2021 in science

{{Main|Q1 2021 in science#January}}

{{Main|Q1 2021 in science#February}}

File:Science Summary podcast for July 2021.mp3

• 1 July
• Construction begins on the Square Kilometre Array, with first light planned for 2027.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=World's largest radio telescope to be built after almost 30 years of planning |url=https://www.space.com/square-kilometer-array-telescope-construction-starts |date=30 June 2021 |work=Space.com |access-date=1 July 2021 }}
• In the debate about the cognitive impacts of smartphones and digital technology a group reports that, contrary to widespread belief, scientific evidence doesn't show that these technologies harm biological cognitive abilities and that they instead only change predominant ways of cognition – such as a reduced need to remember facts or conduct mathematical calculations by pen and paper outside contemporary schools. However, some activities – like reading novels – that require long attention spans and don't feature ongoing rewarding stimulation may become more challenging in general.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Smart technology is not making us dumber: study |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-07-smart-technology-dumber.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |website=phys.org }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Cecutti |first1=Lorenzo |last2=Chemero |first2=Anthony |last3=Lee |first3=Spike W. S. |title=Technology may change cognition without necessarily harming it |journal=Nature Human Behaviour |date=1 July 2021 |volume=5 |issue=8 |pages=973–975 |doi=10.1038/s41562-021-01162-0 |pmid=34211150 |s2cid=235709853 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352906266 |access-date=14 August 2021 |issn=2397-3374}}
• A study finds that ~9.4% of global deaths between 2000 and 2019 – ~5 million annually – can be attributed to extreme temperature with cold-related ones making up the larger share and decreasing and heat-related ones making up ~0.91 % and increasing.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Extreme temperatures kill 5 million people a year with heat-related deaths rising, study finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/08/extreme-temperatures-kill-5-million-people-a-year-with-heat-related-deaths-rising-study-finds |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=7 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|title=Global, regional, and national burden of mortality associated with non-optimal ambient temperatures from 2000 to 2019: a three-stage modelling study |journal=The Lancet Planetary Health |date=1 July 2021 |volume=5 |issue=7 |pages=e415–e425 |doi=10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00081-4 |issn=2542-5196|last1=Zhao |first1=Qi |last2=Guo |first2=Yuming |last3=Ye |first3=Tingting |last4=Gasparrini |first4=Antonio |last5=Tong |first5=Shilu |last6=Overcenco |first6=Ala |last7=Urban |first7=Aleš |last8=Schneider |first8=Alexandra |last9=Entezari |first9=Alireza |last10=Vicedo-Cabrera |first10=Ana Maria |last11=Zanobetti |first11=Antonella |last12=Analitis |first12=Antonis |last13=Zeka |first13=Ariana |last14=Tobias |first14=Aurelio |last15=Nunes |first15=Baltazar |last16=Alahmad |first16=Barrak |last17=Armstrong |first17=Ben |last18=Forsberg |first18=Bertil |last19=Pan |first19=Shih-Chun |last20=Íñiguez |first20=Carmen |last21=Ameling |first21=Caroline |last22=de la Cruz Valencia |first22=César |last23=Åström |first23=Christofer |last24=Houthuijs |first24=Danny |last25=Dung |first25=Do Van |last26=Royé |first26=Dominic |last27=Indermitte |first27=Ene |last28=Lavigne |first28=Eric |last29=Mayvaneh |first29=Fatemeh |last30=Acquaotta |first30=Fiorella |pmid=34245712 |s2cid=235791583 |display-authors=1 |doi-access=free }}
• 2 July
• The first scientific review in the professional academic literature about global plastic pollution in general finds that the rational response to the "global threat" would be "reductions in consumption of virgin plastic materials, along with internationally coordinated strategies for waste management" – such as banning export of plastic waste unless it leads to better recycling – and describes the state of knowledge about "poorly reversible" impacts.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Is global plastic pollution nearing an irreversible tipping point? |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-07-global-plastic-pollution-nearing-irreversible.html |access-date=13 August 2021 |website=phys.org }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=MacLeod |first1=Matthew |last2=Arp |first2=Hans Peter H. |last3=Tekman |first3=Mine B. |last4=Jahnke |first4=Annika |title=The global threat from plastic pollution |journal=Science |date=2 July 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6550 |pages=61–65 |doi=10.1126/science.abg5433 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352907165 |pmid=34210878 |bibcode=2021Sci...373...61M |s2cid=235699724 |issn=0036-8075}}
• Researchers report that a mix of microorganisms from cow stomachs could break down three types of plastics.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Spary |first1=Sara |title=Cows' stomachs can break down plastic, study finds |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/02/world/cows-plastic-scli-intl-scn/index.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=CNN}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Quartinello |first1=Felice |last2=Kremser |first2=Klemens |last3=Schoen |first3=Herta |last4=Tesei |first4=Donatella |last5=Ploszczanski |first5=Leon |last6=Nagler |first6=Magdalena |last7=Podmirseg |first7=Sabine M. |last8=Insam |first8=Heribert |last9=Piñar |first9=Guadalupe |last10=Sterflingler |first10=Katja |last11=Ribitsch |first11=Doris |last12=Guebitz |first12=Georg M. |title=Together Is Better: The Rumen Microbial Community as Biological Toolbox for Degradation of Synthetic Polyesters |journal=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |date=2021 |volume=9 |doi=10.3389/fbioe.2021.684459 |issn=2296-4185|doi-access=free }}
• Scientists identify GPR75 variants as alleles protective against obesity in ~640,000 sequenced exomes.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Gene variants related to controlling body weight isolated |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-gene-variants-body-weight-isolated.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |website=medicalxpress.com }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|title=Sequencing of 640,000 exomes identifies GPR75 variants associated with protection from obesity |journal=Science |date=2 July 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6550 |doi=10.1126/science.abf8683 |issn=0036-8075|last1=Akbari |first1=Parsa |last2=Gilani |first2=Ankit |last3=Sosina |first3=Olukayode |last4=Kosmicki |first4=Jack A. |last5=Khrimian |first5=Lori |last6=Fang |first6=Yi-Ya |last7=Persaud |first7=Trikaldarshi |last8=Garcia |first8=Victor |last9=Sun |first9=Dylan |last10=Li |first10=Alexander |last11=Mbatchou |first11=Joelle |last12=Locke |first12=Adam E. |last13=Benner |first13=Christian |last14=Verweij |first14=Niek |last15=Lin |first15=Nan |last16=Hossain |first16=Sakib |last17=Agostinucci |first17=Kevin |last18=Pascale |first18=Jonathan V. |last19=Dirice |first19=Ercument |last20=Dunn |first20=Michael |last21=Kraus |first21=William E. |last22=Shah |first22=Svati H. |last23=Chen |first23=Yii-Der I. |last24=Rotter |first24=Jerome I. |last25=Rader |first25=Daniel J. |last26=Melander |first26=Olle |last27=Still |first27=Christopher D. |last28=Mirshahi |first28=Tooraj |last29=Carey |first29=David J. |last30=Berumen-Campos |first30=Jaime |pages=eabf8683 |pmid=34210852 |pmc=10275396 |s2cid=235699731 |display-authors=1 }}
• 5 July
• Scientists report the discovery of a bone carving, one of the world's oldest works of art, made by Neanderthals about 51,000 years ago.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last=Feehly |first=Conor |title=Beautiful Bone Carving From 51,000 Years Ago Is Changing Our View of Neanderthals |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/more-evidence-found-for-sophisticated-symbolic-behavior-in-neanderthals |date=6 July 2021 |work=ScienceAlert |access-date=6 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last=Leder |first=Dirk |display-authors=et al. |title=A 51,000-year-old engraved bone reveals Neanderthals' capacity for symbolic behaviour |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-021-01487-z |date=5 July 2021 |journal=Nature Ecology & Evolution |volume=594 |issue=9 |pages=1273–1282 |doi=10.1038/s41559-021-01487-z |pmid=34226702 |bibcode=2021NatEE...5.1273L |s2cid=235746596 |access-date=6 July 2021 }}
• A scientific review summarizes evidence from nutrition research for diets for atherosclerosis prevention.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=A plant-based diet is the best way to avoid heart disease, according to a new report |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/plant-based-diet-heart-disease/2021/08/12/e6a9ee30-fad6-11eb-9c0e-97e29906a970_story.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Riccardi |first1=Gabriele |last2=Giosuè |first2=Annalisa |last3=Calabrese |first3=Ilaria |last4=Vaccaro |first4=Olga |title=Dietary recommendations for prevention of atherosclerosis |journal=Cardiovascular Research |date=6 July 2021 |volume=118 |issue=5 |pages=1188–1204 |doi=10.1093/cvr/cvab173|pmid=34229346 |doi-access=free }}
• 7 July
• A preprint finds the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant to cause a ~108 % increased – or more than twice as large – risk for hospitalization, a ~234 % increase for ICU admission and 132% for death compared to non-VOC variants.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=New delta variant studies show the pandemic is far from over |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/delta-variant-studies-cdc-coronavirus-covid-pandemic |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=Science News |date=30 July 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|medRxiv|last1=Fisman |first1=David N. |last2=Tuite |first2=Ashleigh R. |title=Progressive Increase in Virulence of Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Ontario, Canada |date=4 August 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.07.05.21260050v3}}
• Researchers present a programmable quantum simulator that can operate with 256 qubits.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Harvard-led physicists take big step in race to quantum computing |url=https://scienmag.com/harvard-led-physicists-take-big-step-in-race-to-quantum-computing/ |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=Scienmag: Latest Science and Health News |date=9 July 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Ebadi |first1=Sepehr |last2=Wang |first2=Tout T. |last3=Levine |first3=Harry |last4=Keesling |first4=Alexander |last5=Semeghini |first5=Giulia |last6=Omran |first6=Ahmed |last7=Bluvstein |first7=Dolev |last8=Samajdar |first8=Rhine |last9=Pichler |first9=Hannes |last10=Ho |first10=Wen Wei |last11=Choi |first11=Soonwon |last12=Sachdev |first12=Subir |last13=Greiner |first13=Markus |last14=Vuletić |first14=Vladan |last15=Lukin |first15=Mikhail D. |title=Quantum phases of matter on a 256-atom programmable quantum simulator |journal=Nature |date=July 2021 |volume=595 |issue=7866 |pages=227–232 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03582-4 |pmid=34234334 |arxiv=2012.12281 |bibcode=2021Natur.595..227E |s2cid=229363764 |issn=1476-4687}}
• 8 July – Scientists report that in the past – with little relevance to future evolution – lower temperatures were associated with larger Homo body sizes and that long-term variability in precipitation was correlated with brain size.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Burton |first1=Charlotte |title=Human body size shaped by climate, evolutionary study shows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/08/human-body-size-shaped-by-climate-evolutionary-study-shows |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=8 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Will |first1=Manuel |last2=Krapp |first2=Mario |last3=Stock |first3=Jay T. |last4=Manica |first4=Andrea |title=Different environmental variables predict body and brain size evolution in Homo |journal=Nature Communications |date=8 July 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=4116 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-24290-7 |pmid=34238930 |pmc=8266824 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.4116W |issn=2041-1723}}

File:Morning-Glory Hotspring.jpg structures, they call "borgs", which appear to incorporate genes from organisms they encounter in or near archaea in mud.]]

