Life on Mars? It’s Curious, Alright.
A two-year fact finding mission began for Mars Rover Curiosity on August 6, 2012. As well as the amazing photos it has sent back of a planet previously inaccessible, Curiosity has found evidence of a riverbed on the Red Planet. Excitingly, if the planet hasn’t always been as arid as it is now, it’s one step closer to possible that it has been capable of sustaining life.
The God Particle
The Higgs Boson Particle has long been a theory of physicists, but 2012 brought the discovery of evidence that this is more than just scientific conjecture. Though years of research lie ahead, the work at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider is focused on getting to know this particle that is the basis for all matter, not just on Earth, but in the universe. Once the scientists and the particle are fully acquainted, we may just have the explanation for how the universe works.
New Humans
Our early human ancestors were known as Neanderthals, but 2012 introduced us to another ancient cousin that scientists have christened the Red Deer Cave People. During the Ice Age 11,000 years ago, these prehistoric humans co-existed with the ancestors of modern humans.
New Planets
The solar system is more crowded than originally thought. 2012 saw new neighbours for planet Earth in the form of two new planets. One orbits Alpha Centauri B, which is the closest star to Earth at only 4 light years away, while another was discovered by a group called Planet Hunters. Their discovery is unusual in that the planet they have identified orbits four different suns.
Ups and Downs
Felix Baumgartner of Australia was on a high in October 2012. On the 14th of the month, he ascended 24 miles into the stratosphere in a hot air balloon, then broke the speed of sound during his return journey back to Earth after jumping from the balloon in the world’s highest ever sky dive.
Plunging the depths of the oceans instead was director James Cameron. His daring feat took him 11km into the Marina Trench, the deepest spot in any of the world’s oceans. He was the first solo aquanaut to do so.
Less Calories Doesn’t Mean a Longer Life
We’re often told that reducing our calorie intake can lead to a longer life. Studies with roundworms and rats were the basis for this theory, but when the experiment was repeated over 30 years with rhesus monkeys, no correlation was shown. Following a healthy diet could increase longevity, as could genetics, but calorie consumption did not appear to be a factor.
We’re often told that reducing our calorie intake can lead to a longer life. Studies with roundworms and rats were the basis for this theory, but when the experiment was repeated over 30 years with rhesus monkeys, no correlation was shown. Following a healthy diet could increase longevity, as could genetics, but calorie consumption did not appear to be a factor.
Goodbye, NASA shuttles
2012 saw NASA retiring its four remaining space shuttles. Rather than be put out to pasture, they will become the star feature of museums and other attractions, while their duties have been taken over by a capsule named Dragon. Owned by a private company called SpaceX, Dragon visited the International Space Station in just the first of several planned flights.
New Animals
As our technology expands, so does our understanding of the world around us. 2012 brought us new discoveries about the creatures whose planet we share.
At 7.7 millimetres long, around the size of a fly, the world’s tiniest vertebrate is a miniscule frog, the smallest of its kind.
In Botswana, female lionesses have developed manes. It is believed that this will help them to fool and intimidate competitors.
Vietnam was found to be home to a species of fish that carries its external reproductive organs on its head.
A 1.2 inch long millipede, discovered in California, has been named as the creature with the most legs.