Scientists around the world over the past year seem to be very busy with their science projects, ranging from getting rid of bad genes from a family lineage, discovering not one but seven Earth-sized planets around a star, digging into the dinosaur brain.
Along with Australia celebrating the National Science Week, a celebration of the roles and achievements of science and technology that are celebrated every 12th of August 20th of each year - let's look back at the major discoveries and stories that make headlines and change our understanding of the universe in around us.
Here are 5 newest inventions of scientists.
- Giant Icebergs are Detached From The Ice Plates in Antarctica
Researchers have indeed monitored the Larsen C ice plate in Antarctica for some time, but by the end of 2016 there was a crack of 18 kilometers.
And last month, the last part of the crack was separated from the Antarctic ice sheet, and led to the release of a 1 trillion ton iceberg measuring 5,800 square kilometers - one of the largest ever recorded icebergs.
The iceberg had already floated before it was released so that there was no direct impact on the sea level, but the chunk had left the Larsen C ice area reduced by more than 12 percent.
- Human history in Australia withdrew 18,000 years
Excavations conducted at rock shelters near Kakadu National Park show that humans made it to Australia's landmass at least 65,000 years ago, 18,000 years earlier than the first estimate.
This finding is important because it helps redefine our understanding as the first human species left Africa.
Among the findings that were unearthed at the shelter was the ax with the oldest blunt edge in the world.
- The Remote Island of the World Heritage List Becomes a Garbage Dump
A study found the beaches on Henderson Island, outside of South America, contain about 37.7 million items of debris fragments of rubbish and have the highest plastic waste density than anywhere else in the world.
This is not a scientific discovery to be proud of.
Australian researcher Dr Jennifer Lavers said she was very disappointed with her findings and called it a warning to the world that plastic pollution is as serious as humanitarian threats such as climate change.
- The first finding of dinosaur brain fossils
By the end of 2016, scientists confirm a fossil discovered more than a decade ago actually contains a brain tissue that has become the first fossil fossil brain ever discovered.
- Findings of 8 Earth-sized planets in the Trappist-1 solar system
Three of the planets are also in a zone called Goldilocks, where the temperature range on the surface allows the presence of water liquids and possibly life.
TRAPPIST-1 is an ultra-cool star the size of the planet Jupiter in the constellation of Aquarius and close enough that scientists can do detailed research on it.