2012 in science

Events, discoveries and inventions

January

1 January 2012: NASA's twin GRAIL satellites (artist's impression shown) begin studying the Moon's gravitational field.

• 1 January – NASA's GRAIL-B satellite successfully enters lunar orbit, joining its twin spacecraft GRAIL-A. The two satellites will study the Moon's gravitational field, generating a detailed map of its fluctuations to help scientists understand how the Moon formed. (NASA)
• 2 January
  • China launches its first commercial 3DTV channel, operated by China Central Television (CCTV). (BBC)
  • A new study shows that deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a safe and effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression in patients with either unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar ll disorder (BP). (MedicalXpress)
• 3 January – Experimental, genetically modified, fast-ageing mice, injected with stem cells, exhibited improved health and lived two to three times longer than expected, according to findings published in Nature Communications. (EurekAlert!) (National Geographic)
• 4 January
  • American scientists report that a parasitic species of fly which compels honey bees to abandon their hives may be responsible for a global honey bee die-off that has decimated hives around the world. Honey bees are crucial pollinators, and their rapidly diminishing population may have severe effects on human agriculture. (AP)
  • University of Wyoming scientists unveil genetically modified silkworms capable of producing large amounts of spidersilk, which has a greater tensile strength than steel. If available in bulk quantities, the silk could be used to produce high-strength medical sutures and lightweight forms of body armor. (BBC)
  • Scientists at the University of Southern California develop a method for generating accurate 3D models of cellular genomes. (PhysOrg)
  • Researchers at Oxford University report promising results in human trials of a prototype hepatitis C vaccine. (Fox News)
  • Scientists at Cornell University use a specialised lens to cloak an object from view for 40 trillionths of a second by altering the speed of light. (AP)

4 January 2012: scientists create genetically-engineered silkworms capable of producing bulk quantities of steel-strong spidersilk.

• 5 January
  • Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut, is selected to head the DARPA- and NASA-sponsored 100-Year Starship project, which aims to conduct research into the technological and human elements needed for manned interstellar travel. (BBC)
  • Classified documents are leaked detailing a range of advanced non-lethal weapons proposed or in development by the United States Armed Forces. Among the systems described are a laser-based weapon designed to divert hostile aircraft, an underwater sonic weapon for incapacitating SCUBA divers and a heat-based weapon designed to compel crowds to disperse. (BBC)
  • American scientists report that they have bred the first-ever monkeys grown from cells taken from different embryos. Such "chimeric" hybrid monkeys could give valuable insights into the development of human embryos. (BBC)
  • A team of international researchers reports that low-resistivity electrical wires can be produced at the nanometer scale by chaining phosphorus atoms together and encasing them in silicon. In future, the development may permit the production of efficient nanometer-scale electronics. (Scientific American)
  • A team of American, French and Italian researchers demonstrate working transistors made from cotton fibers, doped with gold nanoparticles and a conductive polymer. The invention could permit the creation of a range of electronic-fabric devices, including clothing capable of measuring pollutants, T-shirts that display dynamic information, and carpets that sense how many people are crossing them. (IEEE Spectrum)
• 6 January
  • The human brain's ability to function can start to deteriorate as early as age 45, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. (BBC)
  • Scientists have refuted a Greenpeace claim that genetically modified corn has caused a new insect pest. (PhysOrg)

11 January 2012: astronomers report that nearly every star in the Milky Way galaxy may host exoplanets (artist's impression of Upsilon Andromedae d pictured).

• 9 January
  • Human emissions of carbon dioxide will defer the next Ice Age, according to a new study. (BBC)
  • Researchers in California have produced a cheap plastic capable of removing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air. The new material could enable the development of "artificial trees" that lower atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ in an effort to lessen the effects of climate change. (Science Mag)
• 10 January
  • The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show opens in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the new products and technologies showcased are large-screen OLED televisions, quad-core tablet computers and consumer-ready 3D printers. (BBC)
  • Climate change, in the form of reduced snowfall in mountains, is having a major impact on mountainous plant and bird communities, through the increased ability of elk to stay at high elevations over winter and consume plants, according to a study in Nature Climate Change. (Science Daily)
• 11 January
  • An international team of astronomers report that each star in the Milky Way Galaxy may host "on average ... at least 1.6 planets", suggesting that over 160 billion star-bound planets may exist in our galaxy alone. The team used gravitational microlensing to discover the gravitational effects of planets orbiting distant stars.^[3][4] (BBC)
  • American astronomers discover three rocky exoplanets smaller than Earth, the smallest such worlds yet found, orbiting a red dwarf star 130 light-years from Earth. (Wired)
  • Researchers report the discovery of a natural hormone that has a similar effect to exercise on muscle tissue – burning calories, improving insulin processing, and perhaps boosting strength. (Technology Review)
• 12 January
  • Scientists formally describe the world's smallest known vertebrate species, Paedophryne amauensis – a frog that measures just 7 millimeters in length. The species was first discovered in Papua New Guinea in 2009. (The Guardian)
  • A University of Connecticut researcher who studied the health benefits of resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, has been found to have falsified data on numerous occasions. (Medical News Today)

12 January 2012: Paedophryne amauensis, the world's smallest known vertebrate, is formally described.

• 13 January
  • IBM researchers successfully store a single bit of data in a group of just 12 supercooled iron atoms; current commercial hard disks require over 1 million atoms to store one bit of data. The breakthrough, which was achieved with the use of a scanning tunnelling microscope, may permit the production of ultra-high-density computer storage media in future. (BBC) (E-Commerce Times)
  • German scientists convert a gold sphere just 60 nanometres in diameter into an ultra-sensitive listening device, potentially allowing the sounds of bacteria and other single-celled organisms to be recorded. (New Scientist)
• 14 January – Researchers at the University of Cambridge repair myelin sheath damage in ageing mice with multiple sclerosis by injecting the blood of younger mice into them, reactivating the older mice's regenerative stem cells. (New Scientist)
• 15 January – Russia's Fobos-Grunt Martian sample return spacecraft, which became stranded in orbit after a post-launch malfunction in November 2011, re-enters Earth's atmosphere. (BBC)
• 18 January
  • Astronomers report the discovery of the most distant dwarf galaxy yet found, approximately 10 billion light-years away. (Christian Science Monitor)
  • A British amateur astronomer discovers a new Neptune-sized exoplanet, just days after the BBC's Stargazing Live program makes a public appeal for volunteers to assist scientists in the search for potential exoplanets. Over 100,000 volunteers are reportedly taking part in the ongoing search. (BBC)
  • Archaeologists find a novel tulip-shaped fossil, formally named Siphusauctum gregarium, in the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies. The 20-centimetre-long creature reportedly possessed a unique filter feeding system. (Science Daily)
  • A working 9-nanometer transistor is developed by IBM engineers, demonstrating that nanotubes could serve as a viable alternative to silicon in future nanoelectronic devices. (Nano Letters) (Technology Review)
• 19 January
  • Austrian researchers develop a quantum computer capable of performing calculations without revealing any of the data involved, using encoded strings of photons designed to appear random. This method of "blind quantum cryptography" may permit sensitive data to be processed and transferred without any danger of interception or decryption, leading to ultra-secure cloud computing. (New Scientist)
  • NASA data shows that in 2011, temperatures in the Arctic rose beyond the record established in 2010 — setting a new record. (Skeptical Science)
• 20 January – Virologists agree to a temporarily hiatus on experiments on the H5N1 influenza virus, due to fears that an airborne strain of the lethal virus could be used by bioterrorists. (New Scientist)
• 22 January
  • American researchers report that nanoparticles can be successfully engineered to mimic part of the body's immune system, improving its response to vaccines. (BBC)
  • An international team of scientists has concluded that anthropogenic CO2 emissions over the last 100 to 200 years have already raised ocean acidity far beyond the range of natural variations. (Science Daily)

23 January 2012: stem cell therapy is successfully used to ease the symptoms of blindness in human volunteers (human embryonic stem cell shown).

