Recent scientific discoveries

2020 was an unforgettable year and delivered a range of unprecedented news events.

Yet, among these immense events came a range of scientific discoveries that slipped under the radar...

We’ve created downloadable posters which focus on these discoveries and look at why they’re so important and exciting to know about. You can use these posters to inspire your students in the classroom or as starter questions to be used in lessons as discussion topics.Ìý

Recent scientific discoveries

Gigantic cavity in space sheds new light on how stars form

Astronomers analysing 3D maps of the shapes and sizes of nearby molecular clouds have discovered a gigantic cavity in space.

Download the poster (PDF | 275.30 KB)Ìý

Gigantic cavity in space sheds new light on how stars form

Mars is making a humming sound!

In November 2018, a space craft arrived on Mars’s dusty surface to take the planets ‘pulse’.

Download the poster (PDF | 86 KB)Ìý

Mars is making a humming sound!

The oldest Homo erectus skull has been found!

In April 2020, the earliest known skull of Homo erectus was extracted from rocks in Johannesburg, South Africa, by an Australian-led team of researchers.Ìý

Download the poster (PDF | 105 KB)ÌýÌý

The oldest homo erectus skull has been found

Oldest material on earth discovered!

Scientists analysing a meteorite have discovered the oldest material known to exist on Earth.

Download the poster (PDF | 95 KB)Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý

Oldest material on Earth

Say hello to plastic-eating bacteria!

Researchers identified a new bacterium that feeds on polyurethane, a kind of plastic that is difficult to recycle or destroy.

Download the poster (PDF | 94 KB)Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Say hello to plastic-eating bacteria!

A Tyrannosaur the size of a chihuahua?

In October 2020 scientists identified the remains of a Tyrannosaurs in its embryonic stage, it had been fossilised whilst it was still in its egg.

Download the poster (PDF | 105 KB)Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

A Tyrannosaur the size of a chihuahua?

A 'zeptosecond' measured for the first time!

German scientists announced they had measured the smallest unit of time ever recorded - a zeptosecond.

Download the poster (PDF | 122 KB)Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

A 'zeptosecond' measured for the first time!