2012 in science

none 2012 science 2012 thumb|right|50px|25 May 2012: SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft (pictured) becomes the first commercial spacecraft to rendezvous with the International Space Station. The year 2012 involved many significant scientific events and discoveries, including the first orbital rendezvous by a commercial spacecraft, the discovery of a particle highly similar to the long-sought Higgs boson, and the near-eradication of guinea worm disease. A total of 72 successful orbital spaceflights occurred in 2012, and the year also saw numerous developments in fields such as robotics, 3D printing, stem cell research and genetics. Over 540,000 technological patent applications were made in the United States alone in 2012.http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/us_stat.htm U.S. Patent Statistics Chart Calendar Years 1963 – 2012 USPTO 2012 12 April 2013 4 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190904164210/https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/us_stat.htm dead 2012 was declared the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All by the United Nations.http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/about Sustainable Energy for All – About United Nations 4 January 2012 24 September 2015 2012 also marked Alan Turing Year, a celebration of the life and work of the English mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist Alan Turing.2012: THE ALAN TURING YEAR http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/turing2012/ 4 September 2012 17 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190217215512/http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/turing2012/ Events, discoveries and inventions January January–March 2012 in science#January February January–March 2012 in science#February March January–March 2012 in science#March April thumb|right|200px|5 April 2012: the Large Hadron Collider completes a landmark energy upgrade. 2 April – The British Army announces the development of a conductive smart fabric for infantry uniforms. The fabric, which should enter widespread service by 2015, will eliminate the need for heavy, vulnerable power cables, making soldiers' electronics safer, cheaper and more durable.Rincon Paul Smart fabric for new soldier uniform BBC News 2012-04-02 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17580666 2021-07-24 4 April A new, detailed record of past climate change has shown compelling evidence that the last ice age was ended by a rise in temperature driven by an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. The key result from the new study is that it shows the carbon dioxide rise during this major transition ran slightly ahead of increases in global temperature.Amos Jonathan CO2 'drove end to last ice age' BBC News 2012-04-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17611404 2021-07-24Shakun Jeremy D. Clark Peter U. He Feng 1 Global warming preceded by increasing carbon dioxide concentrations during the last deglaciation Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 484 7392 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature10915 49–54 22481357 2012Natur.484...49S 2027.42/147130 2152480 free Austrian and Japanese researchers unveil solar cells that are thinner than a thread of spider silk, and flexible enough to be wrapped around a single human hair.Scientists develop ultra-thin solar cells Phys.org 2012-04-04 https://phys.org/news/2012-04-scientists-ultra-thin-solar-cells.html 2021-07-24Kaltenbrunner Martin White Matthew S. Głowacki Eric D. 1 Ultrathin and lightweight organic solar cells with high flexibility Nature Communications Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 1 2012 770– 2041-1723 10.1038/ncomms1772 free 22473014 3337988 2012NatCo...3..770K American researchers begin a new project, funded by the National Science Foundation, to develop printable robots that can be designed and made to order by the average person in less than 24 hours. The project, which is hoped to come to fruition by 2020, could allow any individual to cheaply build automated tools for any task in their own home.Print-your-own-robots developed in US BBC News 2012-04-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17614392 2021-07-24 5 April Dutch and American researchers report that they have created a working quantum computer out of diamond, using the diamond's natural impurities as superimposed qubits to perform calculations.Brown Mark Quantum computer built in the imperfections of a diamond (Wired UK) Wired UK 2016-05-01 http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-04/05/diamond-quantum-computer https://web.archive.org/web/20160501213937/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-04/05/diamond-quantum-computer 2016-05-01 2021-07-24van der Sar T. Wang Z. H. Blok M. S. 1 Decoherence-protected quantum gates for a hybrid solid-state spin register Nature 484 7392 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature10900 82–86 22481361 1202.4379 2012Natur.484...82V 4424826 Google unveils Project Glass, which aims to develop augmented reality glasses capable of layering information such as email, real-time traffic updates and video calls over a user's field of vision.http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/google-unveils-augmented-reality-glasses/story-fn7celvh-1226319635112 Google unveils 'augmented reality glasses' archive.ph 2022-11-17 2012-12-30 https://archive.today/20121230145215/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/google-unveils-augmented-reality-glasses/story-fn7celvh-1226319635112 bot: unknown The Large Hadron Collider re-enters operation after an energy upgrade. It now has a total collision energy of 8 trillion electronvolts, a major increase over its pre-upgrade energy of 7 TeV.Butterworth Jon Large Hadron Collider: We have 8 tera electronvolts - Life & Physics The Guardian 2012-04-05 http://www.theguardian.com/science/life-and-physics/2012/apr/05/1 2021-07-24 6 April – An international team of researchers reports that a new, drug-resistant strain of malaria has emerged on the Thai–Cambodian border, potentially threatening global efforts to contain the disease.Paddock Catharine New Drug-Resistant Malaria Could Put Millions Of Lives At Risk Medical and health information 2009-07-30 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159371 2021-07-24Phyo Aung Pyae Nkhoma Standwell Stepniewska Kasia 1 Emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria on the western border of Thailand: a longitudinal study The Lancet Elsevier BV 379 9830 2012 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60484-x 1960–1966 22484134 3525980 8 April – American scientists reveal that transparent graphene sheets can be used to encapsulate liquids for study by electron microscopes. The discovery will greatly ease the accurate imaging of liquids at micro- and nanoscales.Graphene windows' clearer focus BBC News 2012-04-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17628145 2021-07-24Yuk Jong Min Park Jungwon Ercius Peter 1 High-Resolution EM of Colloidal Nanocrystal Growth Using Graphene Liquid Cells Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6077 2012-04-05 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1217654 61–64 22491849 2012Sci...336...61Y 12984064 10 April – The Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest private funders of scientific research, states that it is launching a new online journal to promote the free sharing of scientific papers. The new journal, titled eLife, is part of a widespread push for open access to scientific research, and will compel researchers to make their work freely available online.Jha Alok Wellcome Trust joins 'academic spring' to open up science The Guardian 2012-04-09 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/apr/09/wellcome-trust-academic-spring 2021-07-24 12 April A team of researchers from France's Laboratoire Univers et Théorie releases the first ever computer model simulation of the structure of the entire observable universe, from the Big Bang to the present day. The simulation has made it possible to follow the evolution of 550 billion individual particles.First-ever model simulation of the structuring of the observable universe - CNRS Web site - CNRS www2.cnrs.fr 2012-04-15 http://www2.cnrs.fr/en/2013.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20120415151654/http://www2.cnrs.fr/en/2013.htm 2012-04-15 unfit 2021-07-24 A report reveals that the United States invested more in renewable energy technology in 2011 than any other nation, totalling US$48 billion. China was the second-largest investor, spending US$45.5 billion on renewables. Worldwide, the combined investment in renewables reached an all-time high, at US$236 billion. A later report published by the United Nations amends these figures, stating that China invested $52 billion in renewable energy in 2011, while the US spent $51 billion.Kinver Mark US tops global clean energy investment rankings BBC News 2012-04-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17662973 2021-07-24Whos Winning the Clean Energy Race 2011 Edition The Pew Charitable Trusts 2012-04-11 http://pew.org/2yHJMm8 2021-07-24Perkowski Jack China Leads The World In Renewable Energy Investment Forbes 2012-07-27 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2012/07/27/china-leads-the-world-in-renewable-energy-investment/ 2021-07-24 German physicists develop the world's first universal quantum computing network, linking two laboratories using entangled rubidium atoms as network nodes.First universal quantum network prototype links two separate labs Nature 2012 10.1038/nature.2012.10441 http://www.nature.com/news/first-universal-quantum-network-prototype-links-two-separate-labs-1.10441 es 2021-07-24 Matson John 121607474 subscription Ritter Stephan Nölleke Christian Hahn Carolin 1 An elementary quantum network of single atoms in optical cavities Nature 484 7393 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11023 195–200 22498625 1202.5955 2012Natur.484..195R 205228562 An international team of researchers has used new, massively parallel DNA sequencing technology to fast-track the discovery of a breast cancer risk gene, XRCC2.Das Anusuya Ph.D. Anusuya Das received a B.A. a 1 Scientists Discover New Breast Cancer Risk Gene, XRCC2 Asian Scientist Magazine 2012-04-12 http://www.asianscientist.com/health-medicine/breast-cancer-risk-gene-xrcc2-2012/ 2021-07-24Park D.J. Lesueur F. Nguyen-Dumont T. 1 Rare Mutations in XRCC2 Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer The American Journal of Human Genetics Elsevier BV 90 4 2012 0002-9297 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.02.027 734–739 22464251 3322233 DARPA, the US military's advanced research agency, offers a US$2 million prize to any team who can independently develop a rescue robot capable of multiple tasks, including climbing ladders, clearing obstacles, using power tools and driving cars.DARPA Offers $2M Prize For Rescue Robots International Business Times 2021-02-17 https://www.ibtimes.com/darpa-offers-2m-prize-rescue-robots-436536 2021-07-24 After studying 40 years of medical records, Swedish scientists state that those with Huntington's disease are around 50% less likely to develop cancer than those without the disease. Further study may reveal the genetic mechanism behind this resistance, allowing new cancer treatments to be developed.UK Cancer Research Huntington's disease and similar conditions 'linked to reduced risk of cancer': Cancer Research UK info.cancerresearchuk.org 2012-04-14 http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/cancernews/2012-04-11-Huntingtons-disease-and-similar-conditions-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-cancer https://web.archive.org/web/20120414085612/http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/cancernews/2012-04-11-Huntingtons-disease-and-similar-conditions-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-cancer 2012-04-14 unfit 2021-07-24Ji Jianguang Sundquist Kristina Sundquist Jan 1 Cancer incidence in patients with polyglutamine diseases: a population-based study in Sweden The Lancet Oncology Elsevier BV 13 6 2012 1470-2045 10.1016/s1470-2045(12)70132-8 642–648 22503213 The United Kingdom reports that it is considering the installation of undersea power cables to allow its National Grid to draw clean energy from Iceland's volcanoes.Iceland's volcanoes to power UK? Energy Live News 2012-04-12 https://www.energylivenews.com/2012/04/12/icelands-volcanoes-to-power-uk/ 2021-07-24 2021-01-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131001330/http://www.energylivenews.com/2012/04/12/icelands-volcanoes-to-power-uk/ Scientists report that complexity analysis studies of the Labeled Release experiments of the 1976 Viking mission to Mars may suggest the detection of "extant microbial life on Mars."Mars Viking Robots 'Found Life': Discovery News Discovery News 2012-04-12 http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-life-viking-landers-discovery-120412.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120414163121/http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-life-viking-landers-discovery-120412.html 2012-04-14 2021-07-24IJASS ijass.org 2012-04-15 http://ijass.org/PublishedPaper/year_abstract.asp?idx=132 https://web.archive.org/web/20120415162537/http://ijass.org/PublishedPaper/year_abstract.asp?idx=132 2012-04-15 2021-07-24 thumb|right|250px|12 April 2012: German scientists create the world's first quantum computing network using entangled rubidium atoms (rubidium sample shown). 13 April North Korea's Unha-3 orbital rocket disintegrates in mid-flight over the Yellow Sea, destroying its payload, the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 satellite. Analysts fear that the failed launch may raise the likelihood of North Korea conducting another nuclear weapons test.Ryall Julian North Korea failed rocket launch increases likelihood of new nuclear test The Telegraph 12 April 2012 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9202302/North-Korea-failed-rocket-launch-increases-likelihood-of-new-nuclear-test.html 2021-07-24 German scientists develop a fiber-based "earthquake-proof" wallpaper capable of reinforcing masonry and delaying building collapses during violent quakes. The invention could save lives by giving people more time to flee from collapsing buildings.Bayer Kurt 'Earthquake wallpaper' a scientific breakthrough The New Zealand Herald 2012-04-13 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/earthquake-wallpaper-a-scientific-breakthrough/EK4FNK7L3USAFJZB5GVCT6V6II/ 2021-07-24Communications Bayer AG Materials research 2013-01-24 http://www.research.bayer.com/en/earthquake-protection.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20130124054510/http://www.research.bayer.com/en/earthquake-protection.aspx 2013-01-24 unfit 2021-07-24 The Pentagon places an order for advanced dual-focus contact lenses, designed to give soldiers greater visual awareness, in tandem with a new HUD system. The technology may enter the civilian market by 2014.Pentagon orders innovative dual-focus contact lenses archive.ph 2013-02-02 http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/pentagon-orders-innovative-dual-focus-contact-lenses/25489 https://archive.today/20130202090121/http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/smart-takes/pentagon-orders-innovative-dual-focus-contact-lenses/25489 2013-02-02 2021-07-24 Dutch scientists report that they have found evidence of the existence of the Majorana fermion, a particle that is its own antiparticle. The existence of the Majorana was first theorized by the Italian scientist Ettore Majorana in the 1930s.Amos Jonathan Majorana particle glimpsed in lab BBC News 2012-04-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17695944 2021-07-24Mourik V. Zuo K. Frolov S. M. 1 Signatures of Majorana Fermions in Hybrid Superconductor-Semiconductor Nanowire Devices Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6084 2012-04-12 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1222360 1003–1007 22499805 1204.2792 2012Sci...336.1003M 18447180 Researchers at UCLA announce that they have genetically engineered stem cells to seek out and kill HIV in mice.https://web.archive.org/web/20120416025433/http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20120413/9529/aids-hiv-stem-cells-genetic-engineering-t-cell-research.htm Medical Daily http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20120413/9529/aids-hiv-stem-cells-genetic-engineering-t-cell-research.htm 2012-04-13 2012-04-16 Scientists Engineer Stem Cells That Can Identify and Destroy HIV Inside Living Mice Christine HsuAngie Crouch Julie Brayton Turning Stem Cells into a Powerful Weapon Against AIDS NBC Los Angeles 2012-04-12 https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/turning-stem-cells-into-a-powerful-weapon-against-aids/1950372/ 2021-07-24Kitchen Scott G. Levin Bernard R. Bristol Gregory 1 In Vivo Suppression of HIV by Antigen Specific T Cells Derived from Engineered Hematopoietic Stem Cells PLOS Pathogens Public Library of Science (PLoS) 8 4 2012-04-12 1553-7374 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002649 e1002649 22511873 3325196 free 15 April – Researchers claim that new satellite imagery shows an increase in the mass of some glaciers in Asia's Karakoram mountain range. This data contrasts with the wider global trend of glacial melting.Black Richard Some Asian glaciers 'putting on mass' BBC News 2012-04-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17701677 2021-07-24Gardelle Julie Berthier Etienne Arnaud Yves 1 Slight mass gain of Karakoram glaciers in the early twenty-first century Nature Geoscience Springer Science and Business Media LLC 5 5 2012-04-15 1752-0894 10.1038/ngeo1450 322–325 2012NatGe...5..322G 16 April – A new treatment for prostate cancer can rid the disease from nine in ten men without debilitating side effects, a study has found.Smith Rebecca New treatment for prostate cancer gives 'perfect results' for nine in ten men: research Telegraph.co.uk 2012-04-16 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9206425/New-treatment-for-prostate-cancer-gives-perfect-results-for-nine-in-ten-men-research.html 2021-07-24Ahmed Hashim U Hindley Richard G Dickinson Louise 1 Focal therapy for localised unifocal and multifocal prostate cancer: a prospective development study The Lancet Oncology Elsevier BV 13 6 2012 1470-2045 10.1016/s1470-2045(12)70121-3 622–632 22512844 3366323 17 April – It is revealed that the Chinese and American militaries have been conducting informal war games together to help prevent military escalation in the event of a future cyber war.Hopkins Nick US and China turn to war games to build cyber detente The Sydney Morning Herald 2012-04-17 https://www.smh.com.au/world/us-and-china-turn-to-war-games-to-build-cyber-detente-20120417-1x5mk.html 2021-07-24 18 April – Researchers at the American National Institutes of Health demonstrate a nanotechnology-based drug treatment which can successfully alleviate some symptoms of cerebral palsy (CP). The drug, which was tested in rabbits, caused a dramatic improvement of the movement disorders and brain inflammation that are characteristic of many cases of CP.Window of opportunity to prevent cerebral palsy discovered: Nanodrugs work in newborn rabbits ScienceDaily 2021-07-24 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418143755.htm 2021-07-24Kannan S. Dai H. Navath R. S. 1 Dendrimer-Based Postnatal Therapy for Neuroinflammation and Cerebral Palsy in a Rabbit Model Science Translational Medicine American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 4 130 2012-04-18 1946-6234 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003162 130ra46 22517883 3492056 thumb|right|250px|19 April 2012: international researchers develop synthetic DNA compounds. 19 April A landmark study by British and Canadian scientists reveals that breast cancer can be subdivided into ten distinct types, with its aggressiveness determined by certain genes. The new data may make breast cancer diagnoses much more precise, and allow cancer treatments to be more effectively tailored to each patient.Batty David Breast cancer treatment gets boost The Guardian 2012-04-18 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/apr/19/breast-cancer-treatment-boost 2021-07-24Curtis Christina Shah Sohrab P. Chin Suet-Feung 1 The genomic and transcriptomic architecture of 2,000 breast tumours reveals novel subgroups Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 486 7403 2012-04-18 0028-0836 10.1038/nature10983 346–352 22522925 3440846 2012Natur.486..346. Led by British scientists, a consortium including American, Belgian and Danish scientists successfully develop synthetic DNA compounds, dubbed "XNA", which demonstrate evolution when faced with selective pressure.Synthetic DNA Created, Evolves on Its Own Science 2012-04-20 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/120419-xna-synthetic-dna-evolution-genetics-life-science https://web.archive.org/web/20210302032348/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/120419-xna-synthetic-dna-evolution-genetics-life-science March 2, 2021 2021-07-24Pinheiro V. B. Taylor A. I. Cozens C. 1 Synthetic Genetic Polymers Capable of Heredity and Evolution Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6079 2012-04-19 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1217622 341–344 22517858 3362463 2012Sci...336..341P British researchers identify key genes that "switch off" as the human body ages. These genes may be targeted by future anti-aging therapies.Key genes that switch off with aging highlighted as potential targets for anti-aging therapies ScienceDaily 2021-07-23 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419191709.htm 2021-07-24Bell Jordana T. Tsai Pei-Chien Yang Tsun-Po 1 Epigenome-Wide Scans Identify Differentially Methylated Regions for Age and Age-Related Phenotypes in a Healthy Ageing Population PLOS Genetics Public Library of Science (PLoS) 8 4 2012-04-19 1553-7404 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002629 e1002629 22532803 3330116 free 20 April Scientists say the notoriously dry continent of Africa is sitting on a vast reservoir of groundwater.McGrath Matt 'Huge' water resource exists under Africa BBC News 2012-04-20 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17775211 2021-07-24MacDonald A M Bonsor H C Dochartaigh B É Ó 1 Quantitative maps of groundwater resources in Africa Environmental Research Letters IOP Publishing 7 2 2012-04-20 1748-9326 10.1088/1748-9326/7/2/024009 024009 2012ERL.....7b4009M 154336728 free A NASA-backed group of universities begins testing a GPS-derived earthquake warning system. The system, which uses satellite data to track seismic activity in real-time, may allow accurate earthquake and tsunami warnings to be issued up to ten times faster than is currently possible.Satellite system will speed up tsunami warnings Nature 2012 10.1038/nature.2012.10480 http://www.nature.com/news/satellite-system-will-speed-up-tsunami-warnings-1.10480 2021-07-24 Lovett Richard A. 129313004 free subscription After three years of development, IBM reveals a new, ultra-lightweight lithium-air battery, offering greater energy density than any current lithium-ion battery. The new battery may permit the production of electric vehicles with far greater range and battery life than current models.Anthony Sebastian IBM creates breathing, high-density, light-weight lithium-air battery ExtremeTech 2012-04-20 http://www.extremetech.com/computing/126745-ibm-creates-breathing-high-density-light-weight-lithium-air-battery 2021-07-24 21 April – Scientists at Chicago's Northwestern University successfully trial a brain-computer interface capable of restoring naturalistic muscle movements in paralyzed rhesus monkeys. It is hoped the invention will eventually be approved to treat paralytic or brain-damaged humans.Anthony Sebastian Researchers create brain-computer interface that bypasses spinal cord injury paralysis ExtremeTech 2012-04-20 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/126773-researchers-create-brain-computer-interface-that-bypasses-spinal-cord-injury-paralysis 2021-07-24Ethier C. Oby E. R. Bauman M. J. 1 Restoration of grasp following paralysis through brain-controlled stimulation of muscles Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 485 7398 2012-04-18 0028-0836 10.1038/nature10987 368–371 22522928 3358575 2012Natur.485..368E 22 April – Intel Corporation releases its new Ivy Bridge microprocessors – the world's first commercial 22 nanometer microchips, featuring increased processing power and energy efficiency.Kelion Leo Intel's Ivy Bridge chips launch using '3D transistors' BBC News 2012-04-22 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17785464 2021-07-24 24 April – Planetary Resources, a startup company backed by Google billionaires Larry Page and Eric Schmidt and film director James Cameron, announces plans to develop technology to survey and mine asteroids for minerals by 2020. The company plans to launch the first element of its project, a network of orbital surveying telescopes, by 2014.Plans for asteroid mining emerge BBC News 2012-04-24 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17827347 2021-07-24 26 April Australian scientists develop a multi-layered, silica-based hydrophobic coating with greater durability than previous such coatings. The invention may be used to make self-cleaning fabrics and antibacterial medical equipment.Palmer Jason Stain-shedding coating gets tough BBC News 2012-04-26 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17852304 2021-07-24Zhao Yan Xu Zhiguang Wang Xungai 1 Photoreactive Azido-Containing Silica Nanoparticle/Polycation Multilayers: Durable Superhydrophobic Coating on Cotton Fabrics Langmuir American Chemical Society (ACS) 28 15 2012-04-06 0743-7463 10.1021/la300281q 6328–6335 22462539 2012Langm..28.6328Z Researchers develop a crystalline quantum computer, composed of just 300 atoms, that theoretically is so powerful that it would take a conventional computer the size of the known universe to match it.Researchers claim quantum breakthrough › News in Science (ABC Science) ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 2012-04-26 http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/04/26/3489504.htm 2021-07-24Britton Joseph W. Sawyer Brian C. Keith Adam C. 1 Engineered two-dimensional Ising interactions in a trapped-ion quantum simulator with hundreds of spins Nature 484 7395 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature10981 489–492 22538611 1204.5789 2012Natur.484..489B 4370334 Scientists report that lichen survived over 34 days under Martian conditions in the Mars Simulation Laboratory (MSL) maintained by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).Baldwin Emily Lichen survives harsh Mars environment Skymania 2012-04-26 https://www.skymania.com/wp/lichen-survives-harsh-martian-setting/ 2021-07-24 2020-11-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112042544/https://www.skymania.com/wp/lichen-survives-harsh-martian-setting/ http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2012/EGU2012-2113.pdf Geophysical Research Abstracts 14 2012 The adaptation potential of extremophiles to Martian surface conditions and its implication for the habitability of Mars 2021-07-24 27 April Researchers identify 53 key neurons in the brains of homing pigeons which may explain how the birds navigate using Earth's geomagnetic field.Reardon Sara Pigeon brain's global positioning system located New Scientist 2019-02-26 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21754-pigeon-brains-global-positioning-system-located/ 2021-07-24Wu L.-Q. Dickman J. D. Neural Correlates of a Magnetic Sense Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6084 2012-04-26 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1216567 1054–1057 22539554 2012Sci...336.1054W 206538783 free The British company Reaction Engines begins testing the advanced engine precooler system intended for its reusable Skylon spaceplane. If the tests are successful, the hybrid-rocket Skylon – designed to vastly reduce the cost of orbital spaceflight – may begin flying cargo to Earth's orbit by 2020.Amos Jonathan Key tests for Skylon spaceplane project BBC News 2012-04-27 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17864782 2021-07-24 May thumb|right|250px|6 May 2012: scientists develop a drug capable of preventing the breakdown of cerebral protein production, potentially offering a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease (cerebral plaques pictured). 1 May Scientists report that a new genetic test could diagnose the risk of breast cancer years before the disease actually develops, allowing much more effective early treatment.Roberts Michelle Way to spot breast cancer years in advance BBC News 2012-05-01 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-17905601 2021-10-02Brennan Kevin Garcia-Closas Montserrat Orr Nick 1 Intragenic ATM Methylation in Peripheral Blood DNA as a Biomarker of Breast Cancer Risk Cancer Research American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 72 9 2012-02-28 0008-5472 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-3157 2304–2313 22374981 free French researchers successfully create silicene, a one-atom-thick sheet of silicon that is analogous to the much-vaunted graphene. Silicene is theorized to retain silicon's excellent semiconductor properties even at extremely small scales, and could allow the simple mass production of efficient nanoscale computers.Boyle Rebecca Meet Silicene, Single-Atom-Thick Sheets of Silicon That Could Supersede Graphene Popular Science 2019-03-18 https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-05/meet-silicene-single-atom-thick-sheets-silicon-could-supersede-graphene/ 2021-10-02Vogt Patrick De Padova Paola Quaresima Claudio 1 Silicene: Compelling Experimental Evidence for Graphenelike Two-Dimensional Silicon Physical Review Letters American Physical Society (APS) 108 15 2012-04-12 0031-9007 10.1103/physrevlett.108.155501 155501 22587265 2012PhRvL.108o5501V 2 May – The European Space Agency selects the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE) proposal for its next major space exploration program. The robotic JUICE probe, which is planned to launch in 2022, will conduct in-depth studies of the Jovian moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede.Amos Jonathan Esa selects 1bn-euro Juice probe to Jupiter BBC News 2012-05-02 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17917102 2021-10-02 3 May – In the United Kingdom's first successful ocular implant trial, two men blinded by retinitis pigmentosa have their sight partially restored by prototype microchip implants.Collins Nick Eye implant restores vision to blind patients Telegraph.co.uk 2012-05-03 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9243223/Eye-implant-restores-vision-to-blind-patients.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120504121316/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9243223/Eye-implant-restores-vision-to-blind-patients.html 2012-05-04 2021-10-02 8 May – Claire Lomas, a paralyzed British woman, becomes the first person to complete a marathon using a bionic mobility suit. The ReWalk suit allowed her to complete the London Marathon in 16 days.Paralysed Claire Lomas finishes London Marathon 16 days after it began The Guardian 2012-05-08 http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/08/paralysed-claire-lomas-london-marathon 2021-10-02 9 May – A detailed design is released for a practical artificial leaf – a potentially revolutionary milestone in the development of sustainable energy.Secrets of the first practical artificial leaf ScienceDaily 2021-10-01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509123900.htm 2021-10-02Nocera Daniel G. The Artificial Leaf Accounts of Chemical Research American Chemical Society (ACS) 45 5 2012-04-04 0001-4842 10.1021/ar2003013 767–776 22475039 11 May American researchers report that preventable infections are the leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Of the 7.6 million children who died before their fifth birthday in 2010, over 60% died of infections such as pneumonia.Child deaths: Preventable infections 'the leading cause' BBC News 2012-05-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18018071 2021-10-02Liu Li Johnson Hope L Cousens Simon 1 Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000 The Lancet Elsevier BV 379 9832 2012 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60560-1 2151–2161 22579125 43866899 Scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China use quantum teleportation to transmit photons over a distance of 97 km mi – a world record. The teleportation method, which utilises quantum entanglement to transfer information between points without crossing the intervening space, could allow the development of ultra-secure satellite communications.Nosowitz Dan Chinese Physicists Teleport Photons Over 100 Kilometers Popular Science 2019-03-18 https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-05/chinese-physicists-teleport-protons-over-100-kilometers/ 2021-10-02Chinese Physicists Smash Distance Record For Teleportation Technology Review 2012-05-13 http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/27843/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120513005458/http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/27843/ 2012-05-13 2021-10-02Yin Juan Ren Ji-Gang Lu He 1 Quantum teleportation and entanglement distribution over 100-kilometre free-space channels Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7410 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11332 185–188 22874963 1205.2024 2012Natur.488..185Y 4415729 thumb|right|250px|20 May 2012: an annular solar eclipse occurs (eclipse photograph from Wolfforth, Texas, shown). 12 May – Scientists refute the theory that sex-linked chromosomes, such as the male Y chromosome, will become extinct. A new study shows that, although such chromosomes have shrunk and lost genetic material, they remain crucially important predictors of fertility.Men can rest easy: Sex chromosomes are here to stay ScienceDaily 2021-10-01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508103911.htm 2021-10-02Moghadam H. K. Pointer M. A. Wright A. E. 1 W chromosome expression responds to female-specific selection Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 21 2012-05-08 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1202721109 8207–8211 22570496 3361381 2012PNAS..109.8207M free 13 May – Researchers claim that there is a strong correlation between the loss of biodiversity and the disappearance of endangered languages and cultures.Kinver Mark Study links biodiversity and language loss BBC News 2012-05-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18020636 2021-10-02Gorenflo L. J. Romaine S. Mittermeier R. A. 1 Co-occurrence of linguistic and biological diversity in biodiversity hotspots and high biodiversity wilderness areas Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 21 2012-05-07 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1117511109 8032–8037 22566626 3361428 2012PNAS..109.8032G free 14 May Researchers extend the lifespan of mice by 24%, using gene therapy applied when the mice were adults. The success of the technique, which involved inducing cells to produce more of the enzyme telomerase, suggests that adult life extension is feasible.First gene therapy successful against aging-associated decline: Mouse lifespan extended up to 24% with a single treatment ScienceDaily 2021-10-02 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514204050.htm 2021-10-02Bernardes de Jesus Bruno Vera Elsa Schneeberger Kerstin 1 Telomerase gene therapy in adult and old mice delays aging and increases longevity without increasing cancer EMBO Molecular Medicine EMBO 4 8 2012-05-15 1757-4676 10.1002/emmm.201200245 691–704 22585399 3494070 Scientists grow healthy bone from human embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough could allow much quicker and easier bone grafts for human patients.Bone grown from human embryonic stem cells ScienceDaily 2021-10-01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161616.htm 2021-10-02Marolt D. Campos I. M. Bhumiratana S. 1 Engineering bone tissue from human embryonic stem cells Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 22 2012-05-14 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1201830109 8705–8709 22586099 3365157 2012PNAS..109.8705M free Scientists at California's Stanford University invent a working bionic eye powered only by focused light. Though currently a prototype, the device could eventually restore the sight of millions of people with eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.Gallagher James Light-powered bionic eye invented to help restore sight BBC News 2012-05-14 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18061174 2021-10-02Mathieson Keith Loudin James Goetz Georges 1 Photovoltaic retinal prosthesis with high pixel density Nature Photonics Springer Science and Business Media LLC 6 6 2012-05-13 1749-4885 10.1038/nphoton.2012.104 391–397 23049619 3462820 2012NaPho...6..391M 15 May The United States announces a national plan to develop an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease by 2025.US sets 2025 goal to tame Alzheimer's BBC News 2012-05-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18076186 2021-10-02 American scientists develop a device which uses genetically engineered viruses to generate electricity. The invention could allow the development of ubiquitous piezoelectric micro-generators which gather energy from everyday vibrations such as closing doors.Viruses used to power tiny device BBC News 2012-05-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18074644 2021-10-02Lee Byung Yang Zhang Jinxing Zueger Chris 1 Virus-based piezoelectric energy generation Nature Nanotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 7 6 2012-05-13 1748-3387 10.1038/nnano.2012.69 351–356 22581406 2012NatNa...7..351L 16 May American surgeons successfully restore hand function to a partly paralyzed man using a pioneering nerve transfer technique. Following the surgery and subsequent physiotherapy, the patient – who entirely lost the use of his hands in a car accident – can now feed himself and even write with some assistance.Surgeons win over paralysis iAfrica.com 2012-05-19 http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/wellness/your-health/news/794734.