2013 in science

2013 in science
Year	2013
Caption	NASA's Curiosity rover continues its mission on Mars.

2013 in science was a year marked by significant discoveries across multiple disciplines, from the depths of space to the fundamental building blocks of life. Major milestones included the first observation of cosmic neutrinos from beyond the Solar System, the successful Rosetta spacecraft's awakening for its comet rendezvous, and groundbreaking advancements in CRISPR gene-editing technology. The year also saw substantial progress in understanding climate change and the successful landing of the Chang'e 3 mission on the Moon.

Astronomy and space exploration

In February, a massive Chelyabinsk meteor exploded over Russia, providing unprecedented data on near-Earth object impacts. The European Space Agency's Gaia mission launched in December to create a precise 3D map of the Milky Way. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station announced the detection of the first high-energy neutrinos originating from outside our Solar System, opening a new window on the cosmos. Meanwhile, the Kepler space telescope confirmed numerous new exoplanets, including several in the habitable zone, and the Voyager 1 spacecraft officially entered interstellar space as confirmed by NASA.

Earth sciences

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its Fifth Assessment Report, providing strengthened evidence of human influence on global warming. Researchers published findings in Nature showing a rapid acceleration of ice loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Significant geological studies advanced understanding of plate tectonics, particularly along the Pacific Ring of Fire, and major expeditions, including those by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, discovered new species and ecosystems in the deep sea. The year also featured notable seismic activity and volcanic eruptions, which were closely monitored by agencies like the United States Geological Survey.

Biology and medicine

A transformative year for genetics, key papers in Science and Nature demonstrated the efficient use of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for genome editing in eukaryotic cells, pioneered by teams including Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier. In medicine, the first successful larynx transplant using a 3D-printed organ scaffold was reported. The ongoing Human Microbiome Project yielded major insights into the role of gut bacteria in health, and researchers at the Riken institute in Japan created functional kidney tissue from stem cells. The fight against HIV/AIDS saw progress with the VISCONTI cohort study showing potential for long-term remission.

Chemistry and materials science

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt, and Arieh Warshel for developing multiscale models for complex chemical systems. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign developed new metamaterials with negative refractive index properties for controlling light. Advances in graphene production and application were reported by institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Manchester. Significant work also progressed on metal-organic frameworks for carbon capture and new catalysts for sustainable chemical processes.

Physics

The confirmed discovery of the Higgs boson by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at CERN's Large Hadron Collider earned François Englert and Peter Higgs the Nobel Prize in Physics. In quantum mechanics, teams at the University of Vienna and the University of Waterloo demonstrated quantum teleportation of information over increasing distances. Research into topological insulators advanced, showing promise for new electronic devices, and experiments continued to probe the properties of neutrinos, including neutrino oscillation studies at facilities like the T2K experiment in Japan.

Technology and engineering

In December, China National Space Administration's Chang'e 3 lander and its Yutu rover successfully touched down on the Moon, marking the first soft landing there since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976. Boston Dynamics unveiled the Atlas humanoid robot, demonstrating advanced mobility. Major strides were made in additive manufacturing, with NASA testing 3D-printed rocket engine parts. The year also saw the rise of Bitcoin, bringing blockchain technology to wider attention, and the development of the first bionic eye approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration.

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