Science in 2019: A Preview of the Groundbreaking Discoveries Ahead
Explore the most anticipated scientific breakthroughs across quantum computing, gene editing, space exploration, and more in this comprehensive overview of the year ahead.
Introduction: The Year of Scientific Marvels
As we stand at the threshold of 2019, the world of science promises extraordinary breakthroughs that will reshape our understanding of the universe and our place within it. This year brings not just incremental advances but paradigm-shifting discoveries across multiple disciplines—from the infinitesimally small landscape of quantum physics and genetic engineering to the vast expanses of cosmic exploration.
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Major Scientific Fields
10+
Countries Involved
50+
Research Institutions
$100B+
Global Research Investment
The scientific community is poised to cross once-unimaginable frontiers, including the first-ever glimpse of a black hole's event horizon, clinical applications of powerful gene-editing technology, and potentially the achievement of "quantum supremacy." Based on predictions from leading scientists and research institutions worldwide, this article explores the most anticipated developments in science and technology throughout 2019, offering a compelling preview of how these advancements will transform our lives, our planet, and our cosmic perspective 7 .
The Quantum Leap: Computing's New Dawn
The Quest for Quantum Supremacy
Quantum computing represents one of the most anticipated frontiers in technology, and 2019 may well be the year it delivers on its promise. According to Robbert Dijkgraaf, director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, we are poised to "unlock the quantum revolution" this year 7 .
Unlike classical computers that process information in binary bits (either 0s or 1s), quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously through the phenomena of superposition and entanglement 7 .
Quantum vs Classical Computing Power
The Tools of Quantum Research
| Research Focus | Potential Application | Leading Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| Qubit Stability | Extending computation time | Google, IBM, Microsoft |
| Quantum Materials | Revolutionary electronics | Institute for Advanced Study |
| Quantum Encryption | Unhackable communication | Various research universities |
| Quantum Simulation | Drug discovery and material design | National research labs |
The milestone that has the entire computing world watching is the anticipated achievement of "quantum supremacy"—the point where a quantum computer outperforms the most powerful classical supercomputer at a specific task 1 . Google's AI Quantum Team is leading this charge and is expected to present evidence of a quantum computer that solves in just 200 seconds a problem that would take IBM's Summit supercomputer 10,000 years 1 .
Quantum Supremacy
200 seconds vs 10,000 years for complex calculations
Gene Editing Revolution: CRISPR Comes of Age
From Laboratory to Clinic
After years of development and testing, CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology is poised to make the critical leap from laboratory research to clinical applications in 2019. Jennifer Doudna, co-inventor of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, predicts that "initial results from CRISPR-Cas genome editing clinical trials to treat blood disorders will generate excitement about the first cure for genetic disease" 7 .
CRISPR Development Timeline
2012
CRISPR-Cas9 system first demonstrated for gene editing
2015
First successful editing of human embryos (research)
2017
First human trials approved in the US and China
2019
Expected clinical results and first CRISPR crops
Beyond Medicine: The CRISPR Landscape
The impact of CRISPR extends far beyond human therapeutics. Doudna also predicts that "the first food crops resulting from CRISPR genome editing will hit the market" in 2019 7 . These crops could offer significant advantages over traditional genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as CRISPR allows for more precise edits without introducing DNA from other species.
"The first food crops resulting from CRISPR genome editing will hit the market in 2019."
Potential benefits include increased crop yields, enhanced nutritional content, and greater resistance to pests and environmental stresses—critical advantages as climate change intensifies and global food demands increase.
CRISPR Application Areas
Ethical Considerations
The controversial gene-editing work on human embryos conducted by Chinese scientist He Jiankui in 2018 highlighted the urgent need for ethical guidelines and oversight in this rapidly advancing field 1 . As CRISPR technologies become more powerful and accessible, the scientific community must engage the public in thoughtful discussion about appropriate applications.
Cosmic Explorations: Reaching Farther Than Ever
Journey to the Edge of the Solar System
Space exploration promises several landmark achievements in 2019, beginning with a spectacular start to the year. On January 1, just 33 minutes after midnight, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft conducted the most distant flyby in history, capturing images of a mysterious Kuiper Belt object officially named 2014 MU69 (later renamed Arrokoth) located 4 billion miles from Earth 1 .
Artistic representation of space exploration and distant celestial objects
According to Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, this flyby will help us "better understand our solar system and its formation" 7 . The initial images revealed a surprising 19-mile-long, peanut-shaped structure that scientists eventually determined was a surprisingly flat "contact binary"—a body composed of two once-separate rocks that gently fused together 1 . This discovery provides a remarkable window into the early solar system, potentially offering insights into how planets formed billions of years ago.
Interstellar Visitors and Planetary Firsts
2019 may also be the year we encounter our second known interstellar visitor. Abraham Loeb, chair of Harvard's astronomy department, predicts we "might discover the second interstellar visitor to our solar system" following 'Oumuamua in 2017 7 . This time, astronomers will be prepared with advanced telescopes and instruments to study the object in unprecedented detail.