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120519073550/http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/wellness/your-health/news/794734.html 2012-05-19 2021-10-02Mackinnon Susan E. Yee Andrew Ray Wilson Z. 1 Nerve transfers for the restoration of hand function after spinal cord injury Journal of Neurosurgery Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG) 117 1 2012 0022-3085 10.3171/2012.3.jns12328 176–185 22587551 Japanese scientists develop a wireless data transmission system which operates in the currently unregulated terahertz frequency spectrum. The system can transmit data at a rate of 3 Gbit/s, a record for wireless data transmission; it could potentially be upgraded to transmit at 100 Gbit/s.Gompa Neal Japanese researchers transmit 3Gbps using terahertz frequencies ExtremeTech 2012-05-16 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/129447-japanese-researchers-develop-3gbps-wifi-for-terahertz-frequencies 2021-10-02Ishigaki K. Shiraishi M. Suzuki S. 1 Direct intensity modulation and wireless data transmission characteristics of terahertz-oscillating resonant tunnelling diodes Electronics Letters Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 48 10 2012 0013-5194 10.1049/el.2012.0849 582 2012ElL....48..582I The USGS and IAU officially name areas of Mars, including Aeolis Mons, Aeolis Palus and Robert Sharp Crater, relevant to the landing of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on 6 August 2012.NASA's New Mars Rover Will Explore Towering 'Mount Sharp' Space.com 2012-03-29 https://www.space.com/15097-mars-mountain-sharp-curiosity-rover.html 2021-10-02Three New Names Approved for Features on Mars - USGS Astrogeology Hot Topics astrogeology.usgs.gov 2012-07-28 http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?%2Farchives%2F447-Three-New-Names-Approved-for-Features-on-Mars.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120728141903/http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?%2Farchives%2F447-Three-New-Names-Approved-for-Features-on-Mars.html 2012-07-28 2021-10-02 Engineers at Virginia Tech build the world's first 3D-printing vending machine, which allows any member of the public to rapidly print objects on demand by submitting a blueprint to the machine.On David Commented Art Wall On Nutbastard Commented 1 is there a 3D printing vending machine? Yes.. there is now - 3d Printing 3dprinting.com 2012-10-05 http://3dprinting.com/news/is-there-a-3d-printing-vending-machine-yes-there-is-now/ https://web.archive.org/web/20121005083414/http://3dprinting.com/news/is-there-a-3d-printing-vending-machine-yes-there-is-now/ 2012-10-05 2021-10-02 thumb|right|250px|25 May 2012: SpaceX's Dragon becomes the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station. 20 May – An annular solar eclipse takes place.Millions witness Pacific 'ring of fire' eclipse BBC News 2012-05-21 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18120081 2021-10-02 22 May – American researchers demonstrate a rewritable DNA memory capable of storing digital data.Stanford Researchers Encode Rewritable Memory into DNA Healthcare Technology 2012-05-22 https://www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2012/05/22/291454-stanford-researchers-encode-rewritable-memory-into-dna.htm 2021-10-02Bonnet J. Subsoontorn P. Endy D. 1 Rewritable digital data storage in live cells via engineered control of recombination directionality Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 23 2012-05-21 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1202344109 8884–8889 22615351 3384180 2012PNAS..109.8884B free 23 May – In a breakthrough for adult stem cell therapy, Israeli scientists grow healthy heart muscle cells from the skin cells of patients. This development could offer a new treatment for heart failure patients.Selvadurai Emily Skin cells turned into healthy heart muscle cells BBC News 2012-05-23 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18158122 2021-10-02Zwi-Dantsis Limor Huber Irit Habib Manhal 1 Derivation and cardiomyocyte differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells from heart failure patients European Heart Journal Oxford University Press (OUP) 34 21 2012-05-22 1522-9645 10.1093/eurheartj/ehs096 1575–1586 22621821 free 25 May SpaceX's uncrewed Dragon spacecraft completes a successful rendezvous with the International Space Station, becoming the first commercial spacecraft ever to do so.SpaceX Dragon Docks With International Space Station The New York Times 2012-05-25 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/science/space/space-x-capsule-docks-at-space-station.html 2021-10-02SpaceX Dragon docking with ISS BBC News 2012-05-25 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-18202702 2021-10-02Pasztor Andy Private Falcon 9 Rocket Heads to Space Station WSJ 2012-05-22 https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304019404577419563393492618.html 2021-10-02 South Africa, Australia and New Zealand agree to co-host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world's largest single radio telescope project. The SKA, which will comprise thousands of individual antennae with a combined signal-collecting area of 1 km2 m2, is expected to begin operations by 2025.Amos Jonathan Africa and Australasia to share Square Kilometre Array BBC News 2012-05-25 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18194984 2021-10-02 American researchers unveil a cloaking device capable of slowing light to a virtual halt within an array of 25,000 microscopic lenses.'Cloaking' idea traps a rainbow BBC News 2012-05-25 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18181201 2021-10-02Smolyaninova V N Smolyaninov I I Ermer H K 1 Experimental demonstration of a broadband array of invisibility cloaks in the visible frequency range New Journal of Physics 14 5 2012-05-24 1367-2630 10.1088/1367-2630/14/5/053029 053029 1204.2319 2012NJPh...14e3029S 4536928 Archeologists announce the discovery of a 42,000-year-old bone flutes in a German cave – the oldest musical instruments yet discovered.Higham Thomas Basell Laura Jacobi Roger 1 Τesting models for the beginnings of the Aurignacian and the advent of figurative art and music: The radiocarbon chronology of Geißenklösterle Journal of Human Evolution Elsevier BV 62 6 2012 0047-2484 10.1016/j.jhevol.2012.03.003 664–676 22575323 2012JHumE..62..664H 29 May A "road train" of wirelessly linked autonomous vehicles successfully completes a 200 km mi on motorway journey, in Spain's first public test of autonomous vehicles.Volvo's self-drive 'convoy' hits the Spanish motorway BBC News 2012-05-29 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18248841 2021-10-02 Iran claims to have developed antivirus software capable of defending against the powerful Flame cyberweapon, which has infected computer networks across the Middle East.Iran 'finds fix' for sophisticated Flame malware BBC News 2012-05-29 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18253331 2021-10-02 30 May Scientists successfully sequence the tomato genome, and state that tastier and more pesticide-resistant tomato varieties can be engineered for commercial use within five years.McGrath Matt Flavour changer: Genome could enhance tomato taste BBC News 2012-05-30 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18253577 2021-10-02Kelland Kate Tomato genome project bears fruit U.S. 2012-05-30 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-tomato-genome-idUKBRE84T16L20120530 2021-10-02The tomato genome sequence provides insights into fleshy fruit evolution Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 485 7400 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11119 3378239 635–641 2445/28463 free The Tomato Genome Consortium (TGC) Sato Shusei Tabata Satoshi 1 22660326 2012Natur.485..635T Geologists report that supervolcanoes can develop much faster than previously suspected – erupting within just a few hundred years of their formation, instead of tens of thousands of years.Supervolcanoes 'can grow in just hundreds of years' BBC News 2012-05-30 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18269593 2021-10-02Gualda Guilherme A. R. Pamukcu Ayla S. Ghiorso Mark S. 1 Timescales of Quartz Crystallization and the Longevity of the Bishop Giant Magma Body PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 5 2012-05-30 1932-6203 22666359 10.1371/journal.pone.0037492 e37492 3364253 2012PLoSO...737492G free thumb|right|250px|30 May 2012: the tomato genome is fully sequenced by international researchers. 31 May SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft returns to Earth following its successful test mission to the International Space Station.Amos Jonathan Splashdown for SpaceX Dragon spacecraft BBC News 2012-05-31 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18273811 2021-10-02 Scientists develop a nanotechnology-based immunoassay test which is potentially three million times more sensitive than conventional tests. The new test could revolutionise the early detection of maladies such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.Nanotechnology breakthrough could dramatically improve medical tests ScienceDaily 2021-10-01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120531165752.htm 2021-10-02Zhou Liangcheng Ding Fei Chen Hao 1 Enhancement of Immunoassay's Fluorescence and Detection Sensitivity Using Three-Dimensional Plasmonic Nano-Antenna-Dots Array Analytical Chemistry American Chemical Society (ACS) 84 10 2012-05-01 0003-2700 10.1021/ac3003215 4489–4495 22519422 2012AnaCh..84.4489Z The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) officially names synthetic elements 114 and 116 "flerovium" and "livermorium", respectively.Witze Alexandra Flerovium and livermorium debut on periodic table - Molecules - Science News sciencenews.org 2012-11-13 https://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/341221/description/Flerovium_and_livermorium_debut_on_periodic_table https://web.archive.org/web/20121113122834/https://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/341221/description/Flerovium_and_livermorium_debut_on_periodic_table 2012-11-13 2021-10-02IUPAC - International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry: Element 114 is Named Flerovium and Element 116 is Named Livermorium iupac.org 2012-06-02 http://www.iupac.org/news/news-detail/article/element-114-is-named-flerovium-and-element-116-is-named-livermorium.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120602010328/http://www.iupac.org/news/news-detail/article/element-114-is-named-flerovium-and-element-116-is-named-livermorium.html 2012-06-02 2021-10-02 Sharp Corporation develops a solar cell with the highest solar energy conversion efficiency yet achieved. A conversion efficiency of 43.5% was obtained by using a concentrator triple-junction compound cell, combining a focusing lens with multiple layers of light-absorbing compounds.Sharp Develops Concentrator Solar Cell With World's Highest Conversion Efficiency of 435% Photonics Online 2012-05-31 https://www.photonicsonline.com/doc/sharp-develops-concentrator-solar-cell-with-world-s-highest-conversion-efficiency-of-0001 2021-10-02 June 1 June In a major milestone for neuroscience, researchers publicly release the first installment of data from their project to construct the first whole-brain wiring diagram of a vertebrate brain, that of a mouse.Neuroscientists reach major milestone in whole-brain circuit mapping project « Kurzweil Kurzweil 2012-04-17 https://www.kurzweilai.net/neuroscientists-reach-major-milestone-in-whole-brain-circuit-mapping-project 2021-10-09 Scientists publish the results of a successful neurorehabilitation study, in which paralysed rats regained the ability to walk and even sprint after receiving targeted electrochemical therapy. The rats' damaged spinal cords were stimulated with chemicals and implanted electrodes, and a robotic assistive harness was used to "teach" the rats to walk again.Walking and running again after spinal cord injury ScienceDaily 2021-10-09 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120531145714.htm 2021-10-09Gallagher James Paralysed rats 'learn to walk' BBC News 2012-05-31 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18257077 2021-10-09van den Brand R. Heutschi J. Barraud Q. 1 Restoring Voluntary Control of Locomotion after Paralyzing Spinal Cord Injury Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6085 2012-05-31 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1217416 1182–1185 22654062 2012Sci...336.1182V 11382/373455 14665852 https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/177736/files/van%20den%20Brand%20et%20al.%2C%20Science%202012.pdf Australian researchers publish a new study revealing how the zebrafish heals its spinal cord after injury. According to the study, a specialised protein prevents paralysing glial scars forming when zebrafish have spinal cord damage. It is hoped that this protein may be exploited for the treatment of paralysed humans.Study Reveals Secret of Zebrafish - Biochemistry Breaking Science News | Sci-News.com 2012-06-01 http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/biochemistry/article00366.html 2021-10-09Goldshmit Y. Sztal T. E. Jusuf P. R. 1 Fgf-Dependent Glial Cell Bridges Facilitate Spinal Cord Regeneration in Zebrafish Journal of Neuroscience Society for Neuroscience 32 22 2012-05-30 0270-6474 10.1523/jneurosci.0758-12.2012 6703582 7477–7492 22649227 4 June – A partial lunar eclipse takes place.Partial lunar eclipse sets the stage for Venus transit NBC News 2012-06-03 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47666636 https://web.archive.org/web/20201117154244/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47666636 November 17, 2020 2021-10-09 5 June American glass manufacturer Corning Inc. unveils an ultra-thin, flexible glass dubbed "Willow Glass". The invention, which is similar to Corning's widely used Gorilla Glass, could be used in the development of flexible computer displays and ultra-thin smartphones.Moskvitch Katia Willow Glass: ultra-thin glass can 'wrap' around devices BBC News 2012-06-05 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18329974 2021-10-09 The solar-powered Solar Impulse aircraft lands in Morocco after a 19-hour flight from Spain, marking the first intercontinental flight of a purely solar-powered aircraft.Abdennebi Zakia Solar plane completes maiden intercontinental trip U.S. 2012-06-05 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aviation-solar-idUSBRE8541F020120605 2021-10-09 thumb|right|250px|5–6 June 2012: a transit of Venus, the last such event until 2117, occurs (transit image from Minneapolis shown). 5–6 June – A transit of Venus, one of the rarest predictable astronomical phenomena, occurs. Another such transit will not occur until the year 2117.2012 Transit of Venus NASA 2004-06-08 http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/transit12.html 2021-10-09Amos Jonathan Venus makes rare trek across Sun BBC News 2012-06-06 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17745366 2021-10-09 6 June An international group of scientists warns that population growth, widespread destruction of natural ecosystems, and climate change may be driving the Earth toward an irreversible change in the biosphere – a planet-wide "tipping point".Evidence of impending tipping point for Earth ScienceDaily 2012-06-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120606132308.htm 2021-10-09Barnosky Anthony D. Hadly Elizabeth A. Bascompte Jordi 1 Approaching a state shift in Earth's biosphere Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 486 7401 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11018 52–58 22678279 2012Natur.486...52B 10261/55208 4788164 free Scientists at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet achieve a breakthrough in creating a new vaccine, CAD106, for Alzheimer's disease.http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?l=en&d=130&a=145109&newsdep=130 https://web.archive.org/web/20120610180741/http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?l=en&d=130&a=145109&newsdep=130 Alzheimer's vaccine trial a success Karolinska Institutet 2012-06-10 2021-10-09Winblad Bengt Andreasen Niels Minthon Lennart 1 Safety, tolerability, and antibody response of active Aβ immunotherapy with CAD106 in patients with Alzheimer's disease: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human study The Lancet Neurology Elsevier BV 11 7 2012 1474-4422 10.1016/s1474-4422(12)70140-0 597–604 22677258 42166910 IPv6, a new version of the Internet Protocol, is officially launched, offering trillions of possible new web addresses.Bradley Tony IPv6: Five Things You Should Know PCWorld 2012-06-06 https://www.pcworld.com/article/465085/ipv6_five_things_you_should_know.html 2021-10-09Vint Cerf 2012-06-04 The new, larger version of the Internet: IPv6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uwjt32NvVA Video Youtube Wales becomes the first nation in the world to have its plants DNA barcoded. A tiny fragment of leaf, seed or root, or even a single pollen grain, can now be used to identify species.Morgan Sion Wales becomes first country to DNA barcode all flowering plants WalesOnline 2012-06-25 http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/wales-becomes-first-country-dna-2029649 2021-10-09de Vere Natasha Rich Tim C. G. Ford Col R. 1 DNA Barcoding the Native Flowering Plants and Conifers of Wales PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 6 2012-06-06 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0037945 3368937 e37945 22701588 2012PLoSO...737945D free German scientists develop zeolite thermal storage pellets that can store four times as much thermal energy as water, and can retain their energy almost indefinitely.Anthony Sebastian Zeolite thermal storage retains heat indefinitely, absorbs four times more heat than water ExtremeTech 2012-06-06 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/130523-zeolite-thermal-storage-retains-heat-indefinitely-absorbs-four-times-more-heat-than-water 2021-10-09Fraunhofer Researchers Develop New Thermal Storage System AZoCleantech.com 2012-06-07 https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=16776 2021-10-09 7 June According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature for the contiguous United States during May 2012 was 64.3 F, 3.3 °F above the long-term average, making it the second-warmest May on record. The month's high temperatures also contributed to the warmest spring, warmest year-to-date, and warmest 12-month period the United States has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895.U.S. experienced second warmest May, warmest spring on record, NOAA reports ScienceDaily 2021-10-09 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120607185751.htm 2021-10-09National Climate Report - May 2012 National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2012/5 2021-10-09 Scientists at the University of Washington successfully sequence the genome of an 18-week-old human fetus in the womb by taking blood samples from the mother. In future, millions of children could be safely screened for genetic disorders in this way.Gallagher James Genome of 18-week-old foetus deciphered BBC News 2012-06-07 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18353055 2021-10-09Kitzman J. O. Snyder M. W. Ventura M. 1 Noninvasive Whole-Genome Sequencing of a Human Fetus Science Translational Medicine American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 4 137 2012-06-06 1946-6234 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004323 3379884 137ra76 22674554 The US Naval Research Laboratory has developed a form of underwater solar energy.https://web.archive.org/web/20120612124806/http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2012/photovoltaic-cells-tap-underwater-solar-energy http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2012/photovoltaic-cells-tap-underwater-solar-energy 2012-06-12 Photovoltaic Cells Tap Underwater Solar Energy 2012-06-07 U.S. Naval Research Laboratory A team of New Zealand scientists report that measuring the ratio of hydrogen and methane levels on the planet Mars may help determine the likelihood of life on Mars. According to the scientists, "...low H2/CH4 ratios (less than approximately 40) indicate that life is likely present and active."Mars Life Could Leave Traces in Red Planet's Air: Study Space.com 2012-06-26 https://www.space.com/16284-mars-life-atmosphere-hydrogen-methane.html 2021-10-09Oze C. Jones L. C. Goldsmith J. I. 1 Differentiating biotic from abiotic methane genesis in hydrothermally active planetary surfaces Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 25 2012-06-07 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1205223109 3382529 9750–9754 22679287 2012PNAS..109.9750O free In a separate study, a team of Netherland scientists associated with MIT reported methods of detecting hydrogen and methane in extraterrestrial atmospheres.New View of Exoplanets Will Aid Search for E.T. Wired 2012-06-27 https://www.wired.com/2012/06/tau-bootis-b/ 2021-10-09Brogi Matteo Snellen Ignas A. G. de Kok Remco J. 1 The signature of orbital motion from the dayside of the planet τ Boötis b Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 486 7404 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11161 502–504 22739313 1206.6109 2012Natur.486..502B 4368217 8 June American researchers report that they have successfully developed a key insulation technology required for the ITER nuclear fusion demonstration reactor.Researchers take big step to develop nuclear fusion power Phys.org 2012-06-08 https://phys.org/news/2012-06-big-nuclear-fusion-power.html 2021-10-09 American scientists build a tabletop-sized X-ray laser, vastly smaller and cheaper than most such devices. The invention could permit ultra-high-resolution imaging of microscopic structures such as living cells.X-ray lasers from tabletop device BBC News 2012-06-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18359291 2021-10-09Popmintchev T. Chen M.-C. Popmintchev D. 1 Bright Coherent Ultrahigh Harmonics in the keV X-ray Regime from Mid-Infrared Femtosecond Lasers Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6086 2012-06-07 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1218497 1287–1291 22679093 2403.19535 2012Sci...336.1287P 10366/147089 24628513 free British researchers begin trialling "smart" hand pumps equipped with transmitters that can immediately detect and report mechanical breakdowns. This will allow vital water pumps to be fixed much more quickly in rural Africa.McGrath Matt Smart hand pumps promise cleaner water in Africa BBC News 2012-06-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18358766 2021-11-07Thomson Patrick Hope Rob Foster Tim 1 GSM-enabled remote monitoring of rural handpumps: a proof-of-concept study Journal of Hydroinformatics IWA Publishing 14 4 2012-05-17 1464-7141 10.2166/hydro.2012.183 829–839 free 2012JHyin..14..829T 10453/115094 free Japanese researchers grow a tiny, functioning human liver from stem cells.Cyranoski David Rudimentary liver grown in vitro Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2012-06-20 0028-0836 10.1038/nature.2012.10848 87544727 thumb|right|250px|13 June 2012: scientists publish the complete genome of the bonobo (female pictured). 10 June Canadian scientists develop a new method of accurately visualising complex protein interactions. The development could have broad implications for the biomedical and bioengineering sciences, including the design of functional bionanomachines.Researchers watch tiny living machines self-assemble ScienceDaily 2021-11-06 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120610151304.htm 2021-11-07Vallée-Bélisle Alexis Michnick Stephen W Visualizing transient protein-folding intermediates by tryptophan-scanning mutagenesis Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 19 7 2012-06-10 1545-9993 10.1038/nsmb.2322 731–736 22683996 30976460 11 June The European Extremely Large Telescope is approved for construction by member states of the European Southern Observatory organization.Amos Jonathan European Extremely Large Telescope given go-ahead BBC News 2012-06-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18396853 2021-11-07 12 June Scientists unveil a new porous metal-organic framework, NOTT-202, capable of capturing and storing excess carbon dioxide within its structure.New holey material soaks up CO2 BBC News 2012-06-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18396655 2021-11-07Yang Sihai Lin Xiang Lewis William 1 A partially interpenetrated metal–organic framework for selective hysteretic sorption of carbon dioxide Nature Materials Springer Science and Business Media LLC 11 8 2012-06-03 1476-1122 10.1038/nmat3343 710–716 22660661 2012NatMa..11..710Y https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3108752 An extensive study concludes that several factors aligned to cause the extinction of woolly mammoths.Choi Charles Q. Mammoths Wiped Out By Multiple Killers livescience.com 2012-06-12 https://www.livescience.com/20894-woolly-mammoths-extinction.html 2021-11-07MacDonald G.M. Beilman D.W. Kuzmin Y.V. 1 Pattern of extinction of the woolly mammoth in Beringia Nature Communications Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 1 2012 893– 2041-1723 10.1038/ncomms1881 free 22692536 3621396 2012NatCo...3..893M The IARC, a WHO research agency, concludes that diesel exhaust exposure can cause cancer.WHO: Diesel exhaust causes cancer, same magnitude as second-hand smoke CBS News 2012-06-12 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-diesel-exhaust-causes-cancer-same-magnitude-as-second-hand-smoke/ 2021-11-07Gallagher James Diesel exhausts do cause cancer, says WHO BBC News 2012-06-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18415532 2021-11-07Media Centre – IARC News – IARC IARC http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/2012/mono105-info.php 2021-11-07 A123 Systems develops an improved version of its lithium-ion battery cells, potentially lowering the cost of electric vehicles.http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428172/battery-maker-a123-announces-new-tech-to-jump/ Technology Review https://web.archive.org/web/20120618045110/http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428172/battery-maker-a123-announces-new-tech-to-jump/ 2012-06-18 2012-06-12 Kevin Bullis Battery Maker A123 Announces New Tech to Jump-Start Its Business 13 June NASA successfully launches its NuSTAR X-ray space telescope.Thomson Iain Pegasus rocket lofts NuSTAR X-ray telescope into orbit theregister.co.uk 2012-06-13 https://www.theregister.com/2012/06/13/pegasus_launch_nustar_telescope/ 2021-11-07NASA's NuSTAR Mission Lifts Off NASA 2015-11-20 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/nustar/news/nustar20120613.html 2021-11-07 2021-12-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20211227080157/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/nustar/news/nustar20120613.html dead Scientists fully decode the bonobo genome.Amos Jonathan Bonobo's genetic code laid bare BBC News 2012-06-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18430420 2021-11-07Prüfer Kay Munch Kasper Hellmann Ines 1 The bonobo genome compared with the chimpanzee and human genomes Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 486 7404 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11128 3498939 527–531 22722832 2012Natur.486..527P 14 June Swedish surgeons report having implanted a patient with a working lab-grown vein created with the patient's own stem cells.Gallagher James Ten-year-old girl gets vein grown from her stem cells BBC News 2012-06-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18428889 2021-11-07Olausson Michael Patil Pradeep B Kuna Vijay Kumar 1 Transplantation of an allogeneic vein bioengineered with autologous stem cells: a proof-of-concept study The Lancet Elsevier BV 380 9838 2012 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60633-3 230–237 22704550 32932649 Chinese researchers report that fields of GM crops can be beneficial to nearby non-GM plants by encouraging the proliferation of beneficial predator insects, which reduce the need for pesticides.Coghlan Andy Genetically modified crops encourage beneficial bugs New Scientist 2019-02-26 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21923-genetically-modified-crops-encourage-beneficial-bugs/ 2021-11-07Lu Yanhui Wu Kongming Jiang Yuying 1 Widespread adoption of Bt cotton and insecticide decrease promotes biocontrol services Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 487 7407 2012-06-13 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11153 362–365 22722864 2012Natur.487..362L 4415298 Examples of cave art in Spain are dated to around 38,000 BC, making them the oldest examples of art yet discovered in Europe. Scientists theorize that the paintings may have been made by Neanderthals, rather than by homo sapiens.Amos Jonathan Red dot becomes 'oldest cave art' BBC News 2012-06-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18449711 2021-11-07Pike A. W. G. Hoffmann D. L. García-Diez M. 1 U-Series Dating of Paleolithic Art in 11 Caves in Spain Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 336 6087 2012-06-15 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1219957 1409–1413 22700921 2012Sci...336.1409P 7807664 https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1498254 2012 LZ1, a large near-Earth asteroid, passes by the planet.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120614-asteroid-earth-planet-close-watch-online-space-science/ National Geographic https://web.archive.org/web/20120617031130/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120614-asteroid-earth-planet-close-watch-online-space-science/ 2012-06-17 2012-06-14 Ker Than Large Asteroid to Buzz Earth Tonight—Watch It Live Physical activity levels are declining worldwide, a trend that raises major health concerns, according to a new study.Technology Making People Lazier as Finding the Remote Fast Becoming the Only Form of Exercise Gawker 2012-06-23 http://gawker.com/5919185/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120623224354/http://gawker.com/5919185/ 2012-06-23 2021-11-07Ng S. W. Popkin B. M. Time use and physical activity: a shift away from movement across the globe Obesity Reviews Wiley 13 8 2012-06-14 1467-7881 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2011.00982.x 3401184 659–680 22694051 New research warns that pH levels along the US western seaboard will drop to 7.8 by 2050, with serious consequences for many organisms.Information for journalists ETH Zurich 2019-01-28 https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/media-information.html 2021-11-07Gruber Nicolas Hauri Claudine Lachkar Zouhair 1 Rapid Progression of Ocean Acidification in the California Current System Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6091 2012-07-13 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1216773 220–223 22700658 2012Sci...337..220G 7745863 free 15 June American scientists report a possible genetic link between diabetes and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.Alzheimer's gene 'diabetes link' BBC News 2012-06-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18445701 2021-11-07Collin Y. Ewald Ewald Collin Y Raps Daniel A Li Chris 1 APL-1, the Alzheimer's Amyloid Precursor Protein in Caenorhabditis elegans, Modulates Multiple Metabolic Pathways Throughout Development Genetics Oxford University Press (OUP) 191 2 2012-06-01 1943-2631 10.1534/genetics.112.138768 3374313 493–507 22466039 NASA scientists report that Voyager 1 may be very close to entering interstellar space and becoming the first human-made object to leave the Solar System.Amos Jonathan Particles point way for Nasa's Voyager BBC News 2012-06-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18458478 2021-11-07Ferris Timothy Timothy Ferris on Voyagers' Never-Ending Journey Smithsonian magazine 2012-04-25 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Timothy-Ferris-on-Voyagers-Never-Ending-Journey.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120425043147/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Timothy-Ferris-on-Voyagers-Never-Ending-Journey.html 2012-04-25 2021-11-07 16 June China successfully launches the crewed Shenzhou 9 spacecraft on a mission to the Tiangong-1 space station module. Shenzhou 9 carries a crew of three, including China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang.Amos Jonathan China launches space mission with first woman astronaut BBC News 2012-06-16 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18458544 2021-11-07China's first female astronaut to improve Shenzhou-9 crew's efficiency: spokesperson - Xinhua - English.news.cn news.xinhuanet.com 2012-06-17 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-06/15/c_131655603.