.. title: 2011 in Science .. slug: 2011-in-science .. date: 2011-12-29 09:26:27 .. tags: science, technology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, physics .. description: A summary of major scientific developments in 2011. .. categories: Science .. wp-status: publish Here are some interesting developments in Science and Technology field that happened in the year {{% wikipedia article="2011 in science" %}}. This is a choice of some random events, but it definitely shows that future is *extremely promising!* January ------- - Scientists achieve 10 billion bits of {{% wikipedia article="Quantum entanglement" %}} in {{% wikipedia article="Silicon" %}}, a significant step in {{% wikipedia article="Quantum computing" %}}. [(PhysOrg)](http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-billion-bits-entanglement-silicon.html) [(Nature)](http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature09696) February -------- - A significant milestone in {{% wikipedia article="Artificial intelligence" %}} is reached, as the {{% wikipedia article="Watson (artificial intelligence software)" text="Watson IBM supercomputer" %}} defeats two humans on {{% wikipedia article="Jeopardy!" %}} {{% wikipedia article="Quiz show" %}}. [(Wired)](http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/watson-game-one/) March ----- - {{% wikipedia article="Swiss" %}} researchers discover a gene in {{% wikipedia article="Wasp" text="wasps" %}} that allow them to {{% wikipedia article="Asexual reproduction" text="reproduce asexually" %}}. [(PhysOrg)](http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-mystery-wasps.html) [(Curr. Biol.)](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.070) April ----- - Scientists have {{% wikipedia article="Quantum teleportation" text="teleported" %}} wave packets of light by destroying them in one location and re-creating them in another. [(PhysOrg)](http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-quantum-teleporter-breakthrough.html) [(Science)](http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1201034) May --- - Experimental data gathered by the {{% wikipedia article="Gravity Probe B" %}} satellite {{% wikipedia article="Tests of general relativity#Frame-dragging tests" text="confirms" %}} two aspects of the {{% wikipedia article="General theory of relativity" %}}, which was published by {{% wikipedia article="Albert Einstein" %}} in 1916. [(BBC)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13286241) [(arXiv)](http://arxiv.org/abs/1105.3456) [(Phys. Rev. Lett.)](http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.221101) June ---- - The United Nations holds a ceremony in {{% wikipedia article="Rome" %}}, declaring the once-widespread cattle disease {{% wikipedia article="Rinderpest" %}} to be globally eradicated. July ---- - Researchers have reprogrammed {{% wikipedia article="Brain cells" %}} to become {{% wikipedia article="Heart" %}} cells. [(Science Daily)](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110708160346.htm) August ------ - A computer has learned language by playing {{% wikipedia article="Strategy game" text="strategy games" %}}, inferring the meaning of words without human supervision. [(MIT News)](http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/language-from-games-0712.html) September -------- - A {{% wikipedia article="Monkey" %}} sporting a ginger beard and matching fiery red tail, discovered in a threatened region of the {{% wikipedia article="Brazil" text="Brazilian" %}} {{% wikipedia article="Amazon Rainforest" text="Amazon" %}}, is believed to be a species new to science. [(The Guardian)](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/25/new-monkey-species-amazon) - Feeding a {{% wikipedia article="Supercomputer" %}} with news stories could help predict major world events, according to US researchers. [(BBC)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14841018) October ------- - {{% wikipedia article="Imperial College London" %}} researchers have shown {{% wikipedia article="Logic gates" %}} can be built out of {{% wikipedia article="E. coli" %}} bacteria and {{% wikipedia article="DNA" %}}. This could be used to make sophisticated diagnostic cells that assess and treat illness in the body. [(KurzweilAI)](http://www.kurzweilai.net/scientists-create-computing-building-blocks-from-bacteria-and-dna) - {{% wikipedia article="India" %}}'s {{% wikipedia article="Minister of Health and Family Welfare (India)" text="Minister of Health" %}}, {{% wikipedia article="Ghulam Nabi Azad" %}}, reports that the country has almost entirely eradicated {{% wikipedia article="Polio" %}} through a {{% wikipedia article="Polio vaccine" text="vaccination" %}} program which immunises over 170 million children every year. No new polio cases have been reported in India for over nine months. [(BBC)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15425852) November -------- - {{% wikipedia article="India" %}} announces plans for a prototype {{% wikipedia article="Nuclear power plant" %}} that uses {{% wikipedia article="Thorium" %}} – an innovative, potentially safer nuclear fuel. [(The Guardian)](http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/01/india-thorium-nuclear-plant) - Researchers at {{% wikipedia article="Washington State University" %}} develop an artificial bone "scaffold" which can be produced using {{% wikipedia article="3D printer" text="3D printers" %}}, potentially allowing doctors to quickly print replacement bone tissue for injured patients. [(BBC)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15963467) December -------- - Researchers at {{% wikipedia article="CERN" %}}'s {{% wikipedia article="Large Hadron Collider" %}} (LHC) report the discovery of a new particle, dubbed {{% wikipedia article="Bottom quark#Chib(3P) particle" text="Chi_b(3P)" %}}. The discovery marks the LHC's first clear observation of a new particle since it became operational in 2009. [(BBC)](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16301908) As you can notice from the list, my choice includes an inclination toward computers, physics and a couple of happenings in India. A lot has happened in 2011 throughout the world and you can get a gist of it from this wikipedia article {{% wikipedia article="2011 in science" %}}.