• 23 January
  • South Korean scientists develop touchscreens that can recognise the existence and concentration of DNA molecules placed on them. The invention could allow the development of smartphones with the ability to diagnose users' medical conditions. (ABC)
  • The Lancet reports that a human medical trial of embryonic stem cells successfully eased a degenerative form of blindness in two volunteers, and showed no signs of any adverse effects. (Medical Xpress)
  • Brain scans of people under the influence of the psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, have given scientists the most detailed picture to date of how psychedelic drugs work. (Imperial College London)
  • Scientists demonstrate a terahertz antenna 100 nanometers across – 30,000 times smaller than the previous smallest antenna. The invention could permit the production of lightweight, handheld devices able to accurately scan for bombs, chemicals and even subcutaneous tumors. (ExtremeTech) (PopSci)
• 24 January
  • Earth is struck by the largest solar storm since 2005, creating huge aurorae and potentially interfering with satellite communications worldwide. (BBC)
  • A nest of dinosaur eggs 100 million years older than the previous oldest site is found in South Africa. The fossils are of the prosauropod species Massospondylus, a relative of the long-necked sauropods. (BBC)
• 25 January
  • University of Washington scientists report that injecting sulfate particles into the stratosphere will not fully offset climate change. (Science Daily)
  • A study in Japan finds that green tea can significantly reduce disability in the elderly, likely due to its antioxidant content. (MedicalXpress)
• 26 January – American researchers successfully "cloak" a three-dimensional object, making it invisible from all angles, for the first time. However, the demonstration works only for waves in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. (BBC)

27 January 2012: the most detailed 3D image of the Amazon rainforest yet produced is published.

• 27 January
  • An international team of scientists reports that graphene, already widely known for its conductive properties, is also able to selectively filter gases and liquids. The material could thus potentially find use in industrial distillation and water purification. (BBC) (The Register)
  • A study published in the journal Carcinogenesis shows that in both cell lines and mouse models, grape seed extract (GSE) kills head and neck cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. (MedicalXpress)
  • Using an airborne LIDAR system, scientists produce the most detailed 3D image of the Amazon rainforest yet recorded, allowing the accurate measurement of the rainforest's ecoystem and rate of deforestation. (The Guardian)
  • 2012 BX₃₄, an asteroid between 8 metres (26 ft) and 11 metres (36 ft) across, passes within 60,000 kilometres of the Earth, performing one of the closest asteroid flybys yet recorded. (BBC)
  • British animators develop a new algorithmic method of creating highly realistic CGI trees, allowing films and video games to easily display realistic 3D foliage. (New Scientist)
• 29 January – Using stem cells generated from patients with schizophrenia, bipolar depression and other mental illnesses, scientists at the University of Edinburgh create neurones with brain tissue genetically identical to the person's brain. The breakthrough could allow new treatments for mental illnesses to be accurately tested without endangering patients. (The Guardian)
• 30 January
  • A UN report warns that time is running out to ensure there is enough food, water and energy for a rapidly rising global population. By 2030, the world will need at least 50 percent more food, 45 percent more energy and 30 percent more water, according to estimates. (Reuters) (UN)
  • The British Royal Navy begins development of a new anti-missile defence system, the Sea Ceptor, capable of intercepting and destroying supersonic missiles within an area of 500 square miles (1,300 km²). The system is likely to enter service by 2017. (BBC)
  • American researchers report that ultrasound waves can be used effectively to kill sperm, potentially offering a new male contraceptive method. (HealthcareGlobal)
  • Ozone from anthropogenic air pollution in North America leads to the annual loss of 1.2 million tonnes of wheat in Europe alone, according to a study published by British universities. (PhysOrg)
  • A NASA study reports that changes in solar activity cannot be responsible for the current period of global warming. The sun's total solar irradiance has in recent years dipped to the lowest levels recorded during the satellite era. (ScienceDaily)
  • According to genetic studies, modern humans seem to have mated with "at least two groups" of ancient humans: Neanderthals and Denisovans.

31 January 2012: American scientists demonstrate a method of decoding human thoughts by studying the superior temporal gyrus (indicated).

• 31 January
  • American scientists successfully demonstrate a method of decoding thoughts by studying activity in the human brain's superior temporal gyrus, which is involved in linguistic processing. Using this method, a device which reads and transmits the thoughts of brain-damaged patients could become a reality in the future. (The Telegraph) (BBC)
  • Microchip designer AMD launches its Radeon HD 7950 graphics card, based on a 28 nanometer manufacturing process – a more advanced die shrink of the current 32 nanometer standard. (The Inquirer)
  • Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, has almost completely dried up due to a combination of severe drought and the impact of the recently built Three Gorges Dam. (The Guardian)

February

3 February 2012: the Very Large Telescope array enters operation in northern Chile.

• 1 February – Researchers report that the eruption of supervolcanoes could be predicted several decades before the event by detecting the seismic and chemical signs of a massive magma buildup. (BBC)
• 2 February
  • The European Commission issues a 225-million-euro (US$330 million) contract to an Anglo-German consortium for eight additional satellites to expand Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system. (BBC)
  • Astronomers report the discovery of a large exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of a star 22 light-years distant. This is the fourth potentially life-supporting exoplanet discovered since May 2011. (San Francisco Chronicle)
  • Researchers reportedly create the world's thinnest pane of glass, a sheet of silicon and oxygen just three atoms wide. The glass formed in an accidental reaction when the scientists were synthesizing graphene on copper-covered quartz. (ScienceMag)
• 3 February
  • The European Southern Observatory successfully activates its Very Large Telescope (VLT) by linking four existing optical telescopes to operate as a single device. The linked VLT is the largest optical telescope yet built, with a combined mirror diameter of 130 metres (430 ft). (BBC)
  • Physicists at Germany's Max Planck Institute unveil a microscope that can image living brain cells as they function inside a living animal. (PhysOrg)
  • American scientists demonstrate a medical procedure that may allow patients suffering from nerve damage to recover within weeks, rather than months or years. The procedure makes use of a cellular mechanism similar to that which repairs nerve axons in invertebrates. (Science Daily)
  • MIT researchers develop high-temperature photonic crystals capable of efficiently converting heat to electricity, potentially allowing the creation of pocket-sized microreactors with ten times the efficiency and lifespan of current commercial batteries. As photonic crystals are already a relatively mature technology, the new invention could be commercialised in as little as two years. (ExtremeTech)
  • A Lancet study reports that global malaria deaths may be badly underestimated, giving a revised 2010 malaria death toll of 1.24 million. By contrast, the World Health Organisation estimated that 655,000 people died of malaria in 2010. (BBC)
• 4 February – Dutch doctors successfully fit an 83-year-old woman with an artificial jaw made using a 3D printer. This operation, the first of its kind, could herald a new era of accurate, patient-tailored artificial transplants. (BBC)

4 February 2012: Dutch doctors successfully fit the first artificial jaw made with a 3D printer (ORDbot Quantum 3D printer pictured).

• 6 February
  • After nearly 20 years of intermittent drilling, Russian scientists reportedly break through to the surface of the subterranean Lake Vostok, buried 2.5 miles (4.0 km) under the Antarctic ice. The lake, which has not been uncovered for over 15 million years, may harbour a unique prehistoric ecosystem. (The Guardian) (The Washington Post)
  • A team of engineers and biologists develop a working WORM computer memory out of salmon DNA molecules by combining the DNA with silver nanoparticles. (ExtemeTech)
  • Scientists from Yale University have discovered a fungus in the South American rainforest that eats plastic. It is hoped that this organism could be used in the breaking down of waste matter in landfills and other locations. (TG Daily)
• 7 February
  • Scientists report that rapid declines in some British and European ladybird species are being caused by the spread of the invasive harlequin species. (BBC)
  • The entire genome of an extinct species of human – the 40,000-year-old Denisova hominin – has been decoded from a fossil. (PhysOrg)
• 8 February – NASA data reveals that the total land ice lost from Greenland, Antarctica and Earth's glaciers and ice caps between 2003 and 2010 totalled about 4.3 trillion tons (1,000 cubic miles), adding about 0.5 inches (12 millimeters) to global sea levels. Such a quantity of ice would be sufficient to cover the entire United States to a depth of 1.5 feet (0.5 meters). (NASA/JPL)
• 9 February – Researchers at Case Western Reserve University discover that bexarotene, a drug normally used to treat skin cancer, can quickly reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mice, removing over 50% of the disease's trademark amyloid plaque from the brain within 72 hours. (CNN)
• 10 February – Scientists at the University of California, San Diego report the creation of the tiniest telecommunications laser yet built, just 200 nanometers wide. The highly efficient nanolaser could be used to develop optical computers and ultra-high-resolution imaging systems. (PopSci)
• 13 February
  • A new UN report warns that 24 percent of global land area has declined in productivity over the past 25 years due to unsustainable land-use, and soil erosion rates are about 100 times greater than nature can replenish. (UPI)
  • The European Space Agency successfully conducts the maiden launch of its new Vega rocket, transporting several satellites into orbit, including the first Polish, Hungarian and Romanian satellites. (The Telegraph)
  • BAE Systems engineers unveil a carbon-fiber-based structural battery capable of being integrated into a device's framework, reducing weight while maintaining structural strength and power capacity. (BBC)
• 14 February – In a groundbreaking human trial, American scientists report that damaged heart tissue in heart attack patients can be repaired with infusions of the patient's own stem cells. The treatment halved the amount of extant scar tissue within a year. (BBC)

15 February 2012: Nevada becomes the first US state to release official regulations for the public testing of autonomous cars (prototype autonomous Audi pictured).

