National Geographic magazine has listed some impressive scientific discoveries in 2023.
Detecting ripples in the fabric of space-time
For the first time, scientists have detected gravitational waves traveling through the Milky Way. According to Albert Einstein, gravitational waves are fluctuations in the curvature of the fabric of space-time, carrying energy in the form of gravitational radiation.
These ripples are likely caused by the interaction of supermassive black holes and originate billions of light years away. The new findings suggest there were more supermassive black holes in the early universe than previously thought.
Simulation of gravitational waves across the universe
And efforts to study the new form of gravitational waves could help unlock mysteries about the origins of the universe, as well as provide clues about the forms of matter and forces that power the universe.
Human Thought Interpretation Tool
Although what they are researching is not yet a "mind-reading" device, a team of experts from the University of Texas (USA) said they have found a way to translate a person's brain activity into a continuous stream of text under laboratory conditions.
The new technology, based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, is currently in its early stages of development and does not require implanting a device into the brain.
Using MRI scanners, researchers can capture the brain’s response to a particular image or sentence. Instead of providing a word-for-word translation, the team essentially builds a dictionary of brain activity patterns that translates into human thought.
Ancient Peruvian Whale May Have Been Earth's Largest Animal
Ancient whales were the largest animals?
Not the blue whale, but an ancient whale species, the scientific name Perucetus colossus , is likely the largest animal in the history of the Earth. Analysis of the 39-million-year-old fossilized bones of an ancient whale found in the waters off Peru shows that the animal probably weighed more than 300 tons and was about 18 meters long.
Reconstructed image of ancient whale more than 39 million years ago
If it really weighed that much, Perucetus colossus would be the largest animal ever to have appeared on the surface of the Earth. Meanwhile, the blue whale, although about 30 meters long, weighs only about 200 tons.
Tyrannosaurus rex had... lips
Tyrannosaurus rex and other carnivorous dinosaurs likely had upper lips that were studded with sharp teeth, a team of paleontologists concluded after studying similar prehistoric animals, including birds and reptiles.
Tyrannosaurus Rex
According to a report in the journal Science , Tyrannosaurus rex and other carnivorous dinosaurs likely had soft tissue covering their sharp teeth, to protect their mouths and ensure their teeth were in the best condition to attack.
New dinosaur species discovered with tiny arms
More than 5,500 extrasolar planets have been discovered.
In August 2023, three decades after astronomers discovered the first planet outside the solar system, scientists announced the discovery of six new planets, bringing the number of planets found to more than 5,500.
A 'super-Earth' discovered by NASA
The search for planets beyond our Solar System, made possible by telescopes like TESS, continues to yield diverse and fascinating discoveries of new worlds across the Milky Way.
The James Webb Space Telescope and other powerful observatories are also providing new details about these worlds. For example, NASA announced the discovery of K2-18 b, a planet somewhere between Earth and Neptune in size and that may harbor oceans beneath its thick atmosphere.
Chimpanzees also experience menopause.
A study of chimpanzees in Uganda's Kibale National Park found that female chimpanzees go through menopause like humans.
When observing female chimpanzees in the park, aged 14 to 67, the team of scientists noted that this species goes through menopause around the age of 50, which is similar to humans.
Interesting discovery about chimpanzees
This evidence suggests that in some species of whales and dolphins, older females contribute to the upbringing of offspring. However, this is not the case in chimpanzees.
One hypothesis is that menopause reduces reproductive competition among primates, something scientists aim to continue studying in the coming years.
New, more representative human genome
Also this year, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a more complete human genome, providing important updates to the original human genome, which was built 20 years ago and was predominantly of white European descent.
The new human genome provides a more representative and ethnically diverse understanding of the human genome, a necessary step to improve the industry's efforts to personalize medicine.
The new work includes sequencing the genomes of 47 people, and will expand to about 700 people over time.
Although any two people's genomes are more than 99% similar, identifying the remaining differences can provide key insights into disease risk, allowing for tailor-made treatments for each patient, according to the NIH.
Phosphorus discovered on Saturn's moon
Researchers in 2023 found a final ingredient needed for life inside the icy ocean of Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon.
Along with carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, phosphorus is one of the essential elements for sustaining life.
Simulation of the Cassini spacecraft passing by Saturn's moon Enceladus
"Phosphorus is considered one of the six essential elements for life," Newsweek magazine quoted Professor Frank Postberg, head of the Department of Planetary Science and Remote Sensing at the Free University of Berlin (Germany).
Phosphorus plays an essential role in DNA and is found within ATP, which is known as the "energy currency" for every cell.
It is still unclear whether there is extraterrestrial life on Enceladus, but the new discovery allows researchers to focus their attention on the Saturnian moon, which is currently the leading candidate in the search for alien life.
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