2013 in Science

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

1/73

List of years in science (table)

... 2003.2004

.2005

.2006

.2007

.2008

.2009 ...

2010 2011 2012 -2013-2014 2015 2016... 2017

.2018

.2019

.2020

.2021

.2022

.2023 ...

Art.Archaeology

.Architecture

.Literature

.Music

.Philosophy

.Science+...

15 February 2013: a 10-ton meteoroid

(atmospheric trail pictured) impacts

Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring over 1,200

people. At the time, it is the most

destructive meteor to strike Earth since

1908.

2013 in scienceFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A number of significant scientific events have

occurred in 2013, including the discovery of

numerous Earthlike exoplanets, the

development of viable lab-grown ears, teeth,

livers and blood vessels, and the atmospheric

entry of the most destructive meteor since 1908.

The year has also seen successful new

treatments for diseases such as HIV, Usher

syndrome and leukodystrophy, and a major expansion in the use

and capabilities of technologies such as 3D printing and

autonomous cars.

The United Nations designated 2013 the International Year of

Water Cooperation.[1]

Contents

1 Events, discoveries and inventions1.1 January1.2 February1.3 March1.4 April1.5 May1.6 June1.7 July1.8 August1.9 September1.10 October1.11 November1.12 December

2 Prizes won2.1 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences2.2 UNESCO Young Scientist Awards/Michel

Batisse Award2.3 Nobel Prize2.4 Other

3 Deaths3.1 January3.2 February3.3 March3.4 April3.5 May3.6 June3.7 July

3.8 August3.9 September3.10 October3.11 November

3 in science - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_in_science

73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

2/73

2 January 2013: astronomers estimate that

every star in the Milky Way Galaxy (artist's

rendering pictured) hosts at least one

exoplanet.

4 See also5 References6 External links

Events, discoveries and inventions

January

2 JanuaryA study by Caltech astronomers reports that theMilky Way Galaxy contains at least one planet perstar, resulting in approximately 100400 billionexoplanets. The study, based on planets orbiting thestar Kepler-32, suggests that planetary systems may

be the norm around stars in our galaxy.[2]

Astronomers report the discovery of giant "geysers"of charged particles emanating from the core of theMilky Way Galaxy. These outflows, which extendas far as 50,000 light-years from the galactic plane,are thought to be fuelled by intense star formation.[3][4]

LG Electronics releases the first commercial OLEDtelevision. OLED screens are thinner, more efficientand capable of displaying images with greaterdefinition than conventional LCD and plasma

screens.[5]

3 JanuaryPhysicists create a potassium-based quantum gas which can be manipulated by lasers andmagnetic fields to reach negative temperatures. At such temperatures, matter begins to exhibit

previously unknown qualities.[6][7]

Scientists analyse a meteorite, NWA 7034, that was found in the Sahara Desert and purchased inMorocco in 2011, and report that it is a new type of Mars rock with an unusually high water

content.[8][9][10]

American researchers state that a gene associated with active personality traits is also linked to

increased longevity.[11][12]

4 January

Britain's first hand transplantation operation is successfully conducted.[13]Toyota demonstrates an autonomous car capable of sensing and reacting to its surroundings,

monitoring its driver and communicating with other vehicles.[14]

6 JanuaryBritish researchers successfully cure blindness in mice using an injection of photosensitive cells.Following additional testing, the treatment could be used to heal human sufferers of retinitis

pigmentosa.[15][16]

China is reported to be experiencing a rapid growth in the use of industrial robots, with robot

installations increasing at over 10 percent a year.[17]

7 JanuaryAustralia experiences its hottest day on record, with nationwide average temperatures

exceeding 40C amid one of the most intense bushfire seasons in the country's history.[18][19]

Remarkably well-preserved zinc pills are discovered aboard a 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck,


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

3/73

9 January 2013: scientists test a new cancer

treatment that uses sickle cells (pictured) to

kill off tumours by starving them of their

blood supply.

giving a rare insight into Roman medicine.[20][21]

Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center forAstrophysics (CfA) report that "at least 17 billion"Earth-sized exoplanets are estimated to reside in the

Milky Way Galaxy.[22]

8 JanuaryThe 2013 Consumer Electronics Show opens in Las

Vegas, Nevada. Among the new technologiesshowcased are flexible tablet computers,autonomous cars, medical telepresence robots,ultra-definition TVs and high-efficiency microchips.[23][24][25]

The German defence company Rheinmetallsuccessfully demonstrates a high-powered militarylaser that can destroy drones in mid-flight and cutthrough steel from over 1 mile (1.6 km) away, evenin adverse weather conditions. The company plans to mount the laser on a variety of vehicles

for battlefield use.

[26][27]

American astronomers announce the discovery of seven new exocomets more than double thepreviously known number of such objects. The exocomets were discovered using the McDonald

Observatory in Texas, which imaged the chemical signatures of the comets' tails.[28]

Astronomers affiliated with the Keplerspace observatory announce the discovery ofKOI-172.02, an Earth-like exoplanet candidate which orbits a star similar to the Sun in the

habitable zone, and is possibly a "prime candidate to host alien life".[29]

9 JanuaryA gamma secretase inhibitor previously experimented for treating Alzheimer's disease is foundto have regenerative effects on inner ear hair cells, potentially allowing for the effective

treatment of deafness.[30]

The most distant known supernova is discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope, at a distance

of around 10 billion light-years.[31][32][33]

Medical researchers state that sickle cells can be induced to attack treatment-resistant tumours

by starving them of blood.[34][35]

British and Canadian researchers create a tablet computer which is as thin as paper and also

flexible.[36][37]

10 JanuaryHalf of all food is wasted worldwide, according to a new report by the British Institution of

Mechanical Engineers (IME).[38]

The British General Lighthouse Authority activates a new backup navigation system that allowsships to navigate even if their GPS signals fail.[39]

The first vessel of a new class of nuclear submarine goes into service with the Russian Navy,

featuring a built-in escape pod to allow crew members to survive a critical hull breach. [40]

An American company unveils a smart hunting rifle which uses a computerised scope, onboardaiming software and laser rangefinders to ensure great accuracy even in the hands of noviceshooters. The rifle is also Wi-Fi-enabled, and its software can record its aiming and firing

history, potentially allowing law enforcement agencies to track its use.[41][42]

11 JanuaryManchester University chemists develop a functional molecular machine, only a fewnanometers in size, that can assemble complex molecular structures in a fashion similar to DNA

ribosomes. The invention could be used to precisely fashion new medicines or polymers. [43][44]

Astronomers discover a distant cluster of supermassive quasars that is both the largest and

brightest structure in the known universe, spanning approximately four billion light-years. [45]


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

4/73

20 January 2013: it is proven that

quadruple-helix DNA (pictured) is present

in humans.

New high-precision observations of the asteroid99942 Apophis reveal that it is almost certain thatthe asteroid will not strike the Earth in 2036, despite

earlier scientific concern over its trajectory.[46]

Scientists develop a Breathalyzer-like breath testthat could be used to quickly and accurately

diagnose lung infections.[47][48]

12 January Official sources state that Beijing's air is nowhazardous to human health, after years of mounting airpollution. The city's air contains as much as 20 times theWorld Health Organization's recommended amount of

toxic particles.[49]

13 January Massachusetts doctors invent a pill-sizedmedical scanner that can be safely swallowed by patients,allowing the esophagus to be more easily scanned for

diseases.[50]

15 January The first museum of 3D-printed artifacts

opens in China.[51]

17 January NASA announces that the Keplerspace observatory has developed a reaction wheelissue and will discontinue operation for 10 days in the interest of solving the problem. Three functionalreaction wheels are needed to accurately aim the telescope; one of Kepler's original four reactionwheels failed in July 2012. If this second wheel issue is not resolved, NASA may be forced to end the

long-running Keplermission altogether.[52][53]

18 January Japanese researchers create a "privacy visor" which uses near-infrared light to render its

wearer unrecognizable to facial recognition software.[54]

20 January Scientists prove that quadruple-helix DNA is present in human cells.[55]

21 January Architects begin preparations for constructing the world's first 3D-printed building. The

building will be constructed of a high-strength artificial marble laid down by an industrial-scale 3Dprinter, and is planned for completion in 2014.[56]

22 JanuaryFrench glaciologists release a report stating that the glaciers of the Andes are melting at an

unprecedented rate.[57]

NEC and Corning Inc. develop a multi-core fiber optic cable that can transfer a record-breaking

petabit of data per second.[58]

The private spaceflight venture Deep Space Industries announces plans to begin scanning andmining asteroids for precious metals. The company intends to launch its first prospecting

spacecraft in 2015.[59]

