This compilation of humanity's latest scientific discoveries continues to pique interest while also revealing new mysteries waiting to be solved.
Scientists Unveil a New, More Representative Genome
This year, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) unveiled a new pan-genome, a timely update to the 20-year-old human reference genome. The new model significantly increases ethnic and racial diversity, creating a more representative sample—essential for improving personalized medicine. The new pan-genome currently contains genetic sequences from 47 individuals, and the new model is expected to eventually incorporate information from nearly 700 individual genomes. Previous reference genomes were primarily based on the genome of a single individual, with additional data points primarily from people of European descent. The NIH states that while the genomes of any two people typically share over 99% of theirs, by isolating individual differences, studies can provide key insights into disease susceptibility and guide important medical decisions.
The number of planets discovered exceeds 5,500
In August, approximately 30 years after astronomers discovered the first planets outside our solar system, scientists announced the discovery of six new exoplanets, bringing the total number of known planets to over 5,500. Exoplanet searches, using telescopes such as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), continue to reveal a diverse array of intriguing new objects in the Milky Way. Furthermore, the James Webb Space Telescope and other powerful observatories are providing even more detailed information about these objects, such as K2-18 b, a planet between the size of Earth and Neptune with a thick atmosphere that may harbor a global ocean.
Chimpanzees, like humans, experience menopause
Biologists have long puzzled over the evolutionary benefits of animals living long beyond reproductive age. Currently, only killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, narwhals, belugas, false killer whales, and humans are known to experience menopause. However, a new study based on a robust, long-term analysis of hormones in the urine of chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda, confirms that at least some chimpanzees there undergo menopause and survive beyond it. The urine study, which included female chimpanzees aged 14 to 67, revealed that these chimpanzees experience menopause around age 50, an intriguing contrast to the similar age humans typically experience. While there is evidence that older females in some cetacean and dolphin species participate in the care of offspring, this does not appear to be the case with chimpanzees, who do not raise the offspring of their relatives. However, one theory suggests that menopause helps reduce reproductive competition among these primates, a topic scientists will continue to investigate in the coming years.
Parthenogenesis has been discovered for the first time in an American crocodile
In the latest example of this asexual reproduction technique, known as parthenogenesis, a lone female American crocodile in a Costa Rican park gave birth to offspring without the involvement of a male. This phenomenon, which typically occurs when animals face extreme population pressure, has been reported in other animals, including the critically endangered California condor, various sharks, Komodo dragons, and certain snakes, but has never before been observed in any crocodile species. The female crocodile had not had contact with any other species for approximately 16 years, and genetic analysis confirmed that the fetus was indeed a partial clone of its mother. Although this animal was bred in captivity, the discovery has important implications for its wild counterparts, as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists American crocodiles as vulnerable to extinction.