• 10 July – Scientists report in a preprint the discovery of long extrachromosomal DNA structures, they call borgs, which appear to incorporate genes from organisms they encounter. These structures, which could turn out to be an unknown form of giant viruses or "giant linear plasmids",{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Cepelewicz |first1=Jordana |last2=Whitten |first2=Allison |title=Plasmid, Virus or Other? DNA 'Borgs' Blur Boundaries. |url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/plasmid-virus-or-other-dna-borgs-blur-boundaries-20210721/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=Quanta Magazine |date=21 July 2021 }} co-occur with a species of archaeon which may host them, shares many of their genes, whose main chromosome is only three times larger and whose capacity for anaerobic oxidation of methane as well as other biological functions – such as production of proteins – the borgs may augment.{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Dance |first1=Amber |title=Massive DNA 'Borg' structures perplex scientists |journal=Nature |date=16 July 2021 |volume=595 |issue=7869 |pages=636 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01947-3|bibcode=2021Natur.595..636D |s2cid=236001172 |doi-access=free }}{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Andrew |first1=Shakespeare, William Gurr |title=Previously undiscovered DNA 'borgs' found on California wetlands |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/dna-wetlands-borgs-california-b1893312.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730193919/https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/dna-wetlands-borgs-california-b1893312.html |archive-date=30 July 2021 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=The Independent |date=30 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Al-Shayeb |first1=Basem |last2=Schoelmerich |first2=Marie C. |last3=West-Roberts |first3=Jacob |last4=Valentin-Alvarado |first4=Luis E. |last5=Sachdeva |first5=Rohan |last6=Mullen |first6=Susan |last7=Crits-Christoph |first7=Alexander |last8=Wilkins |first8=Michael J. |last9=Williams |first9=Kenneth H. |last10=Doudna |first10=Jennifer A. |last11=Banfield |first11=Jillian F. |title=Borgs are giant extrachromosomal elements with the potential to augment methane oxidation |url=https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.10.451761v1.full |journal=bioRxiv |access-date=13 August 2021 |pages=2021.07.10.451761 |doi=10.1101/2021.07.10.451761 |date=10 July 2021|s2cid=235812990 }}
• 12 July – Scientists report in a preprint that the viral load in the first positive test of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was on average ~1000 times higher than with compared infections during 2020.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Reardon |first1=Sara |title=How the Delta variant achieves its ultrafast spread |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01986-w |access-date=13 August 2021 |journal=Nature |date=21 July 2021 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01986-w}}{{#invoke:Cite|medRxiv|title=Viral infection and transmission in a large, well-traced outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant |date=23 July 2021 |last1=Li |first1=Baisheng |last2=Deng |first2=Aiping |last3=Li |first3=Kuibiao |last4=Hu |first4=Yao |last5=Li |first5=Zhencui |last6=Xiong |first6=Qianling |last7=Liu |first7=Zhe |last8=Guo |first8=Qianfang |last9=Zou |first9=Lirong |last10=Zhang |first10=Huan |last11=Zhang |first11=Meng |last12=Ouyang |first12=Fangzhu |last13=Su |first13=Juan |last14=Su |first14=Wenzhe |last15=Xu |first15=Jing |last16=Lin |first16=Huifang |last17=Sun |first17=Jing |last18=Peng |first18=Jinju |last19=Jiang |first19=Huiming |last20=Zhou |first20=Pingping |last21=Hu |first21=Ting |last22=Luo |first22=Min |last23=Zhang |first23=Yingtao |last24=Zheng |first24=Huanying |last25=Xiao |first25=Jianpeng |last26=Liu |first26=Tao |last27=Che |first27=Rongfei |last28=Zeng |first28=Hanri |last29=Zheng |first29=Zhonghua |last30=Huang |first30=Yushi |display-authors=1 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.07.07.21260122v2}}
• 14 July
• Researchers report finding the earliest known fossil life on Earth, in the form of "putative filamentous microfossils", possibly of methanogens and/or methanotrophs, that lived about 3.42-billion-year-old in "a paleo-subseafloor hydrothermal vein system of the Barberton greenstone belt in South Africa."{{#invoke:Cite|news|last=Schultz |first=Isaac |title=These Squiggles May Be Some of the Oldest Fossil Life on Earth - Researchers say the fossils were left by 3.42-billion-year-old microbes. They could offer clues as to what sort of life may exist on other planets. |url=https://gizmodo.com/these-squiggles-may-be-some-of-the-oldest-fossil-life-o-1847290019 |date=14 July 2021 |work=Gizmodo |access-date=14 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|author=Cavalazzi, Barbara |display-authors=et al. |title=Cellular remains in a ~3.42-billion-year-old subseafloor hydrothermal environment |date=14 July 2021 |journal=Science Advances |volume=7 |number=9 |pages=eabf3963 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abf3963 |pmid=34261651 |pmc=8279515 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.3963C }}
• Astronomers report the detection, for the first time, of an isotope in the atmosphere of an exoplanet. In specific, the isotope Carbon-13 (¹³C) was found in the atmosphere of a gas giant exoplanet named TYC 8998-760-1 b.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last=Starr |first=Michelle |title=Isotopes Detected in The Atmosphere of an Exoplanet For The First Time |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/for-the-first-time-isotopes-have-been-detected-in-the-atmosphere-of-an-exoplanet |date=14 July 2021 |work=ScienceAlert |access-date=14 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|author=Zhang, Yapeng |display-authors=et al. |title=The 13CO-rich atmosphere of a young accreting super-Jupiter |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03616-x |date=14 July 2021 |journal=Nature |volume=595 |issue=7867 |pages=370–372 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03616-x |pmid=34262209 |arxiv=2107.06297 |bibcode=2021Natur.595..370Z |s2cid=235829633 |access-date=14 July 2021 }}
• Researchers used a brain-computer interface to enable a man who was paralyzed since 2003 to produce comprehensible words and sentences by decoding signals from electrodes in the speech areas of his brain.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Think before you 'speak': brain–computer interface restores speech in paralysed man |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/think-before-you-speak-brain-computer-interface-restores-speech-in-paralysed-man/ |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=Physics World |date=5 August 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Moses |first1=David A. |last2=Metzger |first2=Sean L. |last3=Liu |first3=Jessie R. |last4=Anumanchipalli |first4=Gopala K. |last5=Makin |first5=Joseph G. |last6=Sun |first6=Pengfei F. |last7=Chartier |first7=Josh |last8=Dougherty |first8=Maximilian E. |last9=Liu |first9=Patricia M. |last10=Abrams |first10=Gary M. |last11=Tu-Chan |first11=Adelyn |last12=Ganguly |first12=Karunesh |last13=Chang |first13=Edward F. |title=Neuroprosthesis for Decoding Speech in a Paralyzed Person with Anarthria |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=15 July 2021 |volume=385 |issue=3 |pages=217–227 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa2027540|pmid=34260835 |pmc=8972947 |s2cid=235907121 }}
• Researchers describe effects of deforestation and climate change in a transformation of Amazonia from carbon sink to carbon source {{see below|above}}.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Schwartz |first1=John |title=Parts of the Amazon Go From Absorbing Carbon Dioxide to Emitting It |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/climate/amazon-rainforest-carbon.html|access-date=13 August 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=14 July 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Gatti |first1=Luciana V. |last2=Basso |first2=Luana S. |last3=Miller |first3=John B. |last4=Gloor |first4=Manuel |last5=Gatti Domingues |first5=Lucas |last6=Cassol |first6=Henrique L. G. |last7=Tejada |first7=Graciela |last8=Aragão |first8=Luiz E. O. C. |last9=Nobre |first9=Carlos |last10=Peters |first10=Wouter |last11=Marani |first11=Luciano |last12=Arai |first12=Egidio |last13=Sanches |first13=Alber H. |last14=Corrêa |first14=Sergio M. |last15=Anderson |first15=Liana |last16=Von Randow |first16=Celso |last17=Correia |first17=Caio S. C. |last18=Crispim |first18=Stephane P. |last19=Neves |first19=Raiane A. L. |title=Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change |journal=Nature |date=July 2021 |volume=595 |issue=7867 |pages=388–393 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03629-6 |pmid=34262208 |bibcode=2021Natur.595..388G |s2cid=235906356 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03629-6 |access-date=13 August 2021 |issn=1476-4687}}
• 15 July – Scientists report that the Chicxulub impactor likely was an outer main-belt asteroid, a carbonaceous chondrite C-type asteroid.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Dinosaur-killing rock traced to population of "dark primitive asteroids" |url=https://newatlas.com/science/dinosaur-extinction-dark-primitive-asteroid/ |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=29 July 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|title=Dark primitive asteroids account for a large share of K/Pg-scale impacts on the Earth |journal=Icarus |date=1 November 2021 |volume=368 |pages=114621 |doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114621 |issn=0019-1035 |arxiv=2107.03458|last1=Nesvorný |first1=David |last2=Bottke |first2=William F. |last3=Marchi |first3=Simone |bibcode=2021Icar..36814621N |s2cid=235765478 }}
• 16 July
• Recently thought subglacial lakes under the Southern Polar cap of Mars based on a 2018 MARSIS measurement could also be clay minerals and frozen brine.{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Khuller |first1=Aditya R. |last2=Plaut |first2=Jeffrey J. |title=Characteristics of the Basal Interface of the Martian South Polar Layered Deposits |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |date=16 July 2021 |volume=48 |issue=13 |doi=10.1029/2021GL093631|bibcode=2021GeoRL..4893631K |s2cid=232045163 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Bierson |first1=C. J. |last2=Tulaczyk |first2=S. |last3=Courville |first3=S. W. |last4=Putzig |first4=N. E. |title=Strong MARSIS Radar Reflections From the Base of Martian South Polar Cap May Be Due to Conductive Ice or Minerals |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |date=16 July 2021 |volume=48 |issue=13 |doi=10.1029/2021GL093880|bibcode=2021GeoRL..4893880B |s2cid=237755186 }}
• Japan achieves a new world record Internet speed over ~3.000 km: 319 Tbit/s, beating a previous record of 178 Tbit/s.{{#invoke:Cite|web|url=https://www.generation-nt.com/fibre-optique-record-debit-319-tbps-actualite-1990448.html|title = Internet: Un nouveau record de débit à 319 Tbit/S| date=16 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|web|url=https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2021/07/19-future-internet-speed-predictions.htm|title=Japan sets new Internet speed record: 319 Tbit/s|first=Will|last=Fox|website=FutureTimeline.net}}
• A study concludes only 1.5-7 % of "regions"{{clarify|date=August 2021}} of the modern human genome to be specific to modern humans. These regions have neither been altered by archaic hominin DNA due to admixture nor are shared with Neanderthals or Denisovans according to their used genomic datasets. They also found two bursts of changes specific to modern human genomes which involve genes related to brain development and function.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Only a tiny fraction of our DNA is uniquely human |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/only-a-tiny-fraction-of-our-dna-is-uniquely-human |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=Science News |date=16 July 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Schaefer |first1=Nathan K. |last2=Shapiro |first2=Beth |last3=Green |first3=Richard E. |title=An ancestral recombination graph of human, Neanderthal, and Denisovan genomes |journal=Science Advances |date=1 July 2021 |volume=7 |issue=29 |pages=eabc0776 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abc0776 |pmid=34272242 |pmc=8284891 |bibcode=2021SciA....7..776S |issn=2375-2548}}
• A study using whole-genome resequencing indicates that Cannabis sativa was first domesticated about 12,000 years ago in the early Neolithic period in East Asia, with the results being consistent with a single domestication origin.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Cannabis first domesticated 12,000 years ago: study |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-07-cannabis-domesticated-years.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Ren |first1=Guangpeng |last2=Zhang |first2=Xu |last3=Li |first3=Ying |last4=Ridout |first4=Kate |last5=Serrano-Serrano |first5=Martha L. |last6=Yang |first6=Yongzhi |last7=Liu |first7=Ai |last8=Ravikanth |first8=Gudasalamani |last9=Nawaz |first9=Muhammad Ali |last10=Mumtaz |first10=Abdul Samad |last11=Salamin |first11=Nicolas |last12=Fumagalli |first12=Luca |title=Large-scale whole-genome resequencing unravels the domestication history of Cannabis sativa |journal=Science Advances |date=1 July 2021 |volume=7 |issue=29 |pages=eabg2286 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abg2286 |pmid=34272249 |pmc=8284894 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.2286R |issn=2375-2548}}
• 18 July – Journalists and researchers report the discovery of spyware, called "Pegasus", developed and distributed by a private company which can and has widely been used to infect iOS and Android smartphones often – partly based on 0-day exploits – without the need for any user-interaction or significant clues to the user and then be used to exfiltrate data, track user locations, capture film through its camera, and activate the microphone at any time.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=What is Pegasus spyware and how does it hack phones? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/18/what-is-pegasus-spyware-and-how-does-it-hack-phones |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=18 July 2021 }}