A resolution is introduced to the United States Congress to designate 12 February 2013 (CharlesDarwin's 204th birthday) as "Darwin Day" in order to recognize "the importance of sciences in

the betterment of humanity".[60]

23 JanuaryScientists encode large amounts of digital information, including the complete sonnets ofWilliam Shakespeare, on a single strand of synthetic DNA. DNA has immense potential as a

storage medium, and may become commercially available for this purpose in the near future. [61]

Scientists resume controversial research into the H5N1 influenza subtype, which was previously

halted due to fears of biological terrorism.[62]

A British amputee becomes the first person in the UK to receive the Michelangelo Hand, anadvanced new bionic hand, which uses electrodes to precisely mimic muscle movements and

which can be used even for delicate engineering tasks.[63]

Kenya begins the construction of the Konza Technology City, a planned city that is hoped to


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

5/73

22 January 2013: a scientific study reveals

that the glaciers of the Andes are melting at

an unprecedented rate.

become a hub of African science and technology

upon its completion in 2030.[64]

24 January Britain's Chief Medical Officer warns thatantibiotic resistance could have "apocalyptic"consequences, with numerous common bacterial

infections becoming increasingly resistant to treatment.[65]

25 January

An international team of scientists develops afunctional light-based "tractor beam", which allowsindividual cells to be selected and moved at will.The invention could have broad applications in

medicine and microbiology.[66]

Scientists design an evolution-inspired organic solarcell with a novel geometric pattern that increases its

energy-harvesting efficiency.[67]

New measurements performed by European scientists reveal that the radius of the proton is 4

percent smaller than previously estimated.[68]

27 January Asteroid 274301, a main belt asteroid, is officially renamed "Wikipedia" by theCommittee for Small Body Nomenclature.[69]

28 JanuaryBolivian scientists restore brain function to stroke-affected rats by injecting them with stem

cells. This breakthrough may lead to more effective treatments for human stroke sufferers.[70]

American medical researchers develop a painless polymer skin patch that can be used to injectDNA vaccines without a conventional needle, and also increases the initial effectiveness of the

vaccine delivered.[71]

An American research team uses the world's most powerful supercomputer at the time theIBM Sequoia to perform a record-breaking computation, modelling an experimental jet engine

on over one million processor cores.[72]

Iran successfully launches a live rhesus monkey into space and recovers the animal safely, in

what is claimed to be a prelude to the country's future manned spaceflight efforts.[73]

American scientists finish drilling down to the subglacial Lake Whillans, which is buried around

1 kilometre (0.62 mi) under the Antarctic ice.[74]

29 JanuaryNASA reports that the Keplerspace observatory has successfully returned to "science data

collection" mode, after suffering a reaction wheel malfunction earlier in the month.[75]

ESA scientists report that the ionosphere of the planet Venus streams outwards in a manner

similar to "the ion tail seen streaming from a comet under similar conditions."[76][77]

30 January South Korea conducts its first successful orbital launch, using the Naro-1 rocket to place

a satellite into orbit.[78]

31 JanuaryBritish scientists achieve a breakthrough in synthetic biology, developing microscopic biological"factories" that can be assembled in hours and which could be used to deliver medicines,

produce biofuels and mine underground minerals.[79]

Scientists sequence the genome of the domestic pigeon, discovering that all modern pigeon

breeds are descended from the wild rock dove.[80]

The ESA, in collaboration with a group of architectural firms, designs and tests a 3D-printed

structure that can be built out of lunar regolith to serve as a Moon base. [81]Japanese scientists genetically modify a transparent zebrafish specimen to produce a visibleglow during periods of intense brain activity, allowing the fish's "thoughts" to be recorded as

specific regions of its brain light up in response to external stimuli.[82]


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

6/73

30 January 2013: South Korea conducts its

first successful orbital launch with its

indigenous Naro-1 rocket (replica pictured).

February

1 FebruaryStanford University physicists discover thatatom-thin sheets of graphene are 100 times morechemically reactive than thicker sheets. Thisreactivity may be crucial to developing new

practical applications for graphene, which is alreadywidely known for its immense strength and

conductivity.[83]

Medical researchers develop a new method ofefficiently detecting cancer using bioelectric signals.In addition, they were able to manipulate cellularelectric charge levels to prevent certain cells from

developing cancer.[84]

2 FebruaryIran unveils the Qaher-313 which it claims is its first

stealth fighter .

[85]

Californian researchers use genetic modification torejuvenate ageing blood cells, strengthening theimmune systems of elderly mice. If human trialsprove successful, this treatment could allow older

people to more effectively resist disease.[86]

3 FebruaryThe Scottish Government announces plans for anational physics prize named in honour of Peter Higgs, who first theorized the Higgs boson in

1964.[87]

The British Army begins using a miniature drone helicopter in Afghanistan. The aerialsurveillance robot weighs just 16 grams, and can be remotely piloted into difficult terrain to

detect hidden enemy positions.[88]

4 FebruaryAmerican researchers develop a new molecular therapy which can cross the blood-brain barrierto deliver medicines to the brain, potentially helping to treat neurological diseases such as

Parkinson's disease.[89]

A much-vaunted experimental vaccine for tuberculosis proves to be largely ineffective against

the disease in human trials.[90]

After DNA testing, scientists confirm that a medieval skeleton unearthed in Leicester is that of

the defeated Plantagenet king Richard III, who was killed in battle in 1485.[91]

Australian engineers build a "quantum microscope" which offers unprecedented levels of

precision in measuring live biological systems.[92]

Sea urchins are discovered to be capable of efficiently converting carbon dioxide into rawmaterial for their shells, potentially offering a new method of carbon capture for industrial

purposes.[93]

5 FebruaryScientists at Scotland's Heriot-Watt University develop a 3D printer that can produce clusters of

living stem cells, potentially allowing complete organs to be printed on demand in future.[94]

American researchers partially cure Usher syndrome in mice, a severe form of congenital

deafness, using a precisely targeted gene therapy.[95]

6 FebruaryHalley VI, a new British Antarctic research station, begins operation. The station, which ismounted on hydraulic ski-legs to allow it to be towed across the ice, features an advanced


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

7/73

4 February 2013: British scientists use

DNA testing to confirm that a newly

unearthed skeleton is that of the medieval

king Richard III (pictured).

15 February 2013: a 10-ton meteoroid

(atmospheric trail pictured) impacts

Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring over 1,200

people.

modular design and is expected to endure the

Antarctic climate until 2050.[96]

In a series of separate developments, American andJapanese engineers create 3D printers that canproduce edible meals with a range of flavours andtextures on demand. These could both replaceconventional ready meals and allow astronauts to

enjoy a far more varied diet.[97]

Astronomers report that 6% of all dwarf stars themost common stars in the known universe mayhost Earthlike planets. Additionally, some suchexoplanets may exist only 13 light-years from

Earth.[98]

Scientists discover live bacteria in the subglacial

Antarctic Lake Whillans.[99]

8 FebruaryScientists use an extensive genetic and phenotypic

database to determine the common ancestor of allmodern placental mammals, including humans.[100][101][102]

New York researchers successfully cureleukodystrophy in mice by using skin cells to repairdamaged myelin sheaths. This treatment may alsoprove effective in curing human multiple

sclerosis.[103]

10 FebruaryNASA's CuriosityMars rover uses its onboard drill to obtain the first deep rock sample ever

retrieved from the surface of another planet.[104]

A genetically engineered strain of the vacciniavirus is found to triple the average survival time

of patients suffering from a severe form of liver cancer.[105]

12 February North Korea conducts its third nuclear test despite international sanctions and

condemnation.[106]

13 February

The ESA's CryoSat detects a significant decline in Arctic ice cover.[107]

Scientists successfully cure type 1 diabetes in dogs using a pioneering gene therapy.[108]

14 FebruaryUniversity of Oxford engineers construct anautonomous car that can be easily switched

between manual and self-driving modes.[109]

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) begins a plannedtwo-year shutdown, during which it will undergo amajor systems upgrade. Upon its reactivation in2014, the LHC will operate at an energy ofapproximately 14 teraelectronvolts double its

current maximum energy.[110]

Researchers develop a specialized neural implantwhich gives rats the ability to sense infrared light

a pioneering use of implant technology to grantliving creatures new abilities, instead of simply

replacing or augmenting existing ones.[111]

The United States Food and Drug Administration approves the first functional commercial


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

8/73

20 February 2013: NASA astronomers

discover the smallest exoplanet to date,

Kepler-37b (shown second from left).

bionic eye, the Argus II, for the treatment of blindness. The device, which became available inEurope in 2011, uses a combination of ocular implants and camera-equipped eyeglasses to

restore vision to people blinded by retinitis pigmentosa.[112]

