In 2023, post-Covid times arrived, bringing AI triumphs, space milestones, genetic insights, and environmental hurdles, setting the scene for new discoveries in 2024.
Here are 10 of the biggest science news this year:
India’s Chandrayaan-3 landed at the lunar south pole, showcasing cost-effective tech, hinting at a new era in space exploration.
1. Chandrayaan-3 at the moon’s dark side
AI had a breakout year, led by ChatGPT, showing fluency, knowledge, and helping in bird migration and whale sound translation, with ethical concerns arising.
2. AI goes mainstream
Genomic discoveries in 2023 challenged human migration ideas, finding Neanderthal DNA in Africans and ancient Native Americans’ return journeys to Eurasia.
3. Human migration insights
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe brought bits from asteroid Bennu, offering insights into Earth’s past, with initial analysis revealing water and high carbon content.
Credit: NASA Johnson Space Centre
4. NASA retrieves asteroid clues
2023, the hottest globally, fuelled disasters, led to COP28 commitments, but questions lingered on the practicality of moving away from fossil fuels.
5. Hottest year on record
The UK approved Crispr–Cas9 therapy, Casgevy, for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia, offering hope despite concerns, marking a shift in healthcare.
6. CRISPR therapy for diseases
Wegovy revolutionised weight loss, showing potential health benefits, yet facing criticisms and challenges, highlighting a shift in healthcare.
7. Weight loss drug Wegovy
A study revealed a significant decline in birds due to pesticide use, stressing the need for policy changes to protect biodiversity.
8. Bird decline linked to pesticides
Scientists cultivated stem cell embryo models, sparking interest for breakthroughs but emphasizing ethical concerns and efficiency needs.
9. Hope for stem cell embryo models
Record wildfires in Canada and a tragic blaze in Hawaii emphasized the alarming impact of climate change, making extreme fires a global norm.
10. Wildfires in Canada and Hawaii
As 2023 ends, these stories encapsulate a year of exploration, tech leaps, and challenges, paving the way for discoveries and issues in 2024.