File:Myoglobin.png's AlphaFold AI predicts the 3D structures of ~350,000 proteins.]]

• 19 July
• Researchers review 217 analyses of on-the-market products and services as well as existing alternatives to mainstream food, holidays, and furnishings, and conclude that total greenhouse gas emissions by Swedes could be lowered by to date up to 36–38 % if consumers – without a decrease in total estimated expenditure or considerations of self-interest rationale – instead were to obtain those they could assess to be more sustainable.{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Kanyama |first1=Annika Carlsson |last2=Nässén |first2=Jonas |last3=Benders |first3=René |title=Shifting expenditure on food, holidays, and furnishings could lower greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40% |journal=Journal of Industrial Ecology |year=2021 |volume=25 |issue=6 |pages=1602–1616 |doi=10.1111/jiec.13176 |bibcode=2021JInEc..25.1602C |issn=1530-9290|doi-access=free }}
• Researchers report that higher exposure to woodland urban green spaces is associated with improved cognitive development and risks of mental problems for urban 15-16 years old adolescents.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Woodyatt |first1=Amy |title=City children have better mental health and cognition if they live near woodlands |url=https://us.cnn.com/2021/07/20/health/woodland-children-wellness-scn-intl-scli-gbr/index.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=CNN}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Maes |first1=Mikaël J. A. |last2=Pirani |first2=Monica |last3=Booth |first3=Elizabeth R. |last4=Shen |first4=Chen |last5=Milligan |first5=Ben |last6=Jones |first6=Kate E. |last7=Toledano |first7=Mireille B. |title=Benefit of woodland and other natural environments for adolescents' cognition and mental health |journal=Nature Sustainability |date=19 July 2021 |volume=4 |issue=10 |pages=851–858 |doi=10.1038/s41893-021-00751-1 |bibcode=2021NatSu...4..851M |hdl=10044/1/98026 |s2cid=236096013 |issn=2398-9629|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10132926/ }}
• Scientists report that wild pigs are causing soil disturbance that, among other problems, globally results in annual carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to that of ~1.1 million passenger vehicles, implying that wild pig meat – unlike other meat products – has beneficial effects on the environment.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=The climate impact of wild pigs greater than a million cars |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-07-climate-impact-wild-pigs-greater.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=O'Bryan |first1=Christopher J. |last2=Patton |first2=Nicholas R. |last3=Hone |first3=Jim |last4=Lewis |first4=Jesse S. |last5=Berdejo-Espinola |first5=Violeta |last6=Risch |first6=Derek R. |last7=Holden |first7=Matthew H. |last8=McDonald-Madden |first8=Eve |title=Unrecognized threat to global soil carbon by a widespread invasive species |journal=Global Change Biology |year=2021 |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=877–882 |doi=10.1111/gcb.15769 |pmid=34288288 |s2cid=236157683 |issn=1365-2486}}

File:IonringBlackhole.jpeg.]]

• 20 July
• Researchers conclude that a previously rejected abiotic origin of phosphine concentrations on Venus reported in September 2020 – high rates of active plume volcanism – could be plausible.{{#invoke:Cite|news|last1=Dorminey |first1=Bruce |title=Phosphine In Venus' Atmosphere Points To Volcanics, Not Life, Says Paper |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2021/07/13/phosphine-in-venus-atmosphere-points-to-volcanics-not-life-says-paper/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=Forbes }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Truong |first1=Ngoc |last2=Lunine |first2=Jonathan I. |title=Volcanically extruded phosphides as an abiotic source of Venusian phosphine |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=20 July 2021 |volume=118 |issue=29 |pages=e2021689118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2021689118 |pmid=34253608 |pmc=8307446 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11821689T |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }}
• A scientific review concludes that, except for poultry, at 50 g/day unprocessed red (~9 % increase) and processed meat (~18 %) appear to be risk factors for ischemic heart disease.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Eating processed meat raises risk of heart disease by a fifth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/jul/21/eating-processed-meat-raises-risk-heart-disease-fifth-bacon |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=21 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Papier |first1=Keren |last2=Knuppel |first2=Anika |last3=Syam |first3=Nandana |last4=Jebb |first4=Susan A. |last5=Key |first5=Tim J. |title=Meat consumption and risk of ischemic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition |date=20 July 2021 |volume=63 |issue=3 |pages=426–437 |doi=10.1080/10408398.2021.1949575 |pmid=34284672 |s2cid=236158918 |issn=1040-8398|url=https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:5d4dd1d6-4f33-4edc-9ae0-58c332d10c4f }}
• Scientists report that worldwide adolescent loneliness and depression increased substantially after 2012 and that loneliness in contemporary schools appears to be associated with smartphone access and Internet use.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Teens around the world are lonelier than a decade ago. The reason may be smartphones. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/teens-loneliness-smart-phones/2021/07/20/cde8c866-e84e-11eb-8950-d73b3e93ff7f_story.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|title=Worldwide increases in adolescent loneliness |journal=Journal of Adolescence |date=20 July 2021 |doi=10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.06.006 |issn=0140-1971|last1=Twenge |first1=Jean M. |last2=Haidt |first2=Jonathan |last3=Blake |first3=Andrew B. |last4=McAllister |first4=Cooper |last5=Lemon |first5=Hannah |last6=Le Roy |first6=Astrid |volume=93 |pages=257–269 |pmid=34294429 |doi-access=free }}

File:Social tipping dynamics for stabilizing Earth’s climate by 2050 - Figure 3 - Social tipping elements and associated social tipping interventions with the potential to drive rapid decarbonization in the World–Earth system.jpg.]]