15 FebruaryA 10-ton meteoroid impacts in Chelyabinsk, Russia, producing a powerful shockwave and

injuring over 1,000 people.[113][114]

The asteroid 2012 DA14, which masses around 130,000 tons, makes the closest Earth flyby yet

recorded for a large asteroid, passing within 27,000 kilometres (17,000 mi) of the Earth'ssurface.[115]

18 February Studies of a recently discovered Higgs boson-like particle suggest that the universe may

end in a false vacuum collapse billions of years from now.[116]

19 FebruaryThe UK government pledges to provide advanced bionic limbs for all British soldiers who have

lost limbs in combat.[117]

A new species of bent-toed gecko is formally described, having been discovered in

Vietnam.[118]

20 February

NASA reports the discovery of Kepler-37b, the smallest exoplanet yet known, around the sizeof Earth's Moon.[119]

Internet entrepreneurs Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg announce a new global prize for

excellence in the life sciences, offering US$3 million to each recipient.[120]

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, announces the Brain Activity Map Project a decade-long collaborative effort to map the structures and functions of the human brain, with

the aim of yielding new treatments for a range of neural diseases.[121]

21 FebruaryCornell University scientists use a 3D printer to create a living artificial ear from collagen andear cell cultures. In future, such ears could be grown to order for patients suffering from ear

trauma or amputation.[122]The deepest known hydrothermal vents are discovered in the Caribbean at a depth of almost

5,000 metres (16,000 ft).[123]

A study finds that bumblebees can sense electric fields around flowers.[124]

University of Pennsylvania researchers develop a "protein passport" able to bypass the body'simmune system. This could aid the delivery of medicinal nanoparticles in future

nanomedicine.[125]

22 February Data gathered from Siberian ice caves reveals that continued global warming may leadto widespread thawing of permafrost, potentially releasing massive volumes of trapped carbon dioxide

and methane into the atmosphere.[126]

23 February A US inventor builds a "spider-sense"bodysuit, equipped with ultrasonic sensors and hapticfeedback systems, which can alert its wearer ofapproaching threats and allow them to detect and respond

to attackers even when blindfolded.[127]

24 FebruaryOxford University researchers discover themechanism by which certain brain cells are able tosurvive being starved of oxygen. In future, this

research may yield more effective stroketreatments.[128]

A study finds that chimpanzees solve puzzles for

entertainment just as humans do.[129]


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

9/73

1 March 2013: Boston Dynamics develops

an advanced version of its BigDog heavy-

lifting robot (2006 version pictured),

featuring a powerful mechanical throwing

arm.

Scientists announce that they have found fragments of Rodinia, an ancient "lost"

supercontinent, in what is now the Indian Ocean.[130]

25 FebruaryIsrael successfully tests its Arrow 3 missile defence system, designed to destroy enemy ballistic

missiles while they are still high in the Earth's atmosphere.[131]

Medical researchers at the University of Barcelona report in theNew England Journal ofMedicinethat, based on a five-year study of 7,447 people, the Mediterranean diet reduces the

risk of heart disease in people at high risk by "about 30 percent".[132][133]26 February

American engineers develop a wirelessly charged flexible battery that can continue to functioneven if stretched to three times its usual size. With further development, the invention could be

used to power flexible smartphones, tablets and medical electronics.[134]

A study finds that sleep loss can alter the behavior of genes, which may explain why it often

precedes more serious medical problems such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.[135]

27 FebruaryAstronomers use the NuSTAR satellite to accurately measure the spin of a supermassive black

hole for the first time, reporting that its surface is spinning at almost the speed of light.[136]

An American company constructs a lightweight, high-efficiency urban car with an entirely3D-printed plastic body that is as damage-resistant as steel. The vehicle's construction is entirely

automated, requiring no human input beyond the uploading of the car's design. [137]

28 FebruaryDuke University researchers successfully connect the brains of two rats with electronicinterfaces that allow them to directly share information, in the first-ever direct brain-to-brain

interface.[138][139]

A study finds common genetic links between five major psychiatric disorders: autism, ADHD,

bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia.[140]

Astronomers make the first direct observation of a protoplanet forming in a disk of gas and dust

around a distant star.[141]

A third radiation belt is discovered around the Earth.[142]

Researchers identify adult stem cells in the bone marrow that could one day be used to treat

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).[143]

March

1 March Boston Dynamics demonstrates an updatedversion of its BigDog military robot, a mule-sized heavy-lifting robot able to navigate rough terrain and equipped

with an arm powerful enough to easily lift and throwbreeze blocks.[144]

3 March American scientists report that they have curedHIV in an infant by giving the child a course ofantiretroviral drugs very early in its life. The previouslyHIV-positive child has reportedly exhibited no HIVsymptoms since its treatment, despite having no further

medication for a year.[145]

4 MarchScientists announce that they have directly

measured the polarization of light, overcomingaspects of the uncertainty principle.[146]

DARPA begins efforts to develop a fleet of smallnaval vessels capable of launching and retrieving


73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

10/73

combat drones without the need for large and expensive aircraft carriers.[147]

5 March The Human Connectome Project releases the most detailed scans of the human brain yetmade, allowing neuroscientists to more accurately study the complexities of the brain's structure and

identify the causes of neural disorders.[148]

6 MarchAfter studying the DNA of a modern African American, scientists estimate that theY-chromosomal Adam the most recent male common ancestor of human beings lived much

earlier than previously thought, over 338,000 years ago.[149]Chinese and Israeli scientists develop a Breathalyzer-style breath test that can quickly and easilydiagnose stomach cancer by analyzing exhaled chemicals, without the need for an intrusive

endoscopy.[150]

7 MarchAfter an eight-year project involving the use of a pioneering cloning technique, Japaneseresearchers create 25 generations of healthy cloned mice with normal lifespans, demonstrating

that clones are not intrinsically shorter-lived than naturally born animals.[151]

An international project known as Bedmap2 analyses 50 years of data to measure the volume ofAntarctic ice, finding it to be 26,500,000 cubic kilometres (6,400,000 cu mi), which would raise

global sea levels by 58 metres (190 ft) if it melted.[152]

Scientists from Oregon State University reconstruct the global temperature record since the endof the last Ice Age. Their data, taken from 73 sites around the world, shows a clear and rapid

warming trend in the 20th and early 21st centuries.[153]

In a world first, researchers replace 75 percent of an injured patient's skull with a precision3D-printed polymer replacement implant. In future, damaged bones may routinely be replaced

with custom-manufactured implants.[154]

Tests on mice demonstrate conclusive proof that resveratrol, a compound found in red wine,

improves health and longevity.[155]

9 March

British dental researchers grow viable teeth from a combination of gingival cells and stem cells,potentially allowing future patients to receive living teeth to replace diseased or damaged

ones.[156]

Roboticists launch an online database and cloud computing platform which can be accessed byrobots worldwide, allowing them to more easily recognise unfamiliar objects and perform

intensive computing tasks.[157]

11 MarchAstronomers discover the binary brown dwarf Luhman 16 (WISE 1049-5319) at a distance of

6.5 light years from Earth the closest star system to be discovered since 1916.[158]

A study concludes that heart disease was common among ancient mummies.[159]

Researchers develop smart self-healing circuits that can rapidly restore themselves to a fullyfunctional state by detecting and neutralising electronic faults.[160]

12 MarchNASA's Curiosityrover finds evidence that conditions on Mars were once suitable for microbiallife after analyzing the first drilled sample of Martian rock, "John Klein" rock at YellowknifeBay in Gale Crater. The rover detected water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, sulfur dioxide, hydrogensulfide, chloromethane and dichloromethane. Related tests found results consistent with the

presence of smectite clay minerals.[161][162][163]

Japan becomes the first country to successfully extract natural gas from offshore methane

clathrate deposits.[164]

13 MarchThe Atacama Large Millimeter Array, at the time the world's most powerful radio telescope,

becomes fully operational in northern Chile.[165]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

11/73

13 March 2013: the Atacama Large

Millimeter Array (antennae pictured)

becomes operational in Chile. At the time, it

is the world's most powerful radio

telescope.

Lockheed Martin develops a new method fordesalination that is reportedly vastly cheaper andmore efficient than conventional methods. The newtechnique uses carbon membranes with nanoscalepores to efficiently filter salt molecules from

seawater to make drinkable water.[166]

14 March

CERN scientists confirm, with a very high degree ofcertainty, that a new particle identified by the LargeHadron Collider in July 2012 is the long-sought

Higgs boson.[167]

Scientists induce monkey skin cells to becomehealthy brain cells which function normally whenimplanted into the donor monkey's brain. Thisbreakthrough suggests that such personalized

medicine approaches could be effective in human patients.[168]

15 March Scientists working on the Lazarus Project announce that they have successfully

rejuvenated cells ofRheobatrachus silus, a species of frog extinct since 1983.

