2017 in science: Artificial wombs, life beyond Earth, and more

Once again, the year draws to an end, leaving us with twelve months’ worth of research and discoveries to reflect on. 2017 has been a fantastic year for science and we have seen each disparate area push the boundaries and further our understanding of the universe and ourselves. From the earliest emergence of life on Earth to the greatest wonders of far-off space, let’s look back on some of the most impactful research reported on this year.

To start us off , January saw scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies create the first ever human-pig embryo to retain some of its cellular function, paving the way for future research into the development of synthetic organs for human transplant. Later, in April, another farmyard favourite hit the news as researchers in Philadelphia successfully used an artificial womb – or Biobag– to grow a healthy, fully-grown lamb. This opened the discussion to the public about a future where human embryos could also develop in a lab.

Researchers in Philadelphia successfully used an artificial womb to grow a healthy, fully-grown lamb

But the ethical and moral debates didn’t cease there. It was revealed in July that US scientists had edited the DNA of human embryos, building upon work set up by Chinese researchers two years prior. Though several teams expressed interest in studying the technique and its therapeutic applications further, the report revitalised the ‘designer baby’ debate, which continues even now.

Not everything this year was as laden with controversy though! Medicine has seen great strides taken towards a safer and more successful treatment of many diseases and ailments. Regenerative medicine has come a long way – in 2017, a stem-cell spray was applied to the wounded skin of burn victims, enabling regrowth in just over four days. On top of the innumerable advances we have seen in the detection and treatment of different forms of cancer, potential drugs and treatments against ageing, depression and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s have all found their way into the news at some point during the year. Should research continue the way it is going, 2018 could see many more advancements for those suffering from these conditions.

Medicine has seen great strides taken towards a safer and more successful treatment of many diseases and ailments

However, some of this year’s most mind-blowing discoveries concern life beyond this planet. Early in the year, NASA recorded the presence of seven exoplanets orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1. Three of these planets were reportedly located in a ‘Goldilocks zone’. This means that, under the right conditions, these planets could be conducive (or habitable) to life. Observations within our solar system of an asteroid that likely originates from beyond it – Oumuamua –coupled with new images of Saturn and the development of reusable rockets by SpaceX, have made 2017 a good year for space enthusiasts and the scientific community at large, bringing us closer to answering some of life’s biggest questions. For example, does alien life exist?

Life is not all that we explored last year though, and not by a long stretch. Physicists successfully created superconductive metallic hydrogen under lab conditions, discovered a fourth state of matter in ‘time crystals’ that form repetitive patterns through 3D space and time, and recorded the fallout of a collision between two neutron stars thought to be the source of an incredible amount of gold and similar heavy metals. Midway through the year, computer scientists in China applied quantum physics to teleport light particles, or photons, out into space. Developments in this field could lead to super fast communication over long distances, with potential application in space travel (or simply in achieving the internet speeds we all want and deserve).

Developments in this field could lead to superfast communication over long distances

All in all, 2017 has been a good year. There has been opposition and adversity for the scientific community to face together, but there has also been a mountain of hard work and discoveries made eachmonth since the start of 2017. Take some time out to think back on the strides we have taken, and have a happy new year – one full of more incredible scientific breakthroughs.