Notable discoveries and inventions of 2023

One of the discoveries that left its mark on this year was scientists' detection of the oldest black hole ever found, which formed 470 million years after the "Big Bang."

According to the study, in which a team of astronomers utilized data from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the discovered black hole is 13.2 billion light-years away from Earth.

It is believed that this discovery could also improve theories regarding how some of the first supermassive black holes in the universe were formed.

FIRST PHOTOS FROM THE EUCLID TELESCOPE

The European Space Agency (ESA) shared the clearest photos ever taken of galaxies thousands of light-years away by the Euclid Space Telescope.

The Euclid Telescope aims to create the largest three-dimensional map of space to date and to discover evidence that will shed light on the concepts of "dark matter" and "dark energy," which make up approximately 95 percent of the universe.

ONE OF THE LONGEST SURVIVAL TIMES IN XENOTRANSPLANTATION ACHIEVED

In a joint study conducted by Harvard Medical School and the U.S. biotechnology firm eGenesis, scientists achieved one of the longest survival times in cross-species organ transplantation after 21 macaque monkeys, which received genetically modified kidneys from Yucatan miniature pigs, lived for more than 2 years.

With the achievement of one of the longest survival times in cross-species organ transplantation, a step closer has been taken toward transplanting pig kidneys into humans.

ANCESTORS OF ÖTZI THE ICEMAN CAME FROM ANATOLIA

The Max Planck Institute, based in Germany, determined that the ancestors of Ötzi, also known as the "iceman," who was found preserved in glaciers in the Ötztal Alps on the Austria-Italy border, came from Anatolia.

According to the analysis results, the genome of the iceman Ötzi, who is estimated to have lived 5,300 years ago, contains an "unusually high proportion" of shared genes with the first farmers from Anatolia when compared to other Europeans.

NASA DISCOVERS ORGANIC MOLECULES ON MARS

NASA found organic molecules composed of carbon and hydrogen, which are also present in living systems and are considered a sign of the possibility of life on the planet, on the surface of Mars.

While the discovered organic molecules are seen as the building blocks of life on Mars, it is estimated that a more complex geochemical cycle may exist on the planet.

MOLECULAR CLOUD CONTAINING ELEMENTS NECESSARY FOR LIFE DETECTED

The James Webb Space Telescope discovered a molecular cloud containing elements necessary for life at a distance of approximately 500 light-years from Earth.

It was determined that the examined molecular clouds are the deepest and coldest ices measured to date and contain several essential elements required for a habitable environment, such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.

HABITABLE PLANET 100 MILLION LIGHT-YEARS FROM EARTH

NASA discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet located in the "habitable zone" of the Dorado (Dolphin) Constellation, which is in the orbit of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

It was determined that the exoplanet orbits a star approximately 100 million light-years away from Earth.

SINGLE ATOM OBSERVED WITH X-RAY FOR THE FIRST TIME

A group of scientists from Argonne National Laboratory and the universities of Ohio and Illinois-Chicago observed a single atom with an X-ray for the first time in the world.

The team selected one iron and one terbium atom and identified the atoms one by one using a pioneering technique known as Synchrotron X-ray Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (SX-STM).

Lead researcher Prof. Saw Wai Hla pointed out that the study conducted will pave the way for new discoveries in environmental, medical, and quantum research.

WATER DETECTED IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM'S ASTEROID BELT FOR THE FIRST TIME

Astronomers using the Webb telescope's near-infrared spectrograph confirmed the presence of water vapor around the 238P/Read Comet, which orbits between Jupiter and Mars.

Although water, which could be the source of Earth's oceans, was detected in the comet, there is no carbon dioxide.

It is believed that the discovery could give scientists ideas about how Earth's oceans were formed.

THE LARGEST COSMIC EXPLOSION EVER RECORDED

Astronomers stated that the explosion recorded by the Zwicky Facility in the U.S. state of California in 2020, whose brightness has continued for 3 years, is the largest cosmic event ever.

Dr. Philip Wiseman from the University of Southampton said that after the light was analyzed in 2022 due to the long duration of the brightness resulting from the recorded explosion, it was calculated to be 8 billion light-years away.

The scientists who conducted the research emphasized that such a bright and long-lasting light has not been encountered in scientific literature until now.

NEW FLOWERING PLANT SPECIES DISCOVERED IN THAILAND

A group of researchers from the Faculty of Science at Chiang Mai University in Thailand discovered a new fragrant flowering plant species belonging to the Annonaceae family in the city of Narathiwat in the south of the country.

The researchers, who named the plant "Friesodielsia lalisae," stated that the risk of extinction is high because it is extremely rare.

OTHER DISCOVERIES AND INVENTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Botanists from Tel Aviv University, who revealed that plants are not "silent living things" contrary to what is known, determined that they emit sounds that cannot be heard by the human ear and that they increase these sounds when they are thirsty or under stress.

Chinese materials scientists have developed a type of glass produced from biological components that is easily biodegradable and recyclable, with the goal of minimizing environmental damage when it becomes waste.

A 70-million-year-old turtle fossil was found in the city of New Valley, Egypt.

Scientists from Tufts University and Harvard University have succeeded in producing tiny living robots they call "anthrobots," which are thought to be able to help heal wounds and damaged tissues. Turkish female scientist Gizem Gümüşkaya also has her signature on the "anthrobot."

Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University in the UK determined that data provided from smartwatches used by participants could help in diagnosing Parkinson's disease up to 7 years in advance.

News Source: AA