[169]

16 March Japanese researchers unveil the "smelling screen", a digital display screen capable of

emitting pinpointed smells.[170]

17 MarchNew data suggests that the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on the Earth's surface, is home to

a large amount of bacterial life forms.[171][172]Other researchers reported related studies thatmicrobes thrive inside rocks up to 580 m (1,900 ft) below the sea floor under 2,600 m (8,500 ft)

of ocean off the coast of the northwestern United States.[171][173]

Shams 1, the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, becomes operational in Abu Dhabi,

United Arab Emirates.[174]

18 MarchIf global average temperatures rise by just 2C, the number of extreme storm surges like

Hurricane Katrina will increase tenfold, according to new research.[175]

US scientists successfully map 80% of the neurons in a vertebrate brain at cellular-level

resolution in just 1.3 seconds.[176]

NASA reports evidence from the Curiosityrover on Mars of mineral hydration, likely hydratedcalcium sulfate, in several rock samples, including the broken fragments of "Tintina" rock and"Sutton Inlier" rock as well as in the veins and nodules in other rocks like "Knorr" rock and

"Wernicke" rock.[177]Analysis using the rover's DAN instrument provided evidence ofsubsurface water, amounting to as much as 4% water content, down to a depth of 60 cm

(2.0 ft).[177]

Pluto may have up to 10 moons, along with at least one ring system, according to a new

study.[178]

19 March

The Neanderthal genome is sequenced by German scientists from a toe bone found in southern

Siberia.[179]

Scientists announce they can now illuminate up to 100 biomarkers, ten times more than theprevious standard. This breakthrough may make it much easier to spot proteins in cancer cells

a vital diagnostic technique.[180]

NASA reports that a software computer problem on the CuriosityMars rover is now repaired.[181][182]

Researchers at the University of Cambridge demonstrate a virtual "talking head" with realistic

emotions, which could lead to more naturalistic human-computer interactions.[183]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

12/73

19 March 2013: German scientists sequencethe genome of the Neanderthal (skull

pictured).

Swiss scientists develop a medical scanner that canbe implanted just under the skin and can monitor arange of blood-related conditions, providing instantresults via mobile phone. They say it will be

available to patients by 2017.[184]

20 March Gene therapy is used to cure leukaemia in

three adult patients.[185]

21 MarchThe European-led research team behind the Planckcosmology probe releases the mission's all-sky map

of the cosmic microwave background.[186]The mapsuggests the universe is slightly older than thought;according to the team, the universe is 13.798 0.037 billion years old, and contains 4.9% ordinarymatter, 26.8% dark matter and 68.3% dark

energy.[187]Also, the Hubble constant was

measured to be 67.80 0.77 (km/s)/Mpc.[186][187]

Scientists develop a video screen that allows usersto see 3D images without using special glasses.[188]

Scientists develop genetically engineeredT-lymphocytes that have been proven successful intreating cases of acute lymphoblastic

leukaemia.[189]

22 March At the 44th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, scientists announce thediscovery of the first known meteorite to originate from Mercury. The green rock, known as NWA

7325, is thought to be 4.56 billion years old.[190]

24 March

Supplementation of the protein SNX27 reverses the Down syndrome phenotype in mice,according to new research.[191]

Scientists discover mutations in 26 genes that are believed to be responsible for oesophageal

cancer, a breakthrough that could lead to new drug treatments for the disease.[192]

27 March A potential new weight loss method is discovered, after a 20% weight reduction was

achieved in mice simply by having their gut microbes altered.[193]

28 MarchNew research suggests that the cloth in the Turin Shroud, rather than being medieval in origin,

likely dates from between 300 BC and 400 AD.[194]

Stanford researchers announce the construction of a working transistor-like device, dubbed a

transcriptor, out of DNA and RNA molecules.[195][196]NIH scientists report studies that life began 9.7 2.5 billion years ago, billions of years beforethe Earth was formed, based on "extrapolation of the genetic complexity of organisms to earlier

times".[197][198]

29 March Scientists create a robotic ant colony that behaves like a real one. The tiny machines can

be programmed to avoid obstacles and find the quickest route through a network or maze.[199]

April

3 April

A breakthrough is achieved in the production of hydrogen fuel, allowing large quantities to beextracted from any plant.[200]

A new study suggests that common cholesterol-reducing drugs may also prevent macular

degeneration.[201]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

13/73

3 April 2013: NASA reports that the Alpha

Magnetic Spectrometer (pictured,

center-left) has detected possible signs of

the elusive phenomenon known as dark

matter.

NASA scientists report that hints of dark mattermay have been detected by the Alpha MagneticSpectrometer on the International Space Station.[202][203]According to the scientists, "the firstresults from the space-borne Alpha MagneticSpectrometer confirm an unexplained excess ofhigh-energy positrons in Earth-bound cosmic

rays."[204]

NASA states that complex organic chemicals couldarise on Titan, a moon of Saturn, based on studies

simulating the atmosphere of Titan.[205]

4 AprilThe discovery of the most distant supernova yet

found is announced.[206]

Scientists construct a 3D printer which can create

material very similar to human tissue.[207]

A new species of giant tarantula, Poecilotheria rajaei, is formally described, having been

discovered in Sri Lanka in 2009.[208]

American scientists announce that they have identified a number of genetic markers that are

associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.[209]

A new camera system is developed that can generate high-resolution 3D images from up to a

kilometre away.[210]

7 April A US startup company develops plant-derived proteins that can be used as a sustainable,

environmentally friendly substitute for eggs in almost all food products.[211]

9 AprilAt the 2013 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, American defense companies display prototypes ofnumerous advanced weapons technologies, including viable railguns, VTOL airships and

grenade-sized reconnaissance robots.[212]British researchers discover that a mutation of the gene BRCA2 increases both the risk andseverity of prostate cancer in men, as well as being linked to hereditary breast cancer in

women.[213]

Chinese scientists develop a carbon-based aerogel which they claim is the lightest material yet

produced, with a density only slightly greater than that of air.[214]

Scientists state that climate change may cause a significant increase in air turbulence over the

North Atlantic by 2050, potentially endangering passenger aircraft.[215]

10 AprilStanford University researchers develop "CLARITY", a method of making brain tissue

transparent using acrylamide, allowing brain structures to be studied in unprecedented detailwithout requiring extensive biopsies.[216]

Scientists develop the first objective method of measuring pain by directly studying the brains of

patients.[217]

Scientists find that, by inhibiting the SEC24A gene, cholesterol levels in mice can be reduced by

45%, offering hope for an alternative or complementary therapy to statins.[218][219]

11 AprilInternational researchers discover key similarities in the brains of arthropods and vertebrates,

potentially aiding scientific understanding of the causes of human neural diseases. [220]

Philips demonstrates a new type of LED lighting that is reportedly twice as energy-efficient as

any previous electric lightbulb.[221]

A study finds that carefully timed sounds played during sleep can enhance memory.[222]

NASA reports the possible finding of the "debris field" of the 1971 Soviet Mars 3 lander on theplanet Mars. Images taken by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter seem to


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

14/73

12 April 2013: scientists reconstruct the

skeleton of the ancient hominid

Australopithecus sediba(cranium

pictured).

show the possible remains of the parachute, retrorockets, heat shield and lander. [223]

12 AprilAnimal trials are set to begin on a gene therapy foramyotrophic lateral sclerosis a degenerativecondition which counts Stephen Hawking among its

sufferers.[224]

Scientists reconstruct the skeleton of the ancienthominidAustralopithecus sediba, discovering that itpossessed a unique mixture of human- and ape-like

traits.[225]

The first building to be entirely powered by algae is

constructed in Hamburg.[226]

15 AprilA functional lab-grown kidney is successfullytransplanted into a live rat in Massachusetts GeneralHospital. This breakthrough is a major step forward

for the nascent field of regenerative medicine.