• 22 July
• Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array (ALMA) report the first clear detection of a moon-forming disc around an exoplanet; in this case, the Jupiter-like planet PDS 70c.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Astronomers make first clear detection of a moon-forming disc around an exoplanet |url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2111/?lang |date=22 July 2021 |work=ESO |access-date=22 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Benisty |first1=Myriam |last2=Bae |first2=Jaehan |last3=Facchini |first3=Stefano |last4=Keppler |first4=Miriam |last5=Teague |first5=Richard |last6=Isella |first6=Andrea |last7=Kurtovic |first7=Nicolas T. |last8=Pérez |first8=Laura M. |last9=Sierra |first9=Anibal |last10=Andrews |first10=Sean M. |last11=Carpenter |first11=John |last12=Czekala |first12=Ian |last13=Dominik |first13=Carsten |last14=Henning |first14=Thomas |last15=Menard |first15=Francois |last16=Pinilla |first16=Paola|author16-link= Paola Pinilla |last17=Zurlo |first17=Alice |title=A Circumplanetary Disk around PDS70c |journal=The Astrophysical Journal Letters |date=1 July 2021 |volume=916 |issue=1 |pages=L2 |doi=10.3847/2041-8213/ac0f83 |arxiv=2108.07123 |bibcode=2021ApJ...916L...2B |s2cid=236186222 |issn=2041-8205 |doi-access=free }}
• DeepMind announces that its AlphaFold AI has predicted the structures of over 350,000 proteins, including 98.5% of the ~20,000 proteins in the human body. The 3D data along with their degrees of confidence for accuracy is made freely available with a new database, doubling the previous number of protein structures in the public domain.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=DeepMind's AI predicts structures for a vast trove of proteins |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02025-4 |date=22 July 2021 |work=Nature |access-date=1 August 2021 }}
• 26 July
• The Galileo Project, headed by Avi Loeb, is launched. The project seeks to gather and report scientific evidence of extraterrestrials or extraterrestrial technology – such as of UFOs/UAP with alien origins – on or near Earth via telescope technology.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Galileo Project: scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/27/galileo-project-search-signs-extraterrestrial-technology |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=27 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|web|last=Mann |first=Adam |title=Avi Loeb's Galileo Project Will Search for Evidence of Alien Visitation |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/avi-loebs-galileo-project-will-search-for-evidence-of-alien-visitation/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=Scientific American }}{{#invoke:Cite|web|title=Public Announcement |url=https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo/news-events |website=Projects.Iq.Harvard.edu |access-date=13 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812122252/https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo/news-events }}
• Scientists report to have created the first complete neuron-level-resolution 3D map of a monkey brain which they scanned within 100 hours.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Chinese team hopes high-res image of monkey brain will unlock secrets |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3143188/chinese-scientists-hope-unlock-secrets-human-brain-high-res |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=South China Morning Post |date=1 August 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Xu |first1=Fang |last2=Shen |first2=Yan |last3=Ding |first3=Lufeng |last4=Yang |first4=Chao-Yu |last5=Tan |first5=Heng |last6=Wang |first6=Hao |last7=Zhu |first7=Qingyuan |last8=Xu |first8=Rui |last9=Wu |first9=Fengyi |last10=Xiao |first10=Yanyang |last11=Xu |first11=Cheng |last12=Li |first12=Qianwei |last13=Su |first13=Peng |last14=Zhang |first14=Li I. |last15=Dong |first15=Hong-Wei |last16=Desimone |first16=Robert |last17=Xu |first17=Fuqiang |last18=Hu |first18=Xintian |last19=Lau |first19=Pak-Ming |last20=Bi |first20=Guo-Qiang |title=High-throughput mapping of a whole rhesus monkey brain at micrometer resolution |journal=Nature Biotechnology |date=26 July 2021 |volume=39 |issue=12 |pages=1521–1528 |doi=10.1038/s41587-021-00986-5 |pmid=34312500 |s2cid=236453498 |issn=1546-1696}}
• A study finds that the increasing probability of record week-long heat extremes occurrence depends on warming rate, rather than global warming level and provides projections.{{#invoke:Cite|web|title=Extreme heat waves in a warming world don't just break records – they shatter them |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/extreme-heat-waves-in-a-warming-world-dont-just-break-records-they-shatter-them |access-date=13 August 2021 |website=PBS NewsHour |date=28 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Fischer |first1=E. M. |last2=Sippel |first2=S. |last3=Knutti |first3=R. |title=Increasing probability of record-shattering climate extremes |journal=Nature Climate Change |date=August 2021 |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=689–695 |doi=10.1038/s41558-021-01092-9 |bibcode=2021NatCC..11..689F |s2cid=236438374 |issn=1758-6798|doi-access=free |pmid=39650282 |pmc=7617090 }}
• A scientific review summarizes studies about long COVID.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Long-Covid: Diese Behandlungen soll es geben |url=https://www.t-online.de/gesundheit/krankheiten-symptome/id_90574092/long-covid-welche-behandlungen-wird-es-in-zukunft-geben-.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=T-Online.de |language=de }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Crook |first1=Harry |last2=Raza |first2=Sanara |last3=Nowell |first3=Joseph |last4=Young |first4=Megan |last5=Edison |first5=Paul |title=Long covid—mechanisms, risk factors, and management |journal=BMJ |date=26 July 2021 |volume=374 |pages=n1648 |doi=10.1136/bmj.n1648 |pmid=34312178 |s2cid=236323430 |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1648 |issn=1756-1833|doi-access=free }}
• 28 July
• The first direct observation of light from behind a black hole is reported, further confirming Einstein's theory of general relativity.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Astronomers detect light behind black hole for first time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/28/astronomers-detect-light-behind-black-hole-for-first-time |date=28 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=29 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Stanford astrophysicists report first detection of light from behind a black hole |url=https://news.stanford.edu/2021/07/28/first-detection-light-behind-black-hole/ |date=28 July 2021 |work=Stanford |access-date=29 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Wilkins |first1=D. R. |last2=Gallo |first2=L. C. |last3=Costantini |first3=E. |last4=Brandt |first4=W. N. |last5=Blandford |first5=R. D. |title=Light bending and X-ray echoes from behind a supermassive black hole |journal=Nature |date=July 2021 |volume=595 |issue=7869 |pages=657–660 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03667-0 |pmid=34321670 |arxiv=2107.13555 |bibcode=2021Natur.595..657W |s2cid=236493644 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03667-0 |issn=1476-4687}}
• Metallic water is prepared for the first time in an ordinary Earth lab.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Water as a metal|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728124310.htm|access-date=29 July 2021|website=ScienceDaily}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Mason|first1=Philip E.|last2=Schewe|first2=H. Christian|last3=Buttersack|first3=Tillmann|last4=Kostal|first4=Vojtech|last5=Vitek|first5=Marco|last6=McMullen|first6=Ryan S.|last7=Ali|first7=Hebatallah|last8=Trinter|first8=Florian|last9=Lee|first9=Chin|last10=Neumark|first10=Daniel M.|last11=Thürmer|first11=Stephan|date=2021|title=Spectroscopic evidence for a gold-coloured metallic water solution|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03646-5|journal=Nature|volume=595|issue=7869|pages=673–676|doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03646-5|pmid=34321671|bibcode=2021Natur.595..673M|s2cid=236497289|issn=1476-4687}}
• In an update to the World Scientists' Warning to Humanity, scientists report that evidence of nearing or crossed tipping points of critical elements of the Earth system is accumulating, that 18 of 31 planetary vital signs have reached record values, that 1990 jurisdictions have formally recognized a state of climate emergency, that frequent and accessible updates on the emergency are needed, that COVID-19 "green recovery" has been insufficient and that root-cause system changes above politics are required.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Critical measures of global heating reaching tipping point, study finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/27/global-heating-critical-measures-tipping-point-study |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=28 July 2021 }}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|last1=Ripple |first1=William J |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Newsome |first3=Thomas M |last4=Gregg |first4=Jillian W |last5=Lenton |first5=Timothy M |last6=Palomo |first6=Ignacio |last7=Eikelboom |first7=Jasper A J |last8=Law |first8=Beverly E |last9=Huq |first9=Saleemul |last10=Duffy |first10=Philip B |last11=Rockström |first11=Johan |title=World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2021 |journal=BioScience |date=28 July 2021 |volume=71 |issue=9 |pages=894–898 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biab079| issn=0006-3568|hdl=1808/30278 |hdl-access=free }}
• 29 July – A study indicates gut microbiomes with large amounts of microbes capable of generating unique secondary bile acids are a key element of centenarians' longevity.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Clues to healthy aging found in the gut bacteria of centenarians |url=https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/gut-bacteria-microbiome-centenarians-healthy-aging/ |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=2 August 2021}}{{#invoke:Cite|journal|title=Novel bile acid biosynthetic pathways are enriched in the microbiome of centenarians |journal=Nature |date=29 July 2021 |pages=458–464 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03832-5 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03832-5 |issn=1476-4687|last1=Sato |first1=Yuko |last2=Atarashi |first2=Koji |last3=Plichta |first3=Damian R. |last4=Arai |first4=Yasumichi |last5=Sasajima |first5=Satoshi |last6=Kearney |first6=Sean M. |last7=Suda |first7=Wataru |last8=Takeshita |first8=Kozue |last9=Sasaki |first9=Takahiro |last10=Okamoto |first10=Shoki |last11=Skelly |first11=Ashwin N. |last12=Okamura |first12=Yuki |last13=Vlamakis |first13=Hera |last14=Li |first14=Youxian |last15=Tanoue |first15=Takeshi |last16=Takei |first16=Hajime |last17=Nittono |first17=Hiroshi |last18=Narushima |first18=Seiko |last19=Irie |first19=Junichiro |last20=Itoh |first20=Hiroshi |last21=Moriya |first21=Kyoji |last22=Sugiura |first22=Yuki |last23=Suematsu |first23=Makoto |last24=Moritoki |first24=Nobuko |last25=Shibata |first25=Shinsuke |last26=Littman |first26=Dan R. |last27=Fischbach |first27=Michael A. |last28=Uwamino |first28=Yoshifumi |last29=Inoue |first29=Takashi |last30=Honda |first30=Akira |volume=599 |issue=7885 |pmid=34325466 |bibcode=2021Natur.599..458S |s2cid=236514774 |display-authors=1 }}
• 31 July – A kitchen robot – one of the first of its kind – for autonomous preparation of school meal program or delivery-service level amounts of discrete meals is demonstrated.{{#invoke:Cite|news|title=Kitchen robot in Riga cooks up new future for fast food |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-07-kitchen-robot-riga-cooks-future.html |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=techxplore.com }}

File:Global Temperature And Forces With Fahrenheit.svg begins releasing its latest major report on climate change.]]

