New discoveries could make 2025 an unexpectedly happy year

Almost every year has its ups and downs, and 2024 is no different. But as the year comes to a close, let's take a look back at all the good things that have happened through science that could help shape 2025 into a better, brighter year. Here's a roundup of the good things that have happened in science that have made this recent year more worthwhile, more comfortable, and more joyful in countless ways .

New research shows it is possible to restore brain cells

In 2024, scientists have helped people suffering from a rare genetic disorder called Timothy syndrome. It is a severe multi-system disorder that manifests as autism, epilepsy, etc. A drug called antisense oligonucleotide has been shown to repair brain cells, allowing human neurons to develop normally despite the mutations caused by Timothy syndrome.

This has brought new hope to the medical community, some of whom feel that the drug could also help people with other genetic conditions that cause schizophrenia, epilepsy, ADHD and autism spectrum disorders.

Panda stem cell research could help them get off endangered list

Giant pandas are still a vulnerable species because there are not many of them left in the wild. According to a recent study, scientists have taken skin cells from giant pandas and turned them into stem cells. Stem cells have the ability to turn into any type of cell, which means giant pandas can be protected to be healthier, live longer, and also help with reproduction.

Solar reactors could become an endless source of renewable energy

While things are still far from being fully implemented, there is news of a prototype reactor being built that can harvest hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. Since this is green hydrogen and has the potential to replace fossil fuels, this is really great news for our planet.

The root cause of lupus may have been discovered

There have been reports of new vaccines that are effective in treating autoimmune diseases, with promising results in mice. More recently, scientists announced that they have discovered the root cause of lupus, which means that a cure or prevention of the disease may not be far off.

Instead of suppressing the entire immune system, the new vaccine under development could target just certain cells in the body that cause autoimmune diseases.

One of the world's rarest cat species is no longer endangered.

The Iberian lynx is no longer endangered, which means that careful planning and science to figure out how to save the animal is finally paying off. The conservation efforts behind saving the Iberian lynx have focused largely on increasing the population of its prey, the wild rabbit, and the lynx is now out of danger.

Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, the coordinator responsible for directing the conservation effort, described it as "the largest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation," the BBC reported.

Marvin Fry

Update 08 January 2025