[227][228]

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search experiment reports the possible discovery of traces of dark

matter, although further experimental confirmation is required.[229]

16 April American medical researchers develop a new type of bandage which uses microscopicneedles to adhere to injured flesh. The bandage requires no adhesive chemicals, is significantlystronger than existing medical adhesives, and could offer a safer and more efficient means of securing

skin grafts.[230]

17 AprilScientists develop a new form of lithium-ion battery which is thousands of times more powerfulthan current battery technologies, while also charging much faster. The battery utilises acompact 3D design, intertwining its electrodes to maximize its surface area while reducing its

volume.[231]

MIT researchers determine the structure of bones down to the molecular level, usingsupercomputer simulations twinned with studies of real bone fibers. Their data grants newinsights into the compounds that grant living bone its strength, and may permit the manufacture

of versatile new biomimetic materials.[232]

The genome of the coelacanth, an endangered deep-sea "living fossil", is sequenced.[233]

18 April NASA announces the discovery of three new Earthlike exoplanets Kepler-62e,Kepler-62f, and Kepler-69c in the habitable zones of their respective host stars, Kepler-62 andKepler-69. The new exoplanets, which are considered prime candidates for possessing liquid water

and thus potentially life, were identified using the Keplerspacecraft.[234][235]

21 AprilThe Antares rocket, a commercial launch vehicle developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation,

successfully conducts its maiden flight.[236]

A study concludes that stress leads to faster growth in squirrels. [237]

22 AprilBiologists use antibodies to transform bone marrow stem cells directly into healthy brain cells.This breakthrough may allow neurological injuries and illnesses to be more effectively treated,

and reduces the risk of immune rejection.[238]

University of Exeter scientists report the creation of a genetically modified strain of E. coli

bacteria which can convert sugar into diesel fuel.[239]

A British engineer unveils a giant "mantis" robot, large enough to carry a human pilot, which issupported by multiple hydraulic legs. The robot has reportedly attracted the interest of mining

and marine research companies.[240]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

15/73

21 April 2013: the Antares commercial

launch vehicle (pictured) is successfullylaunched on its maiden flight by Orbital

Sciences Corporation.

24 AprilIBM develops a robot which combines telepresenceand augmented reality technologies to assistengineers working on complex projects in remote

areas.[241]

CERN releases new particle-collision data from theLarge Hadron Collider which may help explain why

matter became dominant over antimatter in theearly universe.[242]

25 April A partial lunar eclipse occurs.[243]

26 AprilFollowing laboratory tests of molten iron, Europeanscientists determine that the Earth's core has atemperature of 6,000 degrees Celsius, 1,000 degreeshotter than previously thought. This discovery mayhelp explain why the planet has such a strong

geomagnetic field.[244]

US and Chinese scientists develop a sensor arraywhich is as sensitive to touch and pressure as thehuman fingertip. The invention may pave the wayfor new robotic sensors, electronic interfaces and

types of artificial skin.[245]

27 April Design approval is given for a crucial reactor component of the ITER nuclear fusionproject, which is currently under construction in Cadarache, France, and is expected to begin

generating fusion power in 2022.[246]

29 AprilAfter years of unpowered glide tests, Scaled Composites' SpaceShipTwo hybrid spaceplane

successfully conducts its first rocket-powered flight.[247]

The ESA's Herschel Space Observatory runs out of liquid helium coolant, marking the end of its

highly productive four-year mission to observe the far infrared universe.[248]

NASA's Cassini spacecraft photographs an enormous hurricane on Saturn, more than 20 times

the size of the average terrestrial hurricane.[249]

NASA-funded French scientists claim that, during experiments on the International SpaceStation, microbes seem to adapt to the space environment in ways "not observed on Earth" and

in ways that "can lead to increases in growth and virulence".[250]

May

1 MayIBM scientists releaseA Boy and His Atom, the smallest stop-motion animation ever created,made by manipulating individual carbon monoxide molecules with a scanning tunnelling

microscope.[251]

Researchers discover that boron nitride a nanomaterial also known as "white graphene" ishighly effective at removing harmful chemicals from polluted water, and could be used to clean

up future oil spills.[252]

American engineers create a multi-lens digital camera that mimics an insect's compound eye,

providing immense depth of field without distorting the image.[253]

2 May Harvard scientists unveil RoboBee, a miniature robot with the smallest ever man-made wingscapable of flight.[254]

3 MayScientists announce the discovery of a previously unknown meat-eating theropod dinosaur,

Aorun zhaoi, dating from approximately 161 million years ago. It is the oldest coelurosaur yet


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

16/73

29 April 2013: Virgin Galactic's

SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane

(pictured with White Knight Two

mothership) makes its first rocket-powered

flight.

discovered.[255]

Researchers cure epilepsy in mice using transplanted brain cells.[256]

6 MayIt is shown that boosting a single gene can increasethe maximum lifespan of fruit flies by over 25

percent.[257]

European researchers announce a potential cure forgrey hair.[258]

American scientists transform skin cells into bonecells using induced pluripotent methods, in whichthe cells were grown on scaffolding, allowing themto gain a 3D structure. This is the first time a fullyfunctioning three-dimensional bone structure has

been created from cell lines.[259]

A new study finds that children whose parents suckon their pacifiers have fewer allergies later in

life.[260]

Solar engineers discover a method of increasing the

efficiency of standard commercial silicon solar cells from 19% to 23%.[261]

7 MayA new study suggests that all Europeans are related to a small group of ancestors dating back

only 1,000 years.[262]

Researchers discover statistical but controversial evidence for the proposed Eurasiatic language

superfamily, dating back 15,000 years.[263]

Scientists identify what may be the earliest known pachycephalosaur,Acrotholus audeti.[264]

The Alzheimer's drug Gammagard fails to produce results in a large-scale clinical trial.[265]

8 May Researchers achieve a significant breakthrough in understanding genital herpes, which couldlead to the development of a vaccine to prevent and treat HSV-2.[266]

9 MayIn a breakthrough they describe as "huge", researchers have identified a protein that reducesheart size and thickness in mice. This could potentially offer a way of treating heart failure and

aging in humans.[267]

A congressional hearing (http://science.edgeboss.net/wmedia/science/sst2013/SP050913.wvx)by two U. S. House of Representatives subcommittees discusses exoplanet discoveries(https://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-space-and-subcommittee-research-joint-hearing-exoplanet-discoveries-have-we), prompted by the discovery of the exoplanet

Kepler-62f, along with Kepler-62e and Kepler-62c. A related special issue(http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6132.toc) of the journal Science, published earlier,

described the discovery of the exoplanets.[268]

10 May

An annular solar eclipse occurs.[269]

The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth's atmosphere reaches a symbolic milestone,

passing 400 ppm (parts per million) for the first time in human history.[270][271]

Researchers create a form of magnetic graphene that could transform the electronics

industry.[272]

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police report the first known case of a life being saved by a

search and rescue drone.[273]11 May Researchers develop a thermal invisibility device, measuring 5 cm wide, able to "cloak"

objects from heat.[274]

12 May It is discovered that Utricularia gibba, a carnivorous bladderwort plant, has the shortest


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

17/73

15 May 2013: researchers discover keycholesterol genes in baboons, potentially

leading to new drugs to treat heart disease in

humans.

known DNA sequence of any multicellular plant. It largely lacks "junk DNA", sequences of code that

do not encode proteins.[275]

13 May Researchers at NYU school of Medicine identify a key protein mutation, called Ras, that is

the mechanism through which pancreatic cancer cells acquire nutrients.[276]

14 May Iranian scientists create copper iodide nanostructures by applying pomegranate juice as a

reducer.[277]

15 MayHuman embryonic stem cells are created by cloningfor the first time, with major implications for

treating a wide range of diseases.[278]

NASA reports that a reaction wheel on the Keplerspace observatory may be malfunctioning and mayresult in the premature termination of theobservatory's search for Earth-like exoplanets.[279][280]

Four genes implicated in "bad" cholesterol have

been identified in baboons, a finding that could pavethe way for new drugs to prevent human heart

disease.[281]

New fossils provide physical evidence that theevolutionary split between apes and monkeys mayhave occurred "25 to 30 million years ago", as long

suggested by DNA findings.[282]

New evidence suggests that Mount Everest's

glaciers are melting.[283]

Scientists release pictures of what they believe the

lost city of La Ciudad Blanca in La Mosquitia,Honduras.[284]

A new study finds that the white blood cell levels inmen decrease faster during aging than in women,possibly providing one clue as to why women have

longer average lifespans.[285]

Fish have been migrating to the poles for decades, due to climate change, according to a new

study.[286]

A team of Iranian researchers studies nanotechnology applications in neuroscience, reporting

new results regarding medicine and drug delivery for the brain and nerves.[287]

16 MayWater dating back 2.6 billion years, by far the oldest ever found, is discovered in a Canadian

mine.[288]

A study suggests that marijuana may improve blood sugar levels by decreasing insulin

resistance.[289]

Mild electric shock is shown to provide a lasting improvement to mathematical ability.[290]

A new world record has been achieved in wireless data transfer, with 40 Gbit/s transferred at

240 GHz over a distance of one kilometer.[291]

21 MayGenetic samples from a museum specimen have revealed the pathogen that caused the

19th-century Irish potato famine. The strain is now thought to be extinct.[292]By blocking a protein known as NF-kB that is secreted by the hypothalamus, researchers extend

the lifespan of laboratory mice by 20 percent.[293]

22 May


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

18/73

27 May 2013: scientists successfullyresurrect bryophyte specimens (Marchantia

pictured) which had been frozen inert in

glacial ice for 400 years.

