Drakkith said:Huh, I didn't know that Neanderthals bred with us...
lisab said:I see evidence of it daily.
lisab said:I see evidence of it daily.
I found the one about pictures from mental/brain processes to be the most astonishing/intriguing. I mean, is it actually possible that we might be able to see what people are thinking or perceiving? It boggles my (admittedly easily boggled) mind.Greg Bernhardt said:Here is a brief recap in case you missed a few of these! Which is your favorite? Are they missing some?
http://io9.com/5871725/biggest-scientific-breakthroughs-of-2011
wuliheron said:Direct evidence that the HUP needs contextual revision.
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/45535
Jonathan Dowling, a theoretical physicist at Louisiana State University in the US, says that the latest work could also help in the search for gravitational waves. Researchers hope to register gravitational waves' distortion of space time by measuring the difference in path length experienced by laser beams traveling in the two orthogonal pipes of an interferometer. Dowling says that if the American LIGO detector could operate with a sensitivity that scales as 1/N3/2 rather than as 1/N1/2 then either its sensitivity could be greatly increased or its laser power enormously reduced, which would avoid potential heating and deformation of the facilities' optics. "This opens up a whole new ball game in nonlinear interferometry," he adds.
However, Barry Sanders, a quantum physicist at the University of Calgary in Canada, urges caution. "The experiment demonstrates that the Heisenberg limit can be beaten in the real world," he says. "But practical applications are not likely in the near future because of the technical challenges that need to be overcome, especially noise. We are still exploring the basic physics of using quantum resources for precise measurements."
The biggest scientific breakthroughs of 2011 included the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, the successful sequencing of the Neanderthal genome, the development of the first artificial organ transplant, and the identification of a potential cure for HIV.
The discovery of the Higgs boson particle confirmed the existence of the Higgs field, which gives particles their mass. This breakthrough helped to further our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics and the origins of the universe.
The sequencing of the Neanderthal genome provided valuable insight into the genetic differences between humans and our extinct evolutionary cousins. This breakthrough helped to shed light on our evolutionary history and the genetic basis of certain diseases.
The first successful artificial organ transplant, in this case, a trachea, showed the potential for using lab-grown organs to replace damaged or diseased ones. This breakthrough could potentially revolutionize the field of organ transplantation and save countless lives.
The potential HIV cure discovered in 2011, known as the "Berlin Patient" case, provided evidence that a cure for HIV may be possible through a bone marrow transplant. This breakthrough sparked further research and opened up new possibilities for treating and potentially eradicating HIV/AIDS.