discoveries that could change the world

On FT Edit next week we will be bringing you Good Science, a series of articles about recent discoveries that have the potential to change the world — and our lives — for the better. The stories have been hand-picked by Clive Cookson, who has covered science for the FT for more than 30 years.

One joy of science journalism, particularly in a period of global geopolitical gloom, is that the output is predominantly positive. Of course, we cover malpractice, environmental degradation, disease and disasters — natural and manmade — but this bad news is usually outweighed by stories about research that aims to enhance life or contribute to our understanding of nature and the universe.

While the current blossoming of artificial intelligence is causing concern, most scientists relish AI’s ability to give them new insights. Biotechnology is a field in which its potential benefits stand out. The FT has recently looked at what AI might do to accelerate drug discovery, cancer diagnosis and more fundamental genetic research. Applications elsewhere include more accurate weather forecasts and help in translating animal communications. 

Neurotechnology is one of the most fascinating and fastest moving fields of research, as scientists learn to link the human brain and nervous system to computers. In consecutive weeks we published stories about brain implants translating thoughts into words — giving a voice to people who cannot speak — and recreating a Pink Floyd song from the brainwaves of people listening to it. Neurotech showed its potential to be a practical aid for overcoming severe disability with a “digital bridge” that decodes a paraplegic patient’s brain signals so that he can walk just by thinking about moving his legs.

In pharmaceutical science, the most newsworthy treatments have been for dementia and obesity. Clinical trial results have shown the potential of two drugs to slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, from Eli Lilly and a partnership between Eisai and Biogen, while Novo Nordisk added to the formidable selling power of its blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy with data showing that it cut the risk of death by 18 per cent in people with heart disease.

Space exploration continues to provide exciting news. While the $10bn James Webb telescope transmits spectacular images of the universe after two years in orbit, three big new missions were launched in 2023. Two are European: the Juice spacecraft set off to explore Jupiter’s moons, and Euclid is probing the mysterious “dark energy” and “dark matter” that cosmologists believe dominate the universe. Nasa has sent a probe to investigate an asteroid called Psyche that seems to be made mainly of metal — though sadly not silver, platinum or gold. 

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Our favourite pieces

I can only hope I never bump into Janan Ganesh at a dinner party. His scathing takedown of ill-informed political small talk by amateurs who, born into a pre-social media world, might have remained entirely apathetic, was thrillingly on the nose.
Hannah Rock
Deputy editor, FT Edit (@HannahRockFT)

The story that affected me the most this week was our feature on Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny’s widow, who promised to honour his legacy by continuing his campaign for a new Russia. Max Seddon, Anastasia Atognei and Courtney Weaver spoke to some of her close affiliates and friends to help readers better understand her and the new challenges she will face.
Caryn Wilson
US editor, FT Edit (@CarynAWilson)

Something to listen to

Money Clinic with Claer Barrett — Almost 3,000 readers told the FT how they intended to spend their bonus this year. Claer Barrett digs into the results and examines why this year is so difficult, even for high earners

Rachman Review — Gideon Rachman and his guest, the journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, take a temperature check of how Europe is feeling about the possibility of Russian aggression spreading deeper into the continent.

Life and Art — This week our culture podcast looks at practical tips on how we can avoid the raft of health problems associated with staying still for so long. Guaranteed to make you go for a walk after listening.

Something to watch

Peatland has been disappearing for the past few decades to make way for farmland. But these wet, swamp-like areas are huge natural carbon sinks storing about 650bn tonnes of carbon globally. Restoring them could be essential to halting climate change.