• 15 February – Nevada becomes the first US state to allow the testing of autonomous vehicles on US public roadways. (DMV)
• 16 February – The speed at which someone walks may predict their likelihood of developing dementia later in life, according to researchers in the US. (BBC)
• 20 February – Scientists report regenerating Silene stenophylla from 32,000-year-old remains. This surpasses the previous record of 2,000 years for the oldest material used to regenerate a plant. (Washington Post)
• 22 February
  • Scientists have extended the life of male mice by 15%, using an enzyme called SIRT6. (KurzweilAI)
  • Engineers at Stanford reveal a wirelessly powered, self-propelled medical device that can travel through the bloodstream to deliver drugs, perform diagnostics or microsurgeries. (Science Daily)
  • NASA reports the detection of the solid form of buckyballs (buckminsterfullerene) in deep space.
• 26 February
  • Researchers publish the first images of the charge distribution in a single molecule, precisely showing the motion of electrons. The observed distribution apparently corresponds closely with predictive models. (BBC)
  • It may be possible to one day create an "unlimited" supply of human eggs to aid fertility treatment, US doctors say. (BBC)
• 27 February
  • Scottish research has shown it could be possible to reverse the muscle damage seen in children with a form of motor neurone disease, using a drug to boost levels of a key protein. (BBC)
  • The remains of two new species of prehistoric penguin are discovered – Kairuku grebneffi and Kairuku waitaki. Standing nearly 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, Kairuku grebneffi is the largest penguin ever discovered. (Discovery)
• 28 February
  • IBM announces a breakthrough in quantum computing, demonstrating a qubit microchip that can preserve its quantum states up to four times longer than previous designs. (IBM) (KurzweilAI)
  • Researchers estimate that Tyrannosaurus rex's bite force could exceed 57,000 newtons, more than three times that of a great white shark. (Telegraph)

March

7 March 2012: scientists sequence the genome of the Western gorilla.

• 1 March – New research concludes that the Earth's oceans may be growing more acidic at a faster rate than at any time in the past 300 million years. (MSNBC)
• 2 March
  • A cheap antibiotic usually used to treat acne could alleviate the symptoms of schizophrenia, international studies have found. (Daily Mail)
  • A NASA spacecraft has detected oxygen around one of Saturn's icy moons, Dione. (BBC)
  • Meta-analysis of 42 previous studies concludes that some consumption of chocolate may be good for the heart. (Reuters)
• 5 March – A study finds a correlation between snoring as a toddler and behavior problems later in childhood. (BBC)
• 7 March
  • Physicists from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory report data suggesting that the elusive hypothesized Higgs boson ("God particle", with a mass of 115 to 135 GeV/c²) may have been detected.^[7][8]
  • Scientists successfully decode the gorilla genome, the last of the Great Ape genuses to be sequenced. (BBC)
• 8 March
  • A study suggests that donor stem cells may prevent organ rejection in imperfectly matched transplant cases. (LA Times)
  • The international Daya Bay neutrino experiment announces the discovery of a new type of neutrino oscillation
• 9 March – US researchers have made a breakthrough in curing AIDS, using a cancer drug to attack HIV in its hardest-to-reach places, inside certain immune-system cells. (Bloomberg)
• 12 March
  • Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) have made a breakthrough in 3D printing, with a machine that can print at the nano-scale and is orders of magnitude faster than previous devices. (Science Daily)
  • A diet high in red meat can shorten life expectancy by increasing the risk of death from cancer and heart problems, according to a study of more than 120,000 people by researchers at Harvard Medical School. Substituting red meat with fish, chicken or nuts lowered the risks, the study found. (BBC)
• 13 March
  • A California-based company has developed solar panels that are half the price of today’s cheapest cells, and therefore cheap enough to challenge fossil fuels. (Extreme Tech)
  • Scientists have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome, one of the causes of aging and degenerative diseases. (Medical Xpress)

15 March 2012: scientists send the first coherent message using neutrinos (first recorded neutrino event pictured).

• 14 March
  • A fly species, kept in complete darkness for 57 years (1,400 generations), showed genetic alterations that occurred as a result of environmental conditions, offering clear evidence of evolution. (PlosOne)
  • A pill which doubles the length of time that patients with advanced skin cancer can survive has gone on sale in Britain for the first time. (Telegraph)
  • America's coastlines are even more vulnerable to sea level rise than previously thought, according to a pair of new studies. Up to 32% more real estate could be affected by a 1-meter rise in sea level, while the population exposed to rising water is 87% higher than previously estimated. (Christian Science Monitor)
  • A process to "unprint" toner ink from paper has been developed by engineers at the University of Cambridge, using short laser pulses to erase words and images. (The Royal Society) (BBC)
• 15 March – American scientists use a particle accelerator to send a coherent neutrino message through 780 feet of rock. This marks the first use of neutrinos for communication, and future research may permit binary neutrino messages to be sent immense distances through even the densest materials, such as the Earth's core. (PopSci)
• 16 March – Physicists found no discernible difference between the speed of a neutrino and the speed of light in latest test of the faster-than-light neutrino anomaly.^[12][13][14]
• 18 March
  • Researchers have identified why a mutation in a particular gene can lead to obesity. (BBC)
  • NEC has developed "organic radical battery" (ORB) technology with a thickness of just 0.3mm. (PhysOrg)
• 19 March
  • Even if humankind manages to limit global warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F), as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommends, future generations will have to deal with sea levels 12 to 22 meters (40 to 70 feet) higher than at present, according to research published in the journal Geology. (Rutgers press release)
  • Researchers at the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute (Japan) have developed a way to create full-color holograms with the aid of surface plasmons. (PhysOrg)
  • The amount of photovoltaic solar panels installed in the US more than doubled from 2010 to 2011, according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research. (PhysOrg)
  • Seagate claims it has paved the way for 3.5-inch hard drives with 60TB capacities, after breaking the 1TB/square inch density threshold. (PC Pro)

19 March 2012: researchers report that the number of solar panels in the United States more than doubled between 2010 and 2011.

• 20 March
  • Astronomers have discovered the first known rectangular-shaped galaxy: LEDA 074886. (Technology Review)
  • New analysis by MIT shows that there is enough room underground to safely store at least a century’s worth of U.S. fossil fuel emissions. (MIT)
• 24 March – Humans hunted Australia's giant vertebrates to extinction about 40,000 years ago, the latest research published in Science has concluded. (BBC)
• 25 March
  • Global temperatures could rise by 3.0°C (5.4°F) by 2050, a new computer simulation has suggested. (BBC)
  • Canadian film director James Cameron reaches the Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in Earth's oceans, in the Deepsea Challenger submersible. Cameron is the first person to visit the Deep, which is located in the Pacific Mariana Trench, since 1960.^[15]
  • Physicists report that the largest molecules yet tested (molecules containing 58 or 114 atoms) also demonstrate quantum wave behavior using the classic double-slit experiment.
• 28 March – NASA announces the name of the Martian mountain, Mount Sharp, that the Mars Science Laboratory rover (also known as "Curiosity") will explore after its planned landing in Gale Crater on 6 August 2012.^[20][21][22]
• 29 March
  • "Solar tornadoes" several times as wide as the Earth have been observed in the Sun's atmosphere by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly telescope on board NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite. (PhysOrg)
  • Scientists have revealed the most detailed picture of the Milky Way galaxy ever produced, with over a billion stars visible in a mosaic combined from thousands of individual images. (BBC) (The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh)
  • New scanning technology has revealed that the human brain possesses an astonishingly simple 3D grid structure, with sheets of parallel neuronal fibers crossing one another at right angles. (MedicalXpress)

