Looking forward to science in 2018

As we say goodbye to 2017, an undeniably big year for science, it’s time we look forward to what the future holds (and begin to raise the excitement levels as appropriate). Here are some of our predictions for the science that may grab the headlines in 2018.

Polio Eradication

The state of the world can often seem depressing, with the news offering you many flavours of apocalyptic forecasts to choose from. But, the eradication of polio could be the perfect event to vaccinate (puns? No? Okay.) against depressing dystopian predictions. In 2018, the world may reap the rewards of a six-year plan to vaccinate 1 billion children and free itself of polio.

The plan, which began in 2013, aimed to fund vaccination and monitoring programs for vulnerable children, and develop infrastructure supporting long-term vaccination. With only 22 cases reported in 2017, polio may well become the second virus that humans have eradicated. Earlier in 2017, Bill Gates wrote that “if things stay stable enough in the conflict areas, humanity could see its last case of polio sometime this year.”

In 2018, the world may reap the rewards of a six-year plan to vaccinate 1 billion children and free itself of polio

Male Contraceptive Pill

It can be easy to forget how important the contraceptive pill is for the health and autonomy of females, but male birth control remains more restrictive. Recently however, male birth control has begun gaining traction. In 2016, human trials for hormone injections were 96% effective but stopped after 20 men dropped out due to side effects such as acne and depression (I mean, how could you possibly use birth control when it has mental and behavioural side effects – who does that?).

Yet, 2018 could see it become a step closer to reality with birth control gel. The project leaders will test the product on 420 couples to see whether previous issues can be counteracted by releasing testosterone and progestin (which suppresses sperm synthesis) in smaller, more staggered intervals. Current birth control methods inhibit testosterone production to unhealthy levels, which causes problems like altered muscle mass and erectile dysfunction. The gel hopes to tackle the issue of testosterone leaving the body too quickly – an issue pill supplements failed to resolve.

Current birth control methods inhibit testosterone production to unhealthy levels

Space Exploration

Remember the good old days when the USA and USSR were locked in a battle for the supremacy for space exploration? Probably not, as you’re most likely a student born after The Space Race. If you’re disappointed at the dearth of space exploration from the US in recent years, then maybe Chinese and Indian space programs can placate you. Both nations have plans to cross moon mission milestones in 2018.

India is scheduled to launch the Chandrayaan-2 mission in March, which will make its first mission to land and develop a 3D map of the surface. China meanwhile, is going a step further and plans to send its Chang’e-4 to the dark side of the moon late this year. China has the equipment to study the spatial environment, as well as a seismology station and spectrometers to analyse the surface geochemistry. The Chinese have made no secret of their ambitions for the final frontier, remarking that they aim to put a man on the moon by 2036. Let’s hope this is a renaissance in space exploration.

If you’re disappointed at the dearth of space exploration from the US in recent years, then maybe Chinese and Indian space programs can placate you

CRISPR-Cas9

There arguably hasn’t been a bigger story to emerge from biology in the last few years than CRISPR – nature’s tool to edit any gene out of a genome. It was uncovered from bacteria that uses it to edit out viral DNA inserted into the bacterial genome, based on an archive of DNA from previous infections. The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a watershed discovery for genetic engineering due to its precision and cost-effectiveness.

The attention CRISPR has garnered has now evolved into a runaway train, carrying a wave of its trials starting between late 2017 and early 2018. The most noteworthy trial is the first CRISPR trial to use the technique in vivo (inside the body), aimed at eliminating the human papillomavirus (HPV) by interfering with its tumour growth machinery. This study is among 20 trials that are predominantly focused on various cancers. These trials may start telling us whether CRISPR is a dead end with hitherto unforeseen repercussions that brings the CRISPR hype train to a grinding halt or the birth of a paradigm-changing technology.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a watershed discovery for genetic engineering due to its precision and cost-effectiveness.

So, whether it’s the eradication of polio or the rebirth of The Space Race that awakens your inner science nerd, 2018 looks to be an exciting year for science!