The best scientific news of 2019
One of the most remarkable events of 2019 was the first photograph of a black hole which reaffirmed the existence of this mysterious object of the cosmos. Another finding that has amazed the scientific community has been the recent discovery of ice on Mars, just two and a half centimetres below the surface.
Here are some of the most relevant scientific news that 2019 leaves behind.
In January, NASA confirmed that the New Horizons probe successfully flew over asteroid Ultima Thule, the most distant approach ever made by a human artefact to an extraterrestrial object.
Another major milestone in space exploration also occurred in January when China managed to land on the hidden face of the Moon for the first time ever in the history of time.
China managed to germinate the first plant outside of Earth: a cotton seed.
An international team of scientists associated with NASA's Center for Moon Science and Exploration (CERRAR),found clues to what may be the oldest rock on Earth. It dates back approximately 4 billion years ago.
The Rover Opportunity was knocked down by a strong sandstorm that blocked the sunlight and left Opportunity without power. After months of waiting, NASA finally announced on February 13, 2019 that is considered the robot lost.
About 2% of a human's body weight is due to bacteria, and the intestinal microbiome is a territory with a significant bacterial population. Scientists have assembled the most comprehensive collection of human intestinal bacteria to date.
They found the biggest bee in the world (it wasn't extinct!). It is Wallace's bee and had been missing for 38 years. It was discovered in Indonesia.
The cell nuclei of this extinct species were transferred to mouse oocytes and a partial nuclear formation occurred, although it did not reach cell division.
The first fossil of a bird with an egg inside was found in March.
A huge cemetery was located with the first fossilized victims of the meteorite 66 million years ago.
A team of researchers have managed to move a quantum computer a fraction of a second into the past. In other words, it reversed time using quantum technology!
In April we witnessed one of the most important milestones in physics in history: the first photograph of a black hole, located in the centre of the massive galaxy Messier.
Remains of a new human species discovered in the Philippines: Homo luzonensis. Specifically, they were the remains of three individuals who lived some sixty-seven thousand years ago.
The first earthquake from Mars was detected, from the first sound recorded from inside the red planet.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have detected biological and anatomical brain changes related to the disease, thanks to which we will be able to detect Alzheimer's up to 34 years before the first symptoms start to appear.
A distant cousin of the 'T. rex' was discovered, measuring less than a metre long. The new spice, called Suskityrannus hazelae, lived ninety-two million years ago.
A new species of mushrooms from a billion years ago has been discovered. The oldest ever discovered yet.
Do you remember the two Chinese girls born last year with a laboratory genetic modification? It was discovered that they have a 21% more chance of dying when they are adults than those who do not have it.
A study predicted the end of the human species in 2050. It was a new report on climate change that puts a date of no return to humanity.
For the second time in history, a specimen of the elusive giant squid was filmed.
The first photo of the quantum entanglement was taken; a very rare phenomenon in the universe.
Scientists identified the remains of Europe's oldest Homosapiens. The finding in a cave in Greece suggests that we left the mother continent much earlier than we thought.
In August they found the Lorozilla, a parrot the size of an ostrich that lived 19 million years ago. It is the largest giant parrot in history and has been found in New Zealand.
In September the second interstellar object was located visiting our solar system. It is called Borisov, and on December 7th it was at its maximum point of approach to the Earth, and then it moved away again and forever.
A plasmid capable of destroying the defenses of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was achieved.
As of October, Jupiter ceased to be the solar system planet with the most satellites. The title was taken from Saturn when 20 new moons were discovered in its orbit.
Hygiea was discovered, which could remove the crown from Ceres as the smallest dwarf planet in the solar system.
In November, essential sugars for life were found inside meteorites. Specifically, amino acids that could have contributed to the formation of primordial RNA.
The first global map of Titan was presented.
The main protagonist of December was the COP25, the climate summit in Chile, which on this occasion was hosted in Madrid.
For the first time in history, a team of astronomers discovered a planet of Neptune type orbiting around the remnant of a star similar to the Sun, a white dwarf.
One of the oldest carnivorous dinosaurs of the Jurassic period was discovered. It lived 170 million years ago.