April

5 April 2012: the Large Hadron Collider completes a landmark energy upgrade.

• 2 April – The British Army announces the development of a conductive smart fabric for infantry uniforms. The fabric, which should enter widespread service by 2015, will eliminate the need for heavy, vulnerable power cables, making soldiers' electronics safer, cheaper and more durable. (BBC)
• 4 April
  • A new, detailed record of past climate change has shown compelling evidence that the last ice age was ended by a rise in temperature driven by an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. The key result from the new study is that it shows the carbon dioxide rise during this major transition ran slightly ahead of increases in global temperature. (BBC)
  • Austrian and Japanese researchers unveil solar cells that are thinner than a thread of spider silk, and flexible enough to be wrapped around a single human hair. (PhysOrg)
  • American researchers begin a new project, funded by the National Science Foundation, to develop printable robots that can be designed and made to order by the average person in less than 24 hours. The project, which is hoped to come to fruition by 2020, could allow any individual to cheaply build automated tools for any task in their own home. (BBC)
• 5 April
  • Dutch and American researchers report that they have created a working quantum computer out of diamond, using the diamond's natural impurities as superimposed qubits to perform calculations. (Wired)
  • Google unveils Project Glass, which aims to develop augmented reality glasses capable of layering information such as email, real-time traffic updates and video calls over a user's field of vision. (Herald Sun)
  • The Large Hadron Collider re-enters operation after an energy upgrade. It now has a total collision energy of 8 trillion electronvolts, a major increase over its pre-upgrade energy of 7 TeV. (The Guardian)
• 6 April – An international team of researchers reports that a new, drug-resistant strain of malaria has emerged on the Thai-Cambodian border, potentially threatening global efforts to contain the disease. (MNT)
• 8 April – American scientists reveal that transparent graphene sheets can be used to encapsulate liquids for study by electron microscopes. The discovery will greatly ease the accurate imaging of liquids at micro- and nanoscales. (BBC)
• 10 April – The Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest private funders of scientific research, states that it is launching a new online journal to promote the free sharing of scientific papers. The new journal, titled eLife, is part of a widespread push for open access to scientific research, and will compel researchers to make their work freely available online. (The Guardian)
• 12 April
  • A team of researchers from France's Laboratoire Univers et Théorie releases the first ever computer model simulation of the structure of the entire observable universe, from the Big Bang to the present day. The simulation has made it possible to follow the evolution of 550 billion individual particles. (CNRS)
  • A new report reveals that the United States invested more in renewable energy technology in 2011 than any other nation, totalling US$48 billion. China was the second-largest investor, spending US$45.5 billion on renewables. Worldwide, the combined investment in renewables reached an all-time high, at US$236 billion. (BBC)
  • German physicists develop the world's first universal quantum computing network, linking two laboratories using entangled rubidium atoms as network nodes. (Nature)
  • An international team of researchers has used new, massively parallel DNA sequencing technology to fast-track the discovery of a breast cancer risk gene, XRCC2. (Asian Scientist)
  • DARPA, the US military's advanced research agency, offers a US$2 million prize to any team who can independently develop a rescue robot capable of multiple tasks, including climbing ladders, clearing obstacles, using power tools and driving cars. (International Business Times)
  • After studying 40 years of medical records, Swedish scientists state that sufferers of Huntington's disease are around 50% less likely to develop cancer than those without the disease. Further study may reveal the genetic mechanism behind this resistance, allowing new cancer treatments to be developed. (Cancer Research UK)
  • The United Kingdom reports that it is considering the installation of undersea power cables to allow its National Grid to draw clean energy from Iceland's volcanoes. (Energy Live News)
  • Scientists report that complexity analysis studies of the Labeled Release experiments of the 1976 Viking mission to Mars may suggest the detection of "extant microbial life on Mars."

12 April 2012: German scientists create the world's first quantum computing network using entangled rubidium atoms (rubidium sample shown).

• 13 April
  • North Korea's Unha-3 orbital rocket disintegrates in mid-flight over the Yellow Sea, destroying its payload, the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 satellite. Analysts fear that the failed launch may raise the likelihood of North Korea conducting another nuclear weapons test. (The Telegraph)
  • German scientists develop a fiber-based "earthquake-proof" wallpaper capable of reinforcing masonry and delaying building collapses during violent quakes. The invention could save lives by giving people more time to flee from collapsing buildings. (NZ Herald)
  • The Pentagon places an order for advanced dual-focus contact lenses, designed to give soldiers greater visual awareness, in tandem with a new HUD system. The technology may enter the civilian market by 2014. (BBC via SmartPlanet)
  • Dutch scientists report that they have found evidence of the existence of the Majorana fermion, a particle that is its own antiparticle. The existence of the Majorana was first theorized by the Italian scientist Ettore Majorana in the 1930s. (BBC)
  • Researchers at UCLA announce that they have genetically engineered stem cells to seek out and kill HIV in mice. (The Advocate) (Medical Daily) (NBC Los Angeles)
• 15 April – Researchers claim that new satellite imagery shows an increase in the mass of some glaciers in Asia's Karakoram mountain range. This data contrasts with the wider global trend of glacial melting. (BBC)
• 16 April – A new treatment for prostate cancer can rid the disease from nine in ten men without debilitating side effects, a study has found. (The Telegraph)
• 17 April – It is revealed that the Chinese and American militaries have been conducting informal war games together to help prevent military escalation in the event of a future cyber war. (Sydney Morning Herald)
• 18 April – Researchers at the American National Institutes of Health demonstrate a nanotechnology-based drug treatment which can successfully alleviate some symptoms of cerebral palsy (CP). The drug, which was tested in rabbits, caused a dramatic improvement of the movement disorders and brain inflammation that are characteristic of many cases of CP. (Science Daily)

19 April 2012: international researchers develop synthetic DNA compounds.

• 19 April
  • A landmark study by British and Canadian scientists reveals that breast cancer can be subdivided into ten distinct types, with its aggressiveness determined by certain genes. The new data may make breast cancer diagnoses much more precise, and allow cancer treatments to be more effectively tailored to each patient. (The Guardian)
  • British and American scientists successfully develop synthetic DNA compounds, dubbed "XNA", which demonstrate evolution when faced with selective pressure. (National Geographic)
  • British researchers identify key genes that "switch off" as the human body ages. These genes may be targeted by future anti-aging therapies. (Science Daily)
• 20 April
  • Scientists say the notoriously dry continent of Africa is sitting on a vast reservoir of groundwater. (BBC)
  • A NASA-backed group of universities begins testing a GPS-derived earthquake warning system. The system, which uses satellite data to track seismic activity in real-time, may allow accurate earthquake and tsunami warnings to be issued up to ten times faster than is currently possible. (Nature)
  • After three years of development, IBM reveals a new, ultra-lightweight lithium-air battery, offering greater energy density than any current lithium-ion battery. The new battery may permit the production of electric vehicles with far greater range and battery life than current models. (ExtremeTech)
• 21 April – Scientists at Chicago's Northwestern University successfully trial a brain-computer interface capable of restoring naturalistic muscle movements in paralyzed rhesus monkeys. It is hoped the invention will eventually be approved to treat paralytic or brain-damaged humans. (ExtremeTech)
• 22 April – Intel Corporation releases its new Ivy Bridge microprocessors – the world's first commercial 22 nanometer microchips, featuring increased processing power and energy efficiency. (BBC)
• 24 April – Planetary Resources, a startup company backed by Google billionaires Larry Page and Eric Schmidt and film director James Cameron, announces plans to develop technology to survey and mine asteroids for minerals by 2020. The company plans to launch the first element of its project, a network of orbital surveying telescopes, by 2014. (BBC)

27 April 2012: engine precooler tests begin for Reaction Engines' Skylon spaceplane design (artist's impression pictured).

• 26 April
  • Australian scientists develop a multi-layered, silica-based hydrophobic coating with greater durability than previous such coatings. The invention may be used to make self-cleaning fabrics and antibacterial medical equipment. (BBC)
  • Researchers develop a crystalline quantum computer, composed of just 300 atoms, that theoretically is so powerful that it would take a conventional computer the size of the known universe to match it. (ABC)
  • Scientists report that lichen survived over 34 days under Martian conditions in the Mars Simulation Laboratory (MSL) maintained by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).^[25][26]
• 27 April
  • Researchers identify 53 key neurons in the brains of homing pigeons which may explain how the birds navigate using Earth's geomagnetic field. (New Scientist)
  • The British company Reaction Engines begins testing the advanced engine precooler system intended for its reusable Skylon spaceplane. If the tests are successful, the hybrid-rocket Skylon – designed to vastly reduce the cost of orbital spaceflight – may begin flying cargo to Earth's orbit by 2020. (BBC)

May

6 May 2012: scientists develop a drug capable of preventing the breakdown of cerebral protein production, potentially offering a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease (cerebral plaques pictured).

