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Important scientific discoveries of 2016
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
In 2016, scientists made many discoveries and conducted more than a thousand research projects, among which the following can be highlighted:
In the field of ecology, scientists have found that the size of the ozone hole, through which harmful ultraviolet radiation penetrates, has decreased by 4 million km 2. According to experts, the size of the giant hole in the ozone layer has begun to decrease due to a decrease in the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, in addition, this could be influenced by changing weather conditions on the planet.
Scientists also removed animals such as pandas, Louisiana black bears and monarch butterflies from the endangered list and moved them to the "vulnerable" line.
A number of discoveries have also been made in the field of medicine, and scientists have repeatedly amazed not only the public but also their colleagues with the results of their work. For example, the milk of the Tasmanian devil contains substances from which an antibiotic can be created that can become a powerful weapon against bacteria, which is especially important now that bacteria are showing increasing resistance.
But the main breakthrough in medicine is considered to be the creation of a vaccine against dengue fever, which is carried by mosquitoes. The disease is characterized by severe headaches, vomiting, high fever, and can be fatal. This year, the WHO recommended starting to use the vaccine in regions where there is a high probability of spreading the disease, and vaccinations against dengue fever have already been given in the Philippines and Brazil.
Another interesting discovery in medicine was the development of a modified herpes virus, which may become a unique cure for cancer. Scientists have created a viral drug IMLYGIC, which, according to research, helps destroy cancerous tumors. The new drug has received approval and will be used in the near future to treat melanoma.
In the field of technology, one can highlight the creation of gravitational waves, which will help scientists better study space. The discovery was made at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, where specialists captured ripples in space-time from black holes that collided in the distant past. It is worth noting that this discovery became the leader in the list of scientific discoveries of this year.
An equally important discovery in this area is the discovery of the ninth planet in our solar system. If the information is confirmed, and scientists have recently been able to obtain new evidence of the existence of this planet, then our solar system will be recognized as having nine planets.
An interesting discovery is a planet that revolves around the closest star to the sun, it is approximately the size of the Earth and perhaps in the future humanity will go on a journey to this extrasolar planet.
Pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg flew around the world in a plane using only solar energy. The plane covered a distance of 42,000 km and the aviators hope that aircraft designers, inspired by the round-the-world trip, will develop environmentally friendly planes. It is worth noting that this flight was a real breakthrough in the field of technical solutions.