Posted on 01/01/2013 11:18:26 AM PST by neverdem
Every year, crowning one scientific achievement as Breakthrough of the Year is no easy task, and 2012 was no exception. The year saw leaps and bounds in physics, along with significant advances in genetics, engineering, and many other areas. In keeping with tradition, Science’s editors and staff have selected a winner and nine runners-up, as well as highlighting the year’s top news stories and areas to watch in 2013
Discovery of the Higgs Boson.
I am far too poorly educated on the issue of particle physics to opine on the value of this discovery but at least the $5.5 billion Large Hadron Collider found what it was built to find. I suppose that's good.
Didn’t Higgs Boson win the Heisman or something?
The Big Bang Theory - Sheldon’s Rebus - Higgs Boson Particle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4LZRLdyQl4
I think I went to school with Sheldon Rebus.
The Discovery of the Higgs BosonRunners-Up Free with RegistrationExotic particles made headlines again and again in 2012, making it no surprise that the breakthrough of the year is a big physics finding: confirmation of the existence of the Higgs boson. Hypothesized more than 40 years ago, the elusive particle completes the standard model of physics, and is arguably the key to the explanation of how other fundamental particles obtain mass. The only mystery that remains is whether its discovery marks a new dawn for particle physics or the final stretch of a field that has run its course. -- A. Cho
Using a novel technique for sequencing degraded DNA, researchers sequenced the Denisovan genome, shedding light on early human history.
Utilizing a plant pest protein, scientists have demonstrated the ability to knock out target DNA and replace it with new code.
Scientists in China have measured the third and final “mixing angle” that can be used to describe neutrinos.
ENCODE gives labels and functions to much of the DNA between genes, emphasizing the non-coding and regulatory regions of our genomes.
The “sky crane” landing system invented for the 3-ton Curiosity rover had scientists holding their breaths -- but it worked perfectly.
In a first, an x-ray laser was used to image the structure of a protein, paving the way toward the imaging of smaller and smaller particles.
Impressive advances in brain-machine interfaces show great promise in our ability to control prosthetic limbs simply with thoughts.
The discovery of Majorana fermions, which can act as their own antimatter and annihilate themselves, ends a 75-year hunt.
Fertile eggs derived from embryonic stem cells gave rise to live mice -- a first for stem cell research.
The Discovery of the Higgs BosonRunners-Up Free with RegistrationExotic particles made headlines again and again in 2012, making it no surprise that the breakthrough of the year is a big physics finding: confirmation of the existence of the Higgs boson. Hypothesized more than 40 years ago, the elusive particle completes the standard model of physics, and is arguably the key to the explanation of how other fundamental particles obtain mass. The only mystery that remains is whether its discovery marks a new dawn for particle physics or the final stretch of a field that has run its course. -- A. Cho
Using a novel technique for sequencing degraded DNA, researchers sequenced the Denisovan genome, shedding light on early human history.
Utilizing a plant pest protein, scientists have demonstrated the ability to knock out target DNA and replace it with new code.
Scientists in China have measured the third and final “mixing angle” that can be used to describe neutrinos.
ENCODE gives labels and functions to much of the DNA between genes, emphasizing the non-coding and regulatory regions of our genomes.
The “sky crane” landing system invented for the 3-ton Curiosity rover had scientists holding their breaths -- but it worked perfectly.
In a first, an x-ray laser was used to image the structure of a protein, paving the way toward the imaging of smaller and smaller particles.
Impressive advances in brain-machine interfaces show great promise in our ability to control prosthetic limbs simply with thoughts.
The discovery of Majorana fermions, which can act as their own antimatter and annihilate themselves, ends a 75-year hunt.
Fertile eggs derived from embryonic stem cells gave rise to live mice -- a first for stem cell research.
You may be thinking of the boatswain who served under Captain Higgs, everyone called him Higgs’ bosun.
Just read this... thanks for the ping. Happy New Year.
My question is - will the discoveries it makes pay for it?
Thanks for that extremely impressive list.
The only mystery that remains is whether its discovery marks a new dawn for particle "physics" or the final stretch of a field that has run its course. -- A. Cho
That's psyllium.
Bookmark
"Controlling Bionics"
I saw a segment on this work (embarrassed to say it was 60 Minutes). I was blown away at the capabilities to control a fully articulated arm by a quadriplegic! Exoskeleton - here we come...
About 30 years ago, a researcher was trying to build a user-actuated exoskeleton of sorts, using the Z80 because it was fast. :’) One thing his team discovered was, sticking electrodes on the atrophied muscles would make them get stronger with “use”, something no one had apparently ever thought of or tried before.
Too bad the software kicked it out twice. That was *not* my doing.
I suppose the data arrived by fiber optics.
Now the scary part - creating "Iron Man" super exoskeletons for population enforcers by a totalitarian government who has unlimited financial resources from their printing presses (or EFT systems). Yeah, that'll never happen.
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