• 2 August – Engineers report the development of a prototype wave energy converter that is twice as efficient as similar existing experimental technologies, which could be a major step towards practical viability of tapping into the sustainable energy source.{{cite news |title=New clean energy tech extracts twice the power from ocean waves |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-08-energy-tech-power-ocean.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=techxplore.com }}{{cite journal |title=Study of a novel rotational speed amplified dual turbine wheel wave energy converter |journal=Applied Energy |date=1 November 2021 |volume=301 |pages=117423 |doi=10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117423 |issn=0306-2619|last1=Xiao |first1=Han |last2=Liu |first2=Zhenwei |last3=Zhang |first3=Ran |last4=Kelham |first4=Andrew |last5=Xu |first5=Xiangyang |last6=Wang |first6=Xu |bibcode=2021ApEn..30117423X }}
• 4 August
• Scientists identify genetic determinants of ovarian ageing and possible effects of extending fertility in women.{{cite news |title=Researchers identify new genes linked to longer reproductive lifespan in women |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-genes-linked-longer-reproductive-lifespan.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |title=Genetic insights into biological mechanisms governing human ovarian ageing |journal=Nature |date=August 2021 |volume=596 |issue=7872 |pages=393–397 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03779-7 |issn=1476-4687|last1=Ruth |first1=Katherine S. |last2=Day |first2=Felix R. |last3=Hussain |first3=Jazib |last4=Martínez-Marchal |first4=Ana |last5=Aiken |first5=Catherine E. |last6=Azad |first6=Ajuna |last7=Thompson |first7=Deborah J. |last8=Knoblochova |first8=Lucie |last9=Abe |first9=Hironori |last10=Tarry-Adkins |first10=Jane L. |last11=Gonzalez |first11=Javier Martin |last12=Fontanillas |first12=Pierre |last13=Claringbould |first13=Annique |last14=Bakker |first14=Olivier B. |last15=Sulem |first15=Patrick |last16=Walters |first16=Robin G. |last17=Terao |first17=Chikashi |last18=Turon |first18=Sandra |last19=Horikoshi |first19=Momoko |last20=Lin |first20=Kuang |last21=Onland-Moret |first21=N. Charlotte |last22=Sankar |first22=Aditya |last23=Hertz |first23=Emil Peter Thrane |last24=Timshel |first24=Pascal N. |last25=Shukla |first25=Vallari |last26=Borup |first26=Rehannah |last27=Olsen |first27=Kristina W. |last28=Aguilera |first28=Paula |last29=Ferrer-Roda |first29=Mònica |last30=Huang |first30=Yan |pmid=34349265 |pmc=7611832 |bibcode=2021Natur.596..393R |s2cid=236928198 |display-authors=1 }}
• Scientists describe the molecular mechanisms by which insect olfactory systems are sensitive enough to recognize and discriminate a vast number of molecules with very few smell receptors.{{cite news |title=Study reveals how smell receptors work |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-08-reveals-receptors.html |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=del Mármol |first1=Josefina |last2=Yedlin |first2=Mackenzie A. |last3=Ruta |first3=Vanessa |title=The structural basis of odorant recognition in insect olfactory receptors |journal=Nature |date=September 2021 |volume=597 |issue=7874 |pages=126–131 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03794-8 |pmid=34349260 |issn=1476-4687|pmc=8410599 |bibcode=2021Natur.597..126D }}
• 5 August
• New observations of the M-type star L 98-59 and its surrounding system reveal three new bodies: a planet in the habitable zone, an ocean world, and a planet with half the mass of Venus, making it the lightest exoplanet ever to be measured using the radial velocity method.{{cite news |title=New ESO observations show rocky exoplanet has just half the mass of Venus |url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2112/ |date=5 August 2021 |work=ESO|access-date=5 August 2021 }}{{cite journal |title=Warm terrestrial planet with half the mass of Venus transiting a nearby star |journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics |date=September 2021 |volume=653 |pages=A41 |doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202140728|arxiv=2108.03323 |last1=Demangeon |first1=O. D. S. |last2=Zapatero Osorio |first2=M. R. |last3=Alibert |first3=Y. |last4=Barros |first4=S. C. C. |last5=Adibekyan |first5=V. |last6=Tabernero |first6=H. M. |last7=Antoniadis-Karnavas |first7=A. |last8=Camacho |first8=J. D. |last9=Suárez Mascareño |first9=A. |last10=Oshagh |first10=M. |last11=Micela |first11=G. |last12=Sousa |first12=S. G. |last13=Lovis |first13=C. |last14=Pepe |first14=F. A. |last15=Rebolo |first15=R. |last16=Cristiani |first16=S. |last17=Santos |first17=N. C. |last18=Allart |first18=R. |last19=Allende Prieto |first19=C. |last20=Bossini |first20=D. |last21=Bouchy |first21=F. |last22=Cabral |first22=A. |last23=Damasso |first23=M. |last24=Di Marcantonio |first24=P. |last25=d'Odorico |first25=V. |last26=Ehrenreich |first26=D. |last27=Faria |first27=J. |last28=Figueira |first28=P. |last29=Génova Santos |first29=R. |last30=Haldemann |first30=J. |bibcode=2021A&A...653A..41D |s2cid=236957385 |display-authors=1 }}
• A study introduces an early-warning indicator for critical transitions of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and finds early-warning signals in eight independent AMOC indices. A, possibly abrupt,{{cite news |title=Ocean current system seems to be approaching a tipping point |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-08-ocean-current-approaching.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=phys.org }} likely irreversible collapse from the current strong to a weak mode is thought to have severe impacts on Earth system components and global climate.{{cite news |title=Atlantic Ocean currents weaken, signalling big weather changes - study |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/atlantic-ocean-currents-weaken-signalling-big-weather-changes-study-2021-08-05/ |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=Reuters |date=5 August 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Boers |first1=Niklas |title=Observation-based early-warning signals for a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation |journal=Nature Climate Change |date=August 2021 |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=680–688 |doi=10.1038/s41558-021-01097-4 |bibcode=2021NatCC..11..680B |s2cid=236930519 |issn=1758-6798|url=https://publications.pik-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_25859 }} The Sixth IPCC report assesses a 'medium confidence' that such a collapse won't happen by 2100.{{cite web |last1=Hannam |first1=Peter |title='How lucky do you feel?': The awful risks buried in the IPCC report |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/how-lucky-do-you-feel-the-awful-risks-buried-in-the-ipcc-report-20210811-p58hut.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=11 August 2021}}
• 8 August – The National Ignition Facility achieves a 70% yield, compared to the laser energy required to sustain fusion, from inertial confinement fusion energy, an 8X improvement over previous experiments in spring 2021 and a 25X increase over the yields achieved in 2018.{{cite web|date=18 August 2021|title=NIF Experiment Puts Researchers at Threshold of Fusion Ignition |url=https://lasers.llnl.gov/news/nif-experiment-puts-researchers-threshold-fusion-ignition|access-date=28 August 2021|work=National Ignition Facility}}
• 9 August
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases the first part of its Sixth Assessment Report, which summarizes the state of physical science on climate change based on over 14,000 papers and concludes that effects of human-caused climate change are now "widespread, rapid, and intensifying".{{cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Climate change: IPCC report is 'code red for humanity'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705|access-date=9 August 2021|publisher=BBC}}{{cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Major climate changes inevitable and irreversible – IPCC's starkest warning yet|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/09/humans-have-caused-unprecedented-and-irreversible-change-to-climate-scientists-warn|access-date=9 August 2021|work=The Guardian}}{{cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying – IPCC|url=https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/|access-date=9 August 2021|publisher=IPCC}}
• Neuroscientists show that transplantation of fecal microbiota from young donor mice into aged recipient mice substantially rejuvenates the brains of the latter,{{cite news |title=Gut bacteria from young mice reverse signs of brain aging in old mice |url=https://newatlas.com/science/microbiome-brain-aging-gut-bacteria-neuroscience/ |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=10 August 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Boehme |first1=Marcus |last2=Guzzetta |first2=Katherine E. |last3=Bastiaanssen |first3=Thomaz F. S. |last4=van de Wouw |first4=Marcel |last5=Moloney |first5=Gerard M. |last6=Gual-Grau |first6=Andreu |last7=Spichak |first7=Simon |last8=Olavarría-Ramírez |first8=Loreto |last9=Fitzgerald |first9=Patrick |last10=Morillas |first10=Enrique |last11=Ritz |first11=Nathaniel L. |last12=Jaggar |first12=Minal |last13=Cowan |first13=Caitlin S. M. |last14=Crispie |first14=Fiona |last15=Donoso |first15=Francisco |last16=Halitzki |first16=Evelyn |last17=Neto |first17=Marta C. |last18=Sichetti |first18=Marzia |last19=Golubeva |first19=Anna V. |last20=Fitzgerald |first20=Rachel S. |last21=Claesson |first21=Marcus J. |last22=Cotter |first22=Paul D. |last23=O'Leary |first23=Olivia F. |last24=Dinan |first24=Timothy G. |last25=Cryan |first25=John F. |title=Microbiota from young mice counteracts selective age-associated behavioral deficits |journal=Nature Aging |date=August 2021 |volume=1 |issue=8 |pages=666–676 |doi=10.1038/s43587-021-00093-9 |pmid=37117767 |issn=2662-8465|doi-access=free }} complementing similar results of a 2020 study.{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Juneyoung |last2=Venna |first2=Venugopal R. |last3=Durgan |first3=David J. |last4=Shi |first4=Huanan |last5=Hudobenko |first5=Jacob |last6=Putluri |first6=Nagireddy |last7=Petrosino |first7=Joseph |last8=McCullough |first8=Louise D. |last9=Bryan |first9=Robert M. |title=Young versus aged microbiota transplants to germ-free mice: increased short-chain fatty acids and improved cognitive performance |journal=Gut Microbes |date=9 November 2020 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=1814107 |doi=10.1080/19490976.2020.1814107 |pmid=32897773 |issn=1949-0976|pmc=7757789 }}
• A scientific review assesses the long-term effects of COVID-19, including in prevalent cases of long COVID.{{cite news |title=Lingering Symptoms: Researchers Identify Over 50 Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 |url=https://scitechdaily.com/lingering-symptoms-researchers-identify-over-50-long-term-effects-of-covid-19/ |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=SciTechDaily |publisher=Houston Methodist |date=1 September 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Lopez-Leon |first1=Sandra |last2=Wegman-Ostrosky |first2=Talia |last3=Perelman |first3=Carol |last4=Sepulveda |first4=Rosalinda |last5=Rebolledo |first5=Paulina A. |last6=Cuapio |first6=Angelica |last7=Villapol |first7=Sonia |title=More than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=Scientific Reports |date=9 August 2021 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=16144 |doi=10.1038/s41598-021-95565-8 |pmid=34373540 |issn=2045-2322|pmc=8352980 |bibcode=2021NatSR..1116144L }}
• A researcher reports that solar superstorms would cause global months-long Internet outages. She describes potential mitigation measures and exceptions – such as user-powered mesh networks, related peer-to-peer applications and new protocols – and the robustness of the current Internet infrastructure.{{cite news |title=Computer scientist warns global internet is not prepared for a large solar storm |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-08-scientist-global-internet-large-solar.html |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=techxplore.com }}{{cite news |title=A Bad Solar Storm Could Cause an 'Internet Apocalypse' |url=https://www.wired.com/story/solar-storm-internet-apocalypse-undersea-cables/ |access-date=22 September 2021 |magazine=Wired}}{{cite book |last1=Jyothi |first1=Sangeetha Abdu |title=Proceedings of the 2021 ACM SIGCOMM 2021 Conference |chapter=Solar superstorms: Planning for an internet apocalypse |date=9 August 2021 |pages=692–704 |doi=10.1145/3452296.3472916 |publisher=Association for Computing Machinery|isbn=9781450383837 |doi-access=free }}
• 10 August
• A study based on OSIRIS-REx data concludes there to be a 1:1750 chance of an impact of asteroid (101955) Bennu by 2300, with the highest chance of impact being in 2182.{{cite news |title=Nasa now knows when asteroid Bennu is most likely to crash into Earth |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-bennu-asteroid-earth-crash-when-b1901354.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812125309/https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-bennu-asteroid-earth-crash-when-b1901354.html |archive-date=12 August 2021 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=12 August 2021 }}{{cite journal |title=Ephemeris and hazard assessment for near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu based on OSIRIS-REx data |journal=Icarus |date=15 November 2021 |volume=369 |pages=114594 |doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114594 |issn=0019-1035|last1=Farnocchia |first1=Davide |last2=Chesley |first2=Steven R. |last3=Takahashi |first3=Yu |last4=Rozitis |first4=Benjamin |last5=Vokrouhlický |first5=David |last6=Rush |first6=Brian P. |last7=Mastrodemos |first7=Nickolaos |last8=Kennedy |first8=Brian M. |last9=Park |first9=Ryan S. |last10=Bellerose |first10=Julie |last11=Lubey |first11=Daniel P. |last12=Velez |first12=Dianna |last13=Davis |first13=Alex B. |last14=Emery |first14=Joshua P. |last15=Leonard |first15=Jason M. |last16=Geeraert |first16=Jeroen |last17=Antreasian |first17=Peter G. |last18=Lauretta |first18=Dante S. |bibcode=2021Icar..36914594F |s2cid=238647293 |doi-access=free }}