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20120617155940/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-06/15/c_131655603.htm 2012-06-17 2021-11-07 The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a successful 469-day orbital mission.Wall Mike Air Force's Secret X-37B Space Plane Lands in Calif. After Mystery Mission Space.com 2012-06-16 https://www.space.com/16110-secret-x37b-space-plane-landing.html 2021-11-07 18 June – Researchers design a robot that can outperform humans in identifying a wide range of natural materials according to their textures. The invention paves the way for advancements in prostheses, personal assistive robots and consumer product testing.Robots get a feel for the world: Touch more sensitive than a human's ScienceDaily 2021-11-06 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120618194952.htm 2021-11-07Fishel Jeremy A. Loeb Gerald E. Bayesian Exploration for Intelligent Identification of Textures Frontiers in Neurorobotics Frontiers Media SA 6 2012 1662-5218 10.3389/fnbot.2012.00004 3389458 4 22783186 free 19 June – Men who are heavy tea drinkers may be more likely to develop prostate cancer, according to new research.Male tea drinkers 'may be at greater risk of prostate cancer' BBC News 2012-06-19 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18494725 2021-11-07Shafique Kashif McLoone Philip Qureshi Khaver 1 Tea Consumption and the Risk of Overall and Grade Specific Prostate Cancer: A Large Prospective Cohort Study of Scottish Men Nutrition and Cancer Informa UK Limited 64 6 2012 0163-5581 10.1080/01635581.2012.690063 790–797 22697604 25955548 20 June Engineers build a working 50-gigapixel camera by synchronizing 98 tiny cameras in a single device.University Duke Engineers build 50 gigapixel camera Phys.org 2012-06-20 https://phys.org/news/2012-06-gigapixel-camera.html 2021-11-07Brady D. J. Gehm M. E. Stack R. A. 1 Multiscale gigapixel photography Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 486 7403 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11150 386–389 22722199 2012Natur.486..386B 4323694 Renewable energy sources can fill 80 percent of American electricity demand by 2050, according to a new report.Owano Nancy Renewables can fill 80 percent electricity demand in U.S. in 2050 Phys.org 2012-06-20 https://phys.org/news/2012-06-renewables-percent-electricity-demand.html 2021-11-07NREL: Energy Analysis - The Renewable Electricity Futures Study nrel.gov 2012-06-22 http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/re_futures/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120622030027/http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/re_futures/ 2012-06-22 2021-11-07 21 June Scientists develop the world's first magnetic emulsion, based on magnetic surfactant molecules. The invention could be used to clean up oil spills or even guide medicines through human blood vessels.'Magnetic emulsions' could clean up oil spills BBC News 2012-06-21 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18521711 2021-11-07Brown Paul Butts Craig P. Cheng Jing 1 Magnetic emulsions with responsive surfactants Soft Matter Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) 8 29 2012 1744-683X 10.1039/c2sm26077h 7545 2012SMat....8.7545B 1983/dbce10cc-f6a6-440b-9dd5-04f61c4ad65b https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/7400248/SM_COM_05_2012_026077.pdf 2.8-million-year-old climate data is reconstructed from sediment cores recovered from Lake El'gygytgyn, Russia. The data is considerably older than the 800,000-year-old ice cores found in the Antarctic.2.8 million years of climate data lurking in Russian lake Ars Technica 2012-06-21 https://arstechnica.com/science/2012/06/2-8-million-years-of-climate-data-lurking-in-russian-lake/ 2021-11-07Melles Martin Brigham-Grette Julie Minyuk Pavel S. 1 2.8 Million Years of Arctic Climate Change from Lake El'gygytgyn, NE Russia Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6092 2012-07-20 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1222135 315–320 22722254 2012Sci...337..315M 729119 free 23 June – 100 years after the birth of English cryptanalyst and computer pioneer Alan Turing, British experts cast doubt on the long-held notion that Turing's death was a suicide.Pease Roland Alan Turing: Inquest's suicide verdict 'not supportable' BBC News 2012-06-26 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18561092 2021-11-07Turing suicide verdict in doubt fds.oup.com 2012-12-14 http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/general/popularscience/jackcopelandjune https://web.archive.org/web/20121214074429/http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/general/popularscience/jackcopelandjune 2012-12-14 2021-11-07 24 June China successfully completes its first manual orbital rendezvous, as the crewed Shenzhou 9 spacecraft docks with the Tiangong-1 module without the assistance of automated docking systems.China Shenzhou-9 spacecraft makes first manual docking BBC News 2012-06-24 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-18567115 2021-11-07 Rates of sea level rise are increasing three-to-four times faster along portions of the U.S. Atlantic Coast than globally, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report published in Nature Climate Change.News USGS.gov http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3256 2021-11-07Sallenger Asbury H. Doran Kara S. Howd Peter A. 1 Hotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2 12 2012-06-24 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1597 884–888 2012NatCC...2..884S https://zenodo.org/record/1233363 free Lonesome George, the last known individual of the Pinta Island tortoise subspecies, dies in Galápagos National Park, probably aged over 100, thus making the subspecies extinct presumptively.Famed Galapagos tortoise dies https://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/story/2012-06-24/tortiose-species-extinct/55798794/1 USA Today 24 June 2012 2020-03-20 2012-07-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20120706133544/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/story/2012-06-24/tortiose-species-extinct/55798794/1 26 June – The discovery of a new mineral, panguite, is announced, with samples found in the Allende meteorite.Meteorite Hunter Discovers New Mineral Wired 2012-06-26 https://www.wired.com/2012/06/new-mineral-panguite/ 2021-11-07Ma C. Tschauner O. Beckett J. R. 1 Panguite, (Ti4+,Sc,Al,Mg,Zr,Ca)1.8O3, a new ultra-refractory titania mineral from the Allende meteorite: Synchrotron micro-diffraction and EBSD American Mineralogist Mineralogical Society of America 97 7 2012-06-25 0003-004X 10.2138/am.2012.4027 1219–1225 2012AmMin..97.1219M 101940461 27 June Physicists collide gold ions together to produce a quark–gluon plasma, similar to that which existed in the first instant after the Big Bang. In doing so, they momentarily produce what Guinness World Records reports is the highest artificial temperature ever: 4 trillion °C (7.2 trillion °F).Physicists produce highest man-made temperature: 7 trillion degrees Los Angeles Times 2012-06-27 https://www.latimes.com/science/la-xpm-2012-jun-27-la-sci-sn-highest-temperature-20120627-story.html 2021-11-07 Scientists develop a new, high-precision method for modifying organic compounds with new active molecules, easing the development of new medicines.Easier way to make new drug compounds ScienceDaily 2021-11-06 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120627131951.htm 2021-11-07Leow Dasheng Li Gang Mei Tian-Sheng 1 Activation of remote meta-C–H bonds assisted by an end-on template Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 486 7404 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11158 3386562 518–522 22739317 2012Natur.486..518L Scientists associated with University of the Witwatersrand, Johns Hopkins University and other international Universities report that early humans, such as Australopithecus sediba, may have lived in savannas but ate fruit and other foods from the forest – behavior similar to modern-day savanna chimpanzees.Boyle Alan This pre-human ate like a chimp - Cosmic Log Cosmic Log 2012-06-30 http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/27/12430341-this-pre-human-ate-like-a-chimp https://web.archive.org/web/20120630144236/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/27/12430341-this-pre-human-ate-like-a-chimp 2012-06-30 2021-11-07Australopithecus Sediba Preferred Forest Foods, Fossil Teeth Suggest The New York Times 2012-06-27 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/science/australopithecus-sediba-preferred-forest-foods-fossil-teeth-suggest.html 2021-11-07Henry Amanda G. Ungar Peter S. Passey Benjamin H. 1 The diet of Australopithecus sediba Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 487 7405 2012-06-27 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11185 90–93 22763449 2012Natur.487...90H 205229276 28 June – An international team of astronomers discovers evidence that the Milky Way had an encounter with a small galaxy or massive dark matter structure perhaps as recently as 100 million years ago, and as a result of that encounter it is still ringing like a bell.Milky Way struck 100 million years ago, still rings like a bell - Queen's University News Centre queensu.ca 2012-07-01 http://www.queensu.ca/news/articles/milky-way-struck-100-million-years-ago-still-rings-bell https://web.archive.org/web/20120701021032/http://www.queensu.ca/news/articles/milky-way-struck-100-million-years-ago-still-rings-bell 2012-07-01 2021-11-07Widrow Lawrence M. Gardner Susan Yanny Brian 1 Galactoseismology: Discovery of Vertical Waves in the Galactic Disk The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 750 2 2012-04-25 2041-8205 10.1088/2041-8205/750/2/l41 L41 1203.6861 2012ApJ...750L..41W 118575701 thumb|right|250px|29 June 2012: scientists develop an fMRI brain scanner which allows paralyzed people to communicate using thought alone (fMRI images shown). 29 June American researchers demonstrate "paint-on" batteries, composed of active layers just 0.5 mm thick, capable of being spray-painted onto almost any surface. The technology could allow for the creation of lighter, more flexible electronic devices with a wide range of form factors.'Paint-on' batteries demonstrated BBC News 2012-06-29 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18623840 2021-11-07Singh Neelam Galande Charudatta Miranda Andrea 1 Paintable Battery Scientific Reports Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2 1 2012-06-28 2045-2322 10.1038/srep00481 free 3385420 481 22745900 2012NatSR...2..481S Dutch and German scientists unveil a new brain-scanning functional magnetic resonance imaging device that allows paralyzed people to type out words using only their thoughts.New brain scanner helps paralysed people spell words BBC News 2012-06-29 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18644084 2021-11-07Mental Scanner Lets Paralyzed People Spell Their Thoughts livescience.com 2012-06-29 https://www.livescience.com/21303-mental-scanner-lets-paralyzed-people-spell-their-thoughts.html 2021-11-07Sorger Bettina Reithler Joel Dahmen Brigitte 1 A Real-Time fMRI-Based Spelling Device Immediately Enabling Robust Motor-Independent Communication Current Biology Elsevier BV 22 14 2012 0960-9822 10.1016/j.cub.2012.05.022 1333–1338 22748322 15103741 free 2012CBio...22.1333S Scientists discover the remains of an enormous, 3-billion-year-old impact near the Maniitsoq region of West Greenland, a billion years older than any other known collision on Earth.EcoAlert: 100-Kilometer Wide Impact Crater Found in Greenland --Oldest Known on Planet dailygalaxy.com 2012-06-30 http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2012/06/ecoalert-100-kilometer-wide-impact-crater-found-in-greenland-oldest-known-on-planet.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120630040235/http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2012/06/ecoalert-100-kilometer-wide-impact-crater-found-in-greenland-oldest-known-on-planet.html 2012-06-30 2021-11-07Garde Adam A. McDonald Iain Dyck Brendan 1 Searching for giant, ancient impact structures on Earth: The Mesoarchaean Maniitsoq structure, West Greenland Earth and Planetary Science Letters Elsevier BV 337-338 2012 0012-821X 10.1016/j.epsl.2012.04.026 197–210 2012E&PSL.337..197G July 1 July – The London Symphony Orchestra performs a musical composition created without human input by the Iamus computer.Ball Philip Computer science: Algorithmic rapture Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7412 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/488458a 458 2012Natur.488..458B 39479249 free Ball Philip Iamus, classical music's computer composer, live from Malaga The Guardian 2012-07-01 http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/01/iamus-computer-composes-classical-music 2021-11-13 2 July American researchers use a 3D printer to build a sugar framework for growing an artificial liver. The sugar structure simulates a human vascular system, allowing artificial blood vessels to be grown to support the liver.3D-printed sugar network to help grow artificial liver BBC News 2012-07-02 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18677627 2021-11-13http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Replacement-liver-soon-to-be-a-reality/articleshow/14596317.cms https://web.archive.org/web/20130131174122/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-02/health/32507712_1_cells-tissue-3d 2013-01-31 2012-07-02 Times of India Replacement liver soon to be a realityMiller Jordan S. Stevens Kelly R. Yang Michael T. 1 Rapid casting of patterned vascular networks for perfusable engineered three-dimensional tissues Nature Materials Springer Science and Business Media LLC 11 9 2012-07-01 1476-1122 10.1038/nmat3357 3586565 768–774 22751181 2012NatMa..11..768M Scientists use ultrasound to display 3D video on a modified liquid soap membrane, creating the world's thinnest transparent video display.Soap bubble screen is 'the world's thinnest display' BBC News 2012-07-02 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18671061 2021-11-13 Graphene sheets with precisely controlled pores can purify water more efficiently than existing methods, according to scientists at MIT.Chandler David L. A new approach to water desalination MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2012-06-29 https://news.mit.edu/2012/graphene-water-desalination-0702 2021-11-13Cohen-Tanugi David Grossman Jeffrey C. Water Desalination across Nanoporous Graphene Nano Letters American Chemical Society (ACS) 12 7 2012-06-12 1530-6984 10.1021/nl3012853 3602–3608 22668008 2012NanoL..12.3602C Scientists report that indirect evidence supporting the existence of the Higgs boson has been found.Sample Ian Higgs boson fever fills Cern with 24-hour particle people The Guardian 2012-07-03 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/jul/03/higgs-boson-cern-particle-people 2021-11-13Wickham Chris Evans Robert "It's a boson:" Higgs quest bears new particle U.S. 2012-07-04 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-higgs-idUKBRE86008K20120704 2021-11-13 3 July Researchers photograph the shadow of a single atom for the first time.First photo of shadow of single atom ScienceDaily 2021-11-14 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120703172543.htm 2021-11-16Streed Erik W. Jechow Andreas Norton Benjamin G. 1 Absorption imaging of a single atom Nature Communications 3 1 2012 2041-1723 10.1038/ncomms1944 free 933 22760632 1201.5280 2012NatCo...3..933S 5616535 A study led by Kansas State University discovers a new quantum state, which allows three, but not two, atoms to stick together.Strength in numbers: Physicists identify new quantum state allowing three – but not two – atoms to stick together ScienceDaily 2021-11-14 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120703142515.htm 2021-11-16Guevara Nicolais L. Wang Yujun Esry B. D. 1 New Class of Three-Body States Physical Review Letters American Physical Society (APS) 108 21 2012-05-22 0031-9007 10.1103/physrevlett.108.213202 213202 23003251 1110.0476 2012PhRvL.108u3202G 6091524 4 July CERN physicists announce the discovery of a particle consistent with the Standard Model's Higgs boson at a "5 sigma" level of significance, indicating that there is only one chance in 3.5 million to get such a result by chance without a particle.Physicists Find Particle That Could Be the Higgs Boson The New York Times 2012-07-04 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/science/cern-physicists-may-have-discovered-higgs-boson-particle.html 2021-11-16Rincon Paul Higgs boson-like particle discovery claimed at LHC BBC News 2012-07-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-18702455 2021-11-16CERN experiments observe particle consistent with long-sought Higgs boson CERN 2012-07-04 https://home.cern/news/press-release/cern/cern-experiments-observe-particle-consistent-long-sought-higgs-boson 2021-11-16 2021-01-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20210120041307/https://home.cern/news/press-release/cern/cern-experiments-observe-particle-consistent-long-sought-higgs-boson dead American scientists develop an electrically conductive gel that can easily be printed onto surfaces with a standard inkjet printer, allowing the rapid and simple production of a wide range of electronics.Printable, electrically conductive gel with unprecedented electrical performance synthesized ScienceDaily 2021-11-14 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120704182543.htm 2021-11-16Pan L. Yu G. Zhai D. 1 Hierarchical nanostructured conducting polymer hydrogel with high electrochemical activity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 24 2012-05-29 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1202636109 3386113 9287–9292 22645374 2012PNAS..109.9287P free Researchers have identified seven genetic markers linked with a woman's breast size, according to a new study.https://web.archive.org/web/20121215131052/http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/2801-breast-size-genetic-markers.html MyHealthNewsDaily Genes for Breast Size Found 2012-07-03 2012-12-15 http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com/2801-breast-size-genetic-markers.htmlEriksson Nicholas Benton Geoffrey M Do Chuong B 1 Genetic variants associated with breast size also influence breast cancer risk BMC Medical Genetics Springer Science and Business Media LLC 13 1 2012-06-30 1471-2350 10.1186/1471-2350-13-53 3483246 53 22747683 free 250px|thumb|right|4 July 2012: CERN scientists report the discovery of a particle with significant similarities to the Higgs boson (Higgs collision signature shown). 5 July – Scientists have produced the most detailed footage of a single neuron ever seen. In the timelapse video, individual proteins are shown moving through different pathways within the cell.Aguilar Mario This Is the Closest Look We've Ever Gotten at a Neuron's Moving Parts Gizmodo 2012-08-23 https://gizmodo.com/this-is-the-closest-look-weve-ever-gotten-at-a-neurons-5937293 2021-11-20Al-Bassam Sarmad Xu Min Wandless Thomas J. 1 Differential Trafficking of Transport Vesicles Contributes to the Localization of Dendritic Proteins Cell Reports Elsevier BV 2 1 2012 2211-1247 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.05.018 3408588 89–100 22840400 6 July UCLA engineers develop an ultra-high-speed optical microscope capable of quickly and reliably identifying cancer cells in human blood, paving the way for faster, cheaper and more reliable cancer diagnoses.Research & Development World Research & Development World 2021-01-11 https://www.rdworldonline.com/ 2021-11-20Goda K. Ayazi A. Gossett D. R. 1 High-throughput single-microparticle imaging flow analyzer Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 29 2012-07-02 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1204718109 3406874 11630–11635 22753513 2012PNAS..10911630G free Scientists construct the most biologically accurate robotic legs yet built, closely mimicking the motion of human leg muscles.'Most realistic' robot legs developed BBC News 2012-07-06 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-18724114 2021-11-20Klein Theresa J Lewis M Anthony A physical model of sensorimotor interactions during locomotion Journal of Neural Engineering IOP Publishing 9 4 2012-07-05 1741-2560 10.1088/1741-2560/9/4/046011 046011 22766556 2012JNEng...9d6011K 29703919 7 July – Non-human animals including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures including octopuses possess consciousness, according to the new Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness.Harmon Katherine Octopuses Gain Consciousness (According to Scientists' Declaration) Scientific American Blog Network 2012-08-21 https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/octopus-chronicles/octopuses-gain-consciousness-according-to-scientists-declaration/ 2021-11-20 9 July Scientists discover a new molecule that could potentially make teeth cavity-proof.Diaz Jesus Scientists Create Molecule to Make Teeth Cavityproof Gizmodo 2012-07-09 https://gizmodo.com/scientists-create-molecule-to-make-teeth-cavityproof-5924447 2021-11-20 Scientists have, for the first time, directly detected part of the invisible dark matter "scaffolding" of the universe, where more than half of all matter is believed to reside.Dark matter scaffolding of universe detected for the first time University of Michigan News 2012-07-09 https://news.umich.edu/dark-matter-scaffolding-of-universe-detected-for-the-first-time/ 2021-11-20Dietrich Jörg P. Werner Norbert Clowe Douglas 1 A filament of dark matter between two clusters of galaxies Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 487 7406 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11224 202–204 22763438 1207.0809 2012Natur.487..202D 4345726 10 July A new biofuel production process created by Michigan State University researchers produces energy more than 20 times higher than existing methods.New biofuel process dramatically improves energy recovery, and uses agricultural waste ScienceDaily 2021-11-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120710133054.htm 2021-11-20Speers Allison M. Reguera Gemma Consolidated Bioprocessing of AFEX-Pretreated Corn Stover to Ethanol and Hydrogen in a Microbial Electrolysis Cell Environmental Science & Technology American Chemical Society (ACS) 46 14 2012-06-28 0013-936X 10.1021/es3008497 7875–7881 22697183 2012EnST...46.7875S In two new scientific articles, researchers refute NASA's claims that bacteria can successfully incorporate arsenic into their DNA.Chemistry World Blog » RIP arsenic life 2012-08-30 http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/2012/07/10/rip-arsenic-life/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120830060117/http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/2012/07/10/rip-arsenic-life/ 2012-08-30 2021-11-20Reaves Marshall Louis Sinha Sunita Rabinowitz Joshua D. 1 Absence of Detectable Arsenate in DNA from Arsenate-Grown GFAJ-1 Cells Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6093 2012-07-27 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1219861 3845625 470–473 22773140 1201.6643 2012Sci...337..470R Erb Tobias J. Kiefer Patrick Hattendorf Bodo 1 GFAJ-1 Is an Arsenate-Resistant, Phosphate-Dependent Organism Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6093 2012-07-27 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1218455 467–470 22773139 2012Sci...337..467E 20229329 free American scientists develop an electrode-based T-shirt capable of charging cellphones on the move.T-shirts developed that could charge mobile phones BBC News 2012-07-10 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18781878 2021-11-20Bao Lihong Li Xiaodong Towards Textile Energy Storage from Cotton T-Shirts Advanced Materials Wiley 24 24 2012-05-16 0935-9648 10.1002/adma.201200246 3246–3252 22588714 2012AdM....24.3246B 5376967 It is reported that staying seated for long periods of time can reduce the human lifespan, unless mitigated by regular strenuous exercise.Popovich Nadja Scientists' latest depressing find: sitting down is really bad for your health The Guardian 2012-07-10 http://www.theguardian.com/society/us-news-blog/2012/jul/10/scientists-sitting-is-bad-for-you 2021-11-20Katzmarzyk Peter T Lee I-Min Sedentary behaviour and life expectancy in the USA: a cause-deleted life table analysis BMJ Open BMJ 2 4 2012 2044-6055 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-000828 free 3400064 e000828 22777603 11 July New research from the University of Manchester indicates that graphene – already noted for its strength and conductivity – is capable of repairing its structure without human assistance by absorbing loose carbon atoms from its vicinity.graphene miracle 5347 it can repair itself entirely unassisted Gizmodo 2008-02-03 https://gizmodo.com/search/?q=graphene%20miracle%205347%20it%20can%20repair%20itself%20entirely%20unassisted 2021-11-20Palmer Jason Graphene holes 'heal themselves' BBC News 2012-07-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18782151 2021-11-20Zan Recep Ramasse Quentin M. Bangert Ursel 1 Graphene Reknits Its Holes Nano Letters American Chemical Society (ACS) 12 8 2012-07-10 1530-6984 10.1021/nl300985q 3936–3940 22765872 1207.1487 2012NanoL..12.3936Z 11008306 NASA's Cassini space probe images a huge gaseous vortex shrouding the south pole of Saturn's moon Titan.Huge vortex spied on Saturn moon BBC News 2012-07-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18797414 2021-11-20 Virgin Galactic unveils its privately developed satellite launch vehicle, LauncherOne, and confirms that its SpaceShipTwo spaceplane will soon begin powered test flights.https://web.archive.org/web/20120716055559/http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/xxx/ Virgin Galactic 2012-07-16 Virgin Galactic Reveals Privately Funded Satellite Launcher and Confirms SpaceShipTwo Poised for Powered Flight 2012-07-10 http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/xxx/ The Hubble Space Telescope discovers a fifth moon of the dwarf planet Pluto.http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2012/32/full/ Hubble Site https://web.archive.org/web/20120717021637/http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2012/32/full/ 2012-07-17 2012-07-11 Hubble Discovers a Fifth Moon Orbiting Pluto 13 July – A new survey shows that lemurs are far more threatened by extinction than previously thought.Black Richard Lemurs sliding towards extinction BBC News 2012-07-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18825901 2021-11-20 15 July – It is reported that Dracunculiasis, also called guinea worm disease (GWD), is on the verge of being wiped out – becoming only the second human disease after smallpox to be eradicated.Nelson Roxanne The World's Last Worm: A Dreaded Disease Nears Eradication Scientific American 2012-07-01 10.1038/scientificamerican0712-24a https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/last-worm-tropical-disease-near-eradication/ 2021-11-20 subscription 16 July – A major milestone in HIV prevention is reached, as the FDA approves an existing drug, Truvada, for uninfected adults at high risk of acquiring the disease.Paddock Catharine FDA Approves Drug To Reduce Risk Of HIV Infection Medical and health information 2012-07-18 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247891 2021-11-20https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm312210.htm FDA https://web.archive.org/web/20120717044723/https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm312210.htm 2012-07-17 2012-07-16 FDA approves first drug for reducing the risk of sexually acquired HIV infection 19 July An iceberg twice as large as Manhattan reportedly breaks off from Greenland's Petermann Glacier.Iceberg breaks off from Greenland's Petermann Glacier BBC News 2012-07-19 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18896770 2021-11-20 A new nanoparticle coating with self-repairing surface functionality has been developed. The coating uses polymer stalks tipped with functional compounds to repair surface damage.You may never need to clean your car again, thanks to new coating technology ScienceDaily 2021-11-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120719103531.htm 2021-11-20Coating heals itself after damage BBC News 2012-07-27 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18998638 2021-11-20Dikić T. Ming W. van Benthem R. A. T. M. 1 Self-Replenishing Surfaces Advanced Materials Wiley 24 27 2012-06-14 0935-9648 10.1002/adma.201200807 3701–3704 22700365 2012AdM....24.3701D 6989889 Astronomers have discovered the most ancient spiral galaxy yet, dating back 10.7 billion years.Gonzalez Robbie Hubble has spotted an ancient galaxy that shouldn't exist Gizmodo 2012-07-19 https://gizmodo.com/hubble-has-spotted-an-ancient-galaxy-that-shouldnt-exis-5927315 2021-11-20Law David R. Shapley Alice E. Steidel Charles C. 1 High velocity dispersion in a rare grand-design spiral galaxy at redshift z = 2.18 Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 487 7407 2012-07-18 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11256 338–340 22810697 1207.4196 2012Natur.487..338L 205229562 20 July A giant potable aquifer is discovered in Namibia, potentially offering enough drinkable water to sustain the country for centuries.McGrath Matt Vast aquifer found in Namibia could last for centuries BBC News 2012-07-20 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18875385 2021-11-20 Using mice, researchers have grown sweat glands from newly identified stem cells.Sweat glands grown from newly identified stem cells ScienceDaily 2021-11-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120720200155.htm 2021-11-20Lu Catherine P. Polak Lisa Rocha Ana Sofia 1 Identification of Stem Cell Populations in Sweat Glands and Ducts Reveals Roles in Homeostasis and Wound Repair Cell Elsevier BV 150 1 2012 0092-8674 10.1016/j.cell.2012.04.045 3423199 136–150 22770217 thumb|right|250px|15 July 2012: the parasitic disease Dracunculiasis (extraction of a causative guinea worm pictured) is reportedly close to being eradicated. 23 July American scientists create an artificial jellyfish out of silicone and lab-grown heart cells. The construct is capable of swimming in a similar manner to real jellyfish when stimulated with an electric current.Artificial jellyfish created from heart cells BBC News 2012-07-23 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18953034 2021-11-20Nawroth Janna C Lee Hyungsuk Feinberg Adam W 1 A tissue-engineered jellyfish with biomimetic propulsion Nature Biotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 30 8 2012-07-22 1087-0156 10.1038/nbt.2269 4026938 792–797 22820316 Researchers report that 14% of British stomach cancer cases could be prevented by reducing public salt intakes.Better food labelling 'would reduce stomach cancers linked to salt' The Guardian 2012-07-23 http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jul/23/food-labels-salt-stomach-cancer 2021-11-20 Researchers create the first complete computer model of a living organism, fully simulating a bacterium.Puiu Tibi First ever computer model of a living organism performed ZME Science 2012-07-23 https://www.zmescience.com/medicine/genetic/computer-model-simulation-bacteria-31243/ 2021-11-20https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2012/07/first-organism-fully-modelled.html New Scientist https://web.archive.org/web/20120725015534/https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2012/07/first-organism-fully-modelled.html 2012-07-25 2012-07-23 Virtual germ created on computer for first time Paul Marks 25 July Satellite data reveals that 97% of Greenland's ice is undergoing a thaw, the greatest level of ice melt ever recorded on the landmass.World News NBC News 2012-07-24 https://www.nbcnews.com/world 2021-11-20Satellites See Unprecedented Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Melt NASA 2012-07-24 http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/greenland-melt.html 2021-11-20 2023-06-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20230624023317/https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/greenland-melt.html A rift in the Antarctic rock as deep as the Grand Canyon is increasing ice melt from the continent, researchers say.Black Richard Antarctic: Grand Canyon-sized rift 'speeding ice melt' BBC News 2012-07-25 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18959399 2021-11-20Bingham Robert G. Ferraccioli Fausto King Edward C. 1 Inland thinning of West Antarctic Ice Sheet steered along subglacial rifts Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 487 7408 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11292 468–471 22837002 2012Natur.487..468B 4429954 The International Space Station's Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument reports that it has recorded 18 billion cosmic ray events since its installation in 2011.Palmer Jason Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer claims huge cosmic ray haul BBC News 2012-07-25 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-18928177 2021-11-20 26 July The rapid decline in Arctic sea ice is at least 70% due to man-made global warming, according to a new study, and may even be up to 95% caused by humans – a far higher proportion than scientists had previously thought.Jha Alok Loss of Arctic sea ice '70% man-made' The Guardian 2012-07-25 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/26/arctic-climate-change 2021-11-20Day J J Hargreaves J C Annan J D 1 Sources of multi-decadal variability in Arctic sea ice extent Environmental Research Letters IOP Publishing 7 3 2012-07-26 1748-9326 10.1088/1748-9326/7/3/034011 034011 2012ERL.....7c4011D 11567294 free Using complex algorithms, researchers have found that pop songs over the last 50 years have become increasingly louder and more bland in terms of the chords, melodies and types of sound used.Pop music too loud and all sounds the same: official Reuters 2012-07-26 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-science-music-idUSBRE86P0R820120726 2021-11-20Serrà Joan Corral Álvaro Boguñá Marián 1 Measuring the Evolution of Contemporary Western Popular Music Scientific Reports 2 1 2012-07-26 2045-2322 10.1038/srep00521 free 3405292 521 22837813 1205.5651 2012NatSR...2..521S Using a bone marrow transplant, two men have been "cured" of HIV infection.http://www.nbcnews.com/id/48338421 NBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20120727071127/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/48338421/ 2012-07-27 2012-07-26 Two more men with HIV now virus-free. Is this a cure? Maggie Foxhttps://web.archive.org/web/20140408131320/http://pag.aids2012.org/Abstracts.aspx?AID=6016 AIDS2012 http://pag.aids2012.org/Abstracts.aspx?AID=6016 2014-04-08 usurped Long-term reduction in peripheral blood HIV-1 reservoirs following reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation in two HIV-positive individuals Ageing termite workers are discovered to use a toxic crystalline structure to "self-destruct", spraying enemy insects with toxins in defence of their termite mounds.Crumpton Nick Termites' crystal backpacks help them go out with bang BBC News 2012-07-26 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19001083 2021-11-20Šobotník J. Bourguignon T. Hanus R. 1 Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6093 2012-07-27 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1219129 436 22837520 2012Sci...337..436S 206540025 An American gunsmith produces the world's first functional 3D-printed plastic firearm.Anthony Sebastian The world's first 3D-printed gun ExtremeTech 2012-07-26 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/133514-the-worlds-first-3d-printed-gun 2021-11-20 27 July In preparation for the beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, British telecom companies create a hugely expanded network infrastructure in the city, including over 1,000 new Wi-Fi hotspots and thirty additional mobile phone masts.Olympics put mobile communications technology to the test BBC News 2012-07-26 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19004151 2021-11-20 Swiss scientists claim that Earth's Moon may have been formed in a glancing "hit and run" collision with a large, fast-moving protoplanet.Moon formation: Was it a 'hit and run' accident? BBC News 2012-07-27 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19011013 2021-11-20Reufer Andreas Meier Matthias M.M. Benz Willy 1 A hit-and-run giant impact scenario Icarus Elsevier BV 221 1 2012 0019-1035 10.1016/j.icarus.2012.07.021 296–299 1207.5224 2012Icar..221..296R 118421530 Japanese women have fallen behind Hong Kong citizens in life expectancy for the first time in 25 years, dropping from 86.3 years in 2010 to 85.9 years in 2011. This was partly due to the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, according to a report by Japan's health ministry.Japanese women fall behind Hong Kong in longevity BBC News 2012-07-27 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19008870 2021-11-20Abridged Life Tables For Japan 2011 ホーム厚生労働省 http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-hw/lifetb11/index.html 2021-11-20 Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare American scientists use microbes to cleanly convert electricity into methane gas, potentially offering a new form of renewable energy.Scientists use microbes to make 'clean' methane ScienceDaily 2021-11-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120727144534.htm 2021-11-20 29 July – Major technology companies predict that as many as 50 billion electronic devices may be wirelessly connected worldwide by 2020, as automated machine-to-machine communication sees increasing use in retail and manufacturing.Talk to Me, One Machine Said to the Other The New York Times 2012-07-29 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/technology/talk-to-me-one-machine-said-to-the-other.html 2021-11-20 31 July – People with even minor symptoms of mental illness have a lower life expectancy, according to a large-scale population-based study published in the British Medical Journal.Poor mental health linked to reduced life expectancy ScienceDaily 2021-11-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120731201257.htm 2021-11-20Russ T. C. Stamatakis E. Hamer M. 1 Association between psychological distress and mortality: individual participant pooled analysis of 10 prospective cohort studies BMJ 345 jul31 4 2012-07-31 1756-1833 10.1136/bmj.e4933 3409083 e4933 22849956 August 1 August – Researchers claim to have resolved one of the biggest controversies in cancer research – discovering the specific cancer cells that seem to be responsible for the regrowth of tumours.Baker Monya Cancer stem cells tracked Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7409 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/488013a 13–14 22859177 2012Natur.488...13B 205073126 free 250px|thumb|right|6 August 2012: NASA's Curiosity rover, the largest such spacecraft yet launched, successfully lands on Mars (artist's impression pictured). 2 August Scientists in Antarctica announce that they have discovered what appears to be the remains of an ancient rainforest from the early Eocene period buried deep beneath the ice.Ancient Rainforest Discovered Under Antarctica's Ice Slate Magazine 2012-08-02 https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/08/ancient-rainforest-discovered-under-antarcticas-ice-offers-global-warming-lessons-from-the-eocene-era.html 2022-01-17http://news.discovery.com/earth/rainforest-in-antarctica-120802.html Drilling Discovers Ancient Antarctic Rainforest Discovery News 2012-08-02 2022-01-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20120904124102/http://news.discovery.com/earth/rainforest-in-antarctica-120802.html 2012-09-04Pross Jörg Contreras Lineth Bijl Peter K. 1 Persistent near-tropical warmth on the Antarctic continent during the early Eocene epoch Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7409 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11300 73–77 22859204 2012Natur.488...73. 