Plans are approved for the world's biggest wave farm in north-west Scotland, with an intended

power-generation capacity of 40MW.[294]

In a significant move to address climate change, China announces that it will impose a cap on

carbon emissions by 2016.[295]

Researchers at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, report that Earth is pushing the

Moon away more quickly than it has done for most of the past 50 million years.[296]

Researchers in France confirm that atypical activation of different genes distinct to other tissues

occur in all kinds of cancer. Tumor cells in lung cancer, for example, express genes, whichshould be silent, particular to male sperm production. According to the researchers, "Themethodical recognition of ectopic gene activations in cancer cells could serve as a basis for gene

signatureguided tumor stratification".[297][298]

23 May Very early symptoms of Huntington's disease, such as depression and anxiety, can be

prevented in mice by switching off a protein, according to a new study.[299]

25 May A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs.[300]

26 May Using new algorithms, researchers generate accurate images of sub-cellular structures in

milliseconds rather than minutes.[301]

27 MayFour-hundred-year-old bryophyte specimens leftbehind by retreating glaciers in Canada are brought

back to life in the laboratory.[302]

Archaeologists announce the discovery of nearly5,000 cave paintings, some of which may date back

as early as 6,000 BC, near Burgos, Mexico.[303]

28 May The first graphene-based circuits to break thegigahertz barrier are created by researchers in the US and

Italy.[304][305]

29 MayAurornis xuiis described as the most basal speciesofAvialae, potentially unseatingArchaeopteryxas

the oldest known bird.[306]

Soyuz TMA-09M is launched from the BaikonurCosmodrome, transporting a three-person crew to

the International Space Station.[307]

Russian scientists announce the discovery of mammoth blood and well-preserved muscle tissue

from an adult female specimen in Siberia.[308]

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) discovers 28 asteroid families through the

Jupiter-Mars chief asteroid belt. It also finds a large number of formerly concealed andunclassified asteroids through infrared snapshots for the first time.[309]

A team of chemists and physicists from Japan's Yokohama National University produce amaterial that can be developed into mixed, conductive 3D formations, enabling scientists to

create customized brain electrodes.[310]

For the first time, astronomers observe a spinning neutron star suddenly slowing down. [311]

Freescale Semiconductor introduces KL02, a millimeter-scale microchip that contains almost all

the components of a tiny functioning computer.[312]

30 MayNew analysis suggests that turtles evolved a shell 40 million years earlier than previously

thought.[313]Stanford University researchers unveil a zinc-air battery that is more energy-dense and cheaper

than lithium-ion counterparts.[314]

Researchers create the first-ever high-resolution images of a molecule as it breaks and reforms


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

19/73

31 May 2013: the asteroid (285263) 1998

QE2 (pictured) and its orbiting moon passclose to the Earth.

6 June 2013: an artificially grown blood

vessel is transplanted into an American

patient for the first time.

chemical bonds.[315]

Biomedical researchers at SCRM in Edinburgh, Scotland, successfully synthesize human blood

using stem cells.[316]

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University invent a graphene-based sensor that is 1,000

times more sensitive to light than traditional CMOS or CCD sensors.[317]

Within a century, climate change will threaten extinction for 82 percent of California's native

fish, according to researchers at UC Davis.[318]

31 MayNASA scientists report a possible manned missionto Mars may involve a great radiation risk, based onthe amount of energetic particle radiation detectedby the RAD on the Mars Science Laboratory whiletraveling from the Earth to Mars in 20112012.[319][320][321]

NASA astronomers report that the near-Earthasteroid 1998 QE2 is passing 3.6 million miles away

from the Earth. 1998 QE2 reportedly has its ownasteroid moon.[322]

Researches find fragments of meteorites in pieces ofancient Egyptian jewellery, which were discovered

in a cemetery dating back to roughly 3,300 BC near Cairo in 1911.[323]

Researchers at the University of Birmingham develop an effective hearing aid based on the ear

structure of a species of fly, Ormia ochracea.[324]

June

1 June TheNew York Timesreports that "the United States is far and away the world leader inmedical spending, even though numerous studies have concluded that Americans do not get better

care."[325]

4 JuneA new treatment to "reset" the immune system of multiple sclerosis patients is reported to

reduce their reactivity to myelin by 50 to 75 percent.[326]

A newly discovered prehistoric lizard,Barbaturex morrisoni, is named after Doors singer Jim

Morrison, who called himself "The Lizard King".[327]

Microchip maker Intel launches its Haswell series of processors, offering better graphics

performance and battery efficiency over the previous processor generation.[328]

5 JuneUrban environments have a profound effect on thecircadian rhythms of humans and animals,

according to a new study.[329]

Scientists report fossil remains ofArchicebusachilles, a primate considered to be the "earliestwell-preserved fossil primate ever found," dating

back an estimated 55 million years.[330][331]

Researchers made a new discovery about tumors inhominids. They report the finding of the first knowntumor in the rib of a Neanderthal man who lived

more than 120,000 years ago.[332]

6 JuneFor the first time in the United States, a


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

20/73

13 June 2013: in a landmark case, the

United States Supreme Court rules that

non-synthetic genes cannot be patented by

medical companies.

bioengineered blood vessel is transplanted into a patient's arm. The patient, a man with

end-stage kidney disease, is part of a clinical trial of laboratory-grown veins.[333]

Scientists state that most male birds have no penis. They ejaculate sperm out of an exit opening

named a cloaca, which is also used for excreting urine and feces.[334][335]

Scientists at the IAA-CSIC report the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the

upper atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of the planet Saturn. [336]

7 June Breastfeeding boosts brain development compared to formula-fed babies, according to a new

study.[337]10 June

Scientists report that the earlier claims of an Earth-like exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri B, a

star close to our Solar System, may not be supported by astronomical evidence. [338][339]

A new skyscraper elevator is demonstrated using carbon fiber cables to reach heights of 1,000

metres (3,300 ft) or higher in a single trip, without passengers needing to change lifts. [340][341]

11 JuneScientists at the University of Nottingham discover a previously undetected layer in the human

cornea, dubbed Dua's layer.[342]

The world's first commercially available 5-GHz computer processor is unveiled by AMD.[343]

12 JuneA new study suggests that altitude plays a role in language evolution, explaining why ejective

sounds are more popular in languages of high-altitude regions.[344]

Taking the AIDS drug tenofovir greatly reduces the risk of HIV infection among intravenous

drug users, according to a new study.[345]

Scientists discover a method to use pressure to make a material expand instead of

compress/contract. The pressure-treated material has half the density of the first state.[346]

13 JuneSleep researchers state that natural sleep allows the

brain to combine emotional memory, and also findthat a popular sleeping drug heightens therecollection of and response to negative

memories.[347]

The US Supreme Court rules that naturallyoccurring genes may not be patented, withsignificant implications for future medical research.[348][349]

14 JuneAmerican researchers identitfy a key embryonic

protein that, though usually deactivated shortly afterbirth, is reactivated in patients with advancedcancer. This breakthrough may allow for bettertreatment of advanced cancer cases, which typicallyrespond poorly to currently available therapies. As aresult of this discovery, scientists may be able todetermine from the structure of the protein thefundamental process through which cancer cells

seek out new tumor sites and create secondary tumors after leaving the primary tumor site. [350]

Scientists combine synchrotron X-rays with scanning tunneling microscopy to create highlydetailed images of different materials at the atomic level. By combining the two methods,researchers are now able to not only see where individual atoms reside but also determine amaterial's chemical and magnetic properties. This discovery could have wide applications in

accelerating discoveries in a number of fields, particularly in nanotechnology.[351]

Sharp Corporation achieves the highest solar cell energy conversion efficiency to date, of


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

21/73

20 June 2013: silver particles are found to

massively increase the effectiveness of

antibiotics.

approximately 44.4%, using a concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell.[352]

17 JuneTOP500 reports that China's Tianhe-2 supercomputer is the world's most powerful computer,

capable of performing over 33 quadrillion floating point operations per second.[353]

Physicists report the possible detection of a new subatomic particle, Zc(3900), a hadron which

may be the first tetraquark to have been observed experimentally.[354]