• A small-scale study suggests that persistent blood clotting is a cause of long COVID.{{cite news |title=Blood clotting may be the root cause of long COVID syndrome |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-blood-clotting-root-covid-syndrome.html |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |last1=Fogarty |first1=Helen |last2=Townsend |first2=Liam |last3=Morrin |first3=Hannah |last4=Ahmad |first4=Azaz |last5=Comerford |first5=Claire |last6=Karampini |first6=Ellie |last7=Englert |first7=Hanna |last8=Byrne |first8=Mary |last9=Bergin |first9=Colm |last10=O'Sullivan |first10=Jamie M. |last11=Martin-Loeches |first11=Ignacio |last12=Nadarajan |first12=Parthiban |last13=Bannan |first13=Ciaran |last14=Mallon |first14=Patrick W. |last15=Curley |first15=Gerard F. |last16=Preston |first16=Roger J. S. |last17=Rehill |first17=Aisling M. |last18=McGonagle |first18=Dennis |last19=Cheallaigh |first19=Cliona Ni |last20=Baker |first20=Ross I. |last21=Renné |first21=Thomas |last22=Ward |first22=Soracha E. |last23=O'Donnell |first23=James S. |title=Persistent endotheliopathy in the pathogenesis of long COVID syndrome |journal=Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis |year=2021 |volume=19 |issue=10 |pages=2546–2553 |doi=10.1111/jth.15490 |pmid=34375505 |issn=1538-7836|pmc=8420256 }}
• 11 August – Researchers report promising results of ongoing testing and development of an engineered monoclonal antibodies based female contraception.{{cite news |title=Scientists developing contraceptive that stops sperm in its tracks |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210826170228.htm |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=ScienceDaily }}{{cite journal |last1=Shrestha |first1=Bhawana |last2=Schaefer |first2=Alison |last3=Zhu |first3=Yong |last4=Saada |first4=Jamal |last5=Jacobs |first5=Timothy M. |last6=Chavez |first6=Elizabeth C. |last7=Omsted |first7=Stuart S. |last8=Cruz-Teran |first8=Carlos A. |last9=Vaca |first9=Gabriela Baldeon |last10=Vincent |first10=Kathleen |last11=Moench |first11=Thomas R. |last12=Lai |first12=Samuel K. |title=Engineering sperm-binding IgG antibodies for the development of an effective nonhormonal female contraception |journal=Science Translational Medicine |date=11 August 2021 |volume=13 |issue=606 |doi=10.1126/scitranslmed.abd5219 |pmid=34380769 |pmc=8868023 |s2cid=236979903 }}
• 12 August – Scientists report that the Ayta Magbukun people in the Philippines have the highest level of Denisovan ancestry in the world and describe the related genetic history in the region.{{cite news |title=An Indigenous people in the Philippines have the most Denisovan DNA |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/indigenous-people-philippines-denisovan-dna-genetics |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Science News |date=12 August 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Larena |first1=Maximilian |last2=McKenna |first2=James |last3=Sanchez-Quinto |first3=Federico |last4=Bernhardsson |first4=Carolina |last5=Ebeo |first5=Carlo |last6=Reyes |first6=Rebecca |last7=Casel |first7=Ophelia |last8=Huang |first8=Jin-Yuan |last9=Hagada |first9=Kim Pullupul |last10=Guilay |first10=Dennis |last11=Reyes |first11=Jennelyn |last12=Allian |first12=Fatima Pir |last13=Mori |first13=Virgilio |last14=Azarcon |first14=Lahaina Sue |last15=Manera |first15=Alma |last16=Terando |first16=Celito |last17=Jamero |first17=Lucio |last18=Sireg |first18=Gauden |last19=Manginsay-Tremedal |first19=Renefe |last20=Labos |first20=Maria Shiela |last21=Vilar |first21=Richard Dian |last22=Latiph |first22=Acram |last23=Saway |first23=Rodelio Linsahay |last24=Marte |first24=Erwin |last25=Magbanua |first25=Pablito |last26=Morales |first26=Amor |last27=Java |first27=Ismael |last28=Reveche |first28=Rudy |last29=Barrios |first29=Becky |last30=Burton |first30=Erlinda |last31=Salon |first31=Jesus Christopher |last32=Kels |first32=Ma Junaliah Tuazon |last33=Albano |first33=Adrian |last34=Cruz-Angeles |first34=Rose Beatrix |last35=Molanida |first35=Edison |last36=Granehäll |first36=Lena |last37=Vicente |first37=Mário |last38=Edlund |first38=Hanna |last39=Loo |first39=Jun-Hun |last40=Trejaut |first40=Jean |last41=Ho |first41=Simon Y. W. |last42=Reid |first42=Lawrence |last43=Lambeck |first43=Kurt |last44=Malmström |first44=Helena |last45=Schlebusch |first45=Carina |last46=Endicott |first46=Phillip |last47=Jakobsson |first47=Mattias |title=Philippine Ayta possess the highest level of Denisovan ancestry in the world |journal=Current Biology |date=12 August 2021 |volume=31 |issue=19 |pages=4219–4230.e10 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.022 |pmid=34388371 |pmc=8596304 |issn=0960-9822|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021CBio...31E4219L }}
• 13 August – Researchers demonstrate that probiotics can help coral reefs mitigate heat stress, indicating that such could make them more resilient to climate change and mitigate coral bleaching.{{cite news |title=Probiotics help lab corals survive deadly heat stress |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/probiotics-lab-coral-heat-stress-death-reef-survival-ocean-warming |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Science News |date=13 August 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Santoro |first1=Erika P. |last2=Borges |first2=Ricardo M. |last3=Espinoza |first3=Josh L. |last4=Freire |first4=Marcelo |last5=Messias |first5=Camila S. M. A. |last6=Villela |first6=Helena D. M. |last7=Pereira |first7=Leandro M. |last8=Vilela |first8=Caren L. S. |last9=Rosado |first9=João G. |last10=Cardoso |first10=Pedro M. |last11=Rosado |first11=Phillipe M. |last12=Assis |first12=Juliana M. |last13=Duarte |first13=Gustavo A. S. |last14=Perna |first14=Gabriela |last15=Rosado |first15=Alexandre S. |last16=Macrae |first16=Andrew |last17=Dupont |first17=Christopher L. |last18=Nelson |first18=Karen E. |last19=Sweet |first19=Michael J. |last20=Voolstra |first20=Christian R. |last21=Peixoto |first21=Raquel S. |title=Coral microbiome manipulation elicits metabolic and genetic restructuring to mitigate heat stress and evade mortality |journal=Science Advances |date=August 2021 |volume=7 |issue=33 |pages=eabg3088 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abg3088 |pmid=34389536 |pmc=8363143 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.3088S |hdl=10754/670602 |hdl-access=free }}
• 16 August
• Scientists conclude that personal carbon allowances could be a component of climate change mitigation. They find that the economic recovery from COVID-19 and novel digital technology capacities open a window of opportunity for first implementations of such monetary/credit feedback and decreasing default levels of emissions concessions.{{cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} We Need Cap-and-Trade For Individuals As Well As Companies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/we-need-cap-and-trade-for-individuals-as-well-as-companies/2021/08/25/7e51e650-056a-11ec-b3c4-c462b1edcfc8_story.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{cite news |title=Pandemic and digitalization set stage for revival of a cast-off idea: Personal carbon allowances |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-08-pandemic-digitalization-stage-revival-cast-off.html |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=Fuso Nerini |first1=Francesco |last2=Fawcett |first2=Tina |last3=Parag |first3=Yael |last4=Ekins |first4=Paul |title=Personal carbon allowances revisited |journal=Nature Sustainability |date=16 August 2021 |volume=4 |issue=12 |pages=1025–1031 |doi=10.1038/s41893-021-00756-w |issn=2398-9629|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021NatSu...4.1025F }}
• Researchers assess regionally-differentiated drivers and risks associated with worldwide pollinator decline, informing globally-relevant policy responses.{{cite news |title=Pollinators: First global risk index for species declines and effects on humanity |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-08-pollinators-global-index-species-declines.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=Dicks |first1=Lynn V. |last2=Breeze |first2=Tom D. |last3=Ngo |first3=Hien T. |last4=Senapathi |first4=Deepa |last5=An |first5=Jiandong |last6=Aizen |first6=Marcelo A. |last7=Basu |first7=Parthiba |last8=Buchori |first8=Damayanti |author-link8=Damayanti Buchori |last9=Galetto |first9=Leonardo |last10=Garibaldi |first10=Lucas A. |last11=Gemmill-Herren |first11=Barbara |last12=Howlett |first12=Brad G. |last13=Imperatriz-Fonseca |first13=Vera L. |last14=Johnson |first14=Steven D. |last15=Kovács-Hostyánszki |first15=Anikó |date=16 August 2021 |title=A global-scale expert assessment of drivers and risks associated with pollinator decline |url=http://rid.unrn.edu.ar/handle/20.500.12049/7526 |journal=Nature Ecology & Evolution |volume=5 |issue=10 |pages=1453–1461 |doi=10.1038/s41559-021-01534-9 |issn=2397-334X |pmid=34400826 |s2cid=237148742 |last16=Kwon |first16=Yong Jung |last17=Lattorff |first17=H. Michael G. |last18=Lungharwo |first18=Thingreipi |last19=Seymour |first19=Colleen L. |last20=Vanbergen |first20=Adam J. |last21=Potts |first21=Simon G.|bibcode=2021NatEE...5.1453D }}
• 17 August – Scientists report of human brain organoids that could intrinsically develop eye-type sensory structures.{{cite news |title=Brain organoids develop optic cups that respond to light |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-brain-organoids-optic-cups.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |title=Human brain organoids assemble functionally integrated bilateral optic vesicles |journal=Cell Stem Cell |date=17 August 2021 |doi=10.1016/j.stem.2021.07.010 |issn=1934-5909|last1=Gabriel |first1=Elke |last2=Albanna |first2=Walid |last3=Pasquini |first3=Giovanni |last4=Ramani |first4=Anand |last5=Josipovic |first5=Natasa |last6=Mariappan |first6=Aruljothi |last7=Schinzel |first7=Friedrich |last8=Karch |first8=Celeste M. |last9=Bao |first9=Guobin |last10=Gottardo |first10=Marco |last11=Suren |first11=Ata Alp |last12=Hescheler |first12=Jürgen |last13=Nagel-Wolfrum |first13=Kerstin |last14=Persico |first14=Veronica |last15=Rizzoli |first15=Silvio O. |last16=Altmüller |first16=Janine |last17=Riparbelli |first17=Maria Giovanna |last18=Callaini |first18=Giuliano |last19=Goureau |first19=Olivier |last20=Papantonis |first20=Argyris |last21=Busskamp |first21=Volker |last22=Schneider |first22=Toni |last23=Gopalakrishnan |first23=Jay |volume=28 |issue=10 |pages=1740–1757.e8 |pmid=34407456 |s2cid=237215870 |doi-access=free }}
• 18 August – A study suggests that the global policy Montreal Protocol intended to control the production of ozone-depleting substances has also substantially mitigated climate change.{{cite news |title=Saving ozone layer has given humans a chance in climate crisis – study |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/19/saving-ozone-layer-has-given-humans-a-chance-in-climate-crisis-study |work=The Guardian |date=19 August 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Young |first1=Paul J. |last2=Harper |first2=Anna B. |last3=Huntingford |first3=Chris |last4=Paul |first4=Nigel D. |last5=Morgenstern |first5=Olaf |last6=Newman |first6=Paul A. |last7=Oman |first7=Luke D. |last8=Madronich |first8=Sasha |last9=Garcia |first9=Rolando R. |title=The Montreal Protocol protects the terrestrial carbon sink |journal=Nature |date=August 2021 |volume=596 |issue=7872 |pages=384–388 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03737-3 |pmid=34408332 |bibcode=2021Natur.596..384Y |s2cid=237215751 |issn=1476-4687|url=http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/531263/1/N531263PP.pdf }}
• 20 August – Medical scientists confirm that hormone irisin confers neurobiological effects of physical exercise and, when its circulating levels are increased, can be an exercise mimetic in mice which may be useful for interventions to improve cognitive function or alleviate Alzheimer's disease.{{cite news |title=The hormone irisin is found to confer benefits of exercise on cognitive function |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-hormone-irisin-confer-benefits-cognitive.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Gretchen |title=How Exercise May Help Keep Our Memory Sharp |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/25/well/move/exercise-brain-memory-benefits.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=25 August 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Islam |first1=Mohammad R. |last2=Valaris |first2=Sophia |last3=Young |first3=Michael F. |last4=Haley |first4=Erin B. |last5=Luo |first5=Renhao |last6=Bond |first6=Sabrina F. |last7=Mazuera |first7=Sofia |last8=Kitchen |first8=Robert R. |last9=Caldarone |first9=Barbara J. |last10=Bettio |first10=Luis E. B. |last11=Christie |first11=Brian R. |last12=Schmider |first12=Angela B. |last13=Soberman |first13=Roy J. |last14=Besnard |first14=Antoine |last15=Jedrychowski |first15=Mark P. |last16=Kim |first16=Hyeonwoo |last17=Tu |first17=Hua |last18=Kim |first18=Eunhee |last19=Choi |first19=Se Hoon |last20=Tanzi |first20=Rudolph E. |last21=Spiegelman |first21=Bruce M. |last22=Wrann |first22=Christiane D. |title=Exercise hormone irisin is a critical regulator of cognitive function |journal=Nature Metabolism |date=August 2021 |volume=3 |issue=8 |pages=1058–1070 |doi=10.1038/s42255-021-00438-z |pmid=34417591 |pmc=10317538 |s2cid=237254736 |issn=2522-5812}}
• 22 August – Astronomers conclude in a preprint that – controversially due to there being only few data points – there is high confidence "Planet 9" exists, that it likely has a mass of ~6.2 Earths and is closer than thought previously and report its likely orbit.{{cite news |title=Astronomers are still looking for the elusive 'Planet 9' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/astronomers-are-still-looking-elusive-planet-9-rcna1872 |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=NBC News }}{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=Michael E. |last2=Batygin |first2=Konstantin |title=The orbit of Planet Nine |journal=The Astronomical Journal |year=2021 |volume=162 |issue=5 |page=219 |doi=10.3847/1538-3881/ac2056 |arxiv=2108.09868 |bibcode=2021AJ....162..219B |s2cid=230196275 |doi-access=free }}