4381480 https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1504710 A study published in Animal Behavior finds that female spiders that cannibalize their mates produce much healthier offspring than non-cannibalizing spiders, supporting a link between sexual cannibalism in the animal kingdom and reproductive success.https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19072196 BBC Cannibalism link to spider hatching success Matt Bardo https://web.archive.org/web/20120804021452/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19072196 2012-08-04 2012-08-02Berning Aric W. Gadd Ryan D.H. Sweeney Kayla 1 Sexual cannibalism is associated with female behavioural type, hunger state and increased hatching success Animal Behaviour Elsevier BV 84 3 2012 0003-3472 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.06.030 715–721 2012AnBeh..84..715B 53191103 3 August Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has fallen again in the past 12 months, according to preliminary data published by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research.Vaughan Adam Amazon deforestation falls again The Guardian 2012-08-03 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/03/amazon-deforestation-falls-again 2022-01-17 American and Canadian researchers develop a medical spray which uses human skin cells and coagulant proteins to speed up the healing of open wounds such as leg ulcers. In medical trials, the "skin spray" proved over 20% more effective than other ulcer treatments.Gallagher James 'Spray-on skin' helps heal leg ulcers BBC News 2012-08-03 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19093302 2022-01-17Kirsner Robert S Marston William A Snyder Robert J 1 Spray-applied cell therapy with human allogeneic fibroblasts and keratinocytes for the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers: a phase 2, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial The Lancet Elsevier BV 380 9846 2012 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)60644-8 977–985 22863328 23982375 6 August NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission successfully lands Curiosity, the largest Mars rover yet built, in Mars' Gale Crater.Mars rover Curiosity safely lands on Mars Los Angeles Times 2012-08-06 https://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-0806-mars-curiosity-rover-landing-20120806-story.html 2022-01-17Amos Jonathan Nasa's Curiosity rover successfully lands on Mars BBC News 2012-08-06 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19144464 2022-01-17 Papua New Guinea's government has approved the world's first commercial deep-sea mining project, despite strong environmental concerns.Milman Oliver Papua New Guinea's seabed to be mined for gold and copper The Guardian 2012-08-06 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/06/papua-new-guinea-deep-sea-mining 2022-01-17 7 August – New brain research refutes the results of earlier studies that cast doubts on free will.Yirka Bob New brain research refutes results of earlier studies that cast doubts on free will Medical Xpress 2012-08-07 https://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-brain-refutes-results-earlier-free.html 2022-01-17Schurger A. Sitt J. D. Dehaene S. 1 An accumulator model for spontaneous neural activity prior to self-initiated movement Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 42 2012-08-06 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1210467109 E2904–E2913 22869750 3479453 2012PNAS..109E2904S free 8 August Anthropologists in northern Kenya unearth fossils of a previously unconfirmed species of human that lived approximately 2 million years ago.Ghosh Pallab New human species identified from Kenya fossils BBC News 2012-08-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19184370 2022-01-17Leakey Meave G. Spoor Fred Dean M. Christopher 1 New fossils from Koobi Fora in northern Kenya confirm taxonomic diversity in early Homo Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7410 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11322 201–204 22874966 2012Natur.488..201L 4431262 Almost one-quarter of the world's population lives in regions where groundwater is being used up faster than it can be replenished, concludes a comprehensive global analysis of groundwater depletion published in Nature.Demand for water outstrips supply Nature 2012 10.1038/nature.2012.11143 http://www.nature.com/news/demand-for-water-outstrips-supply-1.11143 2022-01-17 Mascarelli Amanda 131586408 free subscription Gleeson Tom Wada Yoshihide Bierkens Marc F. P. 1 Water balance of global aquifers revealed by groundwater footprint Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7410 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11295 197–200 22874965 2012Natur.488..197G 4393813 9 August – American and South Korean engineers build a flexible, worm-like robot that moves by mimicking the contraction of an earthworm. The robot's artificial muscle is based on a nickel–titanium wire that expands and contracts in response to electric currents. It can squeeze through tight spaces and absorb heavy impacts, and could be used in future for covert reconnaissance missions.Pentagon helps build Meshworm reconnaissance robot BBC News 2012-08-09 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19200285 2022-01-17Seok Sangok Onal Cagdas Denizel Cho Kyu-Jin 1 Meshworm: A Peristaltic Soft Robot With Antagonistic Nickel Titanium Coil Actuators IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 18 5 2013 1083-4435 10.1109/tmech.2012.2204070 1485–1497 2013IATM...18.1485S 8678063 10 August – Engineers successfully test a new algorithm that allows autonomous UAVs to fly through complex structures without requiring GPS navigation.Autonomous robotic plane dodges obstacles when flying indoors ScienceDaily 2022-01-17 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120810112822.htm 2022-01-17 11 August The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak for 2012, becoming widely visible in the Northern Hemisphere.Clark Stuart Perseid meteor shower this weekend: how to get the best view The Guardian 2012-08-10 http://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2012/aug/10/perseid-meteor-shower-astronomy 2022-01-17 Experts declare the 2012 London Olympics to be the "greenest Olympics ever", praising its use of recycled materials and temporary venues, and noting the improvements made to London's transport infrastructure.London 2012: Olympic Games 'greenest ever' BBC News 2012-08-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-19220847 2022-01-17 Sea ice in the Arctic is disappearing at a far greater rate than previously expected, according to data from the first purpose-built satellite launched to study the thickness of the Earth's polar caps.McKie Robin Rate of Arctic summer sea ice loss is 50% higher than predicted The Guardian 2012-08-11 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/11/arctic-sea-ice-vanishing 2022-01-17 12 August – Scientists discover a single genetic switch that triggers the loss of brain connections in humans, and also causes depression in animal models. The findings could lead to more effective antidepressant therapies.How stress and depression can shrink the brain ScienceDaily 2022-01-15 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120812151659.htm 2022-01-17Kang Hyo Jung Voleti Bhavya Hajszan Tibor 1 Decreased expression of synapse-related genes and loss of synapses in major depressive disorder Nature Medicine Springer Science and Business Media LLC 18 9 2012-08-12 1078-8956 10.1038/nm.2886 1413–1417 22885997 3491115 thumb|right|250px|14 August 2012: Boeing's X-51 hypersonic scramjet prototype (pictured in launch configuration) is destroyed following a test flight malfunction. 13 August South Korean researchers develop a cheap electronic ink based on tiny rectennas, capable of transmitting data over short distances. The printable invention could potentially revolutionise the field of augmented reality.Kleinman Zoe Tiny transmitters that cost a penny to print unveiled BBC News 2012-08-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19208112 2022-01-17Park Hyejin Kang Hwiwon Lee Yonggil 1 Fully roll-to-roll gravure printed rectenna on plastic foils for wireless power transmission at 13.56 MHz Nanotechnology IOP Publishing 23 34 2012-08-10 0957-4484 10.1088/0957-4484/23/34/344006 344006 22885995 2012Nanot..23H4006P 22474928 A new class of polymers has been discovered that are resistant to bacterial attachment. These new materials could lead to a significant reduction in hospital infections and medical device failures.New bacteria-resistant materials discovered ScienceDaily 2022-01-17 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120813074017.htm 2022-01-17Hook Andrew L Chang Chien-Yi Yang Jing 1 Combinatorial discovery of polymers resistant to bacterial attachment Nature Biotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 30 9 2012-08-12 1087-0156 10.1038/nbt.2316 868–875 22885723 3796337 2012NatBi..30..868H US wind energy reaches 50 gigawatts of capacity.Murray James Network part of The Guardian Environment US wind energy industry breezes past 50GW milestone The Guardian 2012-08-13 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/13/us-wind-energy-industry-milestone 2022-01-17 14 August Boeing's X-51 hypersonic scramjet prototype is destroyed during a powered test flight after a control fin failure.Air Force's Hypersonic X-51A jet fails latest test flight, is lost over the Pacific Fox News 2012-08-15 https://www.foxnews.com/science/air-forces-hypersonic-x-51a-jet-fails-latest-test-flight-is-lost-over-the-pacific 2022-01-17 Scientists from Singapore shrink the 1972 Playboy centerfold image of Swedish model Lena Soderberg to the width of a human hair. It is hoped that this new miniaturization method will lead to more efficient watermarks or covert messages.Playboy centrefold photo shrunk to width of human hair BBC News 2012-08-14 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19260550 2022-01-17Kumar Karthik Duan Huigao Hegde Ravi S. 1 Printing colour at the optical diffraction limit Nature Nanotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 7 9 2012-08-12 1748-3387 10.1038/nnano.2012.128 557–561 22886173 2012NatNa...7..557K 15 August – In a major breakthrough, an international team of scientists has proven that addiction to morphine and heroin can be blocked, while at the same time increasing pain relief.Scientists can now block heroin, morphine addiction ScienceDaily 2022-01-17 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120814213246.htm 2022-01-17Scientists can now block heroin, morphine addiction The University of Adelaide 2012-08-14 http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news55261.html 2022-01-17Hutchinson M. R. Northcutt A. L. Hiranita T. 1 Opioid Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Contributes to Drug Reinforcement Journal of Neuroscience Society for Neuroscience 32 33 2012-08-15 0270-6474 10.1523/jneurosci.0684-12.2012 11187–11200 22895704 3454463 16 August Researchers have finally found a compound that may offer the first effective and hormone-free birth control pill for men.Finally, the promise of male birth control in a pill: Compound makes mice reversibly infertile ScienceDaily 2022-05-24 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816121950.htm 2022-05-26Matzuk Martin M. McKeown Michael R. Filippakopoulos Panagis Li 1 Small-Molecule Inhibition of BRDT for Male Contraception Cell Elsevier BV 150 4 2012 0092-8674 10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.045 673–684 22901802 3420011 British scientists develop the world's first room-temperature maser, using a crystal of p-Terphenyl to modify a commercial medical laser to produce coherent microwave emissions without the need for expensive magnets and coolant. The maser could be used to develop more sensitive medical scanners and radio telescopes.Palmer Jason 'Maser' source of microwave beams comes out of the cold BBC News 2012-08-16 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19281566 2022-05-26Oxborrow Mark Breeze Jonathan D. Alford Neil M. 1 Room-temperature solid-state maser Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7411 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11339 353–356 22895341 2012Natur.488..353O 10044/1/13785 205229953 free Harvard University scientists develop a flexible, octopus-inspired robot capable of rapidly camouflaging or advertising itself by pumping liquid dyes into channels on its surface. The relatively inexpensive robots could be used in a variety of fields, from surgery to search-and-rescue to covert operations.Morelle Rebecca Rebecca Morelle Camouflage bendy robot changes colour for disguise BBC News 2012-08-16 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19286259 2022-05-26Morin Stephen A. Shepherd Robert F. Kwok Sen Wai 1 Camouflage and Display for Soft Machines Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6096 2012-08-17 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1222149 828–832 22904008 2012Sci...337..828M 782378 http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11933749 17 August Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier publish a pioneering paper on CRISPR-mediated programmable genome editing.Jinek M, Chylinski K, Fonfara I, Hauer M, Doudna JA, Charpentier E A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity Science 337 6096 816–21 August 2012 22745249 6286148 10.1126/science.1225829 2012Sci...337..816J https://zenodo.org/record/1230922 A group of South Korean scientists has reportedly developed a carbon battery for electric vehicles capable of charging up to 120 times faster than standard batteries.https://web.archive.org/web/20120819092647/http://inhabitat.com/south-korean-scientists-use-carbon-to-quick-charge-ev-batteries/ Inhabitat http://inhabitat.com/south-korean-scientists-use-carbon-to-quick-charge-ev-batteries/ New Carbon Network EV Batteries Charge Up to 120x Faster 2012-08-17 2012-08-19 Marc Carter Researchers have demonstrated a way to potentially "hack into" a person's brain, using BCI technology.Anthony Sebastian Hackers backdoor the human brain, successfully extract sensitive data ExtremeTech 2012-08-17 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/134682-hackers-backdoor-the-human-brain-successfully-extract-sensitive-data 2022-05-26Martinovic Ivan Davies Doug Frank Mario 1 On the Feasibility of {Side-Channel} Attacks with {Brain-Computer} Interfaces USENIX https://www.usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity12/feasibility-side-channel-attacks-brain-computer-interfaces 2022-05-26 143–158 Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering successfully store 5.5 petabits of data – around 700 terabytes – in a single gram of DNA, breaking the previous DNA data density record by a thousand times.Anthony Sebastian Harvard cracks DNA storage, crams 700 terabytes of data into a single gram ExtremeTech 2012-08-17 http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/134672-harvard-cracks-dna-storage-crams-700-terabytes-of-data-into-a-single-gram 2022-05-26Church George M. Gao Yuan Kosuri Sriram 1 Next-Generation Digital Information Storage in DNA Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6102 2012-09-28 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1226355 1628 22903519 2012Sci...337.1628C 934617 free 3581509 18 August – Scientists in the United States report that they have found a new family of spiders in the caves of California and Oregon. It is the first such discovery in North America for more than 140 years.New Trogloraptor spiders discovered in US caves BBC News 2012-08-18 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-19305417 2022-05-26Ledford Joel Griswold Charles Audisio Tracy 1 An extraordinary new family of spiders from caves in the Pacific Northwest (Araneae, Trogloraptoridae, new family) ZooKeys Pensoft Publishers 215 2012-08-17 1313-2970 10.3897/zookeys.215.3547 77–102 22936872 3428790 2012ZooK..215...77G free 19 August – Scientists are reportedly close to developing a baldness cure.Adams Stephen Baldness cure could be on shelves in two years Telegraph.co.uk 2012-08-19 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9485807/Baldness-cure-could-be-on-shelves-in-two-years.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120819232718/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9485807/Baldness-cure-could-be-on-shelves-in-two-years.html 2012-08-19 2022-05-26 20 August – The first evidence of a planet's destruction by its aging star has been discovered by an international team of astronomers.First Evidence Discovered of Planet's Destruction by Its Star - Eberly College of Science science.psu.edu 2012-08-27 http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Wolszczan8-2012/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120827012750/http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Wolszczan8-2012/ 2012-08-27 2022-05-26Adamów M. Niedzielski A. Villaver E. 1 BD+48 740—Li OVERABUNDANT GIANT STAR WITH A PLANET: A CASE OF RECENT ENGULFMENT? The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 754 1 2012-07-05 2041-8205 10.1088/2041-8205/754/1/l15 L15 1206.4938 2012ApJ...754L..15A 53550985 thumb|right|250px|21 August 2012: a study of major coastal cities asserts that Shanghai (skyline pictured) may be highly vulnerable to large-scale flooding in the near future. 21 August MIT researchers report that a genetically modified organism could turn carbon dioxide or waste products into a gasoline-compatible transportation fuel.Chandler David L. Teaching a microbe to make fuel web.mit.edu 2012-08-22 http://web.mit.edu/press/2012/genetically-modified-organism-can-turn-carbon-dioxide-into-fuel.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120822151640/http://web.mit.edu/press/2012/genetically-modified-organism-can-turn-carbon-dioxide-into-fuel.html 2012-08-22 unfit 2022-05-26Lu Jingnan Brigham Christopher J. Gai Claudia S. 1 Studies on the production of branched-chain alcohols in engineered Ralstonia eutropha Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 96 1 2012-08-04 0175-7598 10.1007/s00253-012-4320-9 283–297 22864971 1721.1/75742 62337 free A new study of nine coastal cities around the world suggests that Shanghai is most vulnerable to serious flooding later this century.Flood risk ranking reveals vulnerable cities ScienceDaily 2022-05-23 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821114750.htm 2022-05-26Balica S. F. Wright N. G. van der Meulen F. 1 A flood vulnerability index for coastal cities and its use in assessing climate change impacts Natural Hazards Springer Science and Business Media LLC 64 1 2012-06-16 0921-030X 10.1007/s11069-012-0234-1 73–105 2012NatHa..64...73B 67817205 free Life in the world's oceans is facing a potential mass extinction, largely due to human activity, say researchers.Earth's Oceans 'Facing A Man-Made Major Extinction Event' HuffPost UK 2012-08-21 https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/21/earths-oceans-facing-a-mass-extinction_n_1817690.html 2022-05-26Harnik Paul G. Lotze Heike K. Anderson Sean C. 1 Extinctions in ancient and modern seas Trends in Ecology & Evolution Elsevier BV 27 11 2012 0169-5347 10.1016/j.tree.2012.07.010 608–617 22889500 2012TEcoE..27..608H Researchers have developed an "electronic nose" prototype that can detect small quantities of harmful airborne substances.'Electronic nose' prototype developed: Device has applications in agriculture, industry, homeland security and the military ScienceDaily 2022-05-25 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821162526.htm 2022-05-26 Scientists have identified the crucial role of a protein called Mof in the epigenetics of stem cells. The protein helps prime stem cells to become specialized cells in mice.Stem cells can become anything, but not without this protein ScienceDaily 2022-05-24 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120821114746.htm 2022-05-26Li Xiangzhi Li Li Pandey Ruchi 1 The Histone Acetyltransferase MOF Is a Key Regulator of the Embryonic Stem Cell Core Transcriptional Network Cell Stem Cell Elsevier BV 11 2 2012 1934-5909 10.1016/j.stem.2012.04.023 163–178 22862943 3413170 Analysts report that robotic technology is seeing increased use in the global mining industry, as mining and drilling companies seek to reduce personnel costs by installing autonomous trains, trucks, drills and underwater vehicles.Glance David The mining sector's automation agenda Technology Spectator 2012-10-15 http://technologyspectator.com.au/mining-sectors-automation-agenda https://web.archive.org/web/20121015210959/http://technologyspectator.com.au/mining-sectors-automation-agenda 2012-10-15 2022-05-26 22 August LG Electronics unveils the world's largest commercial ultra-definition TV, boasting four times the resolution of 1080p high-definition screens.LG releases 'world's biggest' ultra-definition TV BBC News 2012-08-22 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19344834 2022-05-26 NASA names the Curiosity rover's Martian landing site "Bradbury Landing", in honour of the American science fiction author Ray Bradbury, who died in June 2012 aged 91. Meanwhile, Curiosity conducts a successful short-range test drive, proving that its mobility system is in nominal condition.Jha Alok Curiosity rover: after 'beautiful' test drive, Nasa sets sights on Glenelg The Guardian 2012-08-23 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/aug/22/mars-rover-nasa-curiosity-test-drive 2022-05-26NASA Mars Rover Begins Driving at Bradbury Landing NASA 2012-08-22 http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-292_Mars_Bradbury_Landing.html 2022-05-26 2016-11-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20161115041146/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-292_Mars_Bradbury_Landing.html A large-scale test of smart vehicle data sharing begins in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Over the course of the year-long trial, around 2,800 vehicles will be fitted with vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communications, allowing them to share data about their movements and alert their drivers if they are at risk of collision. Such technology could be used in future to drastically reduce traffic accidents.'Talking cars' tested in Michigan to cut road accidents BBC News 2012-08-22 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19349517 2022-05-26 23 August – New research links the origins of Indo-European languages with the spread of farming from Anatolia approximately 8,000-9,500 years ago.Indo-European languages originated in Anatolia, research suggests ScienceDaily 2022-05-25 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120823175406.htm 2022-05-26Bouckaert Remco Lemey Philippe Dunn Michael 1 Mapping the Origins and Expansion of the Indo-European Language Family Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6097 2012-08-24 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1219669 957–960 22923579 4112997 2012Sci...337..957B 1885/39039 36512809 25 August NASA's Voyager 1 crosses the heliopause and enters interstellar space, the first human-made object to do so.Cook JR, Agle D, Brown D NASA Spacecraft Embarks on Historic Journey Into Interstellar Space NASA 2013-09-12 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager20130912.html 2013-09-14 2020-06-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20200611233345/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager20130912.html Barnes Brooks In a Breathtaking First, NASA Craft Exits the Solar System https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/13/science/in-a-breathtaking-first-nasa-craft-exits-the-solar-system.html 2013-09-12 The New York Times 2013-09-12Morin Monte vanc NASA confirms Voyager 1 has left the Solar System http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-nasa-confirms-voyager-1-has-exited-the-solar-system-20130912,0,3406650.story Los Angeles Times 2013-09-12Voyager 1 has entered a new region of space, sudden changes in cosmic rays indicate http://www.agu.org/news/press/pr_archives/2013/2013-11.shtml 2013-03-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20130322025117/http://www.agu.org/news/press/pr_archives/2013/2013-11.shtml 2013-03-22 Report: Humanity Leaves the Solar System — Or Maybe Not https://science.time.com/2013/03/20/humanity-leaves-the-solar-system-35-years-later-voyager-offically-exits-the-heliosphere/ Time 20 March 2013 2013-03-20 Snyder Steven JamesReport: NASA Voyager Status Update on Voyager 1 Location http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-107&cid=release_2013-107&msource=2013107 NASA 2013-03-20 Researchers discover a promising new drug target for the treatment and prevention of heart failure.Promising new drug target discovered for treatment and prevention of heart failure ScienceDaily 2022-05-25 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120825155702.htm 2022-05-26ESC - Congresses - ESC CONGRESS 2012 - Scientific Programme spo.escardio.org 2013-05-10 http://spo.escardio.org/SessionDetails.aspx?id=401883 https://web.archive.org/web/20130510144959/http://spo.escardio.org/SessionDetails.aspx?id=401883 2013-05-10 unfit 2022-05-26 26 August Besse Cooper, at the time the world's oldest living human, celebrates her 116th birthday, becoming one of only eight people in recorded history to indisputably do so.Swanepoel Sharon Sweet 116th Birthday Wishes to the World's Oldest Living Person Loganville-Grayson Patch 2012-08-31 http://loganville.patch.com/articles/happy-sweet-116th-birthday-to-the-worlds-oldest-living-person https://web.archive.org/web/20120831063153/http://loganville.patch.com/articles/happy-sweet-116th-birthday-to-the-worlds-oldest-living-person 2012-08-31 2022-05-26 Miniature surgical nets could be used to safely extract dangerous blood clots from the brains of stroke patients, potentially alleviating symptoms such as speech loss and paralysis, according to two new medical studies.Gallagher James 'Clot nets' help stroke recovery BBC News 2012-08-26 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19355202 2022-05-26Saver Jeffrey L Jahan Reza Levy Elad I 1 Solitaire flow restoration device versus the Merci Retriever in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (SWIFT): a randomised, parallel-group, non-inferiority trial The Lancet Elsevier BV 380 9849 2012 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61384-1 1241–1249 22932715 24859470 Nogueira Raul G Lutsep Helmi L Gupta Rishi 1 Trevo versus Merci retrievers for thrombectomy revascularisation of large vessel occlusions in acute ischaemic stroke (TREVO 2): a randomised trial The Lancet Elsevier BV 380 9849 2012 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61299-9 1231–1240 22932714 4176618 27 August – Young people who smoke cannabis run the risk of a significant and irreversible reduction in their IQ, according to one of the largest cannabis studies ever carried out.Hughes Dominic Young cannabis smokers run risk of lower IQ, report claims BBC News 2012-08-28 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19372456 2022-05-26Meier Madeline H. Caspi Avshalom Ambler Antony 1 Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 40 2012-08-27 E2657-64 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1206820109 22927402 3479587 free 28 August – Three decades after its last sighting, the Japanese river otter is declared extinct.Japanese river otter declared extinct - The Japan Times Online japantimes.co.jp 2012-08-29 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120829a6.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120829073341/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120829a6.html 2012-08-29 2022-05-26 29 Augustthumb|right|250px|29 August 2012: scientists claim that large volumes of methane could be trapped beneath the Antarctic ice. Scientists report the discovery of two new exoplanets orbiting a binary star – the first such planetary system yet discovered.Clark Liat Two planets orbiting binary star system discovered for the first time (Wired UK) Wired UK 2016-05-18 http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/29/circumbinary-planetary-system https://web.archive.org/web/20160518042742/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/29/circumbinary-planetary-system 2016-05-18 2022-05-26Orosz Jerome A. Welsh William F. Carter Joshua A. 1 Kepler-47: A Transiting Circumbinary Multiplanet System Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6101 2012-09-21 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1228380 1511–1514 22933522 1208.5489 2012Sci...337.1511O 44970411 Caloric restriction fails to extend primate lifespan, according to the results of a long-term study.Caloric Restriction Fails to Extend Primate Lifespan in Long Term Study extremelongevity.net 2012-09-01 http://extremelongevity.net/2012/08/29/caloric-restriction-fails-to-extend-primate-lifespan-in-long-term-study/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120901200006/http://extremelongevity.net/2012/08/29/caloric-restriction-fails-to-extend-primate-lifespan-in-long-term-study/ 2012-09-01 2022-05-26Mattison Julie A. Roth George S. Beasley T. Mark 1 Impact of caloric restriction on health and survival in rhesus monkeys from the NIA study Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 489 7415 2012-08-29 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11432 318–321 22932268 3832985 2012Natur.489..318M Large volumes of methane – a potent greenhouse gas – could be locked beneath the Antarctic ice, according to a new study.Antarctic may host methane stores BBC News 2012-08-29 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19410444 2022-05-26'Vast reservoir' of methane locked beneath Antarctic ice sheet The Guardian 2012-08-29 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/29/antarctica-methane 2022-05-26Wadham J. L. Arndt S. Tulaczyk S. 1 Potential methane reservoirs beneath Antarctica Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 488 7413 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11374 633–637 22932387 2012Natur.488..633W 4322761 Better management of agricultural systems could provide enough food for the expected global population of 9 billion by 2050, according to a new study. However, the study ignores factors such as climate change and geopolitics.Hope of greater global food output, less environmental impact of agriculture ScienceDaily 2022-05-23 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120829151241.htm 2022-05-26Mueller Nathaniel D. Gerber James S. Johnston Matt 1 Closing yield gaps through nutrient and water management Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 490 7419 2012-08-29 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11420 254–257 22932270 2012Natur.490..254M 17747414 A cost analysis of the technologies needed to transport materials into the stratosphere to reduce the amount of sunlight hitting Earth and therefore reduce the effects of global climate change shows that they are both feasible and affordable.Shading Earth: Delivering solar geoengineering materials to combat global warming may be feasible and affordable ScienceDaily 2022-05-24 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120830191017.htm 2022-05-26McClellan Justin Keith David W Apt Jay 1 Cost analysis of stratospheric albedo modification delivery systems Environmental Research Letters IOP Publishing 7 3 2012-08-30 1748-9326 10.1088/1748-9326/7/3/034019 034019 16695832 free In a world first, astronomers at Copenhagen University report the detection of a specific sugar molecule, glycolaldehyde, in a distant star system. The molecule was found around the protostellar binary IRAS 16293-2422, which is located 400 light years from Earth. Glycolaldehyde is needed to form ribonucleic acid, or RNA, which is similar in function to DNA. This finding suggests that complex organic molecules may form in stellar systems prior to the formation of planets, eventually arriving on young planets early in their formation.Sugar Found In Space: A Sign of Life? Adventure 2012-08-30 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/120829-sugar-space-planets-science-life https://web.archive.org/web/20210324090720/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/120829-sugar-space-planets-science-life March 24, 2021 2022-05-26Jørgensen Jes K. Favre Cécile Bisschop Suzanne E. 1 Detection of the Simplest Sugar, Glycolaldehyde, in a Solar-Type Protostar with Alma The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 757 1 2012-08-29 2041-8205 10.1088/2041-8205/757/1/l4 L4 1208.5498 2012ApJ...757L...4J 14205612 Scientists at the University of Liverpool are leading a £1.65 million project to produce and test the first nanomedicines for treating HIV/AIDS.Hurst Matt Researchers pioneer world's first HIV/AIDS nanomedicines News 2012-08-30 https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2012/08/30/researchers-pioneer-worlds-first-hivaids-nanomedicines/ 2022-05-26 30 August – South African scientists claim that a breakthrough drug cures all strains of malaria. Clinical trials on humans are set to start in 2013.Boyle Rebecca South African Scientists Claim Breakthrough Drug Cures All Strains of Malaria Popular Science 2012-08-31 https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/south-african-scientists-claim-breakthrough-drug-cures-all-strains-malaria/ 2022-05-26 31 August Researchers successfully perform the first implantation of an early prototype bionic eye with 24 electrodes.First implantation of prototype bionic eye with 24 electrodes: 'All of a sudden I could see a little flash of light' ScienceDaily 2022-05-25 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120831065003.htm 2022-05-26 Swedish roboticists begin a crowdsourcing project to collect thousands of 3D Kinect images of household objects which can be used to improve the navigation capabilities of domestic robots.Scanning plan aims to help robots in the home BBC News 2012-08-31 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19434922 2022-05-26 A gaze-tracking smart television that can be controlled by the eye movements of users is unveiled at a Berlin trade show.Eye-controlled Gaze TV unveiled by Haier and Tobii BBC News 2012-08-31 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19441860 2022-05-26 September 1 September When they encounter a fallen bird, western scrub jays call out and gather around the body in a funeral-like display, scientists discover.Walker Matt Birds hold 'funerals' for dead BBC Nature 2012-09-02 https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19421217 https://web.archive.org/web/20120902001154/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19421217 2012-09-02 2022-07-02Iglesias T.L. McElreath R. Patricelli G.L. 1 Western scrub-jay funerals: cacophonous aggregations in response to dead conspecifics Animal Behaviour Elsevier BV 84 5 2012 0003-3472 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.08.007 1103–1111 2012AnBeh..84.1103I 30334967 NASA scientists report that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), subjected to interstellar medium (ISM) conditions, are transformed, through hydrogenation, oxygenation and hydroxylation, into more complex organics. This process is described as "a step along the path toward amino acids and nucleotides, the raw materials of proteins and DNA, respectively". Furthermore, as a result of these transformations, the PAHs lose their spectroscopic signature which could be one of the reasons "for the lack of PAH detection in interstellar ice grains, particularly the outer regions of cold, dense clouds or the upper molecular layers of protoplanetary disks."NASA Cooks Up Icy Organics to Mimic Life's Origins Space.com 2012-09-20 https://www.space.com/17681-life-building-blocks-nasa-organic-molecules.html 2022-07-02Gudipati Murthy S. Yang Rui IN-SITU PROBING OF RADIATION-INDUCED PROCESSING OF ORGANICS IN ASTROPHYSICAL ICE ANALOGS—NOVEL LASER DESORPTION LASER IONIZATION TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 756 1 2012-08-17 2041-8205 10.1088/2041-8205/756/1/l24 L24 2012ApJ...756L..24G 5541727 2 September – Austrian scientists develop a 3D printing method which can construct complex microscopic structures out of individual molecules.3-D printing on the micrometer scale New Atlas 2012-09-03 https://newatlas.com/laser-micro-printer/23918/ 2022-07-02Ovsianikov Aleksandr Li Zhiquan Torgersen Jan 1 3D Photografting: Selective Functionalization of 3D Matrices Via Multiphoton Grafting and Subsequent Click Chemistry (Adv. Funct. Mater. 16/2012) Advanced Functional Materials Wiley 22 16 2012-08-15 1616-301X 10.1002/adfm.201290098 3527 2012AdvFM..22.3527O 3 September – Swiss engineers build a versatile, self-righting all-terrain legged robot, similar to Boston Dynamics' BigDog military robot.Biggs John Watch Out, Big Dog: Swiss University Builds An Improved Quadrupedal Robot – TechCrunch TechCrunch 2012-09-03 https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/03/starleth-robot-big-dog/ 2022-07-02 STARLETH: A COMPLIANT QUADRUPEDAL ROBOT FOR FAST, EFFICIENT, AND VERSATILE LOCOMOTION publications.asl.ethz.ch 2016-03-03 http://publications.asl.ethz.ch/files/hutter12starleth.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204321/http://publications.asl.ethz.ch/files/hutter12starleth.pdf 2016-03-03 2022-07-02 thumb|right|250px|5 September 2012: the most detailed analysis of the human genome yet produced is published. 4 September The UK Office for National Statistics estimates that almost all British children born in 2012 could live to the age of 100, assuming recent improvements in healthcare and living standards continue.Will I live longer than my cat? BBC News 2012-09-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19467491 2022-07-02 A formal study finds little evidence of health benefits from organic foods.Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, study finds ScienceDaily 2022-07-02 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120903221122.htm 2022-07-02Smith-Spangler Crystal Brandeau Margaret L. Hunter Grace E. 1 Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives? Annals of Internal Medicine American College of Physicians 157 5 2012-09-04 348–366 0003-4819 10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007 22944875 21463708 British scientists develop a smart, pressure-mapping carpet with an optical layer that can raise the alarm if it detects sudden falls. The carpet can also map and record walking patterns over time, allowing doctors to track movement problems in elderly patients.Heaven Douglas One Per Cent: Smart carpet detects falls and strange footsteps newscientist.com 2012-09-06 https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2012/09/smart-carpet-detects-falls---a.