This year brought unprecedented challenges that sometimes felt more like a movie than real life. The world was turned upside down and scientists—who are typically comfortable in the background—were thrust into the spotlight to essentially save the world. That’s probably a bit dramatic, but the R&D that millions of researchers embarked on this year to help understand, characterize, prevent and treat COVID-19 cannot and should not be understated. It’s not a surprise, then, that more than half of the most read news articles this year centered around COVID-19. As we prepare to move into a (hopefully better) new year this week, let’s take a look back at the most popular news of the year, while reflecting on just how far science has come in less than 12 months.
1. COVID-19 Treatment Update: Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Leronlimab, Ivermectin, and More
Published April 14: Researchers across the globe are racing against the clock to develop an effective treatment option for patients suffering from COVID-19. There are three main pathways to a treatment solution: adapt an already approved drug, push an experimental drug through a clinical trial, or create an entirely new drug or vaccine.
2. Top 10 Ethical Dilemmas in Science for 2020
Published December 17, 2019: The list, which features up-and-coming technology extensively used in the science and technology industries, is released annually in mid-December. The thought-provoking selections are intended to ramp up dialogue among citizens and scientists alike.
*This list is one of the most popular articles year after year. The 2021 version was recently published—find it here.
3. Dogs Could Be Early Warning System for Human Health
Published June 8: Not only are dogs our best friends, but they may also be our best early disease warning system. In a new study, researchers from North Carolina State University and Duke University demonstrated that dogs can be a sentinel species for human health, especially when monitoring environmental exposures.
4. Researchers Reveal Genetic Map of COVID-19
Published April 9: The researchers experimentally confirmed the predicted subgenomic RNAs that are in turn translated into viral proteins. Furthermore, they analyzed the sequence information of each RNA and revealed where genes are exactly located on a genomic RNA.
5. Swiss Scientists Call COVID-19 Herd Immunity ‘Unethical’ as Multiple Studies Indicate it’s Not Possible
Published July 9: With recent studies in the U.S., Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and China all revealing a low rate of nationwide seroprevalence, scientists are speaking out against the herd immunity technique touted by some politicians.
6. The Surprises Scientists Found on Leonardo da Vinci's Drawings
Published December 4: When an international team of researchers, curators and bioinformaticians analyzed the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci, they (most likely) didn’t find the DNA of the Renaissance Man, but they did detect some surprising anomalies—namely, a substantial amount of bacteria compared with fungi, as well as insects and their droppings.
7. CRISPR-based COVID Test is Rapid, Accurate and Costs Less Than $1
Published August 31: CRISPR’s claim to fame may be gene editing—and turning the scientific community on its head when it first debuted—but it may have another trick up its sleeve. Recent studies have indicated CRISPR tools have the potential for in vitro diagnostics, something Chinese scientists have leveraged to develop a 100% accurate COVID-19 test that can be mass manufactured for 70 cents.
8. First AI-created Drug Enters Human Clinical Trial
Published February 10: On average, drug discovery and development of a single pharmaceutical takes 4.5 to 5 years, with upward of 10 years considered common. But British start-up Exscientia and Japanese pharmaceutical firm Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma have turned this on its head by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the timeline to less than one year—and that AI-created drug is now entering a Phase I human clinical trial.
9. 45 Epidemiologists Demand Retraction of COVID-19 Paper Authored by Nobel Laureate
Published June 19: A contingent of epidemiologists is calling on the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) to retract a COVID-19 paper regarding airborne transmission and face mask-wearing, citing series methodological flaws and false statements that may already be negatively affecting public health measures.
10. Neanderthal Genes Are Responsible for Severe COVID-19 Symptoms
Published October 2: Several factors influence a person’s susceptibility to disease, including age, preexisting conditions and genetics. Now, researchers have shown genetics are to blame for severe COVID-19. Not just any genetics, though—specifically, 60,0000-year-old genes inherited from our Neanderthal ancestors in Southern Europe.
Bonus: COVID-19 Resource Center: Up-to-date News
Constantly updated, the COVID-19 Resource Guide provides a chronological compilation of COVID-19 articles we have published since the beginning of the pandemic. The list is a visual representation of the scientific method—from early hydroxychloroquine touting to its removal as a treatment, from a shortage of PPE to 3-D printed masks, from a Phase I vaccine trial to 95% efficacy and initial vaccinations. This list will continue to be updated as COVID-19 plays a (hopefully smaller) role in our lives in 2021 and beyond.
Thank you for reading and supporting Laboratory Equipment, and thank you for all you do for the world. Science makes the world go ‘round, and we are grateful for your efforts. Stay safe and have a happy New Year!