Top five groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

The past decade undoubtedly marked one of the most significant periods of scientific exploration in history. Researchers from various fields tested hypotheses, made groundbreaking discoveries, and explored locations that challenged our understanding of not only our planet but also the entire universe. This era was pivotal in unraveling some of the greatest mysteries faced by humanity, shedding light on some of the most destructive entities in existence. Let's delve into five remarkable scientific breakthroughs of the 2000s.

Number 5: Pluto. Despite being stripped of its planetary status in 2006, the launch of the New Horizons spacecraft that same year marked a new chapter in the study of the dwarf planet. Upon reaching Pluto in July 2015, the spacecraft captured images and data that defied expectations. Far from a barren icy rock, Pluto was revealed to have moving glaciers, floating ice mountains, and a massive frozen sea of solid nitrogen. The dynamic nature of its icy surface, constantly replenished by underlying pressure, unveiled a world unlike any other in our solar system.

Number 4: The Higgs boson. The discovery of the elusive Higgs boson, also known as the "god particle," was a monumental achievement that required the construction of the world's largest machine - the Large Hadron Collider in CERN, Switzerland. After years of anticipation, the existence of this particle, first theorized in 1964, was confirmed in 2012. The Higgs boson plays a crucial role in the standard model of physics, revolutionizing our understanding of the subatomic realm. Its discovery at the LHC opened new doors to exploring the fundamental building blocks of the universe.The elusive Higgs boson particle, existing in the Higgs field, is the reason why mass exists due to its interaction with other particles. Its discovery confirmed the last unknown part of the standard model of physics. Researchers can now repurpose the LHC to investigate even stranger phenomena.

For thousands of years, humans have gazed at the skies, wondering about the universe. With the invention of astronomical devices, we discovered countless stars and planets in our solar system. However, it was only in 2009 with the launch of the first Kepler probe that we could study distant stars and measure their brightness fluctuations to detect orbiting objects. By the end of the last decade, over 4,055 exoplanets were discovered, some potentially habitable. The number of discoveries is expected to increase in the new decade, revealing the commonality of our solar system. Throughout Earth's history, the climate has undergone drastic changes, with periods of extreme heat and cold. The noticeable changes happening now are largely due to human behavior, becoming clearer in the last decade. The loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica has increased significantly, impacting sea levels worldwide.Sea levels are projected to increase by 3 feet by the year 2100, impacting the residences and livelihoods of at least 630 million individuals. However, the repercussions extend much further. Human activities have led to 40% of all amphibian species, over 33% of marine mammals, and 10% of insect species being classified as endangered. The situation continues to deteriorate, with the previous decade marking the realization of the extent of the problem. Let us remain hopeful that the upcoming decade will bring about the discovery of a solution.

On a different note, black holes have always been among the most enigmatic entities in the universe. Thanks to the dedication of researchers studying these phenomena, we have gained a deeper understanding of them, revealing their fascinating nature. Typically formed by massive stars nearing the end of their life cycle, black holes are created when all material collapses inwards, resulting in an incredibly dense structure. Their intense gravitational pull leads to peculiar occurrences. In 2016, the collision of two black holes was observed, confirming Einstein's 1916 prediction and generating gravitational waves. Notably, the most significant black hole revelation of the past decade was the capture of the first-ever image of a supermassive black hole by the Event Horizon Telescope team. Situated at the core of the Messier 87 galaxy, approximately 54 million light-years away, this black hole's mass is equivalent to 6.5 billion Suns. Such black holes are believed to exist at the center of every galaxy, influencing the orbits of billions of stars. The 2010s were a remarkable period for scientific breakthroughs, offering profound insights into our world and the universe. The future holds exciting possibilities for further discoveries.