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120906232833/https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2012/09/smart-carpet-detects-falls---a.html 2012-09-06 2022-07-02 A physically active lifestyle can lower the risk of breast cancer by up to 13%, according to the largest-ever study of its kind.Steindorf Karen Ritte Rebecca Eomois Piia-Piret 1 Physical activity and risk of breast cancer overall and by hormone receptor status: The European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition International Journal of Cancer Wiley 132 7 2012-09-14 0020-7136 10.1002/ijc.27778 1667–1678 22903273 12234356 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/physical-activity-and-risk-of-breast-cancer-overall-and-by-hormon Coastal erosion due to rising sea levels may have been "dramatically underestimated", according to a new scientific model.Coastline erosion due to rise in sea level greater than previously thought, new model finds ScienceDaily 2022-06-30 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120904100145.htm 2022-07-02Ranasinghe Roshanka Duong Trang Minh Uhlenbrook Stefan 1 Climate-change impact assessment for inlet-interrupted coastlines Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 1 2012-09-02 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1664 83–87 5 September An international research team achieves quantum teleportation over a record-breaking distance of 143 km mi through free space.Quantum teleportation goes the distance: Record-breaking distance of 143 kilometers through free space ScienceDaily 2022-07-02 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120905134356.htm 2022-07-02 Scientists publish (in Science, Nature and elsewhere) the most detailed analysis to date of the human genome, revealing that much more of our genetic code is biologically active than previously thought, and largely disproving the notion of junk DNA.Walsh Fergus Detailed map of genome function BBC News 2012-09-05 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19202141 2022-07-02ENCODE: The human encyclopaedia Nature 2012-09-05 10.1038/489046a Maher Brendan 489 7414 46–48 22962707 free 2012Natur.489...46M Increased precipitation and river discharge in the Arctic has the potential to speed climate change, according to the results of a new study.Wetter Arctic could influence climate change, study finds ScienceDaily 2022-07-02 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120905200554.htm 2022-07-02Zhang Xiangdong He Juanxiong Zhang Jing 1 Enhanced poleward moisture transport and amplified northern high-latitude wetting trend Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 1 2012-07-29 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1631 47–51 A new report by Oxfam suggests that the full impact of climate change on future food prices is being greatly underestimated.EXTREME WEATHER, EXTREME PRICES oxfam.org 2013-05-01 http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/20120905-ib-extreme-weather-extreme-prices-en.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20130501030503/http://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/20120905-ib-extreme-weather-extreme-prices-en.pdf 2013-05-01 2022-07-02 NASA's Dawn spacecraft departs the asteroid 4 Vesta for the dwarf planet Ceres, which it is expected to reach in 2015.Vergano Dan Dawn departs Vesta USATODAY.COM 2012-09-05 http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/09/dawn-departs-from-vesta-/1 2022-07-02Chow Denise NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Hits Snag on Trip to 2 Asteroids Space.com 2012-08-15 https://www.space.com/17119-nasa-dawn-asteroid-spacecraft-vesta.html 2022-07-02Dawn Gets Extra Time to Explore Vesta nasa.gov 2012-04-21 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/news/dawn20120418.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120421191416/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/news/dawn20120418.html 2012-04-21 unfit 2022-07-02 6 September Japan sets a new world record for ocean drilling depth, reaching 2111 m ft below the seafloor off Shimokita Peninsula.Chikyu sets a new world drilling-depth record of scientific ocean drilling ScienceDaily 2022-07-01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120906112255.htm 2022-07-02 A regular intake of fish oils, together with moderate exercise, significantly helps to slow aging decline, according to a recent trial.Ball Jonathan Fish oils 'help slow age decline' BBC News 2012-09-06 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19494801 2022-07-02Could fish oil be key in protecting the elderly against muscle deterioration? - News - British Science Festival - British Science Festival - The University of Aberdeen abdn.ac.uk 2014-02-14 http://www.abdn.ac.uk/2012/news/1841/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140214070900/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/2012/news/1841/ 2014-02-14 2022-07-02 Researchers in the US produce the shortest-ever laser pulses, with a duration of 67 attoseconds. Such "attosecond science" will make it possible to observe some of the briefest microscopic events in the universe, such as electrons moving in their orbitals, in real time.Shortest laser pulse lasts just 67 attoseconds BBC News 2012-09-06 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19489384 2022-07-02Zhao Kun Zhang Qi Chini Michael 1 Tailoring a 67 attosecond pulse through advantageous phase-mismatch Optics Letters The Optical Society 37 18 2012-09-14 3891–3893 0146-9592 10.1364/ol.37.003891 23041894 2012OptL...37.3891Z https://stars.library.ucf.edu/scopus2010/4546 DARPA's cheetah legged robot prototype is recorded running faster than Usain Bolt, the world's fastest sprinter, in a treadmill test.Leach Anna DARPA builds faster-than-Usain-Bolt Cheetah robot The Register 2012-09-06 https://www.theregister.com/2012/09/06/legged_robot_speed_record/ 2022-07-02 7 September Harvest Automation begins deliveries of its HV-100 agricultural robot, a commercial automaton capable of navigating around obstacles and working in teams to perform horticultural tasks such as pruning and spraying crops.Robots in the shrubbery The Economist 2012-09-07 https://www.economist.com/babbage/2012/09/07/robots-in-the-shrubbery 2022-07-02 Flooded mines could supply 40% of Glasgow's heating, say geologists.Jones Geraint Flooded mines could supply 40% of Glasgow's heating, say geologists The Guardian 2012-09-07 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/sep/07/flooded-mines-glasgow-heating-needs 2022-07-02The Heat Beneath Our Feet bgs.ac.uk 2012-09-09 http://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/NEWS/BSF_GSHP_FINAL.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20120909064755/http://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/NEWS/BSF_GSHP_FINAL.pdf 2012-09-09 2022-07-02 9 September – If it is fully harnessed, wind energy could easily meet all of the world's long-term electricity demand, according to a new study.Enough wind to power global energy demand: New research examines limits, climate consequences ScienceDaily 2022-07-01 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120909150446.htm 2022-07-02Marvel Kate Kravitz Ben Caldeira Ken 1 Geophysical limits to global wind power Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 2 2012-09-09 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1683 118–121 thumb|right|250px|12 September 2012: the monkey species Cercopithecus lomamiensis is formally described. 10 September A new scientific model suggests that even more extrasolar planets could harbour life than previously estimated. The model assumes that subsurface liquid water could host alien life, in addition to the surface water that scientists are searching for on nearby exoplanets.Ball Jonathan More planets could harbour life BBC News 2012-09-10 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19545186 2022-07-02 Caribbean coral reefs are on the verge of collapse, with less than 10% of the reef area showing live coral cover.Harvey Fiona Fiona Harvey 2012-09-10 Caribbean coral reefs face collapse http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/sep/10/caribbean-coral-reefs-collapse-environment 2022-07-02 The Guardian TROPICAL AMERICAS CORAL REEF RESILIENCE WORKSHOP cmsdata.iucn.org 2012-09-12 http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/caribbean_coral_report_jbcj_030912.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20120912063040/http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/caribbean_coral_report_jbcj_030912.pdf 2012-09-12 2022-07-02 12 September UK researchers report a major advance in the treatment of deafness, using stem cells to successfully restore hearing in animals for the first time.Gallagher James Deaf gerbils 'hear again' after stem cell cure BBC News 2012-09-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19570024 2022-07-02Chen Wei Jongkamonwiwat Nopporn Abbas Leila 1 Restoration of auditory evoked responses by human ES-cell-derived otic progenitors Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 490 7419 2012-09-12 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11415 278–282 22972191 3480718 2012Natur.490..278C A new species of monkey is identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Found in remote forests, it is only the second new monkey species to be discovered in Africa in 28 years.Vaughan Adam New monkey species identified in Democratic Republic of Congo The Guardian 2012-09-13 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/sep/13/new-monkey-species-congo-lesula 2022-07-02Hart John A. Detwiler Kate M. Gilbert Christopher C. 1 Lesula: A New Species of Cercopithecus Monkey Endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Implications for Conservation of Congo's Central Basin PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 9 2012-09-12 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0044271 e44271 22984482 3440422 2012PLoSO...744271H free Intel Corporation reveals details of its new Haswell microarchitecture, a 22 nanometer microchip family offering unprecedented computing power and energy efficiency for consumer electronics. The first commercial Haswell-powered devices are expected to emerge in 2013.Myslewski Rik Intel debuts 'Haswell' chippery: from tablets to servers The Register 2012-09-12 https://www.theregister.com/2012/09/12/haswell_modularity/ 2022-07-02 Microsoft unveils a patent for a 3D video gaming system that would allow real-time video to be projected on the walls of any room, creating a 360-degree game environment to immerse players.Microsoft Xbox 3D-projected games outlined in patent BBC News 2012-09-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19568451 2022-07-02 13 September Small spherical "blueberries" found in Martian rocks may have been formed by microbes, possibly indicating that life existed on Mars in the distant past.Iron 'blueberries' may be sign of microbial life on Mars Australian Life Scientist 2012-09-15 http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/436306/iron_blueberries_may_sign_microbial_life_mars/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120915002312/http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/436306/iron_blueberries_may_sign_microbial_life_mars/ 2012-09-15 2022-07-02Weber Karrie A. Spanbauer Trisha L. Wacey David 1 Biosignatures link microorganisms to iron mineralization in a paleoaquifer Geology Geological Society of America 40 8 2012 1943-2682 10.1130/g33062.1 747–750 2012Geo....40..747W UNICEF reports that global child mortality rates have decreased significantly in recent years. Whereas approximately 12 million children died before their fifth birthday in 1990, by 2011 this figure had dropped to 6.9 million. This improvement is reportedly due to a combination of rising living standards, foreign aid and broader immunisation.Africa, South Asia lag in boost to global child health afp.com 2012-12-29 http://www.afp.com/en/news/topstories/africa-south-asia-lag-boost-global-child-health https://web.archive.org/web/20121229064947/http://www.afp.com/en/news/topstories/africa-south-asia-lag-boost-global-child-health 2012-12-29 unfit 2022-07-02 An IBM team in Zürich has published single-molecule images so detailed that the type of atomic bonds between their atoms can be discerned.Palmer Jason Atomic bond types discernible in single-molecule images BBC News 2012-09-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19584301 2022-07-02Gross Leo Mohn Fabian Moll Nikolaj 1 Bond-Order Discrimination by Atomic Force Microscopy Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6100 2012-09-14 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1225621 1326–1329 22984067 2012Sci...337.1326G 206542919 Scientists identify five genes that determine the form of the human face, in a find that could lead to police identification sketches based solely on DNA findings.Genes for face shape identified BBC News 2012-09-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19566022 2022-07-03Liu Fan van der Lijn Fedde Schurmann Claudia 1 A Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Five Loci Influencing Facial Morphology in Europeans PLOS Genetics Public Library of Science (PLoS) 8 9 2012-09-13 1553-7404 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002932 e1002932 23028347 3441666 free 14 September Scientists demonstrated that a brain implant can improve cognitive function in primates for the first time ever. IOP Hampson RE, Gerhardt GA, Marmarelis V, Song D, Opris I, Santos L, Berger TW, Deadwyler SA Facilitation and restoration of cognitive function in primate prefrontal cortex by a neuroprosthesis that utilizes minicolumn-specific neural firing Journal of Neural Engineering 9 5 056012 October 2012 22976769 3505670 10.1088/1741-2560/9/5/056012 2012JNEng...9e6012H Dvorsky George Scientists make monkeys smarter using brain implants. Could you be next? Gizmodo 2012-09-14 https://gizmodo.com/scientists-make-monkeys-smarter-using-brain-implants-c-5943379 2022-07-03 UK weather forecasters can predict extreme winter weather in future seasons with more confidence, due to a new analytical computer model.Harrabin Roger Met Office model 'better at predicting extreme winters' BBC News 2012-09-14 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19584302 2022-07-03Fereday D R Maidens A Arribas A 1 Seasonal forecasts of northern hemisphere winter 2009/10 Environmental Research Letters IOP Publishing 7 3 2012-09-01 1748-9326 10.1088/1748-9326/7/3/034031 034031 2012ERL.....7c4031F 153914724 free thumb|right|250px|17 September 2012: after nine months studying the Moon's gravitational field, NASA's GRAIL satellites report that the lunar crust is much thinner than previously estimated. 17 September A warp drive to achieve faster-than-light travel, a supposedly impossible goal, may not be as unrealistic as once thought, scientists say.Moskowitz Clara Warp Drive May Be More Feasible Than Thought, Scientists Say Space.com 2012-09-17 https://www.space.com/17628-warp-drive-possible-interstellar-spaceflight.html 2022-07-10 Scientists working on the Blue Brain Project have achieved a major breakthrough in mapping the human brain, identifying key principles that determine synapse-scale connectivity and making it possible to accurately predict the locations of synapses in the neocortex.Mediacom Laura Spinney / Blue Brain Project Accurately Predicts Connections between Neurons EPFL 2012-09-17 https://actu.epfl.ch/news/blue-brain-project-accurately-predicts-connections/ 2022-07-10Hill Sean L. Wang Yun Riachi Imad 1 Statistical connectivity provides a sufficient foundation for specific functional connectivity in neocortical neural microcircuits Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 42 2012-09-18 E2885-94 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1202128109 22991468 3479474 2012PNAS..109E2885H free NASA's twin GRAIL gravitational research satellites reveal that the Moon has a much thinner crust than previously assumed.Tandem satellites probe the Moon's interior Nature 2012-09-14 10.1038/nature.2012.11419 https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2012.11419 2022-07-10 Samuel Reich Eugenie free subscription 18 September The Dark Energy Survey's high-resolution camera begins operation in Chile, surveying distant galaxies for evidence of the action of dark energy.http://blogs.nature.com/news/2012/09/dark-energy-camera-snaps-first-pictures.html Dak-energy camera snaps first pictures 2012-09-19 2022-07-10 Nature News blog Massachusetts-based company Rethink Robotics releases its Baxter industrial robot, the first humanoid robot designed to apply common sense and machine learning to factory operations.Meet Baxter the Robot, Your Potential New Co-Worker PCMAG 2012-09-18 https://www.pcmag.com/archive/meet-baxter-the-robot-your-potential-new-co-worker-302810 2022-07-10 Doctors in Sweden have performed the world's first mother-to-daughter uterus transplants.Mother-to-daughter womb transplant 'success' in Sweden BBC News 2012-09-18 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-19637156 2022-07-10Svahn Krister World unique uterus transplantation performed in Gothenburg - University of Gothenburg, Sweden sahlgrenska.gu.se 2012-11-26 http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/news_and_events/news/News_Detail/world-unique-uterus-transplantation-performed-in-gothenburg-.cid1097607 https://web.archive.org/web/20121126071037/http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/news_and_events/news/News_Detail/world-unique-uterus-transplantation-performed-in-gothenburg-.cid1097607 2012-11-26 unfit 2022-07-10 19 September Researchers at the University of Cambridge develop a method for cheaply printing liquid crystal-based lasers using a standard inkjet printer. The invention could allow the creation of "smart wallpaper" with built-in video displays.Moskvitch Katia Printed lasers can make your wallpaper 'smart' BBC News 2012-09-18 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19641112 2022-07-10Gardiner D. J. Hsiao W.-K. Morris S. M. 1 Printed photonic arrays from self-organized chiral nematic liquid crystals Soft Matter Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) 8 39 2012 1744-683X 10.1039/c2sm26479j 9977 2012SMat....8.9977G 20.500.11820/05bff0ad-0721-4d7f-827e-26a1f17d1264 https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/4930637/2012_SoftMatt_Printed_phot_arrays_from_self_org_chiral_nem_LCs.pdf Arctic sea ice has reached its minimum extent for the year, setting a record for the lowest cover since satellite records began in the 1970s. The 2012 extent has fallen to 3.41 million km2 (1.32 million sq mi), 50% lower than the 1979–2000 average.Rincon Paul Record minimum for Arctic sea ice BBC News 2012-09-19 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19652329 2022-07-10SVS NASA's SVS: Daily Sea Ice during Aug & Sept 2012 with Winds Home - NASA Scientific Visualization Studio 2022-04-18 http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003900/a003992/index.html 2022-07-10 2022-10-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20221006161033/https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003900/a003992/index.html When a huge meteor collided with Earth about 2.5 million years ago and fell into the southern Pacific Ocean, it not only could have generated a massive tsunami, but may also have plunged the world into the Ice Ages, a new study suggests.Did a 'forgotten' meteor have a deadly, icy double-punch? ScienceDaily 2022-07-10 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120919103612.htm 2022-07-10Goff James Chagué-Goff Catherine Archer Michael 1 The Eltanin asteroid impact: possible South Pacific palaeomegatsunami footprint and potential implications for the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition Journal of Quaternary Science Wiley 27 7 2012-09-03 0267-8179 10.1002/jqs.2571 660–670 2012JQS....27..660G 131415717 A new study reveals that fast-flowing and narrow glaciers have the potential to trigger massive changes in the Antarctic ice sheet and contribute to rapid ice-sheet decay and sea-level rise.Warming ocean could start big shift of Antarctic ice ScienceDaily 2022-07-10 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120919103610.htm 2022-07-10Golledge Nicholas R. Fogwill Christopher J. Mackintosh Andrew N. 1 Dynamics of the last glacial maximum Antarctic ice-sheet and its response to ocean forcing Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 40 2012-09-17 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1205385109 16052–16056 22988078 3479616 2012PNAS..10916052G free thumb|right|250px|19 September 2012: sea ice cover in the Arctic reaches the lowest extent ever recorded. 20 September MakerBot Industries, an American manufacturer of 3D printers, opens the world's first 3D printer retail outlet in New York City.Brown Rich MakerBot revamps Replicator 3D printer, adds retail store CNET 2012-09-19 https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/makerbot-revamps-replicator-3d-printer-adds-retail-store/ 2022-07-10 Elevated CO2 levels on humans cause decreased cognitive ability, starting at 600 ppm.Zoning Out In That Meeting? It May Not Be Your Fault HuffPost 2012-10-25 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/carbon-dioxide-decision-making-meeting-rooms-classrooms_n_2006289 2022-07-10Satish Usha Mendell Mark J. Shekhar Krishnamurthy 1 Is CO2an Indoor Pollutant? Direct Effects of Low-to-Moderate CO2Concentrations on Human Decision-Making Performance Environmental Health Perspectives 120 12 2012 0091-6765 10.1289/ehp.1104789 1671–1677 23008272 3548274 2012EnvHP.120.1671S 8604995 22 September – NASA reveals plans for the "Gateway Spacecraft", a permanent outpost beyond the Moon, to be constructed from leftover components of the International Space Station.NASA deep-space outpost: NASA wants to send astronauts beyond the moon Orlando Sentinel 2012-09-28 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-22/news/os-nasa-space-outpost-20120922_1_moon-rocks-space-launch-system-nasa-chief-charlie-bolden https://web.archive.org/web/20120928202251/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-22/news/os-nasa-space-outpost-20120922_1_moon-rocks-space-launch-system-nasa-chief-charlie-bolden 2012-09-28 2022-07-10 23 September Researchers have shown that many species of fruit fly will be unable to survive even a modest increase in temperature. Many are now close to or beyond their temperature safety margin, and very few have the genetic ability to adapt to climate change.Elder John Fruit flies at boiling point The Sydney Morning Herald 2012-09-22 https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/fruit-flies-at-boiling-point-20120922-26dm3.html 2022-07-10Kellermann Vanessa Overgaard Johannes Hoffmann Ary A. 1 Upper thermal limits of Drosophila are linked to species distributions and strongly constrained phylogenetically Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 40 2012-09-17 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1207553109 16228–16233 22988106 3479592 2012PNAS..10916228K free Japanese researchers achieve a new world record for data transmission, demonstrating one-petabit-per-second fiber transmission over 50 km mi: equivalent to sending 5,000 HDTV videos per second over a single fiber.Telegraph Nippon Corporation Telephone NTT HOME > NTT Press Releases > World Record One Petabit per Second Fiber Transmission over 50-km: Equivalent to Sending 5,000 HDTV Videos per Second over a Single Fiber ntt.co.jp 2012-09-25 http://www.ntt.co.jp/news2012/1209e/120920a.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120925054316/http://www.ntt.co.jp/news2012/1209e/120920a.html 2012-09-25 2022-07-10 The first continent-wide estimate of African great ape distribution and its changes over time has revealed a dramatic decline in ape habitats.Walker Matt Severe loss to great ape habitat BBC Nature 2012-09-30 https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19731343 https://web.archive.org/web/20120930001708/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19731343 2012-09-30 2022-07-10Junker Jessica Blake Stephen Boesch Christophe 1 Recent decline in suitable environmental conditions for African great apes Diversity and Distributions Wiley 18 11 2012-09-23 1366-9516 10.1111/ddi.12005 1077–1091 2012DivDi..18.1077J 67765445 free 24 September UK doctors report that a new "SARS-like" respiratory coronavirus has been identified. The disease has infected at least two people in the Middle East and killed one.Roberts Michelle New 'Sars-like' coronavirus identified by UK officials BBC News 2012-09-24 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19698335 2022-07-10 A major reassessment of 18 years of satellite observations provides a new, more detailed view of the changes in sea level around the world. Incorporating the data from a number of spacecraft, the study re-affirms that ocean waters globally are rising by just over 3mm per year.Amos Jonathan Satellites trace sea level change BBC News 2011-10-07 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19702450 2022-07-10 The entire field of particle physics is set to switch to open-access publishing, a milestone in the push to make research results freely available to readers.Open-access deal for particle physics Nature 2012-09-24 10.1038/489486a Van Noorden Richard 489 7417 486 23018944 2012Natur.489..486V 195678949 free 25 September New data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory suggests that the Milky Way galaxy is surrounded by a gigantic halo of hot gas, with a far greater radius than the galaxy itself, and a roughly equal mass. If the halo's dimensions are confirmed, its concentration of mass may explain the apparent lack of baryonic matter in the galaxy.Gupta A. Mathur S. Krongold Y. 1 A Huge Reservoir of Ionized Gas Around the Milky Way: Accounting for the Missing Mass? The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 756 1 2012-08-09 2041-8205 10.1088/2041-8205/756/1/l8 L8 1205.5037 2012ApJ...756L...8G 118567708 China's first aircraft carrier, a retrofitted ex-Soviet vessel named the Liaoning, enters naval service.Spegele Brian China Adds Aircraft Carrier to Its Navy WSJ 2012-09-25 https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358804578017481172611110.html 2022-07-10 26 September – An international team of scientists identifies a key factor responsible for declining muscle repair during ageing, and discovers how to halt the process in mice with a common drug.Scientists make old muscles young again in attempt to combat aging EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/655320 2022-07-10Chakkalakal Joe V. Jones Kieran M. Basson M. Albert 1 The aged niche disrupts muscle stem cell quiescence Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 490 7420 2012-09-26 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11438 355–360 23023126 3605795 2012Natur.490..355C 27 September Researchers have shown for the first time the trapping action of the pimpernel sundew, Drosera glanduligera, a carnivorous plant.Carnivorous plant catapults prey with snap-tentacles: Biologists describe new capture mechanism ScienceDaily 2022-07-10 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120927091534.htm 2022-07-10Poppinga Simon Hartmeyer Siegfried Richard Heinrich Seidel Robin 1 Catapulting Tentacles in a Sticky Carnivorous Plant PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 9 2012-09-26 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0045735 e45735 23049849 3458893 2012PLoSO...745735P free NASA scientists announce the Curiosity rover's discovery of evidence of ancient flowing liquid water on Mars.Excite News - Mars rover Curiosity finds signs of ancient stream apnews.excite.com 2013-09-21 http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120927/DA1IDOO00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053259/http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120927/DA1IDOO00.html 2013-09-21 2022-07-10NASA Rover Finds Old Streambed On Martian Surface NASA 2012-09-27 http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/sep/HQ_12-338_Mars_Water_Stream.html 2022-07-10 2020-05-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20200513091007/https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/sep/HQ_12-338_Mars_Water_Stream.html Researchers demonstrate a new type of biodegradable electronics technology with wide applications in medical implants, environmental monitors and consumer devices.Electronics that vanish in the environment or the body ScienceDaily 2022-07-09 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120927141531.htm 2022-07-10Hwang Suk-Won Tao Hu Kim Dae-Hyeong 1 A Physically Transient Form of Silicon Electronics Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 337 6102 2012-09-28 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1226325 1640–1644 23019646 3786576 2012Sci...337.1640H Toyota begins development of the Human Support Robot, a voice-controlled domestic robot designed to help elderly and disabled people by moving objects, reaching high shelves and opening doors and curtains.Ramsey Jonathon Toyota developing Asimo rival for the disabled Autoblog 2012-09-27 https://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/toyota-developing-asimo-rival-for-the-disabled/ 2022-07-10 30 September – Climate change will lead to smaller fish, according to a new study led by fisheries scientists at the University of British Columbia. Under a high emissions scenario, the maximum body weight most fish species reach could decline by up to a quarter by 2050.Cheung William W. L. Sarmiento Jorge L. Dunne John 1 Shrinking of fishes exacerbates impacts of global ocean changes on marine ecosystems Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 3 2012-09-30 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1691 254–258 2013NatCC...3..254C October thumb|right|250px|3 October 2012: scientists discover that the black mamba (pictured), best known for its lethal venom, also produces a highly effective painkiller. 1 October – Sea cucumbers and sea urchins are able to change the elasticity of collagen within their bodies, and could hold the key to maintaining a youthful appearance, according to scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.Marine animals could hold the key to looking young qmul.ac.uk 2012-10-05 http://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/items/se/84965.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121005051137/http://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/items/se/84965.html 2012-10-05 2023-02-19 Queen Mary UniversityElphick Maurice R. The Protein Precursors of Peptides That Affect the Mechanics of Connective Tissue and/or Muscle in the Echinoderm Apostichopus japonicus PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 8 2012-08-31 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0044492 e44492 22952987 3432112 2012PLoSO...744492E free Rowe Matthew L. Elphick Maurice R. The neuropeptide transcriptome of a model echinoderm, the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus General and Comparative Endocrinology Elsevier BV 179 3 2012 0016-6480 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.09.009 331–344 23026496 http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/jspui/handle/123456789/6400 2 October – Under a high-emissions climate change scenario, global sea levels could rise nearly 7 m ft by the year 3000, according to new research.Irreversible warming will cause sea levels to rise for thousands of years to come, new research shows -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2023-02-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121001191531.htm 2023-02-19Goelzer H Huybrechts P Raper S C B 1 Millennial total sea-level commitments projected with the Earth system model of intermediate complexity LOVECLIM Environmental Research Letters IOP Publishing 7 4 2012-10-01 1748-9326 10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/045401 045401 2012ERL.....7d5401G 56443764 free 2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/305506 free 3 October In preparation for a land speed record attempt, the British Bloodhound SSC team conducts a successful hybrid rocket test in Newquay. The rocket will operate in tandem with a Eurofighter Typhoon jet engine to propel the Bloodhound vehicle at 1000 mi km per hour during its record attempt in 2014.Amos Jonathan Bloodhound land speed rocket test roars over Newquay BBC News 2012-10-03 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19818009 2023-02-19 Scientists report that the venomous black mamba produces a highly effective natural painkiller.Bardin Jon Snake venom may hold key to pain relief without side effects Los Angeles Times 2012-10-03 https://www.latimes.com/science/la-xpm-2012-oct-03-la-sci-sn-snake-venom-pain-relief-20121003-story.html 2023-02-19Diochot Sylvie Baron Anne Salinas Miguel 1 Black mamba venom peptides target acid-sensing ion channels to abolish pain Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 490 7421 2012-10-03 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11494 552–555 23034652 2012Natur.490..552D 4337253 https://hal.science/hal-04016619/file/Manuscript%2BFig%2BSuppl.pdf A startup company demonstrates a cheap and efficient method of printing complex electronics onto flexible substrates.Flexible nanoprinting set to dwarf semiconductor costs TechEye 2012-10-05 http://news.techeye.net/chips/flexible-nanoprinting-set-to-dwarf-semiconductor-costs https://web.archive.org/web/20121005235235/http://news.techeye.net/chips/flexible-nanoprinting-set-to-dwarf-semiconductor-costs 2012-10-05 unfit 2023-02-19 4 October A new genetic test can fully sequence the genome of a newborn baby in just 50 hours, a major improvement over the usual month-long sequencing process. The test can screen for 3,500 genetic diseases, allowing critically ill infants to be diagnosed and treated much more effectively.Park Alice Good News for NICU Babies: Faster DNA Testing for More Accurate Diagnoses Time 2012-10-04 https://healthland.time.com/2012/10/04/good-news-for-nicu-babies-faster-dna-testing-for-more-accurate-diagnoses/ 2023-02-19 2023-02-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20230219173724/https://healthland.time.com/2012/10/04/good-news-for-nicu-babies-faster-dna-testing-for-more-accurate-diagnoses/ dead Saunders Carol Jean Miller Neil Andrew Soden Sarah Elizabeth 1 Rapid Whole-Genome Sequencing for Genetic Disease Diagnosis in Neonatal Intensive Care Units Science Translational Medicine American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 4 154 2012-10-03 154ra135 1946-6234 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004041 23035047 4283791 Nissan unveils the NSC-2015, a prototype electric driverless car that can park itself, understand road markings and quickly report attempted thefts. A commercial version is planned for 2015.Nissan car drives and parks itself at Ceatec BBC News 2012-10-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19829906 2023-02-19 5 October DARPA successfully tests technology which enables drones to conduct aerial refueling autonomously.Unstaffed drone refuelling test 'successful' BBC News 2012-10-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19871063 2023-02-192012/10/05 Making Connections At 45,000 Feet: Future UAVs May Fuel Up In Flight darpa.mil 2012-10-05 http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2012/10/05.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20121006183120/http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2012/10/05.aspx 2012-10-06 unfit 2023-02-19 Tokyo Institute of Technology researchers make a breakthrough in teaching a computer to understand human brain function. The scientists used fMRI datasets to train a computer to predict the semantic category of an image originally viewed by five different people.Ltd. Slightly Different Tokyo Institute of Technology research: Training computer... researchsea.com 2012-10-08 http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/7443/cid/6/research/tokyo_institute_of_technology_research__training_computers_to_understand_the_human_brain.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121008193824/http://www.researchsea.com/html/article.php/aid/7443/cid/6/research/tokyo_institute_of_technology_research__training_computers_to_understand_the_human_brain.html 2012-10-08 2023-02-19Akama Hiroyuki Murphy Brian Na Li 1 Decoding semantics across fMRI sessions with different stimulus modalities: a practical MVPA study Frontiers in Neuroinformatics Frontiers Media SA 6 2012 1662-5196 10.3389/fninf.2012.00024 24 22936912 3426793 free 7 October – Expanding production of palm oil – a common ingredient in processed foods, soaps and personal care products – is driving rainforest destruction and massive carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study led by researchers at Stanford and Yale universities.Stanford researchers show oil palm plantations are clearing carbon-rich tropical forests in Borneo EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/590955 2023-02-19Carlson Kimberly M. Curran Lisa M. Asner Gregory P. 1 Carbon emissions from forest conversion by Kalimantan oil palm plantations Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 3 2012-10-07 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1702 283–287 8 October SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft launches on its first operational resupply mission to the International Space Station, following a successful demonstration mission in May 2012.Amos Jonathan SpaceX lifts off with ISS cargo BBC News 2012-10-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19867358 2023-02-19Malik Tariq Liftoff! SpaceX Dragon Launches 1st Private Space Station Cargo Mission Space.com 2012-10-08 https://www.space.com/17943-spacex-dragon-capsule-space-cargo-launch.html 2023-02-19Schmidt Klaus Oct 6, 2012 Station Crew Waits for SpaceX Launch, Stays Busy with Science http://spacefellowship.com/news/art30481/station-crew-waits-for-spacex-launch-stays-busy-with-science.