• 1 May
  • Scientists report that a new genetic test could diagnose the risk of breast cancer years before the disease actually develops, allowing much more effective early treatment. (Daily Mail) (BBC)
  • French researchers successfully create silicene, a one-atom-thick sheet of silicon that is analogous to the much-vaunted graphene. Silicene is theorized to retain silicon's excellent semiconductor properties even at extremely small scales, and could allow the simple mass production of efficient nanoscale computers. (PopSci)
• 2 May – The European Space Agency selects the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE) proposal for its next major space exploration program. The robotic JUICE probe, which is planned to launch in 2022, will conduct in-depth studies of the Jovian moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede. (BBC)
• 3 May – In the United Kingdom's first successful ocular implant trial, two men blinded by retinitis pigmentosa have their sight partially restored by prototype microchip implants. (The Telegraph)
• 6 May – British researchers report that they have successfully extended the lifespans of mice suffering from prion diseases by preventing the breakdown of protein production in the brain. This breakthrough could allow the development of a single drug able to tackle a wide range of brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
• 8 May – Claire Lomas, a paralyzed British woman, becomes the first person to complete a marathon using a bionic mobility suit. The ReWalk suit allowed her to complete the London Marathon in 16 days. (The Guardian)
• 9 May – A detailed design is released for a practical artificial leaf – a potentially revolutionary milestone in the development of sustainable energy. (Science Daily) (ACS)
• 11 May
  • American researchers report that preventable infections are the leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Of the 7.6 million children who died before their fifth birthday in 2010, over 60% died of infections such as pneumonia. (BBC)
  • Scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China use quantum teleportation to transmit photons over a distance of 97 kilometres (60 mi) – a world record. The teleportation method, which utilises quantum entanglement to transfer information between points without crossing the intervening space, could allow the development of ultra-secure satellite communications. (PopSci) (Technology Review)

20 May 2012: an annular solar eclipse occurs (eclipse photograph from Wolfforth, Texas, shown).

• 12 May – Scientists refute the theory that sex-linked chromosomes, such as the male Y chromosome, will become extinct. A new study shows that, although such chromosomes have shrunk and lost genetic material, they remain crucially important predictors of fertility. (Science Daily)
• 13 May – Researchers claim that there is a strong correlation between the loss of biodiversity and the disappearance of endangered languages and cultures. (BBC)
• 14 May
  • Researchers extend the lifespan of mice by 24%, using gene therapy applied when the mice were adults. The success of the technique, which involved inducing cells to produce more of the enzyme telomerase, suggests that adult life extension is feasible. (Science Daily)
  • Scientists grow healthy bone from human embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough could allow much quicker and easier bone grafts for human patients. (Science Daily)
  • Scientists at California's Stanford University invent a working bionic eye powered only by focused light. Though currently a prototype, the device could eventually restore the sight of millions of people suffering from eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. (BBC)
• 15 May
  • The United States announces a national plan to develop an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease by 2025. (BBC)
  • American scientists develop a device which uses genetically engineered viruses to generate electricity. The invention could allow the development of ubiquitous piezoelectric micro-generators which gather energy from everyday vibrations such as closing doors. (BBC)
• 16 May
  • American surgeons successfully restore hand function to a partly paralyzed man using a pioneering nerve transfer technique. Following the surgery and subsequent physiotherapy, the patient – who entirely lost the use of his hands in a car accident – can now feed himself and even write with some assistance. (iAfrica.com)
  • Japanese scientists develop a wireless data transmission system which operates in the currently unregulated terahertz frequency spectrum. The system can transmit data at a rate of 3 Gbps, a record for wireless data transmission; it could potentially be upgraded to transmit at 100 Gbit/s. (ExtremeTech)
  • The USGS and IAU officially name areas of Mars, including Aeolis Mons, Aeolis Palus and Robert Sharp Crater, relevant to the planned landing of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on 6 August 2012.

25 May 2012: SpaceX's Dragon becomes the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station.

• 20 May – An annular solar eclipse takes place. (BBC)
• 22 May – American researchers demonstrate a rewritable DNA memory capable of storing digital data. (HealthTechZone)
• 23 May – In a breakthrough for adult stem cell therapy, Israeli scientists grow healthy heart muscle cells from the skin cells of patients. This development could offer a new treatment for heart failure patients. (BBC)
• 25 May
  • SpaceX's unmanned Dragon spacecraft completes a successful rendezvous with the International Space Station, becoming the first commercial spacecraft ever to do so.^[28] (BBC) (Wall Street Journal)
  • South Africa, Australia and New Zealand agree to co-host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world's largest single radio telescope project. The SKA, which will comprise thousands of individual antennae with a combined signal-collecting area of 1 square kilometre (1,000,000 m²), is expected to begin operations by 2025. (BBC)
  • American researchers develop a cloaking device capable of slowing light to a virtual halt within an array of 25,000 microscopic lenses. (BBC)
  • Archeologists discover 42,000-year-old bone flutes in a German cave – the oldest musical instruments yet discovered. (Daily Mail)
• 29 May
  • A "road train" of wirelessly-linked autonomous vehicles successfully completes a 200-kilometre (120 mi) motorway journey, in Spain's first public test of autonomous vehicles. (BBC)
  • Iran claims to have developed antivirus software capable of defending against the powerful Flame cyberweapon, which has infected computer networks across the Middle East. (BBC)
• 30 May
  • Scientists successfully sequence the tomato genome, and state that tastier and more pesticide-resistant tomato varieties can be engineered for commercial use within five years. (BBC) (Reuters)
  • Geologists report that supervolcanoes can develop much faster than previously suspected – erupting within just a few hundred years of their formation, instead of tens of thousands of years. (BBC)

30 May 2012: the tomato genome is fully sequenced by international researchers.

• 31 May
  • SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft returns to Earth following its successful test mission to the International Space Station. (BBC) (Daily Mail)
  • Scientists develop a nanotechnology-based immunoassay test which is potentially three million times more sensitive than conventional tests. The new test could revolutionise the early detection of maladies such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. (Science Daily)
  • The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) officially names synthetic elements 114 and 116 "flerovium" and "livermorium", respectively. (AP via Las Vegas Sun)
  • Sharp Corporation develops a solar cell with the highest solar energy conversion efficiency yet achieved. A conversion efficiency of 43.5% was obtained by using a concentrator triple-junction compound cell, combining a focusing lens with multiple layers of light-absorbing compounds. (Photonics Online)

June

• 1 June
  • In a major milestone for neuroscience, researchers publicly release the first installment of data from their project to construct the first whole-brain wiring diagram of a vertebrate brain, that of a mouse. (KurzweilAI)
  • Scientists publish the results of a successful neurorehabilitation study, in which paralysed rats regained the ability to walk and even sprint after receiving targeted electrochemical therapy. The rats' damaged spinal cords were stimulated with chemicals and implanted electrodes, and a robotic assistive harness was used to "teach" the rats to walk again. (Science Daily) (BBC)
  • Australian researchers publish a new study revealing how the zebrafish heals its spinal cord after injury. According to the study, a specialised protein prevents paralysing glial scars forming when zebrafish suffer spinal cord damage. It is hoped that this protein may be exploited for the treatment of paralysed humans. (Sci-News)
• 4 June – A partial lunar eclipse takes place. (MSNBC)
• 5 June
  • American glass manufacturer Corning Inc. unveils an ultra-thin, flexible glass dubbed "Willow Glass". The invention, which is similar to Corning's widely-used Gorilla Glass, could be used in the development of flexible computer displays and ultra-thin smartphones. (BBC)
  • The solar-powered Solar Impulse aircraft lands in Morocco after a 19-hour flight from Spain, marking the first intercontinental flight of a purely solar-powered aircraft. (Reuters)

5–6 June 2012: a transit of Venus, the last such event until 2117, occurs (transit image from Minneapolis shown).

• 5–6 June – A transit of Venus, one of the rarest predictable astronomical phenomena, occurs. Another such transit will not occur until the year 2117.
• 6 June
  • An international group of scientists warns that population growth, widespread destruction of natural ecosystems, and climate change may be driving the Earth toward an irreversible change in the biosphere – a planet-wide "tipping point". (Science Daily)
  • Scientists at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet achieve a breakthrough in creating a new vaccine, CAD106, for Alzheimer's disease. (Karolinska Institutet)
  • IPv6, a new version of the Internet Protocol, is officially launched, offering trillions of possible new web addresses. (PCWorld) (YouTube)
  • Wales becomes the first nation in the world to have its plants DNA barcoded. A tiny fragment of leaf, seed or root, or even a single pollen grain, can now be used to identify species. (plos one)
  • German scientists develop zeolite thermal storage pellets that can store four times as much thermal energy as water, and can retain their energy almost indefinitely. (ExtremeTech) (AZO Cleantech)
• 7 June
  • According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature for the contiguous United States during May 2012 was 64.3°F, 3.3°F above the long-term average, making it the second-warmest May on record. The month's high temperatures also contributed to the warmest spring, warmest year-to-date, and warmest 12-month period the United States has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895. (Science Daily)
  • Scientists at the University of Washington successfully sequence the genome of an 18-week-old human fetus in the womb by taking blood samples from the mother. In future, millions of children could be safely screened for genetic disorders in this way. (BBC)
  • The US Naval Research Laboratory has developed a form of underwater solar energy. (NRL)
  • A team of New Zealand scientists report that measuring the ratio of hydrogen and methane levels on the planet Mars may help determine the likelihood of life on Mars.^[30][31] According to the scientists, "...low H₂/CH₄ ratios (less than approximately 40) indicate that life is likely present and active."^[30] Related, but in a separate study, a team of Netherland scientists associated with MIT reported methods of detecting hydrogen and methane in extraterrestrial atmospheres.^[32][33]
• 8 June
  • American researchers report that they have successfully developed a key insulation technology required for the ITER nuclear fusion demonstration reactor. (PhysOrg)
  • American scientists build a tabletop-sized X-ray laser, vastly smaller and cheaper than most such devices. The invention could permit ultra-high-resolution imaging of microscopic structures such as living cells. (BBC)
  • British researchers begin trialling "smart" hand pumps equipped with transmitters that can immediately detect and report mechanical breakdowns. This will allow vital water pumps to be fixed much more quickly in rural Africa. (BBC)
  • Japanese researchers grow a tiny, functioning human liver from stem cells. (Yahoo)

