Earth-sized exoplanet may lie in habitable zone https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/02/2-earthsized-exoplanet-hd-137010-b.htm

Ten European countries have agreed a landmark plan to jointly build 100 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in the North Sea, signalling a new phase of cooperation on clean energy, infrastructure and energy security. ⚡ https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/01/26-hamburg-declaration-2030-2040-2050.htm #wind #windpower #windenergy #renewables #Europe

NASA is developing a next-generation space telescope that could directly image Earth-like exoplanets in the 2040s 🌍🔭

👉 "The Habitable Worlds Observatory will be the most powerful telescope that NASA has ever launched."

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/01/22-nasa-telescope-future-timeline-2040s.htm #exoplanets #NASA #spacenews

World's first subsea desalination plant launches in 2026

As water scarcity intensifies worldwide, a Norwegian startup plans to turn the deep ocean into an unlikely source of freshwater. Flocean expects to launch its first commercial subsea desalination system later this year.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/01/18-worlds-first-subsea-desalination-plant-launches-in-2026.htm #water #desalination #technology #tech #technews

Human brain-scale simulations move a step closer

Researchers have developed a new method for constructing neural networks, making the setup phase over ten times faster and paving the way for human brain-scale simulations on future supercomputers.

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/01/16-human-brain-scale-simulations-future-timeline.htm

The first global timeline of Earth's vanishing glaciers

Scientists have produced a global timeline of glacier loss, warning that the Alps may reach peak glacier loss as early as 2033, while tens of thousands of glaciers worldwide are projected to vanish this century.

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/01/13-future-timeline-earth-vanishing-glaciers.htm

2026 – Hydrogen-based steelmaking reaches industrial scale

This year, steelmaking takes a major step toward decarbonisation, as the first industrial-scale hydrogen-powered plants enter operation and begin reducing the reliance on coal.

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/21stcentury/2026.htm#green-steel

What a difference a year makes.

British company Space Forge has reported a major milestone in orbital semiconductor production, potentially enabling materials with 4,000 times fewer defects than those made on Earth.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2026/01/1-breakthrough-in-space-based-manufacturing.htm

2200-2225 – Humanity begins travelling between the stars

The first quarter of the 23rd century is marked by humanity's transition from interstellar probes to the earliest crewed journeys beyond the Solar System, driven by breakthroughs in antimatter propulsion.

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/23rdcentury/2200-2249.htm#starships #interstellar #futurism #starship #space #future

A new plant-based plastic that vanishes in seawater

Japanese researchers have created a tough, flexible plastic made from plant cellulose that breaks down quickly and safely in salt water. Unlike most "biodegradable" plastics, it leaves behind no microplastics.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/12/27-new-plant-based-plastic-breaks-down-in-seawater.htm

2175 – Interstellar probes are now a routine part of scientific exploration

By the 2170s, antimatter is no longer just a catalyst in hybrid engines; it now powers the main propulsion stages of many space probes, enabling routine exploration of neighbouring star systems.

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/22ndcentury/2150-2199.htm#interstellar

Lemon-shaped planet found by Webb telescope

Astronomers report the discovery of a bizarre, pulsar-orbiting exoplanet with a lemon-like shape and an atmosphere unlike any seen before.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/12/18-lemon-shaped-planet-james-webb-space-telescope.htm

New record for smallest fully autonomous robot

Researchers in the US have created the world's smallest fully programmable, autonomous robots, measuring just 200 x 300 x 50 micrometres.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/12/17-world-record-smallest-fully-autonomous-robot.htm

Somatic mutations may set a hard limit on human longevity

New research suggests that even if we cured almost every aspect of aging, humans might still struggle to live beyond about 150 years, due to the slow and unavoidable accumulation of random DNA errors in our cells.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/12/12-somatic-mutations-limit-human-longevity.htm

Stopping the swarm: Inside the global race to defeat drones

A guest blog by Richard Fox.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/12/10-stopping-the-swarm-inside-the-global-race-to-defeat-drones.htm

2130 – Antimatter triggers a new era of space exploration

Industrial-scale, gram-level antimatter production is now enabling a revolution in hybrid space propulsion, as well as unlocking new capabilities in defence, energy transport, and high-energy research.

Read more: https://www.futuretimeline.net/22ndcentury/2100-2149.htm#antimatter

LONGi sets new 33.4% solar efficiency record

A new flexible, ultrathin solar cell has achieved a world record efficiency of 33.4%, using a perovskite–silicon tandem.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/11/29-longi-sets-new-33-4-solar-efficiency-record.htm

Breakthrough in antimatter production

Scientists at CERN have reported an eightfold increase in the rate of production of antimatter, achieved by cooling positrons to nearly absolute zero.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/11/24-breakthrough-in-antimatter-production.htm

Gene-editing therapy reduces cholesterol by 50%

In a Phase 1, first-in-human trial, a CRISPR gene therapy is found to be safe and able to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol by nearly 50%, while triglycerides are reduced by 55%.

https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2025/11/13-gene-editing-therapy-reduces-cholesterol-by-50-percent.htm