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121016081254/http://spacefellowship.com/news/art30481/station-crew-waits-for-spacex-launch-stays-busy-with-science.html Oct 16, 2012 spacefellowship.com A variant in a gene involved with inflammation and the immune response is linked with a decreased risk of lung cancer, according to researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland.Gene variant linked with reduced lung cancer risk EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/509182 2023-02-19Shiels Meredith S. Engels Eric A. Shi Jianxin 1 Genetic variation in innate immunity and inflammation pathways associated with lung cancer risk Cancer Wiley 118 22 2012-10-08 0008-543X 10.1002/cncr.27605 5630–5636 23044494 3485420 Researchers have found what they claim is the first fossil yet discovered of an ancient spider attacking prey caught in its web. The amber fossil dates back between 97 million and 110 million years.Fossil of ancient spider attack only one of its type ever discovered - News & Research Communications - Oregon State University oregonstate.edu 2012-10-10 http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/oct/fossil-ancient-spider-attack-only-one-its-type-ever-discovered https://web.archive.org/web/20121216034741/http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/oct/fossil-ancient-spider-attack-only-one-its-type-ever-discovered 2012-12-16 unfit 2023-02-19 A new Alzheimer's drug, Solanezumab, slows the pace of memory loss in patients by 34%, according to the results of two trials.Adams Stephen Alzheimer's drug 'slows memory loss by a third' Telegraph.co.uk 2012-10-08 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9594878/Alzheimers-drug-slows-memory-loss-by-a-third.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121009041425/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9594878/Alzheimers-drug-slows-memory-loss-by-a-third.html 2012-10-09 2023-02-19 The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded jointly to John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka, for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells.The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 NobelPrize.org 2012-10-08 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2012/press-release/ 2023-02-19 thumb|right|250px|8–10 October 2012: the year's Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry and medicine (medal pictured) are awarded. 9 October Microsoft tests a sensor bracelet that can quickly recognise a wide variety of human hand gestures. The invention could be used as a general-purpose remote control for electronics, allowing devices to be activated and controlled with simple hand movements.Microsoft's Digits hand-gesture sensor bracelet detailed BBC News 2012-10-09 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19884218 2023-02-19 The 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded jointly to Serge Haroche and David J. Wineland "for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems". Their work may eventually help make quantum computing possible.Opinion - The Possibilities of Quantum Information The New York Times 2012-10-13 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/opinion/sunday/the-possibilities-of-quantum-information.html 2023-02-19The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 NobelPrize.org 2023-02-19 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2012/summary/ 2023-02-19 10 October Arizona State University researchers develop a new software system capable of estimating greenhouse gas emissions across entire urban landscapes, all the way down to roads and individual buildings. Previously, scientists quantified carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at a much broader level.Study maps greenhouse gas emissions to building, street level for U.S. cities ASU News 2012-10-09 https://news.asu.edu/content/study-maps-greenhouse-gas-emissions-building-street-level-us-cities 2023-02-19 SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft docks with the International Space Station, becoming the first commercially contracted re-supply vehicle to do so.WATCH: SpaceX Dragon Docks With Space Station On Ice Cream Delivery Mission HuffPost UK 2012-10-10 https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/10/spacex-dragon-docks-with-iss_n_1953933.html 2023-02-19 The 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded jointly to Robert J. Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka for their work on G-protein-coupled receptors.The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 NobelPrize.org 2023-02-19 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2012/summary/ 2023-02-19 The United States Navy begins funding the development of a versatile robot capable of adapting everyday materials to rescue trapped humans.US Navy funds 'MacGyver' robot that can create tools BBC News 2012-10-10 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19902954 2023-02-19 11 October In the largest-ever genetic study of cholesterol and other blood lipids, an international consortium has identified 21 new gene variants associated with risks of heart disease and metabolic disorders. The findings expand the list of potential targets for drugs and other treatments for lipid-related cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of death and disability.Twenty-one genes tied to cholesterol levels identified -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2023-02-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121011123959.htm 2023-02-19Asselbergs Folkert W. Guo Yiran van Iperen Erik P.A. 1 Large-Scale Gene-Centric Meta-analysis across 32 Studies Identifies Multiple Lipid Loci The American Journal of Human Genetics Elsevier BV 91 5 2012 0002-9297 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.08.032 823–838 23063622 3487124 New research led by Yale University scientists suggests that a rocky planet twice Earth's size orbiting a nearby star is composed largely of diamond.Nearby super-Earth likely a diamond planet -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2023-02-18 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121011090647.htm 2023-02-19Madhusudhan Nikku Lee Kanani K. M. Mousis Olivier 1 A POSSIBLE CARBON-RICH INTERIOR IN SUPER-EARTH 55 Cancri e The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 759 2 2012-10-25 2041-8205 10.1088/2041-8205/759/2/l40 L40 1210.2720 2012ApJ...759L..40M 119303024 12 October – Europe launches the third and fourth of its Galileo navigation satellites, making it possible for the Galileo system to be fully tested prior to the start of operations in 2015. The system is planned to become fully operational, with 27 active satellites, by 2020.Amos Jonathan Galileo: Europe's version of GPS reaches key phase BBC News 2012-10-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19933989 2023-02-19 14 October Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner performs the highest skydive yet attempted, jumping from a pressurized capsule 24 mi km above Roswell, New Mexico. Baumgartner became the first human to break the sound barrier without an aircraft during his jump.Amos Jonathan Skydiver Felix Baumgartner breaks sound barrier BBC News 2012-10-14 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19943590 2023-02-19Felix Baumgartner: watch the jump Telegraph.co.uk 2012-10-14 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9608140/Felix-Baumgartner-watch-the-jump.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121015002130/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9608140/Felix-Baumgartner-watch-the-jump.html 2012-10-15 2023-02-19 Scientists claim that water molecules found in lunar soil could be produced by the solar wind reacting with the Moon's surface.Collins Nick Water particles found on surface of the moon, scientists say Telegraph.co.uk 2012-10-14 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9607901/Water-particles-found-on-surface-of-the-moon-scientists-say.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121015013718/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9607901/Water-particles-found-on-surface-of-the-moon-scientists-say.html 2012-10-15 2023-02-19Liu Yang Guan Yunbin Zhang Youxue 1 Direct measurement of hydroxyl in the lunar regolith and the origin of lunar surface water Nature Geoscience Springer Science and Business Media LLC 5 11 2012-10-14 1752-0894 10.1038/ngeo1601 779–782 2012NatGe...5..779L https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130107-154912166 thumb|right|250px|17 October 2012: scientists discover a new exoplanet (artist's impression pictured) orbiting Earth's nearest alien star, Alpha Centauri. 15 October Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a Neptune-like exoplanet that has four suns, making it the first quadruple star system ever discovered.Dvorsky George Unprecedented: Amateur astronomers discover a planet with four suns Gizmodo 2012-10-15 https://gizmodo.com/unprecedented-amateur-astronomers-discover-a-planet-wi-5951865 2023-02-19Schwamb Megan E. Orosz Jerome A. Carter Joshua A. 1 Planet Hunters: A Transiting Circumbinary Planet in a Quadruple Star System The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 768 2 2013-04-23 0004-637X 10.1088/0004-637x/768/2/127 127 1210.3612 2013ApJ...768..127S 27456469 September 2012 was tied as the warmest September ever recorded globally, according to data from the National Climatic Data Center.September 2012 Global Climate Report National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2012/9 2023-02-19 New research clearly shows that there is an increasing tendency for cyclones to form when the climate is warmer, as it has been in recent years.Tropical cyclones are occurring more frequently than before EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/605376 2023-02-19Grinsted Aslak Moore John C. Jevrejeva Svetlana 1 Homogeneous record of Atlantic hurricane surge threat since 1923 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 48 2012-10-15 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1209542109 19601–19605 23071336 3511770 free Researchers from North Carolina State University demonstrate new techniques for stretching carbon nanotubes to create carbon composites that can be used as stronger, lighter materials in a wide variety of applications.New Techniques Stretch Carbon Nanotubes, Make Stronger Composites NC State News 2012-10-15 https://news.ncsu.edu/2012/10/wms-zhu-cnt-composites/ 2023-02-19Wang X. Yong Z.Z. Li Q.W. 1 Ultrastrong, Stiff and Multifunctional Carbon Nanotube Composites Materials Research Letters Informa UK Limited 1 1 2012-10-11 2166-3831 10.1080/21663831.2012.686586 19–25 41390773 NASA demonstrates its X1 powered exoskeleton, a robotic assistance suit based on its Robonaut humanoid robot. The X1 exoskeleton is designed to assist paraplegics with walking, and can also be set to provide walking exercise for non-disabled astronauts.Kooser Amanda NASA exoskeleton suit is half way to Iron Man CNET 2012-10-15 https://www.cnet.com/culture/nasa-exoskeleton-suit-is-half-way-to-iron-man/ 2023-02-19 17 October A new exoplanet is discovered orbiting Earth's closest stellar neighbour, Alpha Centauri. The new planet is believed to be too hot to sustain life, but there is a high probability that the system contains other planetary bodies, including potentially Earthlike ones.Dumusque Xavier Pepe Francesco Lovis Christophe 1 An Earth-mass planet orbiting α Centauri B Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 491 7423 2012-10-17 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11572 207–211 23075844 2012Natur.491..207D 1110271 https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:33861 Medical scientists report, on the basis of a decade-long double-blind study involving nearly 15,000 older male physicians, that subjects taking a daily multivitamin were associated with 8 percent fewer cancers compared to subjects taking a placebo.Daily Multivitamin May Reduce Cancer Risk, Clinical Trial Finds The New York Times 2012-10-17 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/health/daily-multivitamin-may-reduce-cancer-risk-clinical-trial-finds.html 2023-07-02Gaziano J. Michael Sesso Howard D. Christen William G. 1 Multivitamins in the Prevention of Cancer in Men JAMA American Medical Association (AMA) 308 18 2012-11-14 1871–1880 0098-7484 10.1001/jama.2012.14641 23162860 3517179 A drug made from a plant known as "thunder god vine," or lei gong teng, that has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, wipes out pancreatic tumors in mice, and may soon be tested in humans.Drug From Chinese 'Thunder God Vine' Slays Tumors in Mice Bloomberg.com 2012-10-17 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-17/drug-from-chinese-thunder-god-vine-slays-tumors-in-mice 2023-07-02Chugh Rohit Sangwan Veena Patil Satish P. 1 A Preclinical Evaluation of Minnelide as a Therapeutic Agent Against Pancreatic Cancer Science Translational Medicine American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 4 156 2012-10-17 156ra139 1946-6234 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004334 23076356 3656604 83% of Madagascar's palms are threatened with extinction, putting the livelihoods of local people at risk, according to the latest update of the Red List of Threatened Species released today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).IUCN - Madagascar's palms near extinction iucn.org 2012-10-22 http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?11273/Madagascars-palms-near-extinction https://web.archive.org/web/20121022005214/http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?11273/Madagascars-palms-near-extinction 2012-10-22 2023-07-02 18 October A kidney-like organ grown from scratch in a laboratory has been shown to work in animals – an achievement that could lead to the production of spare kidneys for patients from their own stem cells.Coghlan Andy Pioneering lab-grown 'kidney' does its job in animals New Scientist 2012-10-18 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22398-pioneering-lab-grown-kidney-does-its-job-in-animals/ 2023-07-02Xinaris Christodoulos Benedetti Valentina Rizzo Paola 1 In Vivo Maturation of Functional Renal Organoids Formed from Embryonic Cell Suspensions Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) 23 11 2012 1046-6673 10.1681/asn.2012050505 1857–1868 23085631 3482737 Extinctions during the early Triassic period left Earth a virtual wasteland due to extreme heat, a new study suggests.National Geographic National Geographic 2012-10-12 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121018-triassic-extinctions-hot-global-warming-science-environment/ https://web.archive.org/web/20121020072805/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121018-triassic-extinctions-hot-global-warming-science-environment/ October 20, 2012 2023-07-02Sun Yadong Joachimski Michael M. Wignall Paul B. 1 Lethally Hot Temperatures During the Early Triassic Greenhouse Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 338 6105 2012-10-19 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1224126 366–370 23087244 2012Sci...338..366S 41302171 Using a new imaging technique, based on the detection of calcium ions in neurons, neuroscientists have developed a way to monitor how brain cells coordinate with each other to control specific behaviors.Press Center - MIT News Massachusetts Institute of Technology http://web.mit.edu/press/2012/neuron-imaging-calcium.html 2023-07-02Chen Qian Cichon Joseph Wang Wenting 1 Imaging Neural Activity Using Thy1-GCaMP Transgenic Mice Neuron Elsevier BV 76 2 2012 0896-6273 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.07.011 297–308 23083733 4059513 For the first time, an assembly of nanomachines has been synthesised that is capable of producing a coordinated contraction, similar to the movements of biological muscle fibres.Assembly of nano-machines mimics human muscle -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-10-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121023100940.htm 2023-07-02Du Guangyan Moulin Emilie Jouault Nicolas 1 Muscle-like Supramolecular Polymers: Integrated Motion from Thousands of Molecular Machines Angewandte Chemie Wiley 124 50 2012-10-18 0044-8249 10.1002/ange.201206571 12672–12676 2012AngCh.12412672D https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03651147/file/Angewandte2012_Giuseppone_modif.pdf 19 October – The European Space Agency announces that it will launch a new satellite in 2017 to study super-Earths and other large exoplanets orbiting nearby stars. The CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS) will orbit the Earth at an altitude of about 500 mi km.Pearlman Robert Z. Lea Robert Pultarova Tereza 1 European Satellite to Seek Nearby Super-Earth Planets in 2017 Space.com 2012-10-19 https://www.space.com/18137-super-earth-exoplanets-satellite-launching-2017.html 2023-07-02 thumb|right|250px|22 October 2012: a Da Vinci surgical robot (pictured) is used to perform the UK's first robot-assisted open-heart surgery. 22 October Engineers develop an ultra-high-density form of magnetic tape, using barium ferrite particles to store up to 100 terabytes of data in a single tape cartridge. The invention is intended to store the huge volumes of astronomical data that the Square Kilometre Array will generate upon its inception in 2024.the future of data storage is cassette tape Gizmodo 2012-10-22 https://gizmodo.com/search/?q=the%20future%20of%20data%20storage%20is%20cassette%20tape 2023-07-02 British doctors use the remote-controlled Da Vinci Surgical System to perform the UK's first robotic open-heart surgery.Paduano Michele Da Vinci robot heart surgery at New Cross Hospital BBC News 2012-10-22 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-20028502 2023-07-02 24 October As much as 44 billion tons of nitrogen and 850 billion tons of carbon stored in Arctic permafrost could be released over the next century, according to a new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey. This is roughly the amount of carbon already stored in the atmosphere today.USGS Release: Not-So-Permanent Permafrost (10/24/2012 12:00:00 PM) usgs.gov 2012-10-31 http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3436&from=rss_home https://web.archive.org/web/20121031001046/http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3436&from=rss_home 2012-10-31 2023-07-02Harden Jennifer W. Koven Charles D. Ping Chien-Lu 1 Field information links permafrost carbon to physical vulnerabilities of thawing Geophysical Research Letters American Geophysical Union (AGU) 39 15 2012-08-07 0094-8276 10.1029/2012gl051958 2012GL051958 2012GeoRL..3915704H 15126894 https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/eos-faculty-publications/57 Binge drinking – drinking less during the week and more on the weekends – significantly reduces the structural integrity of the adult brain, according to a new study.Moderate drinking decreases number of new brain cells -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-10-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121024164759.htm 2023-07-02Anderson M.L. Nokia M.S. Govindaraju K.P. 1 Moderate drinking? Alcohol consumption significantly decreases neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus Neuroscience Elsevier BV 224 2012 0306-4522 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.08.018 202–209 22906480 4568748 A new gene therapy method to prevent the inheritance of certain genetic diseases has been successfully demonstrated in human cells. It is believed that this research, along with other efforts, will pave the way for future clinical trials in human subjects.New gene therapy method tested in human cells ... and it works, researchers report -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-10-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121024133356.htm 2023-07-02Tachibana Masahito Amato Paula Sparman Michelle 1 Towards germline gene therapy of inherited mitochondrial diseases Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 493 7434 2012-10-24 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11647 627–631 23103867 3561483 The world's first commercial vertical farm opens in Singapore. The farm maximizes its growing space by using 120 high-rise cultivation towers, and can produce half a ton of vegetables a day.First commercial vertical farm opens in Singapore - Channel NewsAsia channelnewsasia.com 2012-10-27 http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1233261/1/.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121027232546/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1233261/1/.html 2012-10-27 2023-07-02 25 October – Microsoft launches Windows 8, the most fundamental update to its Windows operating system in 17 years.Microsoft launches Windows 8 – video The Guardian 2017-07-14 http://www.theguardian.com/technology/video/2012/oct/25/microsoft-windows-8-video 2023-07-02 26 October The oldest Mayan tomb yet discovered is found in Guatemala. The ancient tomb is believed to date back to between 400 BC and 700 BC.'Oldest Maya tomb' found in Guatemala's Retalhuleu BBC News 2012-10-26 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-20091121 2023-07-02 Scientists have recovered the sounds of music and laughter from the oldest playable American recording, dating back to 1878.Rosen Rebecca J. Scientists Recover the Sounds of 19th-Century Music and Laughter From the Oldest Playable American Recording The Atlantic 2012-10-26 https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/10/scientists-recover-the-sounds-of-19th-century-music-and-laughter-from-the-oldest-playable-american-recording/264147/ 2023-07-02 27 October – Women who give up smoking by the age of 30 will almost completely evade the risks of dying young from tobacco-related diseases, according to a study of more than a million women.Gallagher James Women smokers who quit by 30 'evade earlier death risks' BBC News 2012-10-15 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-19946427 2023-07-02 28 October The uncrewed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully completes its first fully operational resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), landing intact in the Pacific Ocean after over two weeks docked with the ISS.SpaceX capsule returns with safe landing in Pacific BBC News 2012-10-28 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20118963 2023-07-02 British scientists invent a simple liquid-based test that can accurately diagnose diseases such as cancer or HIV by detecting small concentrations of biomarkers such as anomalous proteins.Gallagher James Cheap colour test picks up HIV BBC News 2012-10-25 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-20084303 2023-07-02de la Rica Roberto Stevens Molly M. Plasmonic ELISA for the ultrasensitive detection of disease biomarkers with the naked eye Nature Nanotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 7 12 2012-10-28 1748-3387 10.1038/nnano.2012.186 821–824 23103935 2012NatNa...7..821D 10044/1/21938 free IBM researchers demonstrate the initial steps toward commercial fabrication of carbon nanotubes as a successor to silicon-based electronics.IBM Newsroom IBM Newsroom 2023-06-28 https://newsroom.ibm.com/home 2023-07-02Park Hongsik Afzali Ali Han Shu-Jen 1 High-density integration of carbon nanotubes via chemical self-assembly Nature Nanotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 7 12 2012-10-28 1748-3387 10.1038/nnano.2012.189 787–791 23103933 2012NatNa...7..787P 30 October Britain's first 4G mobile network is launched, offering high-speed mobile data services in 11 major cities.Garside Juliette EE launches UK's first 4G mobile network The Guardian 2012-10-29 http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/oct/29/ee-launches-uk-4g-mobile-network 2023-07-02 NASA scientists report that the Curiosity Mars rover has performed the first X-ray diffraction analysis of Martian soil at the "Rocknest" site. The results from the rover's CheMin analyzer revealed the presence of several minerals, including feldspar, pyroxenes and olivine, and suggested that the Martian soil in the sample was similar to the "weathered basaltic soils" of Hawaiian volcanoes.NASA Rover's First Soil Studies Help Fingerprint Martian Minerals Brian Dunbar 2012-10-30 http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/oct/HQ_12-383_Curiosity_CheMin.html 2023-07-02 2016-06-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20160603091908/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/oct/HQ_12-383_Curiosity_CheMin.html IBM's Watson supercomputer is to help train doctors at a medical school in Cleveland, Ohio.IBM's Watson supercomputer goes to medical school BBC News 2012-10-31 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20159531 2023-07-02 Amonix, a leading designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power, has achieved a milestone in the industry by successfully converting more than a third of sunlight into electricity. Its figure of 33.5% efficiency broke the previous record of 30.3%.Amonix Announces World Module Efficiency Record - www.amonix.com amonix.com 2012-11-03 http://amonix.com/pressreleases/amonix-announces-world-module-efficiency-record https://web.archive.org/web/20121103210942/http://amonix.com/pressreleases/amonix-announces-world-module-efficiency-record 2012-11-03 2023-07-02 Pollen counts in the US will be more than double today's level by 2040, according to a new study.Location keyboard_arrow_right The Year 2040: Double the Pollen, Double the Allergy Suffering? Newswise 2012-10-30 https://www.newswise.com/articles/the-year-2040-double-the-pollen-double-the-allergy-suffering 2023-07-02 31 October – Scientists in the Netherlands have demonstrated a form of self-healing concrete that uses limestone-producing bacteria.Rincon Paul Key test for re-healable concrete BBC News 2012-10-29 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20121303 2023-07-02TU Delft: Self-healing of Concrete by Bacterial Mineral Precipitation citg.tudelft.nl 2012-02-25 http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/index.php?id=17205&L=1 https://web.archive.org/web/20130130133116/http://www.citg.tudelft.nl/index.php?id=17205&L=1 2013-01-30 unfit 2023-07-02 November thumb|right|250px|6 November 2012: scientists report that regular leisure-time exercise can extend human life expectancy by over 4 years. 1 November Climate scientists are biased not toward "alarmism" (as the media often claims), but rather the reverse: toward cautious and conservative estimates, according to a new study.Brysse Keynyn Oreskes Naomi O'Reilly Jessica 1 Climate change prediction: Erring on the side of least drama? Global Environmental Change Elsevier BV 23 1 2013 0959-3780 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.10.008 327–337 2013GEC....23..327B A gene that is associated with regeneration of injured nerve cells has been identified by scientists at Penn State University and Duke University.Gene required for nerve regeneration identified -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121101121532.htm 2023-07-02Stone Michelle C. Rao Kavitha Gheres Kyle W. 1 Normal Spastin Gene Dosage Is Specifically Required for Axon Regeneration Cell Reports Elsevier BV 2 5 2012 2211-1247 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.09.032 1340–1350 23122959 3513560 China announces plans to construct the world's first 100-petaflop supercomputer by 2015.Supercomputing arms race continues TechEye 2012-11-03 http://news.techeye.net/hardware/supercomputing-arms-race-continues https://web.archive.org/web/20121103052739/http://news.techeye.net/hardware/supercomputing-arms-race-continues 2012-11-03 unfit 2023-07-02 Sea levels are rising faster than expected from global warming, due to critical feedbacks missing from earlier models, according to the University of Colorado.Why seas are rising ahead of predictions: Estimates of rate of future sea-level rise may be too low -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121101153549.htm 2023-07-02COULD ESTIMATES OF THE RATE OF FUTURE SEA-LEVEL RISE BE TOO LOW? gsa.confex.com 2014-07-05 https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012AM/finalprogram/abstract_209198.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20140705070909/https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2012AM/finalprogram/abstract_209198.htm 2014-07-05 2023-07-02 China reveals its second prototype stealth fighter, the J-13, which is a smaller and faster version of the existing Chengdu J-20.Associated Press Second Chinese stealth fighter makes test flight The Guardian 2012-11-01 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/01/second-chinese-stealth-fighter-test 2023-07-02 2 November – Glybera becomes the first gene therapy approved by regulatory authorities in the Western world. Commercial roll-out is expected in late 2013.Gallagher James Gene therapy: Glybera approved by European Commission BBC News 2012-11-02 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-20179561 2023-07-02UniQure - Press Release uniqure.com 2012-11-05 http://www.uniqure.com/news/167/182/uniQure-s-Glybera-First-Gene-Therapy-Approved-by-European-Commission.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121105033602/http://www.uniqure.com/news/167/182/uniQure-s-Glybera-First-Gene-Therapy-Approved-by-European-Commission.html 2012-11-05 2023-07-02 5 November New research suggests that just one or two individual herpes virus particles attack a skin cell in the first stage of an outbreak, resulting in a bottleneck in which the infection may be vulnerable to medical treatment.Princeton researchers identify unexpected bottleneck in the spread of... archive.ph 2012-12-14 http://www.princeton.edu/research/news/features/a/?id=8909 https://archive.today/20121214210845/http://www.princeton.edu/research/news/features/a/?id=8909 2012-12-14 2023-07-02Taylor Matthew P. Kobiler Oren Enquist Lynn W. 1 Alphaherpesvirus axon-to-cell spread involves limited virion transmission Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 42 2012 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1212926109 17046–17051 23027939 3479527 2012PNAS..10917046T free A 15-year research project has succeeded in curbing the growth of polycystic kidney disease, one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, which affects 12.5 million people worldwide. Previously, only the symptoms of the disease could be treated.UZH Mediadesk - Cystic kidney growth curbed mediadesk.uzh.ch 2012-11-05 http://www.mediadesk.uzh.ch/articles/2012/wachstum-der-zystennieren-gebremst_en.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130126214713/http://www.mediadesk.uzh.ch/articles/2012/wachstum-der-zystennieren-gebremst_en.html 2013-01-26 2023-07-02Torres Vicente E. Chapman Arlene B. Devuyst Olivier 1 Tolvaptan in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease New England Journal of Medicine Massachusetts Medical Society 367 25 2012-12-20 0028-4793 10.1056/nejmoa1205511 2407–2418 23121377 3760207 A report in the November 6 issue of Current Biology offers the first complete description of the spade-toothed whale (Mesoplodon traversii), a species previously known only from a few bones. The description is based on two individuals – an adult female and her male calf – who became stranded and died on a New Zealand beach in 2010.World's rarest whale seen for the first time -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121105130353.htm 2023-07-02Thompson Kirsten Baker C. Scott van Helden Anton 1 The world's rarest whale Current Biology Elsevier BV 22 21 2012 0960-9822 10.1016/j.cub.2012.08.055 R905–R906 23137682 14219202 free 2012CBio...22.R905T 6 November University of Bonn scientists develop a soccer-playing robot called NimbRo-OP, intended to develop new capabilities for humanoid bipedal robots, such as using tools, climbing stairs, and using human facial expressions, gestures and body language for communication.Open Source, Soccer-Playing Robots for All! WIRED 2012-11-08 https://www.wired.com/2012/11/soccer-robots-for-all/ 2023-07-02Schwarz Max Schreiber Michael Schueller Sebastian Missura Marcell Behnke Sven 2013-01-07 NimbRo-OP Humanoid TeenSize Open Platform http://www.ais.uni-bonn.de/papers/HSR12_NimbRo-OP.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20130107222541/http://www.ais.uni-bonn.de/papers/HSR12_NimbRo-OP.pdf 2013-01-07 2023-07-02 ais.uni-bonn.de Targeting a single chemical inside cancerous cells could one day lead to a single test for a broad range of cancers, researchers say. The same system could then be used to deliver precision radiotherapy treatments.Gallagher James One test may 'find many cancers' BBC News 2012-11-02 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-20179560 2023-07-02In vivo imaging of DNA damage response during tumorigenesis ncri.org.uk 2012-11-12 http://www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/2012abstracts/abstracts/B221.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121112102957/http://www.ncri.org.uk/ncriconference/2012abstracts/abstracts/B221.html 2012-11-12 2023-07-02 In the largest ever study of its kind, an international team of astronomers establishes that the rate of star formation in the universe is now only 1/30th of its peak, and that this decline is set to continue.Star formation slumps to 1/30th of its peak -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121106114141.htm 2023-07-02Sobral David Smail Ian Best Philip N. 1 A large Hα survey at z = 2.23, 1.47, 0.84 and 0.40: the 11 Gyr evolution of star-forming galaxies from HiZELS★ Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press (OUP) 428 2 2012-11-07 1365-2966 10.1093/mnras/sts096 1128–1146 free 1202.3436 Leisure-time physical activity extends life expectancy by as much as 4.5 years, according to a study by the National Cancer Institute. Even half of the recommended weekly exercise can add 1.8 years.Leisure-time physical activity extends life expectancy as much as 4.5 years -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121106191907.htm 2023-07-02Moore Steven C. Patel Alpa V. Matthews Charles E. 1 Leisure Time Physical Activity of Moderate to Vigorous Intensity and Mortality: A Large Pooled Cohort Analysis PLOS Medicine Public Library of Science (PLoS) 9 11 2012-11-06 1549-1676 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001335 e1001335 23139642 3491006 free 7 November Canadian researchers working to develop the world's first HIV vaccine have cleared a major hurdle. Initial results from a Phase I trial have shown no adverse effects, while significantly boosting immunity. The vaccine could be commercially available in five years.Dvorsky George New HIV vaccine shows promising results and no adverse side-effects Gizmodo 2012-11-07 https://gizmodo.com/new-hiv-vaccine-shows-promising-results-and-no-adverse-5958536 2023-07-02 Human diseases could soon be modeled in an electronic "organ-on-a-chip", with a new generation of research to replace animal testing.Human disease modeled in an organ-on-a-chip; 'Lung-on-a-chip' sets stage for next wave of research to replace animal testing -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121107141044.htm 2023-07-02Huh Dongeun Leslie Daniel C. Matthews Benjamin D. 1 A Human Disease Model of Drug Toxicity–Induced Pulmonary Edema in a Lung-on-a-Chip Microdevice Science Translational Medicine American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 4 159 2012-11-07 159ra147 1946-6234 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004249 23136042 8265389 Astronomers report that HD 40307 g, a super-Earth exoplanet 42 light-years away from Earth, is within the habitable zone of its host star HD 40307 and may be "just right to support life".Wall Mike 'Super-Earth' Alien Planet May Be Habitable for Life Space.com 2012-11-08 https://www.space.com/18393-alien-planet-super-earth-habitable-hd-40307g.html 2023-07-02Tuomi M. Anglada-Escudé G. Gerlach E. 1 Habitable-zone super-Earth candidate in a six-planet system around the K2.5V star HD 40307 Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 549 2012-12-17 0004-6361 10.1051/0004-6361/201220268 A48 7424216 free 1211.1617 Rising temperatures due to climate change could mean wild arabica coffee becomes extinct within 70 years, posing a risk to the genetic sustainability of one of the world's basic commodities, according to new research.