Two separate teams independently develop prototype flying bicycles. British engineers construct

a hybrid bicycle-paraglider capable of flying to an altitude of 4,000 feet (1,200 m), while aCzech team demonstrates a multi-rotor electric "hoverbike" that can hover like a helicopter at

low altitudes.[355][356]

Engineers demonstrate a small quadrupedal "cheetah-cub" robot, with speed and agilityapproaching that of a real cat. The prototype is intended as the basis for future search-

and-rescue robots with vastly greater speed and agility than human emergency workers.[357]

Weapons manufacturer MBDA Germany develops a high-powered laser weapon capable of

targeting and destroying incoming rockets, artillery shells and UAVs.[358]

18 JuneGoogle launches a fleet of high-altitude balloons capable of beaming wireless internet to remote

locations far more cheaply than satellites.[359]American scientists use 3D printing to manufacture a new class of microscopic batteries, whichmay allow the easy production of extremely small medical devices, nanorobots and

communications systems.[360]

British researchers develop high-resolution 3D holograms for the teaching of anatomy to

medical students.[361]

19 June Scientists claim that "cancerproof" laboratory animals, such as naked mole rats, may not getcancer because they produce an "extremely high-molecular-mass hyaluronan", which is over "five

times larger" than that in cancer-prone humans and cancer-susceptible laboratory animals.[362][363]

20 JuneAdding silver particles to antibiotics makes them 10to 1,000 times more effective at fighting infections,

research suggests.[364]

International neuroscientists produce a full-3D mapof a human brain, scanning and digitizing thousandsof ultrathin slices of the brain to determine itsstructure at extremely high resolution. The map willbe made freely available to medical researchers

worldwide.[365]

During the Shenzhou 10 mission, Chinese astronautsdeliver the country's first public video broadcast

from the orbiting Tiangong-1 space laboratory.[366]

The European Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle(IXV), an experimental spacecraft which is intendedto make its first orbital launch in 2014, successfully

conducts a parachute drop test over the Mediterranean Sea.[367]

Physicists develop a table-top particle accelerator with 2 gigaelectronvolts (GeV) of power,

downsizing a conventional accelerator by a factor of 10,000.[368][369]

American engineers create a functional, rechargeable nanoscale battery out of wood. The

conductive wooden fibers, coated with tin, are longer-lasting than any previous nanoscalebattery.[370]

The Israeli-based company NeuroDerm reports good trial results for a new Parkinson's disease

treatment, which involves dermal introduction of two separate drugs.[371]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

22/73

27 June 2013: researchers induce "twisted

light" beams in optical fibers, allowing for

extremely high-bandwidth data transfer.

21 June Following groundbreaking laboratory tests, researchers discover that plants make use of

quantum effects to efficiently channel photons during photosynthesis.[372]

23 JuneScientists find that plants use complex mathematical calculations, similar to human circadian

rhythms, to adjust their energy usage.[373]

Following a large-scale genome study, researchers identify some of the biological roots of

migraine, a chronic neurological condition affecting as many as 15% of all humans.[374]

The 2013 Paris Air Show concludes, after a week of new technology demonstrations including a"green" electric airliner taxiing system, the world's first electric tiltrotor prototype, and

advanced avionics and in-flight entertainment systems.[375][376][377]

24 JuneResearchers from Duke University detect methane in drinking water in Pennsylvania, claimingthat "serious contamination from bubbly methane is 'much more' prevalent in some water wellswithin 1 kilometer of gas drilling sites". The researchers note that methane levels are "anaverage of six times" higher and ethane levels are "23 times higher" in the water wells "closer to

drilling sites, compared with those farther away."[378]

The 10,000th near-Earth object is discovered by astronomers at the University of Hawaii.[379]

25 June In an unprecedented discovery, astronomers detect three potentially Earthlike exoplanetsorbiting a single star in the Gliese 667 system.[380]

26 JuneChina's Shenzhou 10 manned spacecraft returns safely to Earth, having conducted China's

longest manned space mission to date.[381]

American scientists partially heal spinal cord injuries in paralyzed rats by transplanting nervecells into the injury sites. These laboratory trials are hoped to be a precursor to human trials in

the near future.[382]

Ancient horse bones dating back 700,000 years are found to contain by far the oldest preserved

DNA sequence yet discovered, predating all previous finds by 500,000 years.[383]

27 JuneJapanese scientists produce a healthy cloned mouse

from cells contained in a single drop of blood.[384]

British geologists report that 1.3 quadrillion cubicfeet of shale gas are present in shale formations innorthern England, potentially heralding a

transformation of the British energy market.[385]

Researchers create genetically engineered wheatstrains resistant to the fungal disease stem rust,

which is a constant threat to wheat crops in thedeveloping world.[386]

Scientists demonstrate an optical fiber that uses"twisted light" to transmit massive amounts ofinformation, potentially revolutionizing the field ofdata transfer. The prototype fiber was able totransmit data at rates of over one terabit per second.[387][388]

US and German scientists develop a simple andefficient new method for desalinating seawater,using a small electric field to separate salt from water without needing complex filter

membranes.[389]

US and Swiss researchers develop a new form of telescopic contact lens designed to improve thevision of sufferers of age-related macular degeneration, which previously could not be

ameliorated with contact lenses.[390]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

23/73

3 July 2013: in a groundbreaking medical

trial, bone marrow transplants are found to

eliminate all traces of HIV (virus particles

pictured) in two male patients.

Molecular biologists successfully trap a ribosome in the middle of its protein-forming state,allowing them to study the precise motions it uses to translate genetic code into functionalproteins. This discovery sheds new light on the basic building-blocks of life, and may allow the

development of new antibiotics.[391]

28 June MIT engineers invent a handheld "X-ray vision" device which allows users to detect

movement through walls.[392]

July

1 July The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope releases new data on the highest-energy regions of

the observable universe, including over 500 new gamma-ray bursts.[393]

2 JulyDrinking several cups of coffee daily appears to reduce the risk of suicide in men and women byabout 50%, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers.[394][395]

Using computer modelling and solar data, Scottish scientists determine that the last livingspecies on Earth in the distant future will be extremophile microbes able to survive harsh

conditions.[396]

Microsoft develops a 3D touchscreen that uses force sensors and a robotic arm to allow users to

"feel" objects that it displays.[397]

The first Maersk Triple E-class container ships, the largest and most energy-efficient cargo

vessels yet constructed, begin sea trials.[398]

The two most recently discovered moons of Pluto are officially named Styx and Kerberos.[399][400]

3 JulyIn a breakthrough for regenerative medicine,

Japanese scientists grow functional livers from stemcells and successfully transplant them into

mice.[401]

It is reported that naval sonar can seriously disruptthe behavior of whales, potentially causing them to

fatally beach themselves.[402]

Bone marrow transplants are found to remove alltraces of HIV from two test patients, in conjunction

with antiretroviral treatments.[403][404]

A New Zealand student designs a "skeletal"

3D-printable orthopedic cast that offers far greaterlightness, cleanliness and ventilation thanconventional casts, and can be personalized to suit

individual patients and specific injuries.[405]

4 July

The London Array, at the time the world's largest offshore wind farm, opens in the UK.[406]

A US study reveals that remaining mentally and physically active in old age is key to slowing the

onset of dementia.[407]

5 JulyEuropean researchers create molecular nanowires which are ultra-sensitive to ambient magnetic

fields, requiring no actual magnetic materials to change their electrical conductivity. Theinvention, which is similar to the system used for navigation by migratory birds, could havenumerous applications in electronics, from improved magnetic sensors and hard disk drives to

enhanced smartphones.[408]

Scientists record X-ray videos of bats in flight, revealing the highly efficient skeletal motion that


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

24/73

6 July 2013: the Solar Impulse aircraft

(photographed above in 2011) becomes the

first entirely solar-powered airplane to

complete a flight across the United States.

allows them to fly. This data could be used to design new, more efficient flying robots.[409]

6 JulyThe Solar Impulse aircraft completes the first cross-country flight over the United States

powered entirely by solar energy.[410]

Scientists report that a wide variety of microbial life exists in the subglacial Antarctic LakeVostok, which has been buried in ice for around 15 million years. Samples of the lake's water

obtained by drilling were found to contain traces of DNA from over 3,000 tiny organisms. [411]

8 JulyNanoparticles of rust could be used to efficiently generate hydrogen fuel from sunlight and

water, according to a scientific study.[412]

Researchers state that the first baby conceived with a new, cheaper, more efficient form of IVF

is born healthy.[413]

9 JulyScientists develop a blood test for babies that canreportedly predict a person's long-term health and

rate of ageing in later life.[414]

A radical new theory of the composition of theEarth's core is published. It proposes that the shapeof the solid iron core is determined by the atomicstructure of the different forms of iron of which it

consists.[415]

