Top Ten for 1998
By Sean Henahan, Access Excellence
Mrs. Felix: Why don't you do your homework?
Allen Felix: The Universe is expanding. Everything will fall apart,
and we'll all die. What's the point?
Mrs. Felix: We live in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is not expanding! Go do
your homework.
(from Annie Hall by Woody Allen)
1.
Expanding Universe. Mrs. Felix would no doubt be happy to know that
Science magazine's top science story of the year concurs with her cosmological
analysis. The journal gave the top spot to research conducted by two international
teams of astronomers demonstrating that the universe is expanding at an increasing
rate, pushed by an unknown force that is greater than gravity itself. Luckily,
this process is on such a vast scale that Brooklyn is not affected.
 The
astronomers made observations of supernovae that led them to conclude that
the rate of expansion of the universe is increasing. Their observations suggest
an unknown force stronger than gravity keeps the universe from collapsing
on itself. Einstein had earlier predicted the existence of such a force, but
rejected the idea.
"Selection of the accelerating universe as our major "Breakthrough
of the Year" offers unique insights into the strategies and theories
of descriptive physical sciences and how great thinkers can make sense of
new data, no matter how bizarre they may appear," notes Science
editor Floyd Bloom.
2.
Circadian Rhythms. The first runner-up in the investigative
beauty contest involved research in an area closer to home, circadian rhythms.
Several discoveries provided new information that helps explain the workings
of the bioclocks responsible for everything from making us sleepy at night
to encouraging flowers to bloom. Researchers determined that 'clock gene'
that controls bacteria is not that different from the gene that regulates
biorhythms in everything from fruit flies to humans. In addition to helping
elucidate fundamental biological processes, the research could some day lead
to therapies for common problems including jet lag and seasonal affective
disorder.
3.
Cancer Therapy. 1998 also saw the long-awaited promise of biotechnology-based
treatments for cancer realized. Rituxan, a humanized monoclonal antibody for
treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma entered the market, as did HER2/neu, a
new antibody therapy against breast cancer. Unlike previous chemotherapeutic
agents used to treat cancer, the new drugs target tumor cells very specifically
on a molecular level. Therapeutic strategies aimed at interrupting blood flow
to tumors also received a lot of attention, although researchers were forced
to backpedal on some overly enthusiastic reports.
4.
Genomic Research. Like the universe, genomic research is expanding
at an ever increasing pace. This year saw impressive progress in sequencing,
with the complete sequences of a number of microbial genomes and as well that
of C. elgans, the first complex animal so revealed. A common thread in the
genomic research has been the recurrence of functional genes across species
separated by millions of years of evolution. The research is already changing
our understanding of the evolution of life. It may also open the way for new
treatment strategies against some of humanity's oldest enemies, including
syphilis, tuberculosis, H. pylori and chlamydia Innovations in sequencing
technologies are also expected to accelerate progress on the Human Genome
Project which is already ahead of schedule..
5.
Potassium Channel Structure. This year also saw the discovery of the
structure of the the elusive ion channel responsible for the function of the
nervous system. Researchers reported the successful X-ray visualization of
the crystal structure of a prokaryotic K+ channel from Streptomyces lividans
organism. The discovery immediately led to an explosion in new research into
cell membrane communication, and is already providing a new understanding
of the working of the nervous system.
6.
Combinatorial Chemistry: This field, long on promise but short on results,
also began to prove itself this year, with the arrival of new agents developed
with the technique entering clinical trials for the first time. The field
grew beyond its original focus of rational drug screening and design to include
the development of new classes of catalysts and industrial compounds
7.
Molecular Mimicry Viral and automimmune diseases continue to challenge
basic and clinical investigators. Researchers reported the first evidence
suggesting a link between the two. In particular, two groups reported a hitherto
unrealized link between autoimmune disorders and infections such as Lyme disease
and herpes simplex virus. The research suggests that the host's own T-cells's
induce an automimmune response, promoting the progress of the disease. With
luck, the findings could lead to effective treatments for autoimmune diseases
including diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
8.
Biochips Microtechnology and molecular biology linked up this year
to produce some remarkable new biological research tools. Device powered by
microchips are now speeding up many areas of research including the screening
of blood samples, DNA sequencing and genetic research.
9.
Neutrino Mass At the opposite end of the physical spectrum from the
expanding universe, Japanese researchers reported a finding that undermined
one of the fundamental dogmas of particle physics. While tradition has held
that subnuclear particles called neutrinos have no mass, the researchers demonstrated
that at least some of these particles do indeed have a minute amount of mass.
The finding has the world of particle physics in an uproar, as theorists scramble
to explain these observations.
10.
Quantum Leaps Last, but certainly not least, physicists reported a
finding that might have been borrowed from Star Trek, the teleportation of
information about the quantum state of a particle to a different location
and the recreation of an identical particle. While 'beam me up' may have to
wait a few years, the finding is expected to lead to the development of quantum
computers of almost unimaginable power. .
Looking ahead, the editorial staff of Science predict that hot research areas
for 1999 will include: photonic band gap materials and devices; aging; millennial-scale
climate change; carbon sinks and the global carbon budget; bioterrorism; and
allergies.
The Top Ten breakthroughs of 1998 are reported in the December 18 issue
of Science.
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