(The Guardian)Davis Aaron P. Gole Tadesse Woldemariam Baena Susana 1 The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica): Predicting Future Trends and Identifying Priorities PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 11 2012-11-07 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0047981 e47981 23144840 3492365 2012PLoSO...747981D free 8 November Due to insufficient rates of decarbonisation, the world is on track for 6 °C °F on of climatic warming by the year 2100, according to a new report.Pricewaterhousecoopers Newsroom PwC 2019-02-22 https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room.html 2023-07-02News - NCAR & UCAR News University Corporation for Atmospheric Research 2023-06-20 https://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/news/8264/future-warming-likely-be-high-side-climate-projections-analysis-finds 2023-07-02Fasullo John T. Trenberth Kevin E. A Less Cloudy Future: The Role of Subtropical Subsidence in Climate Sensitivity Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 338 6108 2012-11-09 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1227465 792–794 23139331 2012Sci...338..792F 2710565 Scientists debate the scientific basis and claims to novelty of a proposal to use the orbital angular momentum of light and radio waves to massively boost wireless data transfer.Palmer Jason 'Twisted light' data-boosting idea sparks heated debate BBC News 2012-11-06 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20217938 2023-07-02Tamagnone Michele Craeye Christophe Perruisseau-Carrier Julien 1 Comment on 'Encoding many channels on the same frequency through radio vorticity: first experimental test' New Journal of Physics IOP Publishing 14 11 2012-11-07 1367-2630 10.1088/1367-2630/14/11/118001 118001 45019775 1210.5365 2012NJPh...14k8001T Tamburini F Thidé B Mari E 1 Reply to Comment on 'Encoding many channels on the same frequency through radio vorticity: first experimental test' New Journal of Physics IOP Publishing 14 11 2012-11-07 1367-2630 10.1088/1367-2630/14/11/118002 118002 2012NJPh...14k8002T 250845566 free 11577/2534149 free MIT engineers develop a hearing aid battery which uses ions within the human inner ear to provide a steady electric current.Hewitt John MIT creates biobattery that could allow the human ear to power its own hearing aid ExtremeTech 2012-11-08 https://www.extremetech.com/science/139875-mit-devises-biobattery-that-could-allow-the-human-ear-to-power-its-own-hearing-aid 2023-07-02Mercier Patrick P Lysaght Andrew C Bandyopadhyay Saurav 1 Energy extraction from the biologic battery in the inner ear Nature Biotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 30 12 2012-11-08 1087-0156 10.1038/nbt.2394 1240–1243 23138225 3938019 Nao robots are used to teach autistic primary school children in a groundbreaking trial in the UK.Burns Judith Robots in the classroom help autistic children learn BBC News 2012-11-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/education-20252593 2023-07-02 University of Washington scientists have succeeded in removing the extra copy of chromosome 21 in cell cultures derived from a person with Down syndrome, a condition in which the body's cells contain three copies of chromosome 21 rather than the usual pair.Dvorsky George Researchers remove extra chromosome from Down's syndrome cells. Could a gene therapy be next? Gizmodo 2012-11-12 https://gizmodo.com/researchers-remove-extra-chromosome-from-down-s-syndrom-5959838 2023-07-02Li Li B. Chang Kai-Hsin Wang Pei-Rong 1 Trisomy Correction in Down Syndrome Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Cell Stem Cell Elsevier BV 11 5 2012 1934-5909 10.1016/j.stem.2012.08.004 615–619 23084023 3705773 American climatologists report that the record-breaking 2012 North American drought continues to worsen, with over 19% of the contiguous United States suffering from extreme drought, and groundwater levels declining nationwide.Gillam Carey U.S. drought deepens in Plains states, wheat crop suffers Reuters 2012-11-08 https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-drought-idUSL1E8M885U20121108 2023-07-02U.S. Drought Monitor Update for November 6, 2012 - National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) ncdc.noaa.gov 2012-11-06 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/us-drought-monitor-update-november-6-2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130617015454/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/us-drought-monitor-update-november-6-2012 2013-06-17 2023-07-02 9 November The United States Army develops a tactical 3D printing capability to allow it to rapidly manufacture critical components on the battlefield.US army builds its own 3D printer BBC News 2012-11-09 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20269645 2023-07-02 Microsoft demonstrates software that translates spoken English into Chinese while preserving the speaker's intonation.Microsoft demos instant English-Chinese translation BBC News 2012-11-09 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20266427 2023-07-02 11 November – Scientists develop a highly efficient metamaterial cloaking device capable of rendering objects invisible to microwaves.Making a better invisibility cloak (e) Science News 2012-11-11 http://esciencenews.com/articles/2012/11/11/making.a.better.invisibility.cloak 2023-07-02Landy Nathan Smith David R. A full-parameter unidirectional metamaterial cloak for microwaves Nature Materials Springer Science and Business Media LLC 12 1 2012-11-11 1476-1122 10.1038/nmat3476 25–28 23142840 12 November The American Titan machine is declared the world's most powerful supercomputer, capable of performing 17.59 quadrillion floating point operations per second. Overall, the United States has the most supercomputers listed in the global top 500, with 251; China is in second place, with 72.Reporters Telegraph 'Titan' supercomputer is world's most powerful The Telegraph 2020-07-30 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9672501/Titan-supercomputer-is-worlds-most-powerful.html 2023-07-02 The Large Hadron Collider detects an extremely rare particle decay event, casting doubt on the popular theory of supersymmetry.Aron Jacob Rare particle's decay confounds hunt for new physics New Scientist 2012-11-12 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22492-rare-particles-decay-confounds-hunt-for-new-physics/ 2023-07-02 13 November A total solar eclipse occurs.Clark Stuart Total solar eclipse in Australia: where to watch it live online The Guardian 2012-11-13 http://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2012/nov/13/total-solar-eclipse-australia-watch-online 2023-07-02Thousands watch Australia's solar eclipse BBC News 2012-11-13 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-20320663 2023-07-02 A longevity gene is found which makes the Hydra vulgaris virtually immortal, and could extend human lifespans.Solving the mystery of ageing Kiel University (CAU) 2012-11-13 http://www.uni-kiel.de/aktuell/pm/2012/2012-332-foxogen-e.shtml 2023-07-02 Physicists conduct the first quantum teleportation from one macroscopic object to another, potentially allowing the development of quantum routers and a quantum Internet.The Physics arXiv Blog First Teleportation from One Macroscopic Object to Another MIT Technology Review 2012-11-15 http://www.technologyreview.com/view/507531/first-teleportation-from-one-macroscopic-object-to-another/ https://web.archive.org/web/20121118083749/http://www.technologyreview.com/view/507531/first-teleportation-from-one-macroscopic-object-to-another/ 2012-11-18 2023-07-02Bao Xiao-Hui Xu Xiao-Fan Li Che-Ming 1 Quantum teleportation between remote atomic-ensemble quantum memories Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 50 2012-11-09 0027-8424 10.1073/pnas.1207329109 20347–20351 23144222 3528515 free 14 November An international team of researchers discovers a gene that helps explain how humans evolved from chimpanzees. Scientists say the gene – called miR-941 – appears to have played a crucial role in human brain development, and may shed light on how humans learned to use tools and language.New brain gene gives us edge over apes, study suggests -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114113458.htm 2023-07-02Hu Hai Yang He Liu Fominykh Kseniya 1 Evolution of the human-specific microRNA miR-941 Nature Communications Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 1 2012-10-23 2041-1723 10.1038/ncomms2146 free 1145 23093182 3493648 2012NatCo...3.1145H Even moderate drinking in pregnancy can affect a child's IQ, according to a new study using data from over 4,000 mothers and their children.Even moderate drinking in pregnancy can affect a child's IQ -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114172833.htm 2023-07-02Lewis Sarah J. Zuccolo Luisa Davey Smith George 1 Fetal Alcohol Exposure and IQ at Age 8: Evidence from a Population-Based Birth-Cohort Study PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 11 2012-11-14 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0049407 e49407 23166662 3498109 2012PLoSO...749407L free A gene that nearly triples the risk of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by an international team including researchers from Mayo Clinic. It is the most potent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's identified in the past 20 years.Gene nearly triples risk of Alzheimer's, international research team finds -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114171710.htm 2023-07-02Guerreiro Rita Wojtas Aleksandra Bras Jose 1 TREM2 Variants in Alzheimer's Disease New England Journal of Medicine Massachusetts Medical Society 368 2 2013-01-10 0028-4793 10.1056/nejmoa1211851 117–127 23150934 3631573 Scientists sequence the genome of the domestic pig. The similarities between the pig and human genomes mean that the new data may have wide applications in the study and treatment of human genetic diseases.Scientists Sequence Entire Pig Genome in Breakthrough That Could Combat Human Disease Medical Daily 2012-11-14 http://www.medicaldaily.com/scientists-sequence-entire-pig-genome-breakthrough-could-combat-human-disease-243520 https://web.archive.org/web/20160420233514/http://www.medicaldaily.com/scientists-sequence-entire-pig-genome-breakthrough-could-combat-human-disease-243520 2016-04-20 live 2023-07-02Scientists decode the pig genome www.business-standard.com 2013-01-21 http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/scientists-decode-the-pig-genome-112111500300_1.html https://web.archive.org/web/20131215105141/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/scientists-decode-the-pig-genome-112111500300_1.html 2013-12-15 live 2023-07-02Groenen Martien A. M. Archibald Alan L. Uenishi Hirohide 1 Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 491 7424 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11622 393–398 23151582 3566564 2012Natur.491..393G Astronomers discover a wandering, starless rogue planet drifting through space around 100 light-years from Earth.'Rogue planet' spotted 100 light-years away BBC News 2012-11-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20309762 2023-07-02Delorme P. Gagné J. Malo L. 1 CFBDSIR2149-0403: a 4–7 Jupiter-mass free-floating planet in the young moving group AB Doradus? Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 548 2012-11-14 0004-6361 10.1051/0004-6361/201219984 free A26 50935950 1210.0305 2012A&A...548A..26D Researchers at the American National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) prove that single-wall carbon nanotubes may help protect DNA molecules from damage by oxidation.NJIT professor promotes building material of millennium: Autoclave aerated concrete Phys.org 2012-11-07 https://phys.org/news/2012-11-njit-professor-material-millennium-autoclave.html 2023-07-02Petersen Elijah J. Tu Xiaomin Dizdaroglu Miral 1 Protective Roles of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes in Ultrasonication-Induced DNA Base Damage Small Wiley 9 2 2012-09-18 1613-6810 10.1002/smll.201201217 205–208 22987483 15 November Scientists warn that the lethal ebola virus can spread between species as an aerosol. However, they emphasize that these aerosol particles can only travel short distances.Yong Ed Ebola from Pigs to Monkeys The Scientist Magazine® 2012-11-15 https://www.the-scientist.com/daily-news/ebola-from-pigs-to-monkeys-40190 2023-07-02Weingartl Hana M. Embury-Hyatt Carissa Nfon Charles 1 Transmission of Ebola virus from pigs to non-human primates Scientific Reports Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2 1 2012-11-15 2045-2322 10.1038/srep00811 free 811 23155478 3498927 2012NatSR...2..811W An efficient, high-volume technique for testing potential drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease has uncovered an organic compound that restored motor function and longevity to fruit flies with the disease.Quick test speeds search for Alzheimer's drugs: Compound restores motor function and longevity to fruit flies -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115152655.htm 2023-07-02McKoy Angela Fortner Chen Jermont Schupbach Trudi 1 A Novel Inhibitor of Amyloid β (Aβ) Peptide Aggregation Journal of Biological Chemistry Elsevier BV 287 46 2012 0021-9258 10.1074/jbc.m112.348037 38992–39000 22992731 3493940 free New artificial muscles made from nanotech yarns and infused with paraffin wax can lift more than 100,000 times their own weight, and generate 85 times more mechanical power than the natural muscle of the same dimensions, according to scientists.Wax-filled nanotech yarn behaves like powerful, super-strong muscle -- ScienceDaily ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115141534.htm 2023-07-02Lima Márcio D. Li Na Jung de Andrade Mônica 1 Electrically, Chemically, and Photonically Powered Torsional and Tensile Actuation of Hybrid Carbon Nanotube Yarn Muscles Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 338 6109 2012-11-16 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1226762 928–932 23161994 2012Sci...338..928L 206543565 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/27790677 If global temperatures were to rise just 1 degree Celsius, the Bhutanese glaciers would shrink by 25 percent and produce 65 percent less annual melt water, according to research published in Geophysical Research Letters.Himalayan glaciers will shrink even if temperatures hold steady news.byu.edu 2012-11-18 http://news.byu.edu/archive12-nov-bhutan.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20121118001252/http://news.byu.edu/archive12-nov-bhutan.aspx 2012-11-18 2023-07-02Rupper Summer Schaefer Joerg M. Burgener Landon K. 1 Sensitivity and response of Bhutanese glaciers to atmospheric warming Geophysical Research Letters American Geophysical Union (AGU) 39 19 2012-10-09 2012GL053010 0094-8276 10.1029/2012gl053010 n/a 2012GeoRL..3919503R 44951350 free The United States Navy announces plans to replace its trained minesweeping dolphins with robotic submarines such as the Knifefish by 2017.Placide Krislyn U.S. Navy To Retire Mine-Sweeping Dolphins And Use Robots Instead Popular Science 2012-11-16 https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-11/us-navy-retire-mine-clearance-dolphins-and-use-robots-instead/ 2023-07-02 16 November Rat heart cells are used by University of Illinois scientists to power tiny, crawling "bio-robots".Rat heart cells help create walking 'bio-bots' BBC News 2012-11-16 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20354026 2023-07-09Chan Vincent Park Kidong Collens Mitchell B. 1 Development of Miniaturized Walking Biological Machines Scientific Reports Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2 1 2012-11-15 2045-2322 10.1038/srep00857 free 857 23155480 3498929 2012NatSR...2..857C New research has identified a common gene variant which influences when a person wakes up each day, as well as the time of day they are most likely to die.Gene Helps Predict Time of Death hms.harvard.edu 2012-11-21 http://hms.harvard.edu/content/gene-helps-predict-time-death https://web.archive.org/web/20121121092422/http://hms.harvard.edu/content/gene-helps-predict-time-death 2012-11-21 2023-07-09Lim Andrew S. P. Chang Anne-Marie Shulman Joshua M. 1 A common polymorphism nearPER1and the timing of human behavioral rhythms Annals of Neurology Wiley 72 3 2012 0364-5134 10.1002/ana.23636 324–334 23034908 3464954 18 November – A biodegradable nanoparticle has been developed which can stealthily deliver an antigen, tricking the immune system into stopping its attack on myelin and preventing multiple sclerosis in mice.Breakthrough nanoparticle halts multiple sclerosis in mice, offers hope for other immune-related diseases ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141516.htm 2023-07-09Getts Daniel R Martin Aaron J McCarthy Derrick P 1 Microparticles bearing encephalitogenic peptides induce T-cell tolerance and ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis Nature Biotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 30 12 2012-11-18 1087-0156 10.1038/nbt.2434 1217–1224 23159881 3589822 19 November Scientists report a huge decline in UK birdlife – from 210 million nesting birds in 1966, down to 166 million in 2012.Press releases The RSPB 2023-07-07 http://www.rspb.org.uk/media/releases/329911-44-million-birds-lost-since-1966 2023-07-09UK birds down by 44m since 1960s BBC Nature 2012-11-19 https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20360855 https://web.archive.org/web/20121119095340/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20360855 2012-11-19 2023-07-092012 The RSPB 2013-01-24 http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science/sotukb/2012.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20130124044836/http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science/sotukb/2012.aspx 2013-01-24 2023-07-09 Cambridge University scientists heal paralyzed dogs by injecting them with cells grown from their nasal linings. Many of the 23 injured dogs treated with the experimental therapy regained some use of their legs even 12 months after their injury, and scientists believe that human patients could be treated in a similar fashion.Television Channels Scientists use nose cells to heal dog's paralysis Channels Television 2012-11-19 https://www.channelstv.com/2012/11/19/scientists-use-nose-cells-to-heal-dogs-paralysis/ 2023-07-09Granger Nicolas Blamires Helen Franklin Robin J. M. 1 Autologous olfactory mucosal cell transplants in clinical spinal cord injury: a randomized double-blinded trial in a canine translational model Brain Oxford University Press (OUP) 135 11 2012 1460-2156 10.1093/brain/aws268 3227–3237 23169917 3501977 A new tumor-tracking technique may improve outcomes for lung cancer patients.New tumor tracking technique may improve outcomes for lung cancer patients ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119163506.htm 2023-07-09Buzurovic I. Yu Y. Werner-Wasik M. 1 Implementation and experimental results of 4D tumor tracking using robotic couch Medical Physics Wiley 39 11 2012-10-26 0094-2405 10.1118/1.4758064 6957–6967 23127089 3494731 2012MedPh..39.6957B IBM researchers have simulated 530 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses on a supercomputer.IBM simulates 530 billion neurons, 100 trillion synapses on supercomputer the Kurzweil Library + collections 2012-11-19 http://www.kurzweilai.net/ibm-simulates-530-billon-neurons-100-trillion-synapses-on-worlds-fastest-supercomputer 2023-07-09IBM supercomputer used to simulate a typical human brain New Atlas 2012-11-20 https://newatlas.com/ibm-supercomputer-simulates-a-human-sized-brain/25093/ 2023-07-09SC12 Presentation - Compass A Scalable Simulator for an Architecture for Cognitive Computing sc12.supercomputing.org 2012-08-26 http://sc12.supercomputing.org/schedule/event_detail.php?evid=pap649 https://web.archive.org/web/20120826171047/http://sc12.supercomputing.org/schedule/event_detail.php?evid=pap649 2012-08-26 2023-07-09 thumb|right|250px|21 November 2012: in a breakthrough for quantum cryptography, scientists send encoded quantum signals using a standard commercial fiber optic, potentially allowing near-unbreakable quantum data security to be commercialised. 20 November NASA scientists report (via an NPR interview) that the Curiosity Mars rover, apparently based on a SAM analysis, has provided, according to John Grotzinger (MSL Principal Investigator), "data that is gonna be one for the history books. It's looking really good." Later, a NASA spokesperson said the discovery "won't be earthshaking, but it will be interesting." Nonetheless, the scientists are presently verifying their results and expect to make an official announcement at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, which will take place between 3 December and 7 December in San Francisco, according to Grotzinger in an interview with Space.com. The news is later played down by NASA.Big News From Mars? Rover Scientists Mum For Now NPR 2012-11-20 https://www.npr.org/2012/11/20/165513016/big-news-from-mars-rover-scientists-mum-for-now 2023-07-09Atkinson Nancy Has Curiosity Made an 'Earth-Shaking' Discovery? Universe Today 2012-11-20 https://www.universetoday.com/98576/has-curiosity-made-an-earth-shaking-discovery/ 2023-07-09Kluger Jeffrey A Mars Announcement 'for the History Books'? Not So Fast Time 2012-11-20 https://science.time.com/2012/11/20/a-mars-announcement-for-the-history-books/ 2023-07-09Wall Mike Mars Mystery: Has Curiosity Rover Made Big Discovery? Space.com 2012-11-20 https://www.space.com/18565-mars-rover-curiosity-discovery-mystery.html 2023-07-09NASA Plays Down Mars Speculation The New York Times 2012-11-30 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/science/space/nasa-plays-down-mars-speculation.html 2023-07-09 More than 1,000 coal-fired power plants are being planned worldwide, new research from the World Resources Institute has revealed, with the majority being constructed in China and India.Carrington Damian More than 1,000 new coal plants planned worldwide, figures show The Guardian 2012-11-20 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/20/coal-plants-world-resources-institute 2023-07-09Yang Ailun Cui Yiyun Global Coal Risk Assessment World Resources Institute 2012-11-19 https://www.wri.org/research/global-coal-risk-assessment 2023-07-09 The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached 390.9 parts per million in 2011, a new record high, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Between 1990 and 2011, there was a 30% increase in radiative forcing.greenhouse gas bulletin nov 12 wmo.int 2009-12-31 http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_965_en.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121123201108/http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_965_en.html 2012-11-23 2023-07-099 November 2012 WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/gaw/ghg/documents/GHG_Bulletin_No.8_en.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20130512014629/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/gaw/ghg/documents/GHG_Bulletin_No.8_en.pdf 2013-05-12 2023-07-09 wmo.int Physicists have shown that synthetic membrane channels can be constructed through "DNA nanotechnology."Synthetic membrane channels built out of DNA: Nanotech structures mimic nature's way of tunneling through cell walls ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120122008.htm 2023-07-09Langecker Martin Arnaut Vera Martin Thomas G. 1 Synthetic Lipid Membrane Channels Formed by Designed DNA Nanostructures Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 338 6109 2012-11-16 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1225624 932–936 23161995 3716461 2012Sci...338..932L Scientists have developed a computer chip that mimics a dog's nose. It is capable of rapidly identifying trace amounts of vapour molecules, providing continuous real-time monitoring at concentrations of just 1 part per billion (ppb).College of Engineering News UCSB College of Engineering 2023-06-29 http://engineering.ucsb.edu/news/673 2023-07-09Piorek Brian D. Lee Seung Joon Moskovits Martin 1 Free-Surface Microfluidics/Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Real-Time Trace Vapor Detection of Explosives Analytical Chemistry American Chemical Society (ACS) 84 22 2012-10-29 0003-2700 10.1021/ac302497y 9700–9705 23067072 2012AnaCh..84.9700P 21 November For the first time, encrypted quantum signals are successfully sent down a conventional broadband fiber, instead of requiring a dedicated individual cable. This development could allow quantum cryptography, which offers near-impenetrable data security, to become available to the general public.Palmer Jason Quantum cryptography done on standard broadband fibre BBC News 2011-06-28 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-13940928 2023-07-09Patel K. A. Dynes J. F. Choi I. 1 Coexistence of High-Bit-Rate Quantum Key Distribution and Data on Optical Fiber Physical Review X American Physical Society (APS) 2 4 2012-11-20 2160-3308 10.1103/physrevx.2.041010 041010 59355016 1212.0033 2012PhRvX...2d1010P The effects of climate change are already evident in Europe and the situation is set to get worse, the European Environment Agency has warned.Kinver Mark Climate change evident across Europe, says report BBC News 2012-11-20 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20408350 2023-07-09Climate change evident across Europe, confirming urgent need for adaptation European Environment Agency 2012-11-19 https://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/climate-change-evident-across-europe 2023-07-09 A United Nations report – the Emissions Gap Report 2012Arquivo.pt Arquivo.pt http://www.unep.org/publications/ebooks/emissionsgap2012/ http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160513232948/http://www.unep.org/publications/ebooks/emissionsgap2012/ 2016-05-13 2023-07-09 – says global attempts to limit CO2 emissions are falling well short of what is needed to stem dangerous climate change.McGrath Matt UN says carbon cuts too slow to curb dangerous warming BBC News 2012-11-20 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20414596 2023-07-09 For the first time, scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have defined key events that take place early in the process of cellular aging. They have shown that the acidity of the vacuole is critical to aging and the stable functioning of mitochondria.Researchers define key events early in the process of cellular aging fhcrc.org 2011-10-12 http://www.fhcrc.org/en/news/releases/2012/11/key_events_cellular_agin.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121129080319/http://www.fhcrc.org/en/news/releases/2012/11/key_events_cellular_agin.html 2012-11-29 2023-07-09Hughes Adam L. Gottschling Daniel E. An early age increase in vacuolar pH limits mitochondrial function and lifespan in yeast Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 492 7428 2012-11-21 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11654 261–265 23172144 3521838 2012Natur.492..261H The printing of 3D tissue has taken a major step forward with the creation of a novel hybrid printer that simplifies the process of creating implantable cartilage.Physics Institute of Cartilage made easy with novel hybrid printer iop.org 2012-12-05 http://www.iop.org/news/12/nov/page_58984.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121205180841/http://www.iop.org/news/12/nov/page_58984.html 2012-12-05 2023-07-09Xu Tao Binder Kyle W Albanna Mohammad Z 1 Hybrid printing of mechanically and biologically improved constructs for cartilage tissue engineering applications Biofabrication IOP Publishing 5 1 2012-11-21 1758-5082 10.1088/1758-5082/5/1/015001 015001 23172542 4003227 European Space Agency (ESA) member states agree at their ministerial council to a 10.1-billion-euro programme of activities, including a planned upgrade to the Ariane 5 rocket.Amos Jonathan European Space Agency defines Ariane and space station plans BBC News 2012-11-21 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20424858 2023-07-09European Ministers decide to invest in space to boost Europe's competitiveness and growth ESA 2012-11-20 http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMRH91M9H_index_0.html 2023-07-09 23 November Footprints believed to have been made by the giant flightless bird Diatryma indicate that it was a "gentle herbivore" and not a fierce carnivore, scientists say.Warwicker Michelle Giant bird was 'gentle herbivore' BBC Nature 2012-11-23 https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20413665 https://web.archive.org/web/20121123121245/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20413665 2012-11-23 2023-07-09MUSTOE GEORGE E. TUCKER DAVID S. KEMPLIN KEITH L. 1 Giant Eocene bird footprints from Northwest Washington, USA Palaeontology Wiley 55 6 2012 0031-0239 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01195.x 1293–1305 2012Palgy..55.1293M 55949124 free Having a job with poor working conditions can be just as bad for a person's mental health as being unemployed, according to new research published in Psychological Medicine.Poor job as bad for mental health as no job Machines Like Us 2014-03-12 http://machineslikeus.com/news/poor-job-bad-mental-health-no-job https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212533/http://machineslikeus.com/news/poor-job-bad-mental-health-no-job 2014-03-12 2023-07-09Butterworth P. Leach L. S. McManus S. 1 Common mental disorders, unemployment and psychosocial job quality: is a poor job better than no job at all? Psychological Medicine Cambridge University Press (CUP) 43 8 2012-11-22 0033-2917 10.1017/s0033291712002577 1763–1772 23190443 22199013 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/22230061 25 November A Chinese Shenyang J-15 jet fighter conducts the first landing on the country's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. This milestone marks a major step forward in China's efforts to increase its naval power.China lands J-15 jet on Liaoning aircraft carrier BBC News 2012-11-25 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-20483716 2023-07-09 Pathological changes typical of Alzheimer's disease have been significantly reduced in mice by blockade of an immune system transmitter.Alzheimer's disease in mice alleviated: Promising therapeutic approach for humans ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121125193051.htm 2023-07-09vom Berg Johannes Prokop Stefan Miller Kelly R 1 Inhibition of IL-12/IL-23 signaling reduces Alzheimer's disease–like pathology and cognitive decline Nature Medicine Springer Science and Business Media LLC 18 12 2012-11-25 1078-8956 10.1038/nm.2965 1812–1819 23178247 22709944 thumb|right|250px|26 November 2012: a liquid natural gas tanker (example pictured) becomes the first large cargo vessel to attempt a winter crossing of the Arctic. As the Arctic sea ice melts in coming years, the sea route may become increasingly viable for large ships. 26 November A Norwegian liquid natural gas tanker becomes the first ship of its size to attempt a winter crossing of the Arctic. As Arctic ice cover reduces due to climate change, the Arctic sea route may become increasingly viable for large ships.McGrath Matt Gas tanker Ob River attempts first winter Arctic crossing BBC News 2012-11-22 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20454757 2023-07-09 Researchers, including NASA scientists and engineers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, have demonstrated a new concept for a reliable nuclear reactor that could be used on space flights. The Demonstration Using Flattop Fissions (DUFF) experiment produced 24 watts of electricity.Security Los Alamos National Energy for theU.S. Department of Researchers test novel power system for space travel lanl.gov 2012-11-29 http://www.lanl.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2012/November/11.26-space-travel.php https://web.archive.org/web/20121129063343/http://www.lanl.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2012/November/11.26-space-travel.php 2012-11-29 2023-07-09 27 November Permafrost covering almost a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere contains 1.7 trillion tonnes of carbon, twice that currently in the atmosphere, and could significantly amplify global warming should thawing accelerate as expected, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).Thawing of Permafrost Expected to Cause Significant Additional Global Warming, Not yet Accounted for in Climate Predictions - UNEP unep.org 2012-12-01 http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2698&ArticleID=9338 https://web.archive.org/web/20121201135408/http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2698&ArticleID=9338 2012-12-01 2023-07-09 A review reveals that grapefruit drug interactions affects even more than previously though, with the list of drugs with potentially serious interactions more than doubling since 2012. Users of heart medication are particularly vulnerable.Grapefruit juice interaction with drugs can be deadly CBC 2013-10-06 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/grapefruit-juice-interaction-with-drugs-can-be-deadly-1.1253489 2023-07-09Bailey David G. Dresser George Arnold J. Malcolm O. 1 Grapefruit–medication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences? Canadian Medical Association Journal CMA Joule Inc. 185 4 2012-11-26 0820-3946 10.1503/cmaj.120951 309–316 23184849 3589309 28 November The Reaction Engines Skylon spaceplane project achieves a key engine design milestone.Amos Jonathan Skylon spaceplane engine concept achieves key milestone BBC News 2012-11-27 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20510112 2023-07-09 Astronomers observe a penumbral lunar eclipse.Netburn Deborah Penumbral lunar eclipse coming early Wednesday Los Angeles Times 2012-11-27 https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-nov-27-la-fi-tn-penumbral-lunar-eclipse-online-20121127-story.html 2023-07-09 Previous estimates of sea level rise have been underestimated, while estimates of global temperature rises appear to be accurate, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.Projected sea-level rise may be underestimated PIK Research Portal 2012-11-30 http://www.pik-potsdam.de/news/press-releases/projektionen-zum-meeresspiegelanstieg-koennten-unterschaetzt-worden-sein https://web.archive.org/web/20121130230937/http://www.pik-potsdam.de/news/press-releases/projektionen-zum-meeresspiegelanstieg-koennten-unterschaetzt-worden-sein 2012-11-30 2023-07-09Rahmstorf Stefan Foster Grant Cazenave Anny 1 Comparing climate projections to observations up to 2011 Environmental Research Letters IOP Publishing 7 4 2012-11-27 1748-9326 10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/044035 044035 2012ERL.....7d4035R 1568268 free A completely new method of manufacturing the smallest structures in electronics could make their manufacture thousands of times quicker, allowing for cheaper semiconductors. The findings have been published in the latest issue of Nature.New method of manufacturing smallest structures in electronics: Discovery could revolutionize semiconductors ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121128143942.htm 2023-07-09Heurlin Magnus Magnusson Martin H. Lindgren David 1 Continuous gas-phase synthesis of nanowires with tunable properties Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 492 7427 2012-11-28 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11652 90–94 23201685 2012Natur.492...90H 205231533 Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in deciphering bread wheat's genetic code. This could lead to new varieties that are more productive and better able to cope with disease, drought and other stresses that cause crop losses.Major breakthrough in deciphering bread wheat's genetic code ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121128142144.htm 2023-07-09Brenchley Rachel Spannagl Manuel Pfeifer Matthias 1 Analysis of the bread wheat genome using whole-genome shotgun sequencing Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 491 7426 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11650 705–710 23192148 3510651 2012Natur.491..705B American engineers build a 3D printer capable of manufacturing tools from lunar regolith, potentially allowing future astronauts to manufacture equipment on-site using lunar or Martian rock.Hornyak Tim 3D printer on moon or Mars could make tools from local rocks CNET 2012-11-28 https://www.cnet.com/culture/3d-printer-on-moon-or-mars-could-make-tools-from-local-rocks/ 2023-07-09WSU News Center - 3-D printer makes parts from moon rock archive.ph 2012-12-12 http://news.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&TypeID=4 https://archive.today/20121212163811/http://news.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&TypeID=4 2012-12-12 2023-07-09 Vanderbilt University engineers develop a lightweight powered exoskeleton, which technology company Parker Hannifin plans to release commercially for those with paraplegia in 2014.Zax David This Light, Affordable Exoskeleton Could Help The Paralyzed Walk Again Co.Exist 2012-11-16 http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680940/this-light-affordable-exoskeleton-could-help-the-paralyzed-walk-again https://web.archive.org/web/20121201113639/http://www.fastcoexist.com/1680940/this-light-affordable-exoskeleton-could-help-the-paralyzed-walk-again 2012-12-01 2023-07-09 thumb|right|250px|29 November 2012: NASA reports the discovery of water ice on the surface of Mercury (pictured). 