2021: Major Scientific Breakthroughs We Shall Always Remember

2021 has been an incredible year in various facets of the human society. A plethora of pathbreaking discoveries and innovations were made in various domains of science. Researchers working in different fields have made important discoveries this year ranging from understanding illnesses and developing new treatment strategies to exploring deeper into our universe. With the aid of cutting-edge tools, scientists have unravelled more complex mysteries of nature and opened up new prospects in addressing major several global challenges.

In no specific order, below are 9 of the most noteworthy discoveries and events which occurred this year.

1. The restoration of sight through gene therapy

 

In a revolutionary development in optogenetics, scientists succeeded in restoring the sight of a 58-year-old man with blindness. The patient suffered from a congenital condition known as retinitis pigmentosa (a pathology in which the retina and photoreceptors are gradually destroyed leading to blindness). Using viral vector gene therapy, the patient gained partial restoration of his visual functions. This has generated hopes for the development of treatments for patients with visual impairment and blindness.

2. Further crusade against malaria

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In another notable development in the battle against malaria, the WHO endorsed the RTS,S, a protein subunit vaccine for the prevention of malaria. The vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline in a project that was initiated in 1986. To date, it is the only vaccine candidate to be approved for malaria infections. It was reported to be highly effective against strains of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax  and 75% capable of lessening fatalities due to malaria. The vaccine has already been administered to thousands of children in several of the most susceptible countries in Africa.

3. Neuralink Brain chip implant controls cognition in monkeys

Photo credit: Neuralink

In April, Neuralink announced their development of a Brain chip implant capable of establishing an intricate connection between brain cells and computer devices. This was demonstrated in a circulated video in which a monkey played a game called pong using only its brain (but with the aid of brain-chip connections). This has demonstrated the practical application of synthetic devices for patients with neurological and psychiatric conditions. This demonstrates that smart machines are capable of interacting with neurons in the brain or spinal cord, controlling cognitive, sensory and behavioural processes. This could be used to develop functional prosthetics capable of interacting with the nervous system, enable the use of machines in the neurologically impaired and control several mental disorders.

4. Neutron star-Black hole collision observed for the first time

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For the first time, scientists detected the collision event between black holes and neutron stars. Using interferometers, scientists detected gravitational waves which are released in the process. As black holes are very difficult to study, this finding has increased our knowledge of the nature and behaviour of supermassive objects within and beyond our galaxy.

5. Genome editing accelerates towards human trials

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This revolutionary technology has been lately advanced through the demonstration that genome editing could be used to significantly lower the risks of cardiovascular diseases. CRISPRcas9 has recently been used to efficiently lower Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol levels in mice and monkeys leading to the possibility of human trials in the nearest future. It has also been discovered that epigenomic editing using CRISPR can be accomplished by manipulating the machinery which regulates DNA transcription. This is a significant discovery in CRISPR therapy as it offers control over epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation which are key in understanding diseases especially cancer.

6. Pig kidneys donated to a human body with no immediate rejection

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 Xenotransplantation, a truly optimistic field of medicine offers treatment to very serious health conditions such as organ failure, malformation or damage by donating the organs of a species to another. Transplantation, though effective is a difficult mode of treatment because the host's immune system attacks and destroys foreign organs which are introduced into it. This could result in the death of the recipient. In September, successful transplantation of pig kidneys to a dead human body was recorded with no abrupt immunogenicity. This has opened new doors for successful organ transplantation, avoiding immune reactions and resulting in better clinical outcomes.

7. The takeoff of the JWST

Photo credit: NASA

On 25 December, NASA successfully launched the James  Webb Space Telescope (JWST) into space. This has generated a great deal of excitement among astronomy lovers. This telescope is an improvement over the Hubble Space Telescope and was designed to sense low-frequency radiation for long-wavelength (orange-red to mid-infrared). The telescope would probe and observe objects and events in our universe which have never been achieved before.

8. COVID-19 researches

Photo credit: WHO

Since 2019, the world has been in a long battle against coronavirus disease. Scientists have been committed to the development of arsenals to overcome the challenge. Over the months, WHO declared its special attention to certain strains of coronaviruses known as "Variants of Concern", (VOC). This includes strains in the families of alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron. They are grouped based on their genetic relationship. These strains are of concern due to their greater transmissibility, mortality, and resistance to available treatment. Notable ones include the B.1.1.7 variant discovered in the United Kingdom in 2020 which posed increased virulence and a possible risk of vaccine resistance and the recently described omicron strain prevalent in South Africa which was added to the list of the WOC in November 2021 due to its large number of mutations which introduces likelihoods of immune resistance and increased risk of reinfection. We also saw the global introduction and distribution of vaccines such as RNA, Adenovirus vaccines, subunit vaccines and inactivated virus vaccines. It is estimated that over 10 billion vaccines have been administered globally as of December 29.

9. The Nobel prize

Photo credit: Nobel prize.org

The 2021 Nobel prizes for the sciences were awarded to seven scientists for their tremendous contributions to medicine, chemistry and physics. David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian received the prize in physiology or medicine for their discoveries about how organisms sense their internal and external environment using receptors and for revealing the chemical basis of thermoreception and nociception. The prize in physics was awarded to Giorgio Parisi, Klaus Hasselman and Syukuro Manabe for their development of models for describing complex systems, enlarging our understanding of climate change, order and disorder of subatomic particles and atomic-scale interactions while the award in Chemistry was awarded to Benjamin List and David MacMillan for their contributions to green chemistry through their use of environmentally friendly organic catalysts which could be applied in the pharmaceutical industries for construction of complex organic drug molecules with stereochemical selectivity.