Horizon’s top stories of 2021
At Horizon we covered more than 150 science news stories over the course of this year. So as the year winds down, we’re taking a look back, putting the spotlight on many of the year’s top science stories. If you have a favourite from one of these stories, let us know by replying here.
LOOKING UP, scientists gazing into the universe used mega telescopes and other sophisticated instruments to come up with quick ways to model, track and categorise how dangerous a Near Earth Object (or NEO) is - such as an asteroid or comet. This would allow them to call it early, even days before a possible collision with Earth.

But what could they do if they had more info and more time?
2021 was in fact the launch year of an international effort in testing planetary defence systems against potential threats, such as NEOs. Scientists are now working with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the Hera asteroid mission– a multi-year project that will follow on from NASA’s recently-launched DART mission – forensically examining and gauging the impact of NASA deliberately ramming its DART spacecraft into an asteroid’s moon in order to throw the main asteroid off its hypothetical earth-collision course. Don’t worry, it’s an innocent binary asteroid system and isn’t really heading our way.

CLOSER TO EARTH, but still gazing upwards, researchers in Europe also came up with bird-like drones that harness the wind and air currents to fly longer distances. They can now better reach dangerous sites to deliver aid in medical emergencies, for example, or take out disruptive drones.

BENEATH OUR FEET, scientists sounded the alarm about the state of soils. They developed an app to determine soil health by harnessing remote-sensing technologies - such as the EU’s Copernicus satellite system - along with several on-site techniques to gather information on our fragile ecosystems.
They also developed tools that can map soil erosion, as well as carbon sequestration, and guide us towards regenerative agriculture and greater biodiversity to mitigate climate change.

GAZING OUT TO SEA, researchers harnessed green energy from waves to produce fresh water and found that electro-active bacteria as well as artificial wetlands can be used to desalinate and sterilise water. These solutions could quickly quench the thirst of remote islands and communities, without the need for costly electricity.

INSIDE OUR BODIES, scientists used AI to show us how nanorobots could target cancers and clear blood clots, promising huge medical breakthroughs.

LOOKING AT THE PAST, researchers used new techniques to study the surprisingly intelligent Neanderthal.

But they also examined our past to better predict and warn us of our climate future. By studying ancient cave deposits that reveal early human migration and other patterns, as well as the factors that influenced them, they can show us the dangers ahead, the so-called tipping points, for a better sustainable climate.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, scientists can now calculate how much carbon is being absorbed by natural carbon sinks like the ocean, and how much is being thrust into the atmosphere.

These climate models can be used by world leaders and policymakers – such as at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland where they gathered for the UN’s Climate summit in the autumn - to make decisions on capping emissions for a more sustainable future.

Equally inspiring, we discovered the Mission Innovation champions who are making clean hydrogen and the green energy revolution a reality.
OUR TOP STORY – no surprise there. It’s COVID-19 and the incredible progress made in vaccine rollout, the variants that cause most concern, including the Delta variant, as well as virus hunting and predicting the next big pandemic.



Stay tuned for more ground-breaking research and analysis from scientists working in Europe’s exciting research ecosystem.
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