2017 Year in Review - Science & Technology News

Top events for the nation and the world in 2017

Frog News: Rare Frog Species Captured and Another Species Discovered; On February 4, researchers located and captured specimens of a very rare species of frog that had been feared extinct. The arthroleptis troglodytes, or cave squeaker, is critically endangered, and no specimens had been captured in the last five decades. Scientists announced that they plan to breed the frogs to repopulate them. Two weeks later, on February 21, a scientific survey team working in the Western Ghats mountain range discovered seven new species of frogs. Some are as small as .5 inches long, making them the smallest known species. Their size and insect-like chirps had helped them remain undiscovered. On July 3, Chinese and American Researchers published a discovery in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science about the origins of modern biodiversity. The researchers’ work found that frog species became significantly diverse during what should have been a stable (and thus less evolutionarily driving) period. They claim that the diversity of frog species comes from their ability to fill the void left by the extinction of the dinosaurs. (The New York Times/CNN/NPR); Photo source: AP Photo/Francois Becker, File

Fossil Discoveries: Fossils Found Contain Earliest Evidence of Life; On March 1, a team of scientists announced that they have found exceptionally old microfossils in Hudson Bay, in Quebec, Canada. These microfossils, identifiable as filaments within layers of jasper and hematite, are almost 4.3 billion years old. Most scientists agree on the age of the Earth as a little under 4.6 billion years old, meaning that life might have been around since almost the beginning. Later, on May 23, a team of anthropologists and archaeologists announced their rediscovery of a hominin fossil near the border of Bulgaria and Greece. The fossil itself was uncovered decades ago, but recent analysis suggests that it might have belonged to a human ancestor 7.2 million years ago. The team claimed that this suggests that humans originate from Europe rather than Africa, but the great majority of anthropologists still refute this claim. Most fossil evidence, as shown above, indicates that the human species diverged from apes in Africa. On June 7, archaeologists working in Morocco uncovered fossils of Homo sapiens that seem to far predate the previously accepted date for human evolution. Original estimates placed the evolution of Homo sapiens around 200,000 years ago. These newer fossils from Jebel Irhoud are dated somewhere between 300,000 and 350,000 years old. This could mark a major shift in anthropology. (Reuters/Washington Post); Photo source: Bigstock, File

Great Barrier Reef Threatened: Majority of the Great Barrier Reef Threatened by Bleaching; On April 10, members of the Australian Research Council issued a report on the declining health of the Great Barrier Reef. A full two thirds of the reef are affected severe coral bleaching, as rising ocean temperatures cause the coral to die off. This marks the second year in a row of serious bleaching. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation); Photo source: NOAA via AP/Bernardo Vargas-Angel, File

Return of Gray Wolf: Gray Wolves Return to Denmark After 200 Years; On May 4, wildlife researchers confirm the presence of gray wolves in Denmark for the first time in two centuries. A lone male wolf was spotted five years ago, but it was uncertain if he would find a partner to reproduce with. Now he is seen with a full pack, raising hopes that the species can successfully breed in the region. The gray wolf was driven out by human development, and culled for the protection of livestock. (The Guardian); Photo source: AP Photo/Dawn Villella, File

World Faces Mass Extinction: New Analysis Suggests World is Facing Mass Extinction; On July 10, scientists warned that the world is swiftly sliding into another mass extinction, the sixth such event since the Earth began. Within the last 115 years, nearly 200 species have seen their populations and geographical spread decrease by 80%. This population change is exacerbated by the widespread destruction of animal habitats and the increasing global temperatures. (CNN); Photo source: AP Photo/Khaled Kazziha, File

Researchers Prevent Heart Disease: Researchers Successfully Edit Genes to Prevent Heart Disease; On August 2, U.S.-based research teams successfully use embryonic cells to fix a faulty gene sequence responsible for particular deadly heart diseases. The joint teams of American, Chinese, and South Korean scientists hope to expand the scope of the work, and create effective gene treatments for a wide range of dangerous and debilitating illnesses. Although research using embryonic cells is controversial, this marks a major breakthrough in medical science. (BBC); Photo source: Bigstock, File

Snow Leopards: Snow Leopards no Longer Endangered; It was announced on September 14 that the snow leopard was no longer considered “endangered,” as its conservation status had been moved to “vulnerable.” (BBC); Photo source: AP Photo/Richard Vogel

Apple Products: Apple Announces 3 New iPhones; Apple announced three new iPhones on September 12: the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. (Apple); Photo source: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Japan Launches Satellite: Fourth Satellite Launched by Japan; Japan launched its fourth satellite on October 10, 2017. The satellite is equipped with a high-precision GPS, and Japan hopes to launch three more by 2023. (Reuters); Photo source: AP Photo

Breeding Season Difficult for Penguins: Penguins Face Difficulties in Antarctic Breeding Season; Unusually high amounts of ice this season in the Antarctic have resulted in the survival of only two Adelie penguins during this breeding season. On October 13, conservation groups urged for action to help the penguins during the next breeding season, creating a plan that will be go before the board on Monday.(BBC).; Photo source: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

New Species: New Orangutan Species Identified; On November 2, in Sumatra, a third species of orangutans was identified by scientists in the area. Though orangutans are equipped to live in their environment, scientists worry for the future of this new species. (Reuters); Photo source: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana

Black Friday: Record High Online Sales for Black Friday; s Black Friday came to a close on November 25, it was reported that a total of $7.9 billion was spent online. Adobe Analytics reported that this was a 17.9% increase from the sales last year. (Reuters); Photo source: Josh Reynolds/AP Images for BJ's Wholesale Club

YouTube Music: YouTube Announces Music Subscription; As Black Friday came to a close on November 25, it was reported that a total of $7.9 billion was spent online. Adobe Analytics reported that this was a 17.9% increase from the sales last year. (Reuters); Photo source: AP Photo/Danny Moloshok