Bits of Best Scientific Discoveries in 2016

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Science is expanding exponentially and 2016  is considered as one of the many great years in terms of scientific discoveries that occurred across the globe. 

Ripples in Spacetime Fabric

Albert Einstein proposed his Theory of General Relativity in 1915 but it was only on February 11, 2016, when physicists found a breakthrough. Ripples of gravitational waves containing extremely minute particles were detected by Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Waves Detector or LIGO. Two detectors situated each at Louisiana and Washington detector 6 waves of Fast Radio Bursts that originate 1.3 Billion Years ago and reached Earth on 11 February. The waves are results of a collision between two massive black holes triggering the mysterious matter from which it is made, National Geographic quoted.

Discovery of Proxima Centauri

Similar to earth, Proxima Centauri, it is about 4.24 light-years away from Earth. Dubbed as Proxima b, it has traces of liquid. It will take some time for Astrobiologists to get what it requires so that life can sustain on the planet. 

3-DNA Baby

Usually, a new-born baby inherits DNA from Mother and Father. In 2016, a miracle was accomplished when a Jordanian baby was born with three DNAs taken from his parents and a healthy donor to ward off a genetic disease. The procedure was named as Mitochondrial replacement therapy which has undergone license application from the US Team which operated it on the Jordanian Boy, The Guardian reported. 

NASA reached Jupiter

The massive planet has always fascinated physicists. NASA launched a Juno spacecraft more than five years ago which finally reached Jupiter after traveling 1.7 Billion miles. The spacecraft survived a number of disorientations and spinning which could have resulted in losing its orbit. 

133 New species recorded

In 2016, 133 new animal and plant species are added by California Academy of Sciences. As per the research, 23 fishes, for spiders, 43 ants, 36 beetles, 05 fossil urchins, one eel, etc are discovered. The research is contributed by dozen Academy scientists and the details are mentioned in Lab Manager.

2016 has been a great year in scientific discoveries across verticals. A step towards HIV vaccines raised by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Discovery of Metalenses, Tim Peake's exceptional space walk, and Marathon run, Kepler's Journey, and many more discoveries took place this year.