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The new scientific discoveries of 2023 create a way to understand Earth’s lifeforms of the past, present, and future.

The world today is experiencing both the negative and positive effects of human interactions. Understanding world situations through the language of science gives us ideas on how we can live better with a surer direction for our progress. Scientific breakthroughs are a potential solution to most problems we face today in the fields of medicine, astrophysics, ecology, proteomics, and genetics.

Here are new scientific discoveries of 2023:

New Method for Electron Imaging

Dr. Amit Finkler (Weizmann Institute of Science), Ph.D. student Dan Yudilevich, and their collaborators (University of Stuttgart) took a leap to discover a method of imaging at subatomic levels. Their goal was to gather structural data when it comes to looking at individual electrons. Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that could be free-roaming or atom-bound.

The new method of imaging electrons is a great help in MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) as it is a means of diagnosing a wide array of illnesses. Possessing the knowledge at the subatomic level allows us to understand fully the specific behaviors and causes of different genetic and non-genetic disorders and illnesses.

A New Family of Black Holes

The European Space Agency’s space observatory Gaia just discovered two black holes closest to Earth. They called the black holes Gaia BH1 (1,560 light-years away in Ophiuchus) and Gaia BH2 (3,800 light-years away in Centaurus).

It is important to understand how black holes behave as their gravitational forces have effects on the other star systems. Mapping the space for spatial and galactic endeavors will also benefit from this.

A New Understanding of How Drugs Get into the BloodStream

Since the 2020 pandemic, there has been a great need for new, effective drugs. Fortunately, the fields of Chemistry and Pharmacology have their own scientific breakthrough in 2023. Scientists, led by Sereina Riniker (ETH Zurich Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences), are trying to understand how drug molecules can travel to the bloodstream easily.

Through computer modeling, the scientists decode important details of the cyclic peptides. Cyclic peptides are molecules that make up the majority of today’s drugs. Using computer simulation and the power of artificial intelligence (AI), chemists are discovering a breakthrough in medicine.

Snailfishes, Sea Cucumbers, and Ocean Exploration

The deep-sea exploration discovered more information about habitats and other life forms in the ocean depths. An expedition in March 2023 led the scientists to discover new hydrothermal vents (black smokers). These black smokers provide heat and energy to the deep-sea dwelling creatures.

One of the deep-sea-living animals that scientists are curious about is the snailfish. Snailfishes are tadpole-like ray-finned fish that also resemble snails without shells. These are the deepest-dwelling vertebrates that scientists check up on when doing a deep-sea exploration. Studying these animals provides knowledge on how vertebrates of the benthic zone behave and thrive.

Another group of representatives that live in the deep ocean are sea cucumbers. Most of these animals are represented by those that are elongated, cucumber-shaped echinoderms. Nevertheless, scientists discovered a new Order of the class Holothuroidea. A group of bioluminescent sea cucumbers just got on the radar of marine biologists. This discovery is a breakthrough in understanding how organisms interact in extreme environments.

New Scientific Discoveries on Protein Glues

The fields of Proteomics and Genetics are active when it comes to finding a breakthrough. Now, scientists are discovering ways of understanding how disorders and illnesses are treated, particularly those that are difficult to treat, such as cancer. There is now an emerging tool that scientists try to uncover when it comes to protein interactions.

Protein glues help give scientists knowledge about creating a new drug or a new technique in treating diseases. Understanding the protein glues will help create new genetic sequences or codes that will program an entire system of an organism.

Human Evolution

As humans, we have not actually uncovered the truth of where we first come from. There is still an active lookout for the missing link to understand how humans evolved through the years. So, how and when did humans become more human-like or knowledgeable?

A discovery about a small-brained human species – Homo naledi – created a stir in the field of archaeology. This group of humans found in Rising Star Cave, South Africa, left behind a cave with decorations and engravings. Studying Homo naledi and their lives in the past will allow scientists to understand human evolution more.

This new discovery also led the archaeologists to develop new techniques for unraveling truths about the H. naledi remains.

We are naturally curious about the world we live in. We are also looking for ways in making the world a better place with scientific inquiry to see where we are in our progress map.