File:Assembly of fibrous muscle, fat, and vascular tissues to cultured steak.webp method to produce steak-like cultured meat.]]

• 24 August
• Cerebras announces a new hardware and software platform that can support AI models of 120 trillion parameters, enabling neural networks greater than the equivalent number of human brain synapses.{{cite web|date=24 August 2021|title=This massive AI chip has the compute power of a human brain|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3630379/this-massive-ai-chip-has-the-compute-power-of-a-human-brain.html|access-date=28 August 2021|work=PC World}}
• Researchers present a bioprinting method to produce steak-like cultured meat, composed of three types of bovine cell fibers.{{cite news |title=Japanese scientists produce first 3D-bioprinted, marbled Wagyu beef |url=https://newatlas.com/science/world-first-lab-grown-wagyu-beef-japan/ |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=25 August 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=Dong-Hee |last2=Louis |first2=Fiona |last3=Liu |first3=Hao |last4=Shimoda |first4=Hiroshi |last5=Nishiyama |first5=Yasutaka |last6=Nozawa |first6=Hajime |last7=Kakitani |first7=Makoto |last8=Takagi |first8=Daisuke |last9=Kasa |first9=Daijiro |last10=Nagamori |first10=Eiji |last11=Irie |first11=Shinji |last12=Kitano |first12=Shiro |last13=Matsusaki |first13=Michiya |title=Engineered whole cut meat-like tissue by the assembly of cell fibers using tendon-gel integrated bioprinting |journal=Nature Communications |date=24 August 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=5059 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-25236-9 |pmid=34429413 |issn=2041-1723|pmc=8385070 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.5059K }}
• 26 August – Astronomers report a new class of habitable exoplanets, named hycean planets (from hydrogen and ocean), which are described as hot, water-covered planets with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere that are possibly capable of harboring life.{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Nicola |title='Mini-Neptunes' beyond solar system may soon yield signs of life - Cambridge astronomers identify new hycean class of habitable exoplanets, which could accelerate search for life |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/26/mini-neptune-beyond-solar-system-may-soon-yield-sign-life-hycean-exoplanet-cambridge-astronomer |date=25 August 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 August 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Madhusudhan |first1=Nikku |last2=Piette |first2=Anjali a. A. |last3=Constantinou |first3=Savvas |title=Habitability and Biosignatures of Hycean Worlds |date=26 August 2021 |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=918 |number=1 |page=1 |doi=10.3847/1538-4357/abfd9c|issn=0004-637X |arxiv=2108.10888 |bibcode=2021ApJ...918....1M |s2cid=237290118 |doi-access=free }}
• 27 August – Scientists report about vaccine effectiveness, pandemic severity impacts and regional prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant overall and its newly subdivided subvariants named from AY.1 onwards,{{cite web |title=New AY lineages and an update to AY.4-AY.12 – Pango Network |url=https://www.pango.network/new-ay-lineages-and-an-update-to-ay-4-ay-12/ |access-date=21 September 2021}} the first two of which were differentiated like so – also termed "Delta Plus" – in June.{{Cite web|vauthors=Sharma M|title=New 'Delta Plus' variant of SARS-CoV-2 identified; here's what we know so far|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/delta-plus-variant-covid-corona-coronavirus-sarscov2-1814768-2021-06-14|access-date=16 June 2021|website=India Today|date=14 June 2021 |archive-date=17 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617134931/https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/delta-plus-variant-covid-corona-coronavirus-sarscov2-1814768-2021-06-14|url-status=live}} On 10 August a preprint reports a case of asymptomatic transmissions associated with high viral load among vaccinated patients infected by AY.3.{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Linsenmeyer |first1=Katherine |last2=Gupta |first2=Kalpana |last3=Madjarov |first3=Rebecca |last4=Charness |first4=Michael E. |title=Cryptic Transmission of the Delta Variant AY.3 Sublineage of SARS-CoV-2 among Fully Vaccinated Patients on an Inpatient Ward |date=10 August 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.08.05.21261562v1}}
• 28 August – The world's northernmost island, a small patch of land measuring 60 x 30 metres, is reported by scientists off the coast of Greenland. The name Qeqertaq Avannarleq is proposed, which means "the northernmost island" in Greenlandic.{{cite web|date=28 August 2021|title=Greenland island is world's northernmost island - scientists|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58362752|access-date=28 August 2021|work=BBC News}}
• 30 August
• The comprehensive 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention is published.{{cite news |title=ESC guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention published today |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-esc-guidelines-cardiovascular-disease-published.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |title=2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice |journal=European Heart Journal |date=7 September 2021 |volume=42 |issue=34 |pages=3227–3337 |doi=10.1093/eurheartj/ehab484|last1=Visseren |first1=Frank L J. |last2=Mach |first2=François |last3=Smulders |first3=Yvo M. |last4=Carballo |first4=David |last5=Koskinas |first5=Konstantinos C. |last6=Bäck |first6=Maria |last7=Benetos |first7=Athanase |last8=Biffi |first8=Alessandro |last9=Boavida |first9=José-Manuel |last10=Capodanno |first10=Davide |last11=Cosyns |first11=Bernard |last12=Crawford |first12=Carolyn |last13=Davos |first13=Constantinos H. |last14=Desormais |first14=Ileana |last15=Di Angelantonio |first15=Emanuele |last16=Franco |first16=Oscar H. |last17=Halvorsen |first17=Sigrun |last18=Hobbs |first18=F D Richard |last19=Hollander |first19=Monika |last20=Jankowska |first20=Ewa A. |last21=Michal |first21=Matthias |last22=Sacco |first22=Simona |last23=Sattar |first23=Naveed |last24=Tokgozoglu |first24=Lale |last25=Tonstad |first25=Serena |last26=Tsioufis |first26=Konstantinos P. |last27=Van Dis |first27=Ineke |last28=Van Gelder |first28=Isabelle C. |last29=Wanner |first29=Christoph |last30=Williams |first30=Bryan |pmid=34458905 |display-authors=1 |doi-access=free }} On 27 August the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure is published.{{cite news |title=New ESC guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of heart failure published |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210827/New-ESC-guidelines-for-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-heart-failure-published.aspx |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=News-Medical.net |date=27 August 2021 }}{{cite journal |title=2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure |journal=European Heart Journal |date=27 August 2021 |pages=3599–3726 |doi=10.1093/eurheartj/ehab368|doi-access=free |last1=McDonagh |first1=Theresa A. |last2=Metra |first2=Marco |last3=Adamo |first3=Marianna |last4=Gardner |first4=Roy S. |last5=Baumbach |first5=Andreas |last6=Böhm |first6=Michael |last7=Burri |first7=Haran |last8=Butler |first8=Javed |last9=Čelutkienė |first9=Jelena |last10=Chioncel |first10=Ovidiu |last11=Cleland |first11=John G F. |last12=Coats |first12=Andrew J S. |last13=Crespo-Leiro |first13=Maria G. |last14=Farmakis |first14=Dimitrios |last15=Gilard |first15=Martine |last16=Heymans |first16=Stephane |last17=Hoes |first17=Arno W. |last18=Jaarsma |first18=Tiny |last19=Jankowska |first19=Ewa A. |last20=Lainscak |first20=Mitja |last21=Lam |first21=Carolyn S P. |last22=Lyon |first22=Alexander R. |last23=McMurray |first23=John J V. |last24=Mebazaa |first24=Alexandre |last25=Mindham |first25=Richard |last26=Muneretto |first26=Claudio |last27=Francesco Piepoli |first27=Massimo |last28=Price |first28=Susanna |last29=Rosano |first29=Giuseppe M C. |last30=Ruschitzka |first30=Frank |volume=42 |issue=36 |pmid=34447992 |display-authors=1 }}
• A preprint study of nationwide data of Israel's vaccination programme finds a strong effect of waning immunity from the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine after 6 months.{{cite news |title=Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity induced by Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may decline after 6 months |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210831/Anti-SARS-CoV-2-immunity-induced-by-PfizerBioNTech-vaccine-may-decline-after-6-months.aspx |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=News-Medical.net |date=31 August 2021 }}{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Goldberg |first1=Yair |last2=Mandel |first2=Micha |last3=Bar-On |first3=Yinon M. |last4=Bodenheimer |first4=Omri |last5=Freedman |first5=Laurence |last6=Haas |first6=Eric J. |last7=Milo |first7=Ron |last8=Alroy-Preis |first8=Sharon |last9=Ash |first9=Nachman |last10=Huppert |first10=Amit |title=Waning immunity of the BNT162b2 vaccine: A nationwide study from Israel |date=30 August 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.08.24.21262423v1}}
• 31 August – Scientists report that the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum ~56 million years ago was directly preceded by volcanism and that data about the event supports the existence of substantial climate-shifting tipping points in the Earth system.{{cite news |title='Tipping points' in Earth's system triggered rapid climate change 55 million years ago, research shows |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-08-earth-triggered-rapid-climate-million.html |access-date=21 September 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=Kender |first1=Sev |last2=Bogus |first2=Kara |last3=Pedersen |first3=Gunver K. |last4=Dybkjær |first4=Karen |last5=Mather |first5=Tamsin A. |last6=Mariani |first6=Erica |last7=Ridgwell |first7=Andy |last8=Riding |first8=James B. |last9=Wagner |first9=Thomas |last10=Hesselbo |first10=Stephen P. |last11=Leng |first11=Melanie J. |title=Paleocene/Eocene carbon feedbacks triggered by volcanic activity |journal=Nature Communications |date=31 August 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=5186 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-25536-0 |pmid=34465785 |pmc=8408262 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.5186K |issn=2041-1723|hdl=10871/126942 |hdl-access=free }}

• 1 September
• NASA reports the successful sampling of a rock on Mars, named "Rochette", after a less successful first attempt.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=On Mars, NASA's Perseverance Rover Drilled the Rocks It Came For - After an earlier drilling attempt failed to collect anything, the rover appeared to gather its first sample. But mission managers need to take another look before sealing the tube. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/science/mars-rover-rocks.html |date=3 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=3 September 2021 }}{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=NASA's Perseverance Rover Stashes First Mars Rock Sample - The rock, sealed in a tube, is the first of many the robotic explorer will collect to one day send back to Earth for scientists to study. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/science/nasa-mars-rock-sample.html |date=7 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=8 September 2021 }}{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Karen |last2=Johnson |first2=Alana |last3=Agle |first3=AG |title=NASA's Perseverance Rover Successfully Cores Its First Rock |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-perseverance-rover-successfully-cores-its-first-rock |date=2 September 2021 |work=NASA |access-date=3 September 2021 }}
• Scientists report the development of a new solar-energy passive off-grid chemically stored on-demand cooling system for houses and/or refrigeration without electrical components which may be useful for climate change mitigation and adaptation.{{cite news |title=Strong sunlight powers passive cooling device |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-strong-sunlight-powers-passive-cooling.html |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=King Abdullah University of Science }}{{cite news |title=Sunlight and salt water join forces in electricity-free cooling system |url=https://newatlas.com/good-thinking/sunlight-salt-water-electricity-free-cooling-system/ |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=20 September 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Wenbin |last2=Shi |first2=Yusuf |last3=Zhang |first3=Chenlin |last4=Li |first4=Renyuan |last5=Wu |first5=Mengchun |last6=Zhuo |first6=Sifei |last7=Aleid |first7=Sara |last8=Wang |first8=Peng |title=Conversion and storage of solar energy for cooling |journal=Energy & Environmental Science |date=1 September 2021 |volume=15 |pages=136–145 |doi=10.1039/D1EE01688A |s2cid=239698764 |issn=1754-5706|doi-access=free |hdl=10754/670903 |hdl-access=free }}

File:Air pollution exposure in cities - EU limits vs WHO guidelines.svg adjusts its air quality guidelines after studies found that i.a. air pollution is associated with substantially increased mortality even below current WHO guideline values.]]

