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The incredible discoveries and scientific achievements of 2023 prove how far curiosity and wonder can take humanity.
Archaeological discoveries have allowed researchers to take intriguing steps into the past and reveal more about our mysterious ancestors and creatures that roamed the planet before humans.
At the same time, technological developments made this possible scientists to make bold leaps forward in the way we understand the vast expanse of the universe and our small cosmic environment within it.
Each week brought new wonders and insights, along with dozens of pinch-me moments and awe-inspiring views of the cosmos once invisible to the human eye.
In this golden age of scientific discovery, I hope that, like the living legend Sylvia Earle, we never take for granted the ability to solve mysteries and acquire new knowledge, so that we can better understand how to protect this extraordinary world.
Wild kingdom
In 2023, nearly 1,000 new species were discovered around the world, adding significantly to the tree of life and revealing just how much biodiversity there is on Earth waiting to be found.
Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences and London’s Natural History Museum have discovered hundreds of creatures and plants, from the bottom of the ocean to an isolated peak in Angola.
The majority of the new species were insects, including metallic wasps named after “Doctor Who” characters who help eliminate agricultural pests. And scientists found unusual creatures like a rare species of silent frog and a gecko that shoots slime from its tail.
As the climate crisis continues, scientists are rushing to identify species in an effort to protect them before they disappear.
Back to the future
An emerging scientific trend in 2023 was resurrection biology, or the attempt to revive once-extinct molecular strands and complex organisms.
The field sounds like the basis of “Jurassic Park,” but scientists are using it to raise awareness about the emergence of once-dormant viruses as the climate crisis causes permafrost to thaw for the first time in centuries. Resurrection biology is also used in the search for pharmaceutical solutions by studying the genetic proteins of our ancient ancestors.
Scientists used the technique to recreate the smell of Egyptian mummification balms. Visitors can smell this scent from the past in Denmark’s Moesgaard Museum.
And yes, there are efforts underway to bring extinct animals like the dodo, woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger back to life.
Defying gravity
The truth is stranger than fiction, especially when you think back to some of this year’s heavenly moments that rivaled science fiction.
A moon race began between several countries, with robot missions ending in both success and crash landings.
Meanwhile, a spacecraft has brought a sample of an asteroid to Earth for the first time – the rocks and dust are already surprising researchers.
And the most powerful rockets ever built have been launched and exploded twice, a reminder that the road to space travel is tricky.
Curiosities
When conservators used X-rays to scan one of Rembrandt’s masterpieces, ‘The Night Watch,’ the scans revealed a secret that had been hidden for almost 400 years. Underneath the painting of Dutch civilian soldiers was a layer full of lead.
The enormous painting, completed in 1642, was exhibited in Amsterdam’s Kloveniersdoelen, a musketeer’s shooting range. There the piece would have been vulnerable to moisture and moisture.
Experts believe that Rembrandt used lead, rather than the typical rigid layer of glue, to protect the canvas of the dramatic piece, which showcased his mastery of lighting and shadows.
Ocean secrets
Researchers have used an unusual source to solve one of history’s mysteries about the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is rapidly melting due to global warming.
By studying the DNA of the Turquet octopus, found along the Antarctic seabed, scientists have determined that the ice sheet last collapsed more than 100,000 years ago. Understanding how the ice sheet has behaved over time could provide insight into how future sea levels might rise.
“The DNA of living animals today contains all the information about their past ancestors, so it’s like a time capsule,” says Dr. Sally Lau, a postdoctoral researcher at James Cook University in Australia.
The miracle
Check out these amazing stories:
— Monkeys can recognize old friends they haven’t seen in decades, according to new research that documented the longest social memory ever seen outside of humans.
— The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new image showing ghostly shadows called “spokes” dancing along Saturn’s rings.
– Traces of a current that occurred thousands of years ago in the Earth’s magnetic field were literally baked into ancient Mesopotamian mud bricks.
— Before the end of the year, send your name to one of Jupiter’s moons to accompany you a poem written by American poet Ada Limón that will fly aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper mission.
The Wonder Theory team wishes you a happy new year and see you in 2024!
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