North Carolina State University researchersdemonstrate a method of 3D printing liquid metal atroom temperature, forming freestanding structureswhich maintain their shape despite initiallyremaining liquid. The invention, which uses an alloyof gallium and indium, could allow electroniccircuitry and even flexible wiring to be printed on

demand.[416][417]

10 JulyFrench scientists construct an ultra-precise optical lattice clock that misses only one second in300 million years. The clock's measurements could form a new basis for global time standards,

replacing the present generation of atomic clocks.[418]

The American Northrop Grumman X-47B becomes the first drone to perform an arrested

landing on an aircraft carrier at sea.[419]

11 JulyFor the first time, astronomers determine the true colour of a distant exoplanet. HD 189733 b, asearing-hot gas giant, is said to be a vivid blue colour, most likely due to clouds of silica in its

atmosphere.[420]

Italian scientists successfully treat the symptoms of leukodystrophy in six young children using

gene therapy.[421]

DARPA and Boston Dynamics unveil the Atlas humanoid robot, a 6-foot (1.8 m) autonomous

machine capable of a wide variety of military and disaster-response operations.[422]

The Canadian AeroVelo team wins the Igor Sikorsky Prize for developing a fully functional

human-powered helicopter, 33 years after the competition began.[423]

12 July British engineers develop a high-velocity penetrator probe capable of surviving impactforces of 20,000 gravities. The probe could be used to punch through the icy surface of Jupiter's moon

Europa to search for aquatic life.[424]

15 JulyScientists sequence the genomes of 201 microbe species in an effort to gain a more detailed

understanding of Earth's microbial ecosystem.[425]


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

25/73

10 July 2013: the Northrop Grumman

X-47B (photographed above) becomes the

first robotic aircraft to successfully land on

an aircraft carrier at sea.

The Hubble Space Telescope photographs a new moon of Neptune, the 14th to be discovered so

far. It is estimated to be just 12 miles (19 km) across.[426]

NASA engineers successfully test a rocket engine with a fully 3D-printed injector, proving thatcritical rocket components can be produced through 3D printing without compromising their

effectiveness.[427]

Seismologists report that small earthquakes occur in a sequence with rapidly increasingfrequency prior to a volcanic eruption. The discovery, described as a "seismic scream", could

help predict future eruptions.[428]

16 JulyNASA's Curiosityrover reaches a milestone in its

journey across Mars, having travelled 1 kilometre

(0.62 mi) since its landing in 2012.[429]

Researchers develop artificial peroxisomes that canreduce toxic oxygen compounds. This could lead tonovel drugs that influence processes directly inside

living cells.[430]

17 JulyAmerican scientists develop a method of "switchingoff" the extra chromosome that causes Down'ssyndrome, potentially offering an entirely new

treatment for the condition.[431]

British medical researchers create an "intelligent"surgical knife with a built-in mass spectrometer thatcan detect cancerous tissue during operations, allowing surgeons to more accurately and

effectively excise tumors without damaging healthy tissue.[432]

Swedish scientists create a magnesium carbonate-based material with an unparalleled surface-area-to-volume ratio and excellent water absorption abilities. The new material, dubbed"Upsalite", could have applications in many fields, including electronics, toxic waste cleanup,

sanitation and medical drug delivery.[433][434]

In an unprecedented discovery, astronomers directly observe the destruction of a gas cloud

larger than Earth's solar system by the supermassive black hole at the galactic core.[435]

Based on 34 earlier studies, researchers identify remarkable similarities between the brains of

birds and humans.[436]

18 July A "giant" new genus of virus, Pandoravirus, is announced, along with two recently

identified species, Pandoravirus dulcisand Pandoravirus salinus.[437]

19 JulyJapan begins a clinical trial of stem cells harvested from patients' own bodies. The stem cells will

be used to treat age-related macular degeneration.[438]

NASA scientists publish the results of a new analysis of the atmosphere of Mars, reporting alack of methane around the landing site of the Curiosityrover. In addition, the scientists foundevidence that Mars "has lost a good deal of its atmosphere over time", based on the abundance

of isotopic compositions of gases, particularly those related to argon and carbon.[439][440][441]

Japanese researchers confirm that muon-type neutrinos can spontaneously flip to the electron

type, potentially explaining the imbalance of matter and antimatter during the Big Bang.[442]

Harvard University medical experts report that a carefully targeted two-drug treatment could be

tailored to successfully treat almost any form of cancer.[443]

For the third time in history, Earth is photographed from the outer solar system. NASA's Cassinispacecraft releases images of the Earth and Moon taken from the orbit of Saturn. [444]

21 JulyBritish scientists successfully cure blindness in mice with infusions of stem cells that repaired


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

26/73

19 July 2013: NASA's Cassini spacecraft

photographs the Earth and Moon (visible

bottom-right) from Saturn.

damaged retinas. It is hoped that a similar treatment

can be developed for humans.[445]

A private spaceflight venture announces plans toland a robotic observatory on the south pole of the

Moon.[446]

American researchers develop a flexible, sensitive"electronic skin" that mimics real human skin by

detecting and responding to different levels ofpressure.[447]

22 JulyScientists report that dolphins have unique vocalnames for one another, which they respond to just

as humans do.[448]

Scientists studying data from the Large Hadron Collider report an extremely rare particle decay

event, casting doubt on the scientific theory of supersymmetry.[449]

23 July Thor's hero shrew, the first known sister species to the armored shrew, is described. [450]

24 July A scientific study warns that a major release of methane from melting Arctic ice could have

immense climatic and economic impacts worldwide.[451]25 July

British scientists discover the mechanism which causes human allergy to cats. A cure for the

allergy may become commercially available within five years.[452]

Scientists successfully implant false memories into the brains of mice. This breakthrough could

lead to a fuller understanding of human memory.[453]

26 July Scientists demonstrate a GM-free process that could dramatically reduce nitrogen pollution.It allows virtually all of the worlds crop species to automatically obtain up to 60% of their nitrogen

requirements from air, as opposed to fertilisers.[454]

28 July A new DNA probe allows researchers to look for mutations in long sequences of up to 200

base pairs, compared to only 20 pairs using conventional methods.[455]

29 July Astronomers discover the first exoplanet orbiting a brown dwarf, 6,000 light years from

Earth.[456]

31 JulyAn artificial human-like ear is grown in a lab, using a flexible wire frame to support tissue

cultures from cows and sheep.[457]

New data from the Large Hadron Collider based on measurements of the B meson could

offer the first direct hint of new physics beyond the Standard Model.[458]

August

1 AugustMichigan State University reports that climate change is fueling larger and more destructive

wildfires in the United States, a trend that is set to continue.[459]

Efficient chemical synthesis of ingenol mebutate is achieved for the first time. This compound found in theEuphorbiagenus of plants is of great interest to drug developers for its

anticarcinogenic properties.[460]

2 AugustThe American Meteorological Society releases its peer-reviewed State of the Climate report(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-state-of-the-climate/2012.php), showing how the impacts of

global warming are worsening.[461]

A new "super-glass" coating produced by Harvard University researchers could lead to

self-cleaning, scratch-resistant windows and other surfaces.[462]

5 August


f 73 4.4.2014 12:32

8/12/2019 2013 in Science

27/73

The world's first hamburger made entirely of lab-grown in-vitro meat is eaten in London. [463]

A Japanese company develops a reusable skin patch which can treat chronic high bloodpressure by constantly releasing bisoprolol into the bloodstream. It is reported to be safer thanconventional blood pressure medication, and is easier to use for patients with swallowing

problems.[464]

Full-colour, 3D infrared images have been created by researchers, giving molecular-level

chemical information of specimens in unprecedented detail.[465]

7 AugustA new study of the cosmic microwave background has looked back to within 100,000 years of

the Big Bang, the furthest that has yet been observed.[466]

A new deep brain stimulation device can simultaneously record brain activity while deliveringtherapy. It is hoped the automated system could reveal major insights into a range of

neurological and psychological diseases.[467][468]

8 August

In its latest trial, a new malaria vaccine has been shown to be 100 percent effective. [469]

A breakthrough in tissue engineering has allowed scientists to 'grow' the first true cartilage. The

researchers believe entire organs may be possible by 2025.[470]

12 August A gene linked to idiopathic focal epilepsy (IFE) has been identified by MedUni Viennaresearchers.[471]

14 AugustIn the largest-ever analysis of cancer genomes, researchers have discovered the genetic imprints

and signatures left by DNA-damaging processes that lead to cancer.[472]

Scientists have built a fully functional mouse heart from human tissues. [473]

Seagra

2013 in Science

Documents

Transcript of 2013 in Science