Future Timeline | Latest Updates

Three new rocky exoplanets – all smaller than Earth – have been detected around Barnard's Star, the closest solitary star to our own Sun at just 5.96 light-years away. A fourth world, seen as a candidate last year, is also now confirmed.

14th March 2025

Scientists solve decades-long Parkinson's mystery

Australian researchers have made a leap forward in the fight against Parkinson's disease, solving a decades-long mystery that paves the way for development of new drugs to treat the condition.

12th March 2025

Microplastics threaten global food security

Without action to reduce plastic pollution, as many as 400 million people could be at risk of hunger within two decades, according to a new study.

5th March 2025

Woolly mouse – a step towards mammoth revival

De-extinction company Colossal Biosciences has created "woolly mice" with modified genes, expressing mammoth-like traits relevant to cold adaptation and providing a platform for validation of genome engineering targets.

3rd March 2025

"e-Taste" could enhance VR experiences

A new electronic device, developed by Ohio State University, replicates the perception of taste with 70% accuracy.

26th February 2025

2031 – Europe's first lunar lander

In 2031, Europe makes history with its first-ever lunar lander, Argonaut, touching down on the Moon. This milestone marks the beginning of a new era in European space exploration.

24th February 2025

Early-stage pancreatic cancer detected with 85% accuracy

A new blood test able to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer with 85% accuracy has been developed by Oregon Health & Science University.

20th February 2025

New world record for nuclear fusion

The WEST tokamak in France has maintained plasma for 1,337 seconds, a new world record duration for nuclear fusion and 25% longer than a similar effort by China last month.

19th February 2025

U.S. insurance premiums to soar over next 30 years

Due to climate-related risks, the United States could see a nearly $1.5 trillion reduction in unadjusted real estate value over the next 30 years, with insurance premiums rising by up to 322% above current levels by 2055.

15th February 2025

Cryopreservation breakthrough: mouse brain tissue revived

Scientists have successfully revived mouse brain tissue after storage at –150°C for a week, reactivating near-normal function – a notable breakthrough in cryopreservation.

12th February 2025

2033 – The largest ever hydropower dam becomes operational in China

In 2033, a colossal dam in Tibet – providing 60 GW of capacity – begins energising the region. Nearly triple the size of the earlier Three Gorges Dam, this megaproject has overcome formidable technical challenges.

8th February 2025

2032 – Leatherback sea turtle populations have collapsed

[Update of an older prediction. This graph is now based on the vast majority of nesting sites worldwide, rather than just a single beach in Indonesia. The year has also been extended to 2017, which is the latest available for all regions combined.]

3rd February 2025

We've refreshed our social media links page.

1st February 2025

2032 – Close approach of the asteroid 2024 YR₄

A near-Earth object measuring up to 100 metres in size makes a dangerously close approach in December 2032.

27th January 2025

Life expectancy in Gaza has almost halved

A new study further underscores the immense human cost of the Israel–Hamas war, with life expectancy in the Gaza Strip found to have plummeted since October 2023.

25th January 2025

2025 – Europe's first successful vertical rocket launch into space

The SaxaVord Spaceport, Scotland, makes history in 2025, as it becomes the site of the first successful vertical rocket launch into space from European soil.

19th January 2025

Galaxy mapping project concludes after 3 trillion observations

The Gaia spacecraft has ended its operation after 11 years of mapping the Milky Way galaxy, during which time it made over three trillion observations of two billion stars.

18th January 2025

What might a future cryopreservation facility look like?

In our latest featured video, we look at TimeShift, a concept for the world's first cryopreservation facility designed to extend human lifespans while preserving biological integrity.

15th January 2025

New supercomputer is world's fastest

El Capitan, a system achieving an unprecedented 1.7 exaFLOPS, has been officially dedicated at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

13th January 2025

UK aims to be "AI superpower"

The UK government has today announced a plan for using AI to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told reporters that AI "will drive incredible change" and pledged to make the UK a world leader in the technology.

12th January 2025

2025 – Grand Theft Auto VI is launched

Towards the end of this year, Rockstar Games launches Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), arguably the most highly anticipated video game of the last 10 years.

12th January 2025

2025 – QuEra launches a 3,000-qubit quantum computer

In 2025, QuEra launches a 3,000-qubit quantum computer, redefining scalability and precision in quantum hardware.

9th January 2025

2025 – Pierre Poilievre becomes the next Prime Minister of Canada

In 2025, Pierre Poilievre becomes the next Prime Minister of Canada, marking a major political shift following the resignation of Justin Trudeau.

7th January 2025

2025 – The Gordie Howe Bridge is completed

Among the most notable infrastructure projects of 2025 is the Gordie Howe Bridge, linking Detroit in the United States with Windsor in Canada.

1st January 2025

2024 highlights in science and technology

With 2024 now behind us, we reflect on another remarkable year of progress in science and technology.

« Previous

		Latest updates »
		Timeline »
		Blogs »
		Features »
		Community »
Privacy policy


Latest updates »
Timeline »
Blogs »
Features »
Community »

Privacy policy