29 November Scientists discover the second-largest supermassive black hole ever detected, with a mass 17 billion times that of the Sun. However, the black hole resides in an anomalously small galaxy.Palmer Jason Giant black hole in tiny galaxy confounds astronomers BBC News 2012-11-28 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20528137 2023-07-09Major Jason "Oddball" Galaxy Contains the Biggest Black Hole Yet Universe Today 2012-11-28 https://www.universetoday.com/98678/oddball-galaxy-contains-the-biggest-black-hole-yet/ 2023-07-09van den Bosch Remco C. E. Gebhardt Karl Gültekin Kayhan 1 An over-massive black hole in the compact lenticular galaxy NGC 1277 Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 491 7426 2012 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11592 729–731 23192149 1211.6429 2012Natur.491..729V 1854/LU-8573760 205231230 free NASA reports that its MESSENGER probe has discovered water ice and organic compounds on the surface of Mercury.Breaking International News & Views Reuters 2023-07-08 http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-space-mercury-idUKBRE8AS17F20121129 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305142226/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-space-mercury-idUKBRE8AS17F20121129 March 5, 2016 2023-07-09Mercury Home to Ice, Messenger Spacecraft Findings Suggest The New York Times 2012-11-29 https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/science/space/mercury-home-to-ice-messenger-spacecraft-findings-suggest.html 2023-07-09Paige David A. Siegler Matthew A. Harmon John K. 1 Thermal Stability of Volatiles in the North Polar Region of Mercury Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 339 6117 2013-01-18 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1231106 300–303 23196905 2013Sci...339..300P 206545724 free Lawrence David J. Feldman William C. Goldsten John O. 1 Evidence for Water Ice Near Mercury's North Pole from MESSENGER Neutron Spectrometer Measurements Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 339 6117 2013-01-18 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1229953 292–296 23196909 2013Sci...339..292L 19636389 free Neumann Gregory A. Cavanaugh John F. Sun Xiaoli 1 Bright and Dark Polar Deposits on Mercury: Evidence for Surface Volatiles Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 339 6117 2013-01-18 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1229764 296–300 23196910 2013Sci...339..296N 206544976 free Experts have combined data from multiple satellites and aircraft to produce the most comprehensive and accurate assessment to date of ice sheet losses in Greenland and Antarctica and their contributions to sea level rise. Ice sheet loss at both poles is increasing, the study finds.Ice Sheet Loss at Both Poles Increasing, Study Finds Brian Dunbar 2013-06-06 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Grace/news/grace20121129.html 2023-07-09 2023-04-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20230418140556/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Grace/news/grace20121129.html dead Shepherd Andrew Ivins Erik R. A Geruo 1 A Reconciled Estimate of Ice-Sheet Mass Balance Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 338 6111 2012-11-30 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1228102 1183–1189 23197528 2012Sci...338.1183S 32653236 https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/0vq404h7 A study published in Nature states that human genetic variation has accelerated rapidly in recent centuries, faster than natural selection can operate.Human Evolution Enters an Exciting New Phase WIRED 2012-11-29 https://www.wired.com/2012/11/recent-human-evolution-2/ 2023-07-09Fu Wenqing O'Connor Timothy D. Jun Goo 1 Analysis of 6,515 exomes reveals the recent origin of most human protein-coding variants Nature Springer Science and Business Media LLC 493 7431 2012-11-28 0028-0836 10.1038/nature11690 216–220 23201682 3676746 30 November British scientists develop a method of safely cultivating medicinal stem cells from the blood of adult patients, potentially allowing each patient to have a personalised source of stem cells.New patient-friendly way to make stem cells for fight against heart disease Science Codex 2012-11-30 https://www.sciencecodex.com/new_patientfriendly_way_to_make_stem_cells_for_fight_against_heart_disease-103006 2023-07-09Geti Imbisaat Ormiston Mark L. Rouhani Foad 1 A Practical and Efficient Cellular Substrate for the Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adults: Blood-Derived Endothelial Progenitor Cells Stem Cells Translational Medicine Oxford University Press (OUP) 1 12 2012-11-29 2157-6564 10.5966/sctm.2012-0093 855–865 23283547 3659672 Italian scientists publish the first direct images of DNA, which were produced using a scanning electron microscope. The images provide photographic proof of DNA's double-helix structure, and could further scientific understanding of the compound's function.Gentile Francesco Moretti Manola Limongi Tania 1 Direct Imaging of DNA Fibers: The Visage of Double Helix Nano Letters American Chemical Society (ACS) 12 12 2012-11-28 1530-6984 10.1021/nl3039162 6453–6458 23171353 2012NanoL..12.6453G 2318/1955518 free At the Euromold trade show in Germany, manufacturers display numerous advances in commercial 3D printing technology, including a device that can rapidly print an entire bicycle.Next Year's 3-D Printers Promise Big Things — Really Big Things WIRED 2012-11-30 https://www.wired.com/2012/11/big-3d-printers-euromold-2012/ 2023-07-09 MIT researchers develop a protein-inspired modular robot capable of magnetically folding itself into a wide variety of shapes, potentially heralding future devices that can reconfigure themselves for nearly any purpose.Robotic equivalent of a Swiss army knife: Reconfigurable robot a step toward something that can become almost anything ScienceDaily 2012-11-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121130132743.htm 2023-07-09Shape-shifting robot made by MIT scientists BBC News 2012-12-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20596003 2023-07-09 December 1 December – The United States government announces the first major offering of Atlantic coastal sites for offshore wind farm developments. Around 432 mi2 km2 will be sold off in 2013.Goldenberg Suzanne US government announces opening of Atlantic coast for offshore windfarms The Guardian 2012-12-01 http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/dec/01/us-government-offshore-wind-farms-atlantic 2023-07-09 2 December Researchers state that they have identified the point of origin of the genes that later enabled human thought and reasoning. This development, 500 million years ago, later granted humans the ability to learn complex skills, analyse situations and think flexibly.Origin of intelligence and mental illness linked to ancient genetic accident ScienceDaily 2012-12-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121202164325.htm 2023-07-09Nithianantharajah Jess Komiyama Noboru H McKechanie Andrew 1 Synaptic scaffold evolution generated components of vertebrate cognitive complexity Nature Neuroscience Springer Science and Business Media LLC 16 1 2012-12-02 1097-6256 10.1038/nn.3276 16–24 23201973 4131247 Global carbon dioxide emissions are projected to have risen further in 2012, reaching a new record high of 35.6 billion tonnes, according to figures from the Global Carbon Project.Record high for global carbon emissions ScienceDaily 2012-12-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121202164059.htm 2023-07-09(The Guardian)Peters Glen P. Andrew Robbie M. Boden Tom 1 The challenge to keep global warming below 2 °C Nature Climate Change Springer Science and Business Media LLC 3 1 2012-12-02 1758-678X 10.1038/nclimate1783 4–6Le Quéré C. Andres R. J. Boden T. 1 The global carbon budget 1959–2011 Copernicus GmbH 2012-12-02 10.5194/essdd-5-1107-2012 free 3 December – NASA reports that its Curiosity Mars rover has performed its first extensive soil analysis, revealing the presence of water molecules, sulfur and chlorine in the Martian soil.Lloyd Craig Mars Curiosity Rover Conducts First Soil Sample Test, Finds Water, Sulfur And Chlorine SlashGear 2012-12-03 https://www.slashgear.com/mars-curiosity-rover-conducts-first-soil-sample-test-finds-water-sulfur-and-chlorine-03259313/ 2023-07-09Chang Kenneth Mars Rover Discovery Revealed The Lede 2012-12-04 https://archive.nytimes.com/thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/mars-rover-discovery-revealed/ 2023-07-09(NASA) 4 December A British energy firm announces plans to construct Africa's largest solar energy plant in Ghana.McGrath Matt Ghana solar energy plant set to be Africa's largest BBC News 2012-12-03 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20583663 2023-07-09 NASA announces that it plans to launch another robotic Mars rover in 2020, following the success of its Curiosity rover.Wall Mike NASA to Launch New Mars Rover in 2020 Space.com 2012-12-04 https://www.space.com/18763-nasa-new-mars-rover-2020.html 2023-07-09Harwood William NASA announces plans for new $1.5 billion Mars rover CNET 2012-12-05 https://www.cnet.com/science/nasa-announces-plans-for-new-1-5-billion-mars-rover/ 2023-07-09NASA Announces Robust Multi-Year Mars Program; New Rover to Close Out Decade of New Missions Brian Dunbar 2012-12-04 http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/dec/HQ_12-420_Mars_2020.html 2023-07-09 2012-12-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20121206202719/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/dec/HQ_12-420_Mars_2020.html Using a simple "drag-and-drop" computer interface and DNA self-assembly techniques, researchers have developed a new approach for drug development that could drastically reduce the time required to create and test medications.Date Upcoming Due Drag-and-Drop DNA NSF 2023-07-07 https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125990 2023-07-09 Besse Cooper, the world's oldest living human and the last surviving person born in 1896, dies aged 116.https://archive.today/20130111071559/http://loganville.patch.com/articles/world-s-oldest-woman-dies-at-116 (Loganville-Grayson Patch)World's 'oldest person' Besse Cooper dies aged 116 BBC News 2012-12-05 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-20604191 2023-07-09 thumb|right|250px|5 December 2012: scientists implant the first deep brain stimulation device (X-ray image pictured) to be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the United States. 5 December Paleontologists announce the discovery of what is likely to be the oldest known dinosaur. Nyasasaurus parringtoni is believed to have lived 10-15 million years before the previous earliest known dinosaur specimens.New contender for oldest dinosaur BBC News 2012-12-04 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20594147 2023-07-09Nesbitt Sterling J. Barrett Paul M. Werning Sarah 1 The oldest dinosaur? A Middle Triassic dinosauriform from Tanzania Biology Letters The Royal Society 9 1 2013-02-23 1744-9561 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0949 20120949 23221875 3565515 Liquid Robotics' autonomous Wave Glider nautical robot completes a record-breaking voyage from San Francisco to Australia. The data-gathering robot, powered by solar panels and wave energy, survived storms and shark attacks during its year-long journey.Swimming robot reaches Australia after record-breaking trip BBC News 2012-12-05 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20612140 2023-07-09 In the first such operation in the United States, medical researchers implant a pacemaker-like device into the brain of an Alzheimer's disease patient in the early stages of the disease. The device, which provides deep brain stimulation and has already been used by those with Parkinson's disease, could boost memory and reverse cognitive decline.In U.S. first, surgeons implant brain 'pacemaker' for Alzheimer's disease ScienceDaily 2012-12-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121205102615.htm 2023-07-09 A Belgian team develops a curved LCD contact lens display. Researchers say the prototype could be used in medicine, or lead to adaptable "in-eye" sunglasses.Ltd SPIE Europe Belgian team develops "LCD" contact-lens display optics.org - The Business of Photonics http://optics.org/news/3/12/6 2023-07-09 6 December The Golden Spike Company announces plans for commercial lunar expeditions by 2020, with flights to the Moon starting at around $750 million per person.Gonzalez Robbie Golden Spike Company announces trips to the Moon will launch in 2020. Guess how much tickets cost. Gizmodo 2012-12-06 https://gizmodo.com/golden-spike-company-announces-trips-to-the-moon-will-l-5966332 2023-07-09 Scientists identify the mechanism that allows Toxoplasma gondii – a single-celled parasite – to pass from the human gut to the brain, where it may cause suicidal thoughts and risk-taking.Connor Steve Cat parasite toxoplasma uses 'Trojan horse' to infect human brain and The Independent 2012-12-07 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/cat-parasite-toxoplasma-uses-trojan-horse-to-infect-human-brain-and-may-cause-suicidal-thoughts-and-risktaking-8390165.html 2023-07-09Fuks Jonas M. Arrighi Romanico B. G. Weidner Jessica M. 1 GABAergic Signaling Is Linked to a Hypermigratory Phenotype in Dendritic Cells Infected by Toxoplasma gondii PLOS Pathogens Public Library of Science (PLoS) 8 12 2012-12-06 1553-7374 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003051 e1003051 23236276 3516538 free 7 December An interactive map showing the location of every German bomb dropped on London during World War II is created.London Blitz: Bomb Sight interactive map created BBC News 2012-12-07 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-20637222 2023-07-09 A young British girl successfully receives a pioneering bone replacement treatment to restore her damaged spine. The operation, the first of its kind ever attempted in Europe, used bone taken from the child's legs to replace her lower vertebrae, which were missing due to a rare and potentially lethal genetic condition.Gallagher James Pioneering surgery repairs girl's spine with leg bone BBC News 2012-11-21 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-20426413 2023-07-09 NASA's Opportunity Mars rover discovers clay-bearing deposits on the surface of Mars, indicating the past presence of liquid water.Breaking News, U.S. and World News HuffPost 2012-12-04 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/opportunity-rover-may-hav_n_2239331.html 2023-07-09 A new study shows that with "near perfect sensitivity", anatomical brain images alone can accurately diagnose chronic ADHD, schizophrenia, Tourette syndrome, bipolar disorder, or familial risks for major depression.Bansal Ravi Staib Lawrence H. Laine Andrew F. 1 Anatomical Brain Images Alone Can Accurately Diagnose Chronic Neuropsychiatric Illnesses PLOS ONE Public Library of Science (PLoS) 7 12 2012-12-07 1932-6203 10.1371/journal.pone.0050698 e50698 23236384 3517530 2012PLoSO...750698B free 8 December – The 1997 Kyoto Protocol on the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions is extended until 2020, having previously been set to expire by the end of 2012.Harrabin Roger UN climate talks extend Kyoto Protocol, promise compensation BBC News 2012-12-08 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20653018 2023-07-09 9 December – French Polynesia establishes the world's largest shark sanctuary, protecting all shark species from fishing in an area of 4.7 million square kilometres.France creates world's biggest shark sanctuary RFI 2012-12-09 https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20121209-france-creates-worlds-biggest-shark-sanctuary 2023-07-09 10 December The first close-up footage of the Sunda clouded leopard, one of the rarest cat species on Earth, is released.Walker Matt Elusive rare cat filmed up close BBC Nature 2012-12-10 https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20627836 https://web.archive.org/web/20121211101950/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20627836 2012-12-11 2023-07-09 Scientists succeed in making the skin cells of older people act like younger cells again, simply by adding more filler to the fiber-filled area around the cells.To make old skin cells act young again, boost their surroundings ScienceDaily 2012-12-12 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121210101351.htm 2023-07-09Quan Taihao Wang Frank Shao Yuan 1 Enhancing Structural Support of the Dermal Microenvironment Activates Fibroblasts, Endothelial Cells, and Keratinocytes in Aged Human Skin In Vivo Journal of Investigative Dermatology Elsevier BV 133 3 2013 0022-202X 10.1038/jid.2012.364 658–667 23096713 3566280 Researchers create a shape-shifting metamaterial that could revolutionise the treatment of wounds. The liquid material could be infused with drugs, then shaped to fit perfectly inside a wound.Dillow Clay Shapeshifting Metamaterial Could Revolutionize How We Treat Wounds Popular Science 2012-12-10 https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-12/new-metamaterial-hydrogel-flows-liquid-remembers-its-shape/ 2023-07-09Lee Jong Bum Peng Songming Yang Dayong 1 A mechanical metamaterial made from a DNA hydrogel Nature Nanotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 7 12 2012 1748-3387 10.1038/nnano.2012.211 816–820 23202472 2012NatNa...7..816L 11 December The United States Air Force launches its robotic Boeing X-37 spaceplane on its third classified long-duration mission.Atkinson Nancy Air Force's Secret X-37B Space Plane Launches on Third Mission Universe Today 2012-12-11 https://www.universetoday.com/98937/air-forces-secret-x-37b-space-plane-launches-on-third-mission/ 2023-07-09 Numerous major Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi, demonstrate new specialist robots for cleaning up the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.Moskvitch Katia Robot 'race' to fix damaged Fukushima nuclear plant BBC News 2012-12-11 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20678838 2023-07-09 12 December North Korea conducts its first successful orbital launch, placing the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 satellite into low Earth orbit.Kim Jack Negishi Mayumi North Korea rocket launch raises nuclear stakes Reuters 2012-12-12 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-korea-north-rocket-idUSBRE8BB02K20121212 2023-07-09 Astronomers report that the most distant known galaxy, UDFj-39546284, is now estimated to be even further away than previously believed. The galaxy, which is estimated to have formed around "380 million years" after the Big Bang (about 13.75 billion years ago), is approximately 13.37 billion light years from Earth.Wall Mike Ancient Galaxy May Be Most Distant Ever Seen Space.com 2012-12-12 https://www.space.com/18879-hubble-most-distant-galaxy.html 2023-07-09Komatsu E. Dunkley J. Nolta M. R. FIVE-YEAR WILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBE OBSERVATIONS: COSMOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION 1 The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series American Astronomical Society 180 2 2009-02-01 0067-0049 10.1088/0067-0049/180/2/330 330–376 17581520 0803.0547 2009ApJS..180..330K Menegoni Eloisa Galli Silvia Bartlett James G. 1 New constraints on variations of the fine structure constant from CMB anisotropies Physical Review D American Physical Society (APS) 80 8 2009-10-23 1550-7998 10.1103/physrevd.80.087302 087302 0909.3584 2009PhRvD..80h7302M 118463789 DARPA announces funding for a medical foam technology that can rapidly staunch severe internal bleeding on the battlefield.Moskvitch Katia Battle wound foam secures Pentagon funding BBC News 2012-12-12 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-20693705 2023-07-09 13 December Scientists identify a new species of primate, the slow loris Nycticebus kayan, which is found to have a toxic bite.Bryner Jeanna New Primate with Face Mask & Toxic Bite Discovered livescience.com 2012-12-13 https://www.livescience.com/25507-new-primate-discovered-borneo.html 2023-07-0910.1002/22071 (Am. J. Primatol.)July 2023 China's uncrewed Chang'e 2 probe successfully performs a close flyby of the asteroid 4179 Toutatis, in the first such attempt by a Chinese spacecraft.Chang'E 2 imaging of Toutatis succeeded beyond my expectations! The Planetary Society 2012-12-14 https://www.planetary.org/articles/12141551-change-2-imaging-of-toutatis 2023-07-09 Physicists report the constancy, over space and time, of a basic physical constant of nature that supports the Standard Model of physics. The scientists, studying methanol molecules in a distant galaxy, found the change (∆μ/μ) in the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ to be equal to "(0.0 ± 1.0) × 10−7 at redshift z = 0.89" and consistent with "a null result".Moskowitz Clara Phew! Universe's Constant Has Stayed Constant Space.com 2012-12-13 https://www.space.com/18894-galaxy-alcohol-fundamental-constant.html 2023-07-09Bagdonaite Julija Jansen Paul Henkel Christian 1 A Stringent Limit on a Drifting Proton-to-Electron Mass Ratio from Alcohol in the Early Universe Science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 339 6115 2013-01-04 0036-8075 10.1126/science.1224898 46–48 23239626 2013Sci...339...46B 716087 https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/1d54a47c-d3cf-4eed-900d-6a035ac35d88 free 14 December – British researchers partially sequence the genome of a fast-spreading fungus that is killing off ash trees across Europe.Briggs Helen Ash fungus genetic data released BBC News 2012-12-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-20719507 2023-07-09 16 December – American scientists use a genetically modified virus to partially convert the heart muscle of guinea pigs into cells which govern the heart's rhythm, effectively creating a biological pacemaker. If this development can be applied to humans, heart conditions could be treated without the need for expensive medical implants and their attendant maintenance surgeries.Gallagher James Virus rebuilds heart's own pacemaker in animal tests BBC News 2012-12-13 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-20713986 2023-07-09Kapoor Nidhi Liang Wenbin Marbán Eduardo 1 Direct conversion of quiescent cardiomyocytes to pacemaker cells by expression of Tbx18 Nature Biotechnology Springer Science and Business Media LLC 31 1 2012-12-16 1087-0156 10.1038/nbt.2465 54–62 23242162 3775583 17 December Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh develop a robotic arm that can be precisely controlled by paralyzed patients using a set of motor cortex implants.Diaz Jesus Woman Gains Full Mind Control Of Robotic Arm, Just Like in Star Wars Gizmodo 2012-12-17 https://gizmodo.com/woman-gains-full-mind-control-of-robotic-arm-just-like-5968979 2023-07-09Collinger Jennifer L Wodlinger Brian Downey John E 1 High-performance neuroprosthetic control by an individual with tetraplegia The Lancet Elsevier BV 381 9866 2013 0140-6736 10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61816-9 557–564 23253623 3641862 NASA's twin GRAIL lunar satellites deorbit and are intentionally crashed into the surface of the Moon, marking the end of their year-long gravity research mission.Thomson Iain GRAIL orbiters make DEATH DIVE into lunar mountain The Register 2012-12-18 https://www.theregister.com/2012/12/18/grail_orbiters_crash_moon/ 2023-07-09 The Terrafugia Transition flying car begins flight certification tests, in preparation for its planned commercial release in 2013.(Sun Daily)September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes 19 December Astronomers report that the nearby star Tau Ceti hosts five exoplanets, including one world believed to be within the star's habitable zone.'Habitable' planet discovered circling Tau Ceti star The Guardian 2012-12-19 http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/dec/19/habitable-planet-discovered-tau-ceti 2023-07-09Tuomi M. Jones H. R. A. Jenkins J. S. 1 Signals embedded in the radial velocity noise Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 551 2013-02-26 0004-6361 10.1051/0004-6361/201220509 free A79 1212.4277 2390534 The final orbital spaceflight of 2012 occurs, marking the 72nd successful orbital launch of the year, and the 78th overall.http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2013/01/space-year-review-2012-launch.html Space Year Review 2012: Launch vehicles - Falcon 9, Delta IV and Soyuz show robustness in mishaps but not so for Safir or Proton FlightGlobal.com 3 January 2013 7 January 2013https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20781625 UK's Skynet military satellite launched BBC 19 December 2012 20 December 2012 BBC News Amos Jonathan Chinese scientists discover fossil evidence which shows that the extinct elephant genus Palaeoloxodon survived in China until as recently as 1,000 BC. The genus was previously believed to have disappeared by 8,000 BC.Warwicker Michelle Extinct elephant 'survived late' BBC Nature 2012-12-19 https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20678793 https://web.archive.org/web/20121219143118/https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20678793 2012-12-19 2023-07-09Li Ji Hou Yongjian Li Yongxiang 1 The latest straight-tusked elephants (Palaeoloxodon)? "Wild elephants" lived 3000 years ago in North China Quaternary International Elsevier BV 281 2012 1040-6182 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.10.039 84–88 2012QuInt.281...84L 20 December – NASA scientists release the latest WMAP results and an image of the very early universe. The nine-year WMAP data shows "13.772+/-0.059"-billion-year-old temperature fluctuations and a temperature range of ± 200 microKelvin. In addition, the study finds that 95 percent of the early universe is composed of dark matter and energy, the curvature of space is less than 0.4 percent of "flat", and the universe emerged from the cosmic Dark Ages "about 400 million years" after the Big Bang.Gannon Megan New 'Baby Picture' of Universe Unveiled Space.com 2012-12-21 https://www.space.com/19027-universe-baby-picture-wmap.html 2023-07-09Bennett C. L. Larson D. Weiland J. L. NINE-YEAR WILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBE ( WMAP ) OBSERVATIONS: FINAL MAPS AND RESULTS 1 The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series American Astronomical Society 208 2 2013-09-20 0067-0049 10.1088/0067-0049/208/2/20 20 1212.5225 2013ApJS..208...20B 119271232 21 December A "Trojan horse" therapy which uses viruses concealed within white blood cells to attack tumours is successfully used to eliminate prostate cancer in mice. However, human trials have yet to be conducted.Gallagher James Trojan-horse therapy 'completely eliminates' cancer in mice BBC News 2012-12-20 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-20795977 2023-07-09Muthana Munitta Rodrigues Samuel Chen Yung-Yi 1 Macrophage Delivery of an Oncolytic Virus Abolishes Tumor Regrowth and Metastasis after Chemotherapy or Irradiation Cancer Research American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 73 2 2013-01-15 0008-5472 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-3056 490–495 23172310 As predicted by scientists, 21 December 2012 passes without any form of apocalyptic event, despite years of global anticipation.Why the World Didn't End Brian Dunbar 2015-04-13 http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html 2023-07-09Pawar Yogesh The end of the world that wasn't DNA India 2012-12-22 https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-the-end-of-the-world-that-wasn-t-1780477 2023-07-09 thumb|right|250px|24 December 2012: British medical researchers discover two genes that are thought to greatly increase the risk of bowel cancer (carcinoid pictured). 24 December Scientists analyse the genomes of individuals with a high familial risk of bowel cancer, and discover two flawed genes that may contribute to the disease.Rare genetic faults identified in families with bowel cancer - University of Oxford ox.ac.uk 2012-12-25 http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/121224.html https://web.archive.org/web/20121229102233/http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/121224.html 2012-12-29 2023-07-09Two bowel cancer genes discovered BBC News 2012-12-21 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-20810849 2023-07-09 American researchers report that their experiments with liquid crystals may yield future materials that can be directly controlled and re-shaped in real time.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121227110803.htm Liquid crystal research may lead to creation of new materials that can be actively controlled ScienceDaily 2018-05-05 en 26 December The world's longest high-speed rail line enters operation in China. The 2298 km mi on railway links Beijing with Guangzhou.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20842836 China opens longest bullet route 2012-12-26 BBC News 2018-05-05 en-GB Tigers, having been on the verge of extinction, are now making a comeback in India and Thailand, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.Wildlife Conservation Society Tigers Roar Back 2012-12-26 http://www.wcs.org/press/press-releases/tigers-roar-back-india-thailand-russia.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20130116224302/http://www.wcs.org/press/press-releases/tigers-roar-back-india-thailand-russia.aspx 2013-01-16 2023-07-09 28 December – Stanford University engineers publish a design for a future mission to the Martian moon Phobos, incorporating both an orbiting satellite and spherical surface rovers.http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/december/rover-mars-phobos-122812.html Stanford researchers develop acrobatic space rovers to explore moons and asteroids Pandika Melissa vanc 2012-12-28 Stanford University 2018-05-05 en 31 December – A NASA-supported study suggests that crewed spaceflight may harm the brains of astronauts and accelerate the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Cherry JD, Liu B, Frost JL, Lemere CA, Williams JP, Olschowka JA, O'Banion MK Galactic cosmic radiation leads to cognitive impairment and increased aβ plaque accumulation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease PLOS ONE 7 12 e53275 23300905 3534034 10.1371/journal.pone.0053275 2012PLoSO...753275C 2012 free Staff Study Shows that Space Travel is Harmful to the Brain and Could Accelerate Onset of Alzheimer's http://spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=39650 https://archive.today/20130216214253/http://spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=39650 February 16, 2013 1 January 2013 SpaceRef 7 January 2013 Cowing Keith vanc Keith Cowing Important Research Results NASA Is Not Talking About (Update) http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/01/important-resea.html 3 January 2013 NASA Watch 7 January 2013 21 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200521052054/http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/01/important-resea.html/ dead IISE Top 10 New Species The Top 10 New Species 2013 was announced on 22 May 2013 by the International Institute for Species Exploration, commemorating unique species discovered during 2012. The ten selected new species were:Newswise Scientists Announce Top 10 New Species 22 May 2013 http://www.newswise.com/articles/scientists-announce-top-10-new-species Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Newswise, Inc 23 May 2013Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Top 10 new species of 2012 22 May 2013 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522163921.htm ScienceDaily ScienceDaily, LLC 23 May 2013Varma, S. Amazing top 10 new species include glowing cockroach, tiniest vertebrate and new monkey 23 May 2013 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Amazing-top-10-new-species-include-glowing-cockroach-tiniest-vertebrate-and-new-monkey/articleshow/20224922.cms The Times of India Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 24 May 2013 Viola lilliputana Chondrocladia lyra Cercopithecus lomamiensis Sibon noalamina Ochroconis anomala Paedophryne amauensis Eugenia petrikensis Lucihormetica luckae Semachrysa jade Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia Prizes Abel Prize Abel Prize 2012 Abel Prize: Endre Szemerédi Fundamental Physics Prize Fundamental Physics Prize 2012 Fundamental Physics Prize: Nima Arkani-Hamed, Alan Guth, Alexei Kitaev, Maxim Kontsevich, Andrei Linde, Juan Maldacena, Nathan Seiberg, Ashoke Sen and Edward Witten 2012 FPP special award: Stephen Hawking, Peter Jenni, Fabiola Gianotti, Michel Della Negra, Tejinder Singh Virdee, Guido Tonelli, Joe Incandela and Lyn Evans Kyoto Prize Kyoto Prize 2012 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology: Ivan SutherlandThe 2012 Kyoto Prize Laureates http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/e_kp_lau_thi.html Inamori Foundation 3 January 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20121227194135/http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/e_kp_lau_thi.html 27 December 2012 2012 Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences: Yoshinori Ohsumi Nobel Prize List of Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine List of Nobel laureates in Physics List of Nobel laureates in Chemistry 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics: Serge Haroche and David J. Wineland 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Robert J. Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka Deaths Sources: The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph thumb|right|50px|10 March 2012: Frank Sherwood Rowland, a Nobel Prize-winning American chemist, dies aged 84. thumb|right|50px|23 July 2012: Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, dies aged 61. thumb|right|50px|25 August 2012: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, dies aged 82. thumb|right|50px|17 October 2012: Stanford Ovshinsky, a prolific American inventor and physicist, dies aged 89. thumb|right|50px|9 December 2012: Sir Patrick Moore, a prominent British astronomer and science popularizer, dies aged 89. thumb|right|50px|30 December 2012: Rita Levi-Montalcini, a Nobel Prize-winning Italian neurologist, dies aged 103. January 3 January – James F. Crow, American geneticist (b. 1916). 6 January – Roger Boisjoly, American rocket engineer (b. 1938). 7 January – Herbert Wilf, American mathematician and academic (b. 1931) 12 January – Bjørn G. Andersen, Norwegian quaternary geologist (b. 1924). 21 January – Roy John Britten, American biologist and geneticist (b. 1919) February 16 February – Donald Henry Colless, Australian entomologist (b. 1922). 19 February – Renato Dulbecco, Italian American virologist, winner of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1914). 24 February – Oliver Wrong, British nephrologist (b. 1925). March 10 March – Frank Sherwood Rowland, American atmospheric chemist, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (b. 1927). 24 March – Sir Paul Callaghan, New Zealand physicist (b. 1947). April 8 April – Fang Lizhi, Chinese astrophysicist and political activist (b. 1936). 20 April – George Cowan, American chemist, Manhattan Project scientist and businessman (b. 1920). 29 April – Roland Moreno, Egyptian-born French inventor of the smart card, Légion d'honneur recipient (b. 1945)."Roland Moreno obituary". The Guardian. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2012. May 12 May Fritz Ursell, German-born British mathematician and fluid mechanics expert (b. 1923). Donald Nicholson, British biochemist (b. 1916). 20 May – Eugene Polley, American engineer, inventor of the wireless television remote control (b. 1915). 21 May – Alan Thorne, Australian anthropologist (b. 1939). 27 May – Friedrich Hirzebruch, German mathematician (b. 1927). 30 May – Sir Andrew Huxley, British physiologist and biophysicist, winner of the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1917). June 7 June Phillip V. Tobias, South African paleoanthropologist (b. 1925). F. Herbert Bormann, American plant ecologist, credited with the discovery of acid rain (b. 1922). 13 June – William Standish Knowles, American chemist, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (b. 1917). July 3 July – Sergio Pininfarina, Italian automotive engineer and Senator for life (b. 1926). 8 July – Lord Henry Chilver, British engineer, lecturer and politician (b. 1926). 21 July – Geoffrey Hattersley-Smith, British geologist and glaciologist (b. 1923). 23 July – Sally Ride, American physicist and astronaut, first American woman in space (b. 1951). 26 July – Ralph Slatyer, Australian ecologist and first Chief Scientist of Australia (b. 1929). August 2 August – Sir Gabriel Horn, British biologist (b. 1927). 3 August – Martin Fleischmann, British chemist and cold fusion theorist (b. 1927). 6 August – Sir Bernard Lovell, British physicist and radio astronomer (b. 1913). 14 August – Sergei Kapitsa, Russian physicist and TV host (b. 1928). 21 August – William Thurston, American mathematician, winner of the 1982 Fields Medal (b. 1946). 25 August – Neil Armstrong, American astronaut, first human being to set foot upon the Moon (b. 1930). September 6 September – Jerome Horwitz, American chemist, inventor of the anti-HIV drug azidothymidine (b. 1919). 8 September – Bill Moggridge, British industrial designer who created the original laptop shape (b. 1943). 9 September – Ron Taylor, Australian shark expert, conservationist and filmmaker (b. 1934). 13 September – Dilhan Eryurt, Turkish astrophysicist (b. 1926). 25 September – Dame Louise Johnson, British biochemist (b. 1940). 29 September – Neil Smith, Scottish geographer (b. 1954). October 5 October – Keith Campbell, British biologist who was involved in creating the first cloned mammal (b. 1954) 15 October – Maria Petrou, Greek-born British artificial intelligence researcher (b. 1953). 17 October – Stanford Ovshinsky, American physicist and inventor who designed the battery now used in hybrid cars (b. 1922). 20 October E. Donnall Thomas, American physician, joint winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1920). Paul Kurtz, American skeptic, philosopher and secular humanist (b. 1925). 29 October – Wallace L. W. Sargent, Anglo-American astronomer (b. 1935). November 11 November – Farish Jenkins, American paleontologist (b. 1940). 12 November – Daniel Stern, American psychologist (b. 1934). 14 November – Norman Greenwood, Australian chemist (b. 1925). 26 November – Joseph Murray, American surgeon and organ transplant pioneer, joint winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1919). December 9 December Sir Patrick Moore, English astronomer (b. 1923). Alex Moulton, English mechanical engineer and inventor (b. 1920). Norman Joseph Woodland, American engineer, inventor of the barcode (b. 1921). 17 December – Colin Spedding, British agricultural scientist (b. 1925). 24 December – Guy Dodson, New Zealand biochemist (b. 1937). 27 December – Archie Roy, Scottish astronomer (b. 1924). 30 December Rita Levi-Montalcini, Italian neurologist and Senator for life, joint winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1909). Carl Woese, American microbiologist (b. 1924). See also List of emerging technologies List of years in science 2012 in paleontology 2012 in spaceflight References 32em External links "Medical scien