Actual Science
Science, the official organ of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has published its Top Ten list of scientific breakthroughs for 2005. The winners are:
- Number Ten: ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, has found a home and will be built.
- Number Nine: Systems Biology is a new approach to understanding cell-signaling mechanics.
- Number Eight: Evidence for climate change has reached a “tipping point”.
- Number Seven: The molecular structure of potassium channels comes into focus.
- Number Six: Earth’s early history is more complicated that had been thought.
- Number Five: A variety of brain disorders now appear to be the result of genetic malfunctions during early development.
- Number Four: New instruments yielded vivid insights into the most violent behaviors of neutron stars.
- Number Three: Our understanding of plant genetics surges forward.
- Number Two: Planetary probes are everywhere.
- And, Number One : It was a banner year for uncovering the intricacies of how evolution actually proceeds.