2019 Space Missions
New Horizons (Arrokoth Flyby)
OSIRIS-REx (Asteroid Sample)
InSight (Marsquakes)
Hayabusa2 (Asteroid Sample)
4 Billion Miles
Distance of New Horizons flyby
2nd Interstellar Visitor
Potential discovery in 2019
2 Asteroid Missions
Sample return missions underway
In-Depth Look: The Black Hole Imaging Experiment
Methodology Behind the Impossible Photo
One of the most anticipated scientific achievements of 2019 is the first-ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). This ambitious project represents years of international collaboration and technological innovation aimed at visualizing what was previously considered unseeable.
The EHT is not a single telescope but rather a network of eight radio observatories spanning the globe from Hawaii to the South Pole, effectively creating an Earth-sized instrument with unprecedented resolving power 1 6 . This global array functions as an interferometer, synchronizing data collection from all participating sites using atomic clocks to precisely coordinate observations.
Artistic representation of a black hole and its event horizon
Key Components of the Event Horizon Telescope
| Observatory Site | Location | Contribution to Network |
|---|---|---|
| Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) | Chile | Sensitivity boost from multiple antennas |
| South Pole Telescope | Antarctica | Critical north-south baseline for resolution |
| James Clerk Maxwell Telescope | Hawaii | High-altitude location reduces atmospheric interference |
| Large Millimeter Telescope | Mexico | Improved uv-coverage for image reconstruction |
Results and Scientific Significance
The release of the first black hole image in April 2019 provided visual confirmation of these cosmic phenomena that had previously been inferred only indirectly through their effects on surrounding matter 1 . The image revealed the black hole's "shadow"—a dark region encircled by a bright ring of light, which corresponds to the event horizon where gravity is so intense that not even light can escape.
This visual evidence strongly supports key predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity under extreme conditions and provides new insights into the behavior of matter and energy in the universe's most intense gravitational environments 4 .
Event Horizon
Point of no return where not even light can escape a black hole's gravity
"No one algorithm or person made this image. It required the amazing talent of a team of scientists from around the globe and years of hard work to develop the instrument, data processing, imaging methods, and analysis techniques that were necessary to pull off this seemingly impossible feat."
Neuroscience and Medicine: Redefining Human Potential
Brain-Computer Interfaces and Memory Manipulation
The boundaries between human biology and technology continue to blur, with 2019 expected to bring significant advances in brain-computer interfaces and our understanding of memory. Heather Berlin, a cognitive neuroscientist at Mount Sinai Hospital, predicts that "brain-computer interfaces will finally arrive for those in need" this year, with prosthetic limbs that can not only be controlled by thoughts but also capable of sensing and feeling like natural limbs 7 .
Such technologies would represent a monumental leap beyond current prosthetics, potentially restoring near-natural function and sensation to amputees or those with spinal cord injuries.
Neuroscience Research Focus Areas
Medical Breakthroughs on the Horizon
Beyond neuroscience, 2019 promises several medical milestones that could transform treatment paradigms. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, predicts that "cures of sickle cell disease will be reported in dozens of individuals taking part in clinical trials of gene therapy" 7 .
After seventy years of research since sickle cell disease was identified as the first "molecular disease," gene therapy and gene editing approaches are showing extraordinary promise in clinical trials, potentially offering a cure for this painful and life-shortening condition.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Research
First videos of brain cleansing during sleepNew Depression Treatment
First new mechanism in decadesPortable Diagnostics
Rapid fever differentiation in remote areasMemory Manipulation
Potential therapy for PTSD and depressionKey Neuroscience Findings
- Brain cleanses itself during sleep with cerebrospinal fluid waves
- Potential to manipulate emotional impact of memories
- Brain-computer interfaces approaching clinical use
- New insights into autism and Alzheimer's mechanisms
Conclusion: A Transformative Year for Science and Society
As we look ahead to the remainder of 2019, the breadth and depth of anticipated scientific breakthroughs reveals a field in the midst of extraordinary transformation across every discipline. From the infinitesimal scale of quantum physics to the cosmic proportions of black holes, from the intricate code of our genetics to the complex wiring of our brains, science is progressing at an astonishing pace. This year promises not just incremental advances but genuine paradigm shifts that will reshape how we understand our world and our universe.
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Breakthroughs happening at the intersection of multiple scientific fields
Global Collaboration
International teams working together on monumental projects
Human Impact
Scientific advances translating to real-world applications and treatments
What makes 2019 particularly significant is how many of these developments transition from theoretical concepts to practical applications that touch human lives. The potential first cures for genetic diseases through CRISPR, the creation of brain-computer interfaces to restore function to those with disabilities, and the development of rapid diagnostic tools for deadly diseases in remote areas all demonstrate science's power to address very human problems.
Even the more abstract discoveries—like imaging a black hole or achieving quantum supremacy—ultimately expand the boundaries of human knowledge and capability, reminding us of our endless capacity for wonder and exploration.
The convergence of these developments across multiple fields suggests we are entering a new era of scientific discovery, one characterized by interdisciplinary approaches and global collaborations. As these stories unfold throughout the year, they will undoubtedly raise important questions about ethics, equity, and the direction of our technological society. One thing remains certain: 2019 will be remembered as a landmark year in science, one that set the stage for even greater discoveries in the decade to come.