The rapid development of effective vaccines against Covid – 19 is for the makers of the renowned Science – Magazine’s most important research breakthrough of the year. Never before had so many competitors worked together so openly and regularly, the joint efforts of governments, industry, science and non-profit organizations are just as unique, according to the reason for the “Breakthrough of the Year”.

Like Science – Editor-in-Chief H. Holden Thorp writes, it only became clear in the last few weeks before the editorial deadline that the hope for effective vaccines would be fulfilled: “The achievement of the Covid – 19 – vaccines is a testimony to the work of many committed scientists today and in the past. ”

Science – Correspondent Jon Cohen adds:” What a delightful way , 2020 to end.” An answer to the question of when all this will end is finally possible. It really is a breakthrough for everyone, summarizes Thorp.

Effective Covid – 19 – Vaccines In the article by Science , the authors not only emphasize the rapid development of the vaccine, but also the parallel research and testing of several vaccine candidates in large-scale efficacy studies. However, the speed also produced errors and shed light on rifts between scientists and policymakers.

“There were early statements about masks and air transmission that needed to be revised gave experts on television questioning the vaccine’s effectiveness based on animal testing that was found to be unimportant, “Thorp lists. News reports of reinfection and testing would have created confusion, while preprints of studies received attention that had to be withdrawn because of weaknesses. “There were unequal battles with politicians who tried to take advantage of the pandemic and the scientists, and in many of them the science was played out,” the editor-in-chief continues to criticize Getting the public to trust public health recommendations could lead to difficult days even if the life-saving vaccines were launched, he fears. Accordingly, the German science correspondent Kai Kupferschmidt pleads: “The conclusion of this year can not only be more research on unknown pathogens lurking in nature. Rather, it must be an effort to revive and strengthen the ties between science and the rest of society . ” The magazine not only traces the development of the pandemic, but also lists a timeline with milestones in Covid 19 research. The journal also honors eleven researchers who 2020 on Covid – 19 died.

More scientific breakthroughs The nine other groundbreaking research projects of the year include, according to Science , the discovery of the oldest cave paintings to date on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, two studies on the amazing cognitive abilities of Birds, the first diseases cured with gene scissors (CRISPR) and the use of artificial intelligence to predict the folding of proteins.

The improvements in the predictions of global warming are just as remarkable. In addition, the authors cite the increasing presence of black voices in the scientific community as a groundbreaking development in the research world.

Another breakthrough for the authors is the first observable connection between magnetars, i.e. neutron stars, and fast Radio bursts, also called fast radio flashes. The origin of those extremely short bursts of radio emissions still puzzles astronomers, the solution of which could now be one step closer.

(olb)