Evolution’s Timeline
Toppled
Editing Human Embryos
Science Under Trump Cosmic Smashup
The Great Dinosaur Debate Cassini’s Death Plunge
How Cats Conquered the World... AND MORE!PLUSJanuary/February 2018
TOP 100special issueBEST NEW IDEAS & INSIGHTS
DiscoverSCIENCE FOR THE CURIOUS
®January/February 2017^ DISCOVER^5CONTENTS
January/February 2018 VOL. 39, NO. 1
Evolution’s Timeline Toppled p.
Editing Human Embryos p.
Science Under Trump p.
Cosmic Smashup p.
The Great Dinosaur Debate p.
Cassini’s Death Plunge p.
How Cats Conquered the World p.
ON THE COVER: An early-human skull discovered
in Morocco is one of several finds in 2017 to shake up
the hominin evolutionary timeline. Read more
on page 10. NHM IMAGESON THE COVEREditor’s Note
Each December, we pause to call
out the year’s most interesting
discoveries and advances. Yes, it’s a
look back, but really it’s a glimpse
into our future — each finding is a
step on the path to more knowledge.
Enjoy your journey as you peruse
our picks for the top 100 stories of- We welcome your thoughts, at
[email protected].
1
America Looks Up p.
The solar event that transfixed
Americans from sea to shining sea.
BY BILL ANDREWS2
Human Evolution
Timeline Topples p.
Our ancestors’ origin story is being
refined. BY GEMMA TARLACH3
Astronomers See
and Hear the Cosmos p.
A gravitational wave and a flash of
light open up a new field of astronomy.
BY ERIC BETZ4
Science Under Siege
But Surviving p.
We break down the Trump
administration’s salty relationship
with science. BY GEMMA TARLACH5
Human Embryo Gets
CRISPR Treatment p.
Researchers in a U.S. lab finally test
the revolutionary gene-editing tool
in human embryos. BY ERIC BETZ6
‘Living Drug’ Gets
Green Light p.
The FDA approves a powerful gene
therapy to fight a resistant cancer.
BY KENNETH MILLER7
Seven Whole New
Worlds p.
A record-breaking number of Earth-
sized planets orbit a faint star in a
nearby galaxy. BY JOHN WENZ8
Hominin Trackways
in Greece? p.
Fossilized footprints may change our
family tree. BY GEMMA TARLACH9
Cassini Is Dead;
Long Live Cassini p.
The Saturn probe completes its
years-long mission in a fiery descent.
BY SAR AH SCOLES10
Harvey Redesigns
Rainfall Maps p.
The deluge that swamped Houston
changes how we measure downpours.
BY DEVI SHASTRIBecky Lang, EDITOR IN CHIEF... PLUS 90 more stories
that made 2017 a thrilling
year in science.
Image of the Year p.Index p.January/February 2018^ DISCOVER^5Discover
BECKY LANG Editor In Chief
DAN BISHOP Design Director
EDITORIAL
KATHI KUBE Managing Editor
GEMMA TARLACH Senior Editor
BILL ANDREWS Senior Associate Editor
MARK BARNA Associate Editor
ERIC BETZ Associate Editor
LACY SCHLEY Assistant Editor
DAVE LEE Copy Editor
ELISA R. NECKAR Copy Editor
AMY KLINKHAMMER Editorial Assistant
Contributing Editors
TIM FOLGER, JONATHON KEATS,
LINDA MARSA, KENNETH MILLER,
STEVE NADIS, ADAM PIORE,
COREY S. POWELL, JULIE REHMEYER,
STEVE VOLK, PAMELA WEINTRAUB,
JEFF WHEELWRIGHT,
DARLENE CAVALIER (SPECIAL PROJECTS)
ART
ERNIE MASTROIANNI Photo Editor
ALISON MACKEY Associate Art Director
DISCOVERMAGAZINE.COM
CARL ENGELKING Web Editor
LAUREN SIGFUSSON Associate Editor
NATHANIEL SCHARPING Assistant Editor
Bloggers
MEREDITH CARPENTER, LILLIAN FRITZ-LAYLIN,
JEREMY HSU, ERIK KLEMETTI, REBECCA KRESTON,
NEUROSKEPTIC, ELIZABETH PRESTON,
SCISTARTER, AMY SHIRA TEITEL,
CHRISTIE WILCOX, TOM YULSMAN
ADVERTISING
STEVE MENI888 558 1544 Advertising Sales Manager
[email protected]
Rummel Media Connections
KRISTI RUMMEL608 435 6220 Consulting and Media Sales
[email protected]
MELANIE DECARLI Marketing Architect
BOB RATTNER Research
DARYL PAGEL Advertising Services
KALMBACH PUBLISHING CO.
DAN HICKEY CEO
DANIEL R. LANCE Senior V.P., Sales & Marketing
STEPHEN C. GEORGE Vice President, Content
JAMES R. MCCANN Vice President, Finance
NICOLE MCGUIRE Vice President, Consumer Marketing
ANN E. SMITH Corporate Advertising Director
LIZ RUNYON Circulation Director
MICHAEL SOLIDAY Art and Production Manager
CATHY DANIELS New Business Manager
KATHY STEELE Retention Manager
KIM REDMOND Single Copy Specialist
SUBSCRIPTIONS
In the U.S., $29.95 for one year; in Canada, $39.95 for
one year (U.S. funds only), includes GST, BN
12271 3209RT; other foreign countries, $44.95 for
one year (U.S. funds only).
CUSTOMER SALES & SERVICE
800 829 9132
Outside the U.S. and Canada: 813 910 3616
Customer Service: [email protected]
Digital: [email protected]
Back Issues: [email protected]
EDITORIAL INQUIRIES
[email protected]
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186®Website access code: DSD1802 SCIENCE FOR THE CURIOUS
Enter this code at:
http://www.DiscoverMagazine.com/code
to gain access to exclusive subscriber content.