2018 Scientific Discoveries Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2018 Scientific Discoveries Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 03 Jan Major Computer Security Vulnerabilities Discovered: On January 3, 2018, researchers announced the discovery of significant security vulnerabilities in computer processors, known as Meltdown and Spectre. These vulnerabilities affected a wide range of devices, including personal computers, smartphones, and cloud servers. The flaws allowed malicious programs to access sensitive data, posing a serious security risk. Tech companies and hardware manufacturers began working on patches and updates to address the vulnerabilities. source: reuters.com
- 07 Feb Cheddar Man DNA Research: Researchers at London's Natural History Museum made a groundbreaking discovery about early British inhabitants through DNA analysis of 'Cheddar Man', a fossil discovered in 1903. The study suggested that prehistoric Britons had dark skin and blue eyes, challenging previous assumptions about early human appearance. However, scientists cautioned about potential modern DNA contamination that might affect the study's reliability.
- 09 Feb iOS Source Code Leak Discovered: Vice Motherboard reported on a significant iOS source code leak, originally discovered by an Apple intern and five members of the iOS jailbreaking community, potentially exposing vulnerabilities in Apple's software.
- 15 Feb NotPetya cyberattack blame game: On February 15, 2018, cybersecurity experts and officials from various countries discussed the attribution of the NotPetya cyberattack, which had caused widespread disruptions globally. The attack was initially believed to be a ransomware attack but was later identified as a state-sponsored operation, with evidence pointing towards Russian involvement. source: reuters.com
- 04 Mar Large Adelie Penguin Colony Discovery: Scientists discovered a massive Adelie penguin colony in Antarctica's Danger Islands, comprising over 750,000 penguins. This significant finding provides crucial insights into Antarctic wildlife populations and ecosystem dynamics.
- 07 Mar Amelia Earhart bones discovery: On March 7, 2018, researchers announced the discovery of bones believed to belong to Amelia Earhart on a remote Pacific island. This finding reignited interest in the mystery surrounding her disappearance in 1937. source: bbc.com
- 22 Mar Scientific Discovery: Genetic Analysis of Mysterious Mummy: DNA tests confirm that Ata, a six-inch-long mummy discovered in Chile in 2003, is the remains of a newborn with unique genetic mutations, offering insights into human genetic variations.
- 16 Apr Breakthrough in Plastic-Consuming Bacteria Research: International researchers discovered a groundbreaking plastic-consuming bacteria in a Japanese landfill. In 2016, they accidentally synthesized an artificial enzyme capable of breaking down plastics more efficiently than the original bacterium. The team suggests this molecule could revolutionize environmentally friendly plastic disposal methods.
- 20 Apr Exoplanet WASP-104b Discovery: Scientists revealed details about WASP-104b, a hot Jupiter exoplanet notable for being one of the darkest known exoplanets, absorbing up to 99% of light that reaches it.
- 23 Apr WASP-104b Exoplanet Discovery: Astronomers revealed the unique characteristics of WASP-104b, an extraordinary hot Jupiter exoplanet that absorbs an unprecedented 99% of light, making it one of the darkest known planets in the universe.
- 24 Apr Scientific Discovery: Uranus Atmospheric Composition: Scientists confirmed the presence of hydrogen sulfide in Uranus's clouds using data from the Gemini North telescope's infrared spectrum, providing new insights into the planet's atmospheric composition.
- 28 Apr Archaeological Discovery in Peru: National Geographic reported a significant archaeological find near the Chan Chan citadel in Trujillo, Peru: the remains of over 140 children and 200 young llamas, believed to be from the Chimu pre-Columbian civilization approximately 550 years ago.
- 02 May First Helium Detection in Exoplanet Atmosphere: Scientists made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting Helium for the first time in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, specifically while observing WASP107b.
- 04 Jun Exoplanet WASP-127b Water Discovery: Scientists discovered potential traces of water on the exoplanet WASP-127b, marking an important milestone in understanding planetary composition and potential habitability beyond our solar system.
- 09 Jul World's Oldest Biological Color Discovered: Scientists discovered bright pink as the world's oldest biological color, produced by tiny cyanobacteria in 1.1 billion-year-old marine shale rock from the Taoudeni basin in Mauritania.
- 24 Jul Discovery of ancient sauropod species: Paleontologists announced the discovery of a new sauropod dinosaur species, providing insights into the diversity and evolution of these prehistoric creatures. The findings were based on fossil evidence uncovered in a region known for its rich paleontological history. source: sciencedaily.com
- 15 Aug Scientists Detect Metallic Atoms in Exoplanet Atmosphere: Scientists discovered signals of iron and titanium atoms in the atmosphere of KELT-9b, an exoplanet located 600 light-years from Earth, advancing our understanding of planetary composition beyond our solar system.
- 18 Aug Ancient Egyptian Cheese Discovery: Archaeologists from Cairo University and the University of Catania discovered one of the oldest known cheese samples in a tomb at the Saqqara Necropolis, providing the first concrete evidence of ancient Egyptian cheese production.
- 22 Aug Prehistoric human interbreeding discovery: A study published in Nature revealed that early humans interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans, contributing to the genetic diversity of modern humans. This research sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of our species and the interactions with other hominins. source: nature.com
- 11 Oct Exoplanet Kepler159d Discovery: Researchers Chris Fox and Professor Paul Wiegert from the University of Western Ontario discovered Kepler159d, an exoplanet comparable in size to Saturn, expanding our understanding of planetary systems beyond our solar system.
- 29 Oct Ancient Cacao Use Discovered: New research revealed that the cacao tree was first used by the Mayo Chinchipe culture in Ecuador 5,000 years ago, challenging previous assumptions about the origin of cacao cultivation in Central America.
- 07 Dec Exoplanet Atmosphere Discovery: Scientists from the University of Geneva announced that HAT-P-11b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet, has a slowly-escaping helium atmosphere.
- 17 Dec Discovery of feathered pterosaur fossils: Paleontologists announced the discovery of well-preserved feathered pterosaur fossils in China, providing new insights into the evolution of flight. This finding suggests that feathers may have been more widespread among pterosaurs than previously thought. source: sciencedaily.com
- 21 Dec New Largest Known Prime Number Discovered: The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search announces the discovery of a new Mersenne Prime (2^82,589,933 - 1) containing 24,862,048 decimal numbers, breaking previous mathematical records.
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