Top Top Inventions/Discoveries Inventions/Discoveries of 2008of 2008

By Alex Michalski By Alex Michalski

Stem Cell Breakthrough Stem Cell Breakthrough

A stem cell is a cell that gives rise to A stem cell is a cell that gives rise to other types of cellsother types of cells

Scientists reprogrammed regular skin Scientists reprogrammed regular skin cells to become stem cells in a monkey cells to become stem cells in a monkey

Human MappedHuman Mapped

Scientists discovered what a human Scientists discovered what a human actually looked like on the inside actually looked like on the inside

Brightest Supernova Brightest Supernova RecordedRecorded

Observed in TexasObserved in Texas Star approximately 100 to 200 times the Star approximately 100 to 200 times the

size of our Sun size of our Sun

Hundreds of New Species Hundreds of New Species Discovered Discovered

In the Weddell Sea, carnivorous sea In the Weddell Sea, carnivorous sea sponges and giant sea spiders foundsponges and giant sea spiders found

In Suriname, 12 dung beetles, a new In Suriname, 12 dung beetles, a new species of ant, 6 fish species and 5 new species of ant, 6 fish species and 5 new types of frogs were discoveredtypes of frogs were discovered

A legless amphibian was found in IndiaA legless amphibian was found in India 11 types of plants were found in Vietnam11 types of plants were found in Vietnam

Building a Heart ValveBuilding a Heart Valve

Dr. Magdi Yacoub and his team of Dr. Magdi Yacoub and his team of researchers discovered how to build a researchers discovered how to build a human heart valvehuman heart valve

Could help with human heart transplants Could help with human heart transplants in the next 3 to 5 years in the next 3 to 5 years

““Hot Jupiters” DiscoveredHot Jupiters” Discovered

Three planets discovered outside our Three planets discovered outside our solar systemsolar system

Named WASP 3, WASP 4, and WASP 5 Named WASP 3, WASP 4, and WASP 5 after Wide Search Area for Planets after Wide Search Area for Planets (WASP)(WASP)

About the size of Jupiter and About the size of Jupiter and temperatures can reach 2,000 degrees temperatures can reach 2,000 degrees Celsius Celsius

Big Birdlike Dinosaur Big Birdlike Dinosaur

Paleontologists discovered a giant, 3,000 Paleontologists discovered a giant, 3,000 pound bird like dinosaur in Inner pound bird like dinosaur in Inner MongoliaMongolia

Scientists were surprised by bird-like Scientists were surprised by bird-like qualities of the skeleton-like the long, qualities of the skeleton-like the long, slender limbs slender limbs

Man’s Migration out of Man’s Migration out of AfricaAfrica

Scientists discovered that humans left Scientists discovered that humans left Africa between 65,000 and 25,000 years Africa between 65,000 and 25,000 years ago ago

Scientists determined that humans Scientists determined that humans originated in the Sub- Sahara Desert originated in the Sub- Sahara Desert areaarea

World’s Oldest AnimalWorld’s Oldest Animal

Clam that can live for 200 to 300 years Clam that can live for 200 to 300 years found off the coast of Northern Iceland found off the coast of Northern Iceland

The clam that was found is 405 years oldThe clam that was found is 405 years old

Real-Life Kryptonite Real-Life Kryptonite

A white, powdery material was A white, powdery material was discovered in Serbia discovered in Serbia

Has the exact same chemistry of Has the exact same chemistry of Superman’s kryptoniteSuperman’s kryptonite

Was named jadeite because krypton is Was named jadeite because krypton is already an element already an element