Birds are living dinosaurs and that shift is one of the most spectacular
transitions
in the history of life. This year researchers studying both fossils
and modern birds figured out how one group of dinosaurs became smaller,
more adaptable. The change happened pretty quickly
setting the stage for the avian explosion--the arrival
modern birds.
Think Frankenstein meets the fountain of youth. Researchers stitched two mice together,
one young one old. And connected their circulatory systems.
The connection rejuvenated the brain and the muscle of the older mouse.
It appears young blood contains a factor that can turn back the clock
on the aging process.
This year several teams showed that robots, like people
can accomplish more by working together. In one study
a thousand robots, each the size of an American quarter
joined together like a marching band to form squares and letters and shapes.
Another team inspired by termites designed a robot swarm
that built three-dimensional structures.
Researchers who make computer chips are breaking from their old ways.
In 2014 they created the first large-scale neuromorphic chips.
These chips are designed to process information in ways that are more like a
living brain.
The chips could make it easier for machines to carry out perceptual tasks
such as vision.
And more capable robots could also deal with a lot of data
from sophisticated environmental sensors.
Scientists who work with stem cells have reached a long-sought goal.
They turned human stem cells into pancreatic beta cells that can secrete
insulin.
These important cells are missing in people who have type 1 diabetes.
But doctors can't yet transplant the new cells into patients.
That's because the cells will be rejected as foreign.
Still the achievement brings a possible treatment for diabetes
one step closer.
When it comes to ancient cave art, researchers have long believed that Europe
held the world oldest examples. But this year, researchers announced that a cave in Indonesia
holds hand prints and paintings that they believe are 35,000 years old.
The find suggests that modern humans were pretty creative by the time they left
Africa and began settling the rest of the world.
In 2013, brain scientists made a cool
but kinda creepy discovery. They could instill
a fake memory of fear
in mice. To do it they manipulated neurons with light.
And this year they took the method one step further.
They used a similar technique to switch good memories to fearful ones.
And bad memories two more pleasant
recollections.
In 2014, researchers launched a record number of CubeSats into space.
A CubeSat is a pint-sized low-cost satellite
but they're starting to do some real science. They're cheap and
easy to launch. And they can carry very powerful sensors
That means in time constellations of CubeSats
may do the job that now takes a single complex and pricey mission.
The DNA code usually includes just four letters
G C A and T. But this year
researchers added a new pair of letters: X and Y.
And they managed to insert these extra letters into living bacteria.
Next up they want to use the extra DNA letters to code for amino acids that
are not normally
part of the proteins that organisms make.
And now the breakthrough of the year. That is the sound of a comet.
It was recorded by the Rosetta spacecraft.
In August after a 10-year journey Rosetta became the first probe
to orbit a comet. Then in November it made history again,
dropping a small lander that drifted to the comet's surface.
But the landing was awkward--
it bounced and ended up in a place where it could recharge its solar panels.
Still it collected a lot of data before its batteries ran out.
Now Rosetta is chasing the comet. It's going to watch its jets of gas and dust
turn on as the comet nears the Sun.
The results could tell scientists a lot about how our solar system formed
and what brought water to Earth.