It’s not easy to say that any particular scientific development was the most important in a given year. But if we had to choose some highlights, we’d opt for these unforgettable events and findings.
A scientist’s use of the Crispr technique set off a global firestorm.
We learned more about the genetic legacy of our early human relatives.
Tens of thousands of years ago, humans interbred with Neanderthals, and anyone of Eurasian ancestry now carries some Neanderthal genes. That interbreeding exposed young Homo sapiens to new viruses related to influenza, herpes and H.I.V., but also may have given humans immunities to these diseases that persist to this day.
We learned that leafy things can be more complicated than they appear.
We learned famous psychology experiments arrive at different results when repeated.
The results of the Stanford Prison Experiment, the marshmallow test and other studies in the modern psychological canon were all challenged this year. But while the effort to replicate research is a valuable self-corrective in science, there may be reasons to think carefully before disposing of some findings altogether.
We learned many modern cultural treasures may not survive.
Source : Nytimes
