Top scientific discoveries of 2009

Anthony Marrelli

Argus

Science and inquiry have provided humans with some of the greatest gifts of all, one of the most important being a longer life. While the cure for aging and time travel are still a couple decades away, 2009 was a year for some very important discoveries on Earth and in the cosmos.

1. Nanotechnology

There is an increasing demand to discover the wonders of the microcosmos over the past decade; however we are only now able to create artificial mechanical cells that can actually interact with the tiniest of biological cells. This year marked two major advancements for nanotechnology; the first pore and gear were created. As the ability to create smaller pores and gears increases over the next decade; the complexity of what these nanomachines can do will increase as well. Their abilities may well include killing cancer cells, rehabilitating dead nerve endings, or even rewriting gene sequences.

2. The Telepathy Helmet

A telepathy helmet can be placed on your head so that other people can read your thoughts. This technology is actually being developed for the U.S. military by a team of scientists from three American universities. It will be used to read and transmit soldier’s thoughts to each other so that the need for vocal communication is eliminated.

3. Water, Water Everywhere! So Let’s All Have a Drink!

NASA found water on both Mars and recently on the moon. Although it does not do much for us right now, the potential of life within our solar system becomes increasingly likely. Its discoveries also give hope for the mission to Saturn’s moon Titan that is searching for astrobiology. New life on another planet or moon means a completely different evolutionary path. This gives birth to possibilities of new ways of understanding cell structure, which could lead to cures for the toughest diseases.

4. Giving Sight to the Blind

Blind for a decade, Englishman, Martin Jones, is finally able to see again through a piece of tooth implanted in his eye. Appropriately, the tooth used was a canine, otherwise known as an ‘eyetooth’. Doctors took a piece of Jones’ own living tooth, placed a man-made lens into its core and implanted it under his eyelid where tissue grew over it. A flap of skin excised from inside the patient’s mouth was placed over the tooth in Jones’ eye where it acquired its own blood supply. A hole cut in the new cornea allows light to pass through. The procedure has restored sight to over 600 people worldwide.

5. The Lost World

Researchers discovered an entire lost world of never before seen species when they ventured into the incredibly remote, nearly inaccessible crater of the Mount Bosavi volcano in Papua, New Guinea earlier this year.  In fact, the crater is so remote; it has never before been touched by human influence. The researchers found it remarkably easy to approach the wildlife found within, which showed no fear of the team. A fanged frog, a possum that releases a skunk-like odor when frightened, and a giant wooly rat were among the species discovered.

Honorable Mentions:

The AIDS Vaccine – While effective with some subjects, its use has not been as effective as first anticipated. However, this leaves the door open for a much more effective vaccination.

A Robot Making Scientific Discoveries – Adam, an AI made up of various mechanical arms, tubes, centrifuges, incubators, pipettes, and growth analyzers, was able to find the gaps of a yeast enzyme all on its own. While the findings aren’t revolutionary, it showed how AI can follow through on its own hypothesis, results and retests all without human intervention.