Scientists made several groundbreaking discoveries in 2024, from the tiniest creatures to the largest genetic instructions. This year saw a plethora of impressive findings that shattered previous records in various fields.
A Year of Record-Breaking Scientific Discoveries
The Smallest and the Largest: Tiny and Gigantic Creatures
In 2024, scientists made several groundbreaking discoveries that shattered previous records in various fields. From the tiniest creatures to the largest genetic instructions, this year saw a plethora of impressive findings.
Ancient Airburst and Asteroid Remnants
About 2.5 million years ago, an asteroid exploded in Earth’s atmosphere before it could hit the ground, marking the oldest known mid-air explosion. Scientists analyzed nearly 120 microscopic rocks buried deep beneath Antarctic ice and found them rich in olivine and spinel minerals, which suggests they are the remnants of the asteroid.
The Dawn of Photosynthesis
Fossilized bacteria dating to about 1.75 billion years ago preserved structures that resemble thylakoids, the site of photosynthesis in modern plants. This discovery sheds light on the early history of life on Earth and the evolution of photosynthesis.
Tiny but Mighty: The World’s Smallest Frog and Fern
A Brazilian flea toad named Brachycephalus pulex has been crowned the world’s smallest known frog, measuring just 6.5 millimeters long. Meanwhile, a tiny fern named Tmesipteris oblanceolata boasts a genome that is 50 times as large as humans’, making it one of the largest genetic instructions in the plant kingdom.
The Smallest and Tightest Knot Yet
Scientists designed the smallest and tightest knot yet, a trefoil knot made from a string of 54 gold, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon atoms that is pretzelled over itself three times. This breakthrough has significant implications for various fields, including engineering and materials science.
Bioluminescence: A New Birthday
Ancestors of deep-sea corals glowed in the dark 540 million years ago, marking a new milestone in bioluminescence research. Scientists had previously thought that animal bioluminescence began around 267 million years ago in an ancestor of sea fireflies.
Supersmall Knot: A Breakthrough in Materials Science
Knots come in all shapes and sizes, but this year scientists created the smallest and tightest knot yet, opening up new possibilities for materials science and engineering. This achievement is a testament to human ingenuity and our ongoing quest for innovation.
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- sciencenews.org | These scientific feats set new records in 2024