13 June 2012: scientists publish the complete genome of the bonobo (female pictured).

• 10 June
  • Canadian scientists develop a new method of accurately visualising complex protein interactions. The development could have broad implications for the biomedical and bioengineering sciences, including the design of functional bionanomachines. (Science Daily)
  • British researchers begin a project to build a catalog of exceptionally detailed 3D photographs of ant species. (BBC)
• 11 June
  • The European Extremely Large Telescope is approved for construction by member states of the European Southern Observatory organization. (BBC)
• 12 June
  • Scientists unveil a new porous metal-organic framework, NOTT-202, capable of capturing and storing excess carbon dioxide within its structure. (BBC)
  • An extensive study concludes that several factors aligned to cause the extinction of wooly mammoths. (Live Science)
  • The WHO concludes that diesel exhaust exposure can cause cancer.^[34] (BBC)
  • A123 Systems develops an improved version of its lithium-ion battery cells, potentially lowering the cost of electric vehicles. (Technology Review)
• 13 June
  • NASA successfully launches its NuSTAR X-ray space telescope. (The Register)
  • Scientists fully decode the bonobo genome. (BBC)
• 14 June
  • Swedish surgeons implant a patient with a working lab-grown vein created with the patient's own stem cells. (BBC) (Daily Mail)
  • Chinese researchers report that fields of GM crops can be beneficial to nearby non-GM plants by encouraging the proliferation of beneficial predator insects, which reduce the need for pesticides. (New Scientist)
  • Examples of cave art in Spain are dated to around 38,000 BC, making them the oldest examples of art yet discovered in Europe. Scientists theorize that the paintings may have been made by Neanderthals, rather than by homo sapiens. (BBC)
  • 2012 LZ1, a large near-Earth asteroid, passes by the planet. (National Geographic)
  • Physical activity levels are declining worldwide, a trend that raises major health concerns, according to a new study. (Wiley)
• 15 June
  • American scientists report a possible genetic link between diabetes and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. (BBC)
  • NASA scientists report that Voyager 1 may be very close to entering interstellar space and becoming the first human-made object to leave the Solar System.

16 June 2012: China launches its manned Shenzhou 9 spacecraft (Long March 2F launch vehicle shown).

• 16 June
  • China successfully launches the manned Shenzhou 9 spacecraft on a mission to the Tiangong-1 space station module. Shenzhou 9 carries a crew of three, including China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang. (BBC) (Xinhua)
  • The United States Air Force's robotic Boeing X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth after a successful 469-day orbital mission. (Space.com)
• 18 June – Researchers design a robot that can outperform humans in identifying a wide range of natural materials according to their textures. The invention paves the way for advancements in prostheses, personal assistive robots and consumer product testing. (Science Daily)
• 19 June – Men who are heavy tea drinkers may be more likely to develop prostate cancer, according to new research. (BBC)
• 20 June
  • Engineers build a working 50-gigapixel camera by synchronizing 98 tiny cameras in a single device. (PhysOrg)
  • Renewable energy sources can fill 80 percent of American electricity demand by 2050, according to a new report. (PhysOrg) (NREL)
• 21 June
  • Scientists develop the world's first magnetic emulsion, based on magnetic surfactant molecules. The invention could be used to clean up oil spills or even guide medicines through human blood vessels. (BBC)
  • 2.8-million-year-old climate data is reconstructed from sediment cores recovered from Lake El’gygytgyn, Russia. The data is considerably older than the 800,000-year-old ice cores found in the Antarctic. (Ars Technica) (Science)
• 23 June – 100 years after the birth of English cryptanalyst and computer pioneer Alan Turing, British experts cast doubt on the long-held notion that Turing's death was a suicide. (BBC)
• 24 June
  • China successfully completes its first manual orbital rendezvous, as the manned Shenzhou 9 spacecraft docks with the Tiangong-1 module without the assistance of automated docking systems. (BBC)
  • Rates of sea level rise are increasing three-to-four times faster along portions of the U.S. Atlantic Coast than globally, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report published in Nature Climate Change.(USGS)
• 26 June – The discovery of a new mineral, panguite, is announced, with samples found in the Allende meteorite.
• 27 June
  • Physicists collide gold ions together to produce a quark-gluon plasma, similar to that which existed in the first instant after the Big Bang. In doing so, they momentarily produce what Guinness World Records reports is the highest man-made temperature ever: 4 trillion degrees Celsius (7.2 trillion degrees Fahrenheit). (Los Angeles Times)
  • Scientists develop a new, high-precision method for modifying organic compounds with new active molecules, easing the development of new medicines. (Science Daily)
  • Scientists associated with Johns Hopkins University report that early humans, such as Australopithecus sediba, may have lived in savannas but ate fruit and other foods from the forest – behavior similar to modern-day savanna chimpanzees.^[38][39][40]
• 28 June – An international team of astronomers discovers evidence that our Milky Way had an encounter with a small galaxy or massive dark matter structure perhaps as recently as 100 million years ago, and as a result of that encounter it is still ringing like a bell. (Queens University)

29 June 2012: scientists develop an fMRI brain scanner which allows paralyzed people to communicate using thought alone (fMRI images shown).

• 29 June
  • American researchers demonstrate "paint-on" batteries, composed of active layers just 0.5 mm thick, capable of being spray-painted onto almost any surface. The technology could allow for the creation of lighter, more flexible electronic devices with a wide range of form factors. (BBC)
  • Dutch and German scientists unveil a new brain-scanning functional magnetic resonance imaging device that allows paralyzed people to type out words using only their thoughts. (BBC) (LiveScience)
  • Scientists discover the remains of an enormous, 3-billion-year-old impact near the Maniitsoq region of West Greenland, a billion years older than any other known collision on Earth. (Daily Galaxy)

July

• 1 July – The London Symphony Orchestra performs a musical composition created without human input by the Iamus computer. (The Guardian)
• 2 July
  • American researchers use a 3D printer to build a sugar framework for growing an artificial liver. The sugar structure simulates a human vascular system, allowing artificial blood vessels to be grown to support the liver. (BBC) (Times of India)
  • Scientists use ultrasound to display 3D video on a modified liquid soap membrane, creating the world's thinnest transparent video display. (BBC)
  • Graphene sheets with precisely controlled pores can purify water more efficiently than existing methods, according to scientists at MIT. (MIT)
  • Scientists report that indirect evidence supporting the existence of the Higgs boson has been found.^[41] (Reuters) (The Guardian)
• 3 July
  • Researchers photograph the shadow of a single atom for the first time. (Science Daily)
  • A study led by Kansas State University discovers a new quantum state, which allows three, but not two, atoms to stick together. (Science Daily)
• 4 July
  • CERN physicists announce the discovery of a particle consistent with the standard model's Higgs boson at a "5 sigma" level of significance, indicating that there is only one chance in 3.5 million that they are mistaken.^[42][43][44] (BBC)
  • American scientists develop an electrically-conductive gel that can easily be printed onto surfaces with a standard inkjet printer, allowing the rapid and simple production of a wide range of electronics. (Science Daily)
  • Researchers have identified seven genetic markers linked with a woman's breast size, according to a new study. (Yahoo)

4 July 2012: CERN scientists report the discovery of a particle with significant similarities to the Higgs boson (Higgs collision signature shown).

