2016 hasn't been kind to many people, as far as years go – celebrity deaths, controversial elections, and natural disasters have left a bitter taste in our mouths as we approach the New Year. But it wasn't all doom gloom. We've rounded up the best developments in science, technology and pop culture to try to make the best of a bad 12 months.
1. Wild tiger population increased for the first time in 100 years
Wild tiger numbers increased this year for the first time since detailed records began. In 2010, it was estimated there were around 3,200 animals, but this has since gone up to at least 3,890 according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Global Tiger Forum. The WWF says this was down to enhanced protection and also improvements in surveying.
2.Giant pandas are no longer endangered
There are now 2,060 giant pandas in the wild, leading the species being upgraded from endangered to “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The growth was due to an increase in the number of giant pandas being born in China.
3. Mutant snail Jeremy found love
In 2016, a mutant snail found love thanks to Twitter. Jeremy is a sinistral snail, meaning the spiral on the outside of his shell is anti-clockwise compared to other snails, and his genitals are also on the opposite side of his body compared to other snails, making mating an issue. Using the #snaillove hashtag, researchers at the University of Nottingham found another sinistral snail and will be observing the two to find out more about the genetics of the animals.
4. GSK and Google created a bioelectronics health firm
The development of bioelectronics is becoming more of a big deal, and a new project between GSK and Alphabet demonstrated how important research is in this area. The newly-formed Galvani Bioelectronics will develop miniaturised, implantable devices that can monitor nerve singles in the body to tackle chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes and asthma.
5. Zika was downgraded as a global threat
In what may seem like an example of clutching at straws, Zika is no longer considered a global health emergency as it was downgraded by the WHO to chronic threat level during the year. The risks are still huge, but the WHO is working on a new “robust” long-term strategy to tackle the virus and the birth defect, microcephaly, linked with it.
The first patient being treated in a recent HIV study showed no sign of the virus after initial treatment. The treatment combined antiretroviral drugs with a drug that reactivates dormant HIV and a vaccine that stimulates the immune system in an attempt to destroy the cells carrying the virus.
7. World’s first ‘three-parent baby’ is born
This year, the first baby was born using a technique that uses DNA from three people. It’s a controversial procedure, but in this case it was used to ensure the baby would not have Leigh syndrome, a lethal disorder that affects the nervous system and is carried by his mother. Three-person IVF has been proposed as a way to help those with mitochondrial disorders have a healthy child.
8. A man woke up from a coma after ultrasound waves were beamed into his brain
A 25-year-old man in a coma may have had his recovery kickstarted after researchers ‘excited’ his brain tissue with ultrasound pulses. Scientists at UCLA beamed ultrasound waves into his brain and after three days, he regained full consciousness and language comprehension. This may lead to new ways to treat patients in comas.
9. The Ice bucket challenge funded an ALS breakthrough
The Ice Bucket Challenge social media campaign, which took place in the summer of 2015, helped fund a breakthrough in ALS research in 2016. Though the campaign was criticised as ‘slacktivism’, it helped fund a study that discovered a new identified gene, NEK1. The gene now ranks among the most common genes that contribute to the disease, presenting scientists with a potential target for developing therapies.
10. Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter's orbit
Nasa’s Juno space probe braved intense radiation and space debris on its 1.8-million-mile journey into orbit around Jupiter. It arrived at the planet in July after a five-year journey and for the next 20 months it will explore the origins of the largest planet in our solar system.
11. Plastic microbeads are to be banned by 2017
The UK government announced this year that it will ban plastic microbeads next year due to fears they are building up in oceans and potentially entering the food chain. The small pieces of plastic are commonly found in toothpaste and exfoliating body scrubs and the tiny beads are having a ruinous impact on the natural world.
12. Solar Impulse 2 flew around the world
Read more: Climate change is a huge opportunity: Bertrand Piccard on fairytale flights and Earth's future
In July, Solar Impulse 2 touched down after its epic round-the-world trip. The solar powered plane flew 42,438km around the world to prove that clean technologies could be used in flight. Bertrand Piccard, one of the plane’s pilots told WIRED: “The sky is not the limit, the fuel is the limit. And with Solar Impulse there was no fuel - we could fly as long as we wanted."
13. Paris Climate Change Agreement came into force
On November 4, the Paris Climate Change agreement came into force. 55 countries with 55 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions agreed to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Countries will have to rapidly reduce their emissions but it’s a step towards solving the problems of climate change.
And finally ...
14. The world was given the gift of Pokemon Go
Ah Pokémon Go. The augmented reality game, which allowed people to run around with their smartphones and catch Pokémon in cities and towns, had a peak of 45 million people playing the game when it launched earlier this year. Even WIRED made an appearance on BBC playing the game. A University introduced a class that saw people play the game for credits and someone reportedly got stuck in a tree in New Jersey, but many loved and enjoyed the nostalgia the game offered.
15. Netflix added offline downloads
Netflix fans across the globe rejoiced when the streaming service announced viewers could now download shows to watch offline. The new feature is included in all plans on its Android and iOS apps but not every show is available, at the moment. Some of Netflix’s original shows, including Orange is the New Black, are available to download now and more will become available soon.
16. We finally found out the best biscuit for dunking
WIRED settled one of the longest-standing questions mankind has always struggled with: what’s the best biscuit for dunking? Sarah Barnes from the Institute of Physics used a robolink D robot arm by igus to test 10 biscuits for ‘dunkability’ from Rich Teas, to Digestives and Oreos.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
