Anything exciting going on in your field of work this year? Or breakthroughs in science, new technologies developed, things like that.
The end-of-year numbers aren’t in yet, but 2023 should be the year that wind and solar finally generate more electricity than coal here in the US.
https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/report/BTL/2023/02-genmix/article.phpFor new generation projects coming online in 2023, 86% of the electricity is from non-fossil sources. The generation capacity that was retired in 2023 was all fossil based.
https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/fotw-1304-august-21-2023-2023-non-fossil-fuel-sources-will-account-86-newThe first CRISPR gene editing treatment for sickle cell disease was approved. An amazing start to what I hope is a future of cures for various genetic diseases.
Dracunculiasis (disease caused by Guinea worm infection in humans) is almost eradicated. We hit a new all-time low for known cases: 13 last year, and now only 3 in the first half of 2023.
We started deploying malaria vaccines!
We are getting very close to approval of Melanoma vaccines. https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/health/moderna-merck-melanoma-vaccine-immunotherapy/index.html
For those not aware, Melanomas are not only one of the deadliest and most common cancers, it isn’t really very treatable with chemotherapies or radiation. And yes, Fuck cancer - we’re coming for you, bitch!
China’s carbon emissions are now entering structural decline thanks to the massive push in renewables and nuclear https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/13/chinas-carbon-emissions-set-for-structural-decline-from-next-year
