Science Breakthroughs and Space Milestones: What to Watch for in 2025

     As we enter 2025, the scientific community is poised for a year of groundbreaking discoveries and technological advancements across various fields. From space exploration to medical breakthroughs, here are some of the most anticipated scientific events and developments to look out for in the coming year.

Space Exploration Takes Center Stage

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Debut

     Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, is set to make waves in the space industry with the launch of its New Glenn rocket. This fully reusable booster, designed to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9, will be used for various missions, including deploying satellites for the U.S. military, NASA, and Amazon's Project Kuiper internet constellation.

Vera C. Rubin Observatory's First Light

     In central Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is preparing to capture its first images of the night sky, potentially as early as July 4, 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will create a time-lapse picture of the Southern sky, enhancing our understanding of dark matter and dark energy, while also cataloging asteroids and comets within our solar system.

Medical Advancements on the Horizon

New Obesity Treatments

     2025 is expected to bring results and approvals for a new wave of obesity treatments. Eli Lilly is wrapping up a phase III trial for its oral pill orforglipron, while trials for their triple-action drug retatrutide, which showed unprecedented efficacy in phase II trials, will continue throughout the year.

Non-Opioid Painkiller Review

     U.S. regulators are set to complete a review of suzetrigine, a non-opioid painkiller developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, in January. If approved, it would be part of the first new class of drugs to treat acute pain in more than 20 years.

Climate Change and Environmental Concerns

     The UN Environment Program's Emissions Gap report warns that global temperatures are likely to rise to 3.1 degrees Celsius by the end of the century without significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This underscores the urgency of addressing climate change and its potential impacts.

Technological Advancements

     Recent breakthroughs in quantum computing, particularly in error correction, suggest that practical applications of this technology may be closer than previously thought. Companies like Microsoft, Quantinuum, and Google have made significant strides in reducing error rates in quantum bits (qubits).

Astronomical Events

Stargazers can look forward to several celestial events in 2025, including:

• The Quadrantids Meteor Shower, peaking on January 3
• A "Planet Parade" beginning on January 10, featuring Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn
• Mars at opposition on January 16, offering the best viewing opportunity of the year

     As we embark on this new year of scientific exploration, these developments promise to expand our understanding of the universe, improve human health, and address pressing global challenges. The scientific community remains committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation in 2025 and beyond.