• 6 July
  • UCLA engineers develop an ultra-high-speed optical microscope capable of quickly and reliably identifying cancer cells in human blood, paving the way for faster, cheaper and more reliable cancer diagnoses. (R&D Magazine)
  • Scientists construct the most biologically-accurate robotic legs yet built, closely mimicking the motion of human leg muscles. (BBC)
• 7 July – Non-human animals including all mammals and birds, and many other creatures including octopuses possess consciousness, according to the new Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness. (Scientific American)
• 9 July
  • Scientists discover a new molecule that could potentially make teeth cavity-proof. (Gizmodo)
  • Scientists have, for the first time, directly detected part of the invisible dark matter "scaffolding" of the universe, where more than half of all matter is believed to reside. (University of Michigan)
• 10 July
  • A new biofuel production process created by Michigan State University researchers produces energy more than 20 times higher than existing methods. (Science Daily)
  • In two new scientific articles, researchers refute NASA's claims that bacteria can successfully incorporate arsenic into their DNA. (Chemistry World)
  • American scientists develop an electrode-based T-shirt capable of charging cellphones on the move. (BBC)
  • It is reported that staying seated for long periods of time can reduce the human lifespan, unless mitigated by regular strenuous exercise. (The Guardian)
• 11 July
  • New research from the University of Manchester indicates that graphene – already noted for its strength and conductivity – is capable of repairing its structure without human assistance by absorbing loose carbon atoms from its vicinity. (Gizmodo) (BBC)
  • NASA's Cassini space probe images a huge gaseous vortex shrouding the south pole of Saturn's moon Titan. (BBC)
  • Virgin Galactic unveils its privately-developed satellite launch vehicle, LauncherOne, and confirms that its SpaceShipTwo spaceplane will soon begin powered test flights. (Virgin Galactic)
  • The Hubble Space Telescope discovers a fifth moon of the dwarf planet Pluto. (Hubble Site)
• 13 July – A new survey shows that lemurs are far more threatened by extinction than previously thought. (BBC)
• 15 July – It is reported that Dracunculiasis, also called guinea worm disease (GWD), is on the verge of being wiped out – becoming only the second human disease after smallpox to be eradicated. (Scientific American)
• 16 July – A major milestone in HIV prevention is reached, as the FDA approves an existing drug, Truvada, for uninfected adults at high risk of acquiring the disease. (Medical News Today) (FDA)
• 19 July
  • An iceberg twice as large as Manhattan reportedly breaks off from Greenland's Petermann Glacier. (BBC)
  • A new nanoparticle coating with self-repairing surface functionality has been developed. The coating uses polymer stalks tipped with functional compounds to repair surface damage. (Science Daily) (BBC)
• 20 July
  • A giant potable aquifer is discovered in Namibia, potentially offering enough drinkable water to sustain the country for centuries. (BBC)
  • Using mice, researchers have grown sweat glands from newly-identified stem cells. (Science Daily)

15 July 2012: The parasitic disease Dracunculiasis (extraction of a causative guinea worm pictured) is reportedly close to being eradicated.

• 23 July
  • American scientists create an artificial jellyfish out of silicone and lab-grown heart cells. The construct is capable of swimming in a similar manner to real jellyfish when stimulated with an electric current. (BBC)
  • Researchers report that 14% of British stomach cancer cases could be prevented by reducing public salt intakes. (The Guardian)
• 25 July
  • Satellite data reveals that 97% of Greenland's ice is undergoing a thaw, the greatest level of ice melt ever recorded on the landmass. (NBC News)
  • A rift in the Antarctic rock as deep as the Grand Canyon is increasing ice melt from the continent, researchers say. (BBC)
  • The International Space Station's Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument reports that it has recorded 18 billion cosmic ray events since its installation in 2011. (BBC)
• 26 July
  • The rapid decline in Arctic sea ice is at least 70% due to man-made global warming, according to a new study, and may even be up to 95% caused by humans – a far higher proportion than scientists had previously thought. (The Guardian)
  • Using complex algorithms, researchers have found that pop songs over the last 50 years have become increasingly loud and more bland in terms of the chords, melodies and types of sound used. (Reuters)
  • Using a bone marrow transplant, two men have been "cured" of HIV infection. (NBC News)
  • Ageing termite workers are discovered to use a toxic crystalline structure to "self-destruct", spraying enemy insects with toxins in defence of their termite mounds. (BBC)
  • An American gunsmith produces the world's first functional 3D-printed plastic firearm. (ExtremeTech)
• 27 July
  • In preparation for the beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, British telecom companies create a hugely expanded network infrastructure in the city, including over 1,000 new Wi-Fi hotspots and thirty additional mobile phone masts. (BBC)
  • Swiss scientists claim that Earth's Moon may have been formed in a glancing "hit and run" collision with a large, fast-moving protoplanet. (BBC)
  • Japanese women have fallen behind Hong Kong citizens in life expectancy for the first time in 25 years, dropping from 86.3 years in 2010 to 85.9 years in 2011. This was partly due to the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, according to a report by Japan's health ministry. (BBC) (Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
  • American scientists use microbes to cleanly convert electricity into methane gas, potentially offering a new form of renewable energy. (Science Daily)
• 29 July – Major technology companies predict that as many as 50 billion electronic devices may be wirelessly connected worldwide by 2020, as automated machine-to-machine communication sees increasing use in retail and manufacturing. (New York Times)
• 31 July – People with even minor symptoms of mental illness have a lower life expectancy, according to a large-scale population-based study published in the British Medical Journal. (Science Daily)

August

• 1 August – Researchers claim to have resolved one of the biggest controversies in cancer research – discovering the specific cancer cells that seem to be responsible for the regrowth of tumours. (Nature)

6 August 2012: NASA's Curiosity rover, the largest such spacecraft yet launched, successfully lands on Mars (artist's impression pictured).

• 2 August
  • Scientists in Antarctica announce that they have discovered what appears to be the remains of an ancient rainforest from the early Eocene period buried deep beneath the ice. (Slate) (Discovery News)
  • A study published in Animal Behavior finds that female spiders that cannibalize their mates produce much healthier offspring than non-cannibalizing spiders, supporting a link between sexual cannibalism in the animal kingdom and reproductive success. (BBC)
• 3 August
  • Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has fallen again in the past 12 months, according to preliminary data published by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research. (Guardian)
  • American and Canadian researchers develop a medical spray which uses human skin cells and coagulant proteins to speed up the healing of open wounds such as leg ulcers. In medical trials, the "skin spray" proved over 20% more effective than other ulcer treatments. (BBC)
• 6 August
  • NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission successfully lands Curiosity, the largest Mars rover yet built,^[45] in Mars' Gale Crater. (Los Angeles Times) (BBC)
  • Papua New Guinea's government has approved the world's first commercial deep-sea mining project, despite strong environmental concerns. (The Guardian)
• 8 August
  • Anthropologists in northern Kenya unearth fossils of a previously unconfirmed species of human that lived approximately 2 million years ago. (BBC)
  • Almost one-quarter of the world’s population lives in regions where groundwater is being used up faster than it can be replenished, concludes a comprehensive global analysis of groundwater depletion published in Nature. (Nature)
• 9 August – American and South Korean engineers build a flexible, worm-like robot that moves by mimicking the contraction of an earthworm. The robot's artificial muscle is based on a nickel-titanium wire that expands and contracts in response to electric currents. It can squeeze through tight spaces and absorb heavy impacts, and could be used in future for covert reconnaissance missions. (BBC)
• 10 August – Engineers successfully test a new algorithm that allows autonomous UAVs to fly through complex structures without requiring GPS navigation. (Science Daily)
• 11 August
  • The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak for 2012, becoming widely visible in the northern hemisphere. (The Guardian)
  • Experts declare the 2012 London Olympics to be the "greenest Olympics ever", praising its use of recycled materials and temporary venues, and noting the improvements made to London's transport infrastructure. (BBC)
  • Sea ice in the Arctic is disappearing at a far greater rate than previously expected, according to data from the first purpose-built satellite launched to study the thickness of the Earth's polar caps. (The Guardian)
• 12 August – Scientists discover a single genetic switch that triggers the loss of brain connections in humans, and also causes depression in animal models. The findings could lead to more effective antidepressant therapies. (Science Daily)

14 August 2012: Boeing's X-51 hypersonic scramjet prototype (pictured in launch configuration) is destroyed following a test flight malfunction.

