fungi exchange information about injuries and food sources.
6. Astronomers discover the largest Galaxy, alcyoneus
- Astronomers have found the largest galaxy ever followed, named Alcyoneus which is approximately 10 times larger than the Milky Way and is located around 9.7 billion light-years away from Earth.
- The discovery was made using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, and it could provide insight into the formation and evolution of galaxies.
7. The James Webb Space Telescope catches new images of the cosmos
- The James Webb Space Telescope, which has a mirror five times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, captured stunning new images of the universe using infrared light.
- These images have the Pillars of Innovation, stars from the Big Bang era, and an earlier unexplored universe. Infrared light detects colors that humans can’t see, making these images unique for scientists to understand the life cycles of stars and map the cosmos more accurately.
8. Dead pigs' organs revive
- Scientists used a machine called OrganEx to revive the organs of a dead pig. The machine pumped blood and fluids into the animal’s system, which brought some organs back to life and even repaired some damaged cells.
- This achievement could lead to breakthroughs in human organ transplantation.
9. Ice volcanoes on Pluto known as cryovolcanoes
- NASA’s New Horizons mission discovered what appear to be two ice volcanoes on Pluto’s surface. These types of volcanoes, known as cryovolcanoes, are made of ice and could indicate the presence of a liquid ocean beneath Pluto’s surface and an internal heat source.
- The discovery is significant in the search for potential life on other planets.
10. Rescue of Endurance ship off the coast of Antarctica
- A shipwreck called the Endurance was discovered in Antarctica, which sank more than a hundred years ago in 1915. Despite the harsh weather conditions and rough seas, the ship was found in almost the same condition as when it sank.
- The cold temperature and lack of wood-eating creatures in the water helped to preserve the ship. Researchers were able to take detailed photos of the wreck because the Antarctic waters were very clear.
11. NASA's DART mission ruins Dimorphos asteroid
- NASA’s DART mission made history in September by changing the path of an asteroid called Dimorphous for the first time.
- This showed that technology can potentially protect Earth from dangerous asteroids. By colliding with Dimorphous, NASA learned more about its properties and behavior. The NASA administrator said it’s important to protect the Earth from such threats because it’s our responsibility.
12. The first whole sequence of the human genome
- The National Human Genome Research Institute has completed the sequencing of the entire human genome. The Human Genome Project had previously sequenced 92% of it.
- The complete sequence will enable geneticists to better understand how cells work and the differences in DNA between individuals.
13. Hydrogen-powered trains debut in Germany
- Germany has launched a new fleet of trains that run on hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel. The hydrogen-powered trains emit only steam and water, making them an eco-friendly alternative to traditional trains.
- The trains are expected to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 4,000 tons annually.
14. Oldest DNA ever discovered in Greenland
- Scientists discovered the oldest DNA ever found in Greenland in December. The DNA samples, which are from 2 million years ago, were preserved in the region’s freezing temperatures.
- This is the first time that researchers were able to examine an ecosystem from so long ago. Surprisingly, they found many species, such as reindeer and mastodons, that were never known to have existed in that area, a dense forest.
15. Human brain cells successfully implanted into rats
- Scientists have found a way to study neurological disorders like schizophrenia and autism using human brain cells.
- They were able to successfully implant and grow these cells in rats, which showed normal function and covered a third of the rat’s brain area.
- Previously, it was difficult to study neurological dysfunction in humans, but this milestone presents a promising opportunity for research.
16. Some people in comas are discovered to be conscious
- Scientists have discovered that some comatose patients have “covert consciousness” and can understand and respond to stimuli from the outside world.
- Although these patients cannot physically respond to commands, their brain activity changes when asked to complete physical tasks, indicating a level of understanding while previously thought to be unconscious.
- This breakthrough was made possible by new advances in brain monitoring technology and may aid in developing ways to communicate and rehabilitate coma patients.
17. Lab-grown brain cells learned to play Pong
- Scientists have developed “mini-brains” by growing brain cells in a laboratory. These mini-brains have been taught to play Pong, a classic video game.
- This is the first time that lab-grown neural cells have interacted with an external entity. However, it is still uncertain whether the cells are sentient or not.
- The development could help researchers study neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
18. Microplastics were found in human lung tissue
- Scientists have discovered microplastics in the lungs of living humans for the first time. Researchers at Hull York Medical School found these tiny particles in the lowest airways of people undergoing routine procedures.
- The presence of microplastics in human bodies is a worrying development, as they have already been found in high concentrations in the ocean.
- This discovery highlights the need to reduce plastic consumption and improve waste management to protect our health and the environment.
19.COVID-19 nasal vaccine
- Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis created the first nasal vaccine for COVID-19. The vaccine is believed to provide better protection against the virus and was found to prevent infection in mice.
- This approach is advantageous over injectable vaccines because it delivers the vaccine directly to the nasal cavity, preventing both severe illness and infection.
- The nasal vaccine could encourage more people to get vaccinated, which would help boost global immunity. The vaccine was approved for emergency use in India in December.
20. Scientists 3-D print an ear with a patient's cells
- Scientists have successfully 3D printed an ear using a patient’s cells, a breakthrough that could revolutionize the field of organ replacement.
- The researchers used a special 3D printer to create a scaffold of cartilage and then added the patient’s cells to grow an ear that is a perfect match.
- This could pave the way for the creation of replacement organs that are less likely to be rejected by the patient’s immune system.
21.AI systems reach new bounds
- Many companies are making advances in artificial intelligence (AI) to innovate in various fields like transportation, healthcare, communications, and more.
- They are working towards achieving new milestones, including fully autonomous cars, virtual nursing assistants for hospitals, emotion-detecting technology for students, and “cyborg journalists” for automated reporting. These advancements could have significant impacts on various industries in the future.
22. Progress toward a universal flu vaccine
- Scientists have been trying to develop a universal flu vaccine for many years. The challenge is that the flu virus keeps changing, making previous vaccines less effective.
- However, scientists have made progress by targeting a less variable part of the virus and creating antibodies that can fight against multiple strains of the flu at once.
- This could lead to the development of a vaccine that provides broader and longer-lasting protection against the flu.
23. Major population declines of Alaskan crabs
- The population of Alaskan snow crabs has decreased by 84% since 2018, resulting in a ban on catching them in the Bering Sea.
- The reason behind the decrease is believed to be warming temperatures due to climate change, as these crabs live in cold water.
24. Carbon dioxide discovered in exoplanet's atmosphere
- Scientists have to use the James Webb Space Telescope have found carbon dioxide in the surroundings of a gas planet found 700 light-years away.
- This is the first time that clear evidence of carbon dioxide has been found on a planet outside our solar system, which is important for studying how planets are formed.
25. New milestone in nuclear fusion technology
- Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology by creating the first controlled fusion reaction that produced more energy than was put in.
- It is a clean and sustainable energy source as it does not emit harmful gases like fossil fuels. This achievement could lead to a new way of producing power without harming the environment.
Conclusion:
- Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology by creating the first controlled fusion reaction that produced more energy than was put in.
- Scientific Discoveries are clean and sustainable energy source as it does not emit harmful gases like fossil fuels. This achievement could lead to a new way of producing power without harming the environment.