• 13 August
  • South Korean researchers develop a cheap electronic ink based on tiny rectennas, capable of transmitting data over short distances. The printable invention could potentially revolutionise the field of augmented reality. (BBC)
  • A new class of polymers has been discovered that are resistant to bacterial attachment. These new materials could lead to a significant reduction in hospital infections and medical device failures. (Science Daily)
  • US wind energy reaches 50 gigawatts of capacity. (The Guardian)
• 14 August
  • Boeing's X-51 hypersonic scramjet prototype is destroyed during a powered test flight after a control fin failure. (Fox News)
  • Scientists from Singapore shrink the 1972 Playboy centerfold image of Swedish model Lena Soderberg to the width of a human hair. It is hoped that this new miniaturization method will lead to more efficient watermarks or covert messages. (BBC)
• 15 August – In a major breakthrough, an international team of scientists has proven that addiction to morphine and heroin can be blocked, while at the same time increasing pain relief. (University of Adelaide)
• 16 August
  • Researchers have finally found a compound that may offer the first effective and hormone-free birth control pill for men. (Science Daily)
  • British scientists develop the world's first room-temperature maser, using a crystal of p-Terphenyl to modify a commercial medical laser to produce coherent microwave emissions without the need for expensive magnets and coolant. The maser could be used to develop more sensitive medical scanners and radio telescopes. (BBC)
  • Harvard University scientists develop a flexible, octopus-inspired robot capable of rapidly camouflaging or advertising itself by pumping liquid dyes into channels on its surface. The relatively inexpensive robots could be used in a variety of fields, from surgery to search-and-rescue to covert operations. (BBC)
• 17 August
  • A group of South Korean scientists has reportedly developed a carbon battery for electric vehicles capable of charging up to 120 times faster than standard batteries. (Inhabitat)
  • Researchers have demonstrated a way to potentially "hack into" a person's brain, using BCI technology. (ExtremeTech) (Usenix)
  • Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute successfully store 5.5 petabits of data – around 700 terabytes – in a single gram of DNA, breaking the previous DNA data density record by a thousand times. (ExtremeTech)
• 18 August – Scientists in the United States report that they have found a new family of spiders in the caves of California and Oregon. It is the first such discovery in North America for more than 140 years. (BBC)
• 19 August – Scientists are reportedly close to developing a baldness cure. (The Telegraph)
• 20 August – The first evidence of a planet's destruction by its aging star has been discovered by an international team of astronomers. (Penn State Science)

21 August 2012: a study of major coastal cities asserts that Shanghai (skyline pictured) may be highly vulnerable to large-scale flooding in the near future.

• 21 August
  • MIT researchers report that a genetically-modified organism could turn carbon dioxide or waste products into a gasoline-compatible transportation fuel. (MIT)
  • A new study of nine coastal cities around the world suggests that Shanghai is most vulnerable to serious flooding later this century. (Science Daily)
  • Life in the world's oceans is facing a potential mass extinction, largely due to human activity, say researchers. (Huffington Post)
  • Researchers have developed an "electronic nose" prototype that can detect small quantities of harmful airborne substances. (Science Daily)
  • Scientists have identified the crucial role of a protein called Mof in the epigenetics of stem cells. The protein helps prime stem cells to become specialized cells in mice. (Science Daily)
• 22 August
  • LG Electronics unveils the world's largest commercial ultra-definition TV, boasting four times the resolution of 1080p high-definition screens. (BBC)
  • NASA names the Curiosity rover's Martian landing site "Bradbury Landing", in honour of the American science fiction author Ray Bradbury, who died in June 2012 aged 91.^[46] Meanwhile, Curiosity conducts a successful short-range test drive, proving that its mobility system is in nominal condition. (The Guardian)
  • A large-scale test of smart vehicle data sharing begins in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Over the course of the year-long trial, around 2,800 vehicles will be fitted with vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communications, allowing them to share data about their movements and alert their drivers if they are at risk of collision. Such technology could be used in future to drastically reduce traffic accidents. (BBC)
• 23 August – New research links the origins of Indo-European languages with the spread of farming from Anatolia approximately 8,000-9,500 years ago. (Science Daily)
• 25 August – Researchers discover a promising new drug target for the treatment and prevention of heart failure. (Science Daily)
• 26 August
  • Besse Cooper, at the time the world's oldest living human, celebrates her 116th birthday, becoming one of only eight people in recorded history to indisputably do so. (Loganville-Grayson Patch)
  • Miniature surgical nets could be used to safely extract dangerous blood clots from the brains of stroke patients, potentially alleviating symptoms such as speech loss and paralysis, according to two new medical studies. (BBC)
• 27 August – Young people who smoke cannabis run the risk of a significant and irreversible reduction in their IQ, according to one of the largest cannabis studies ever carried out. (BBC)
• 29 August
  • Scientists report the discovery of two new exoplanets orbiting a binary star – the first such planetary system yet discovered. (Wired)
  • Caloric restriction fails to extend primate lifespan, according to the results of a long-term study. (Extreme Longevity)
  • Large volumes of methane – a potent greenhouse gas – could be locked beneath the Antarctic ice, according to a new study. (BBC) (The Guardian)
  • Better management of agricultural systems could provide enough food for the expected global population of 9 billion by 2050, according to a new study. However, the study ignores factors such as climate change and geopolitics. (Science Daily)
  • A cost analysis of the technologies needed to transport materials into the stratosphere to reduce the amount of sunlight hitting Earth and therefore reduce the effects of global climate change has shown that they are both feasible and affordable. (Science Daily)
  • In a world first, astronomers at Copenhagen University report the detection of a specific sugar molecule, glycolaldehyde, in a distant star system. The molecule was found around the protostellar binary IRAS 16293-2422, which is located 400 light years from Earth.^[47][48] Glycolaldehyde is needed to form ribonucleic acid, or RNA, which is similar in function to DNA. This finding suggests that complex organic molecules may form in stellar systems prior to the formation of planets, eventually arriving on young planets early in their formation.^[49]
• 30 August – South African scientists have claimed that a breakthrough drug cures all strains of malaria. Clinical trials on humans are set to start in 2013. (PopSci)
• 31 August
  • Researchers have successfully performed the first implantation of an early prototype bionic eye with 24 electrodes. (Science Daily)
  • Swedish roboticists begin a crowdsourcing project to collect thousands of 3D Kinect images of household objects which can be used to improve the navigation capabilities of domestic robots. (BBC)

September

• 1 September – When they encounter a fallen bird, western scrub jays call out and gather around the body in a funeral-like display, scientists discover. (BBC)

Predicted and scheduled events

September

• 5 September – NASA's Dawn spacecraft will depart the asteroid 4 Vesta for the dwarf planet Ceres, which it is expected to reach in 2015.^[50][51]

November

• 13 November – A total solar eclipse will take place on 13–14 November.
• 28 November – A penumbral lunar eclipse will take place.

December

• 21 December – Scientists anticipate that none of the predicted cataclysmic events of 21 December 2012 will occur.

Deaths

Sources: The Guardian and The Telegraph

10 March 2012: Frank Sherwood Rowland, a Nobel Prize-winning American chemist, dies aged 84.

January

• 3 January – James F. Crow, American geneticist (b. 1916).
• 6 January – Roger Boisjoly, American rocket engineer (b. 1938).

February

• 19 February – Renato Dulbecco, Italian American virologist, winner of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1914).
• 24 February – Oliver Wrong, British nephrologist (b. 1925).

March

• 10 March – Frank Sherwood Rowland, American atmospheric chemist, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (b. 1927).
• 24 March – Sir Paul Callaghan, New Zealand physicist (b. 1947).

April

• 8 April – Fang Lizhi, Chinese astrophysicist and political activist (b. 1936).
• 20 April – George Cowan, American chemist, Manhattan Project scientist and businessman (b. 1920).
• 29 April – Roland Moreno, Egyptian-born French inventor of the smart card, Légion d'Honneur recipient (b. 1945).^[53]

May

• 12 May
  • Fritz Ursell, German-born British mathematician and fluid mechanics expert (b. 1923).
  • Donald Nicholson, British biochemist (b. 1916).
• 20 May – Eugene Polley, American engineer, inventor of the wireless television remote control (b. 1915).
• 21 May – Alan Thorne, Australian anthropologist (b. 1939).
• 30 May – Sir Andrew Huxley, British physiologist and biophysicist, winner of the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1917).

June

23 July 2012: Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, dies aged 61.

• 7 June
  • Phillip V. Tobias, South African paleoanthropologist (b. 1925).
  • F. Herbert Bormann, American plant ecologist, credited with the discovery of acid rain (b. 1922).
• 13 June – William Standish Knowles, American chemist, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (b. 1917).

July

• 3 July – Sergio Pininfarina, Italian automotive engineer and Senator for life (b. 1926).
• 21 July – Geoffrey Hattersley-Smith, British geologist and glaciologist (b. 1923).
• 23 July – Sally Ride, American physicist and astronaut, first American woman in space. (b. 1951).

August

25 August 2012: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, dies aged 82.

• 3 August – Martin Fleischmann, British chemist and cold fusion theorist (b. 1927).
• 6 August – Sir Bernard Lovell, British physicist and radio astronomer (b. 1913).
• 14 August – Sergei Kapitsa, Russian physicist and TV host (b. 1928).
• 25 August – Neil Armstrong, American astronaut, first human being to set foot upon the Moon (b. 1930).