• 2 September
• Observation of a new class of supernova triggered by a black hole or neutron star crashing into the core of a companion star is reported by astronomers, based on studies of an extremely luminous source of radio waves called VT 1210+4956.{{cite web|date=2 September 2021|title=We have spotted a new kind of supernova triggered by cosmic collisions|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2288765-we-have-spotted-a-new-kind-of-supernova-triggered-by-cosmic-collisions/|access-date=3 September 2021|work=New Scientist}}{{cite news |title=Astronomers may have seen a star gulp down a black hole and explode |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/astronomy-star-swallow-black-hole-supernova-cosmology |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Science News |date=2 September 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Dong |first1=D. Z. |last2=Hallinan |first2=G. |last3=Nakar |first3=E. |last4=Ho |first4=A. Y. Q. |last5=Hughes |first5=A. K. |last6=Hotokezaka |first6=K. |last7=Myers |first7=S. T. |last8=De |first8=K. |last9=Mooley |first9=K. P. |last10=Ravi |first10=V. |last11=Horesh |first11=A. |last12=Kasliwal |first12=M. M. |last13=Kulkarni |first13=S. R. |title=A transient radio source consistent with a merger-triggered core collapse supernova |journal=Science |date=3 September 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6559 |pages=1125–1129 |doi=10.1126/science.abg6037|pmid=34516837 |arxiv=2109.01752 |bibcode=2021Sci...373.1125D |s2cid=237402147 |url=https://authors.library.caltech.edu/110851/ }}
• Astronomers report the detection of peculiar radio waves from near the galactic center whose unidentified source could represent a new class of astronomical objects.{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Katie |title=Strange radio waves from the heart of the Milky Way stump scientists |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/12/world/strange-radio-waves-milky-way-scn/index.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=CNN}}{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Ziteng |last2=Kaplan |first2=David |last3=Murphy |first3=Tara |last4=Conversation |first4=The |title=We found a mysterious flashing radio signal from near the centre of the galaxy |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-mysterious-radio-centre-galaxy.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Ziteng |last2=Kaplan |first2=David L. |last3=Murphy |first3=Tara |last4=Lenc |first4=Emil |last5=Dai |first5=Shi |last6=Barr |first6=Ewan |last7=Dobie |first7=Dougal |last8=Gaensler |first8=B. M. |last9=Heald |first9=George |last10=Leung |first10=James K. |last11=O'Brien |first11=Andrew |last12=Pintaldi |first12=Sergio |last13=Pritchard |first13=Joshua |last14=Rea |first14=Nanda |last15=Sivakoff |first15=Gregory R. |last16=Stappers |first16=B. W. |last17=Stewart |first17=Adam |last18=Tremou |first18=E. |last19=Wang |first19=Yuanming |last20=Woudt |first20=Patrick A. |last21=Zic |first21=Andrew |title=Discovery of ASKAP J173608.2–321635 as a Highly Polarized Transient Point Source with the Australian SKA Pathfinder |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |date=1 October 2021 |volume=920 |issue=1 |pages=45 |doi=10.3847/1538-4357/ac2360 |issn=0004-637X |arxiv=2109.00652|bibcode=2021ApJ...920...45W |s2cid=237386202 |doi-access=free }}
• A study finds that outdoor air pollution is associated with substantially increased mortality "even at low pollution levels below the current European and North American standards and WHO guideline values".{{cite news |title=Human health may be at risk from long-term exposure to air pollution below current air quality standards and guidelines |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-human-health-long-term-exposure-air.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=British Medical Journal }}{{cite journal |last1=Strak |first1=Maciej |last2=Weinmayr |first2=Gudrun |last3=Rodopoulou |first3=Sophia |last4=Chen |first4=Jie |last5=Hoogh |first5=Kees de |last6=Andersen |first6=Zorana J. |last7=Atkinson |first7=Richard |last8=Bauwelinck |first8=Mariska |last9=Bekkevold |first9=Terese |last10=Bellander |first10=Tom |last11=Boutron-Ruault |first11=Marie-Christine |last12=Brandt |first12=Jørgen |last13=Cesaroni |first13=Giulia |last14=Concin |first14=Hans |last15=Fecht |first15=Daniela |last16=Forastiere |first16=Francesco |last17=Gulliver |first17=John |last18=Hertel |first18=Ole |last19=Hoffmann |first19=Barbara |last20=Hvidtfeldt |first20=Ulla Arthur |last21=Janssen |first21=Nicole A. H. |last22=Jöckel |first22=Karl-Heinz |last23=Jørgensen |first23=Jeanette T. |last24=Ketzel |first24=Matthias |last25=Klompmaker |first25=Jochem O. |last26=Lager |first26=Anton |last27=Leander |first27=Karin |last28=Liu |first28=Shuo |last29=Ljungman |first29=Petter |last30=Magnusson |first30=Patrik K. E. |last31=Mehta |first31=Amar J. |last32=Nagel |first32=Gabriele |last33=Oftedal |first33=Bente |last34=Pershagen |first34=Göran |last35=Peters |first35=Annette |last36=Raaschou-Nielsen |first36=Ole |last37=Renzi |first37=Matteo |last38=Rizzuto |first38=Debora |last39=Schouw |first39=Yvonne T. van der |last40=Schramm |first40=Sara |last41=Severi |first41=Gianluca |last42=Sigsgaard |first42=Torben |last43=Sørensen |first43=Mette |last44=Stafoggia |first44=Massimo |last45=Tjønneland |first45=Anne |last46=Verschuren |first46=W. M. Monique |last47=Vienneau |first47=Danielle |last48=Wolf |first48=Kathrin |last49=Katsouyanni |first49=Klea |last50=Brunekreef |first50=Bert |last51=Hoek |first51=Gerard |last52=Samoli |first52=Evangelia |title=Long term exposure to low level air pollution and mortality in eight European cohorts within the ELAPSE project: pooled analysis |journal=BMJ |date=2 September 2021 |volume=374 |pages=n1904 |doi=10.1136/bmj.n1904 |pmid=34470785 |pmc=8409282 |issn=1756-1833}} On 22 September, for the first time since 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO), after a systematic review of the accumulated evidence, adjusted their air quality guidelines whose adherence could save millions of lives, protect against future diseases and help meet climate goals.{{cite news |last1=Vaughan |first1=Adam |title=WHO calls for lower limits on air pollution to save millions of lives |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2291000-who-calls-for-lower-limits-on-air-pollution-to-save-millions-of-lives/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=New Scientist}}{{cite web |title=WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/who-global-air-quality-guidelines |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=18 October 2021 }}
• 3 September
• Bioengineers report the development of a viable CRISPR-Cas gene-editing system, "CasMINI", that is about twice as compact as the commonly used Cas9 and Cas12a.{{cite news |title=Researchers develop an engineered 'mini' CRISPR genome editing system |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-09-mini-crispr-genome.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |website=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Xiaoshu |last2=Chemparathy |first2=Augustine |last3=Zeng |first3=Leiping |last4=Kempton |first4=Hannah R. |last5=Shang |first5=Stephen |last6=Nakamura |first6=Muneaki |last7=Qi |first7=Lei S. |title=Engineered miniature CRISPR-Cas system for mammalian genome regulation and editing |journal=Molecular Cell |date=3 September 2021 |volume=81 |issue=20 |pages=4333–4345.e4 |doi=10.1016/j.molcel.2021.08.008 |pmid=34480847 |s2cid=237417317 |issn=1097-2765|doi-access=free }}
• Researchers report that autoantibodies against one's own ACE2 enzymes (the major entry point receptors for COVID-19),{{cite journal |last1=Scialo |first1=Filippo |last2=Daniele |first2=Aurora |last3=Amato |first3=Felice |last4=Pastore |first4=Lucio |last5=Matera |first5=Maria Gabriella |last6=Cazzola |first6=Mario |last7=Castaldo |first7=Giuseppe |last8=Bianco |first8=Andrea |title=ACE2: The Major Cell Entry Receptor for SARS-CoV-2 |journal=Lung |date=December 2020 |volume=198 |issue=6 |pages=867–877 |doi=10.1007/s00408-020-00408-4 |pmid=33170317 |pmc=7653219 |issn=1432-1750}}{{cite journal |last1=Gadanec |first1=Laura Kate |last2=McSweeney |first2=Kristen Renee |last3=Qaradakhi |first3=Tawar |last4=Ali |first4=Benazir |last5=Zulli |first5=Anthony |last6=Apostolopoulos |first6=Vasso |title=Can SARS-CoV-2 Virus Use Multiple Receptors to Enter Host Cells? |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |date=January 2021 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=992 |doi=10.3390/ijms22030992 |pmid=33498183 |pmc=7863934 |doi-access=free }} autoimmune disease, may be a (main) cause of long COVID.{{cite news |title=Research team finds potential cause of COVID-19 'long-haulers' |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-team-potential-covid-long-haulers.html |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=University of Arkansas }}{{cite news |last1=Bendix |first1=Aria |title=Scientists are getting closer to classifying long COVID as an autoimmune disease |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/long-covid-syndrome-autoimmune-disease-symptoms-2021-9 |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=Business Insider}}{{cite journal |last1=Arthur |first1=John M. |last2=Forrest |first2=J. Craig |last3=Boehme |first3=Karl W. |last4=Kennedy |first4=Joshua L. |last5=Owens |first5=Shana |last6=Herzog |first6=Christian |last7=Liu |first7=Juan |last8=Harville |first8=Terry O. |title=Development of ACE2 autoantibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection |journal=PLOS ONE |date=3 September 2021 |volume=16 |issue=9 |pages=e0257016 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0257016 |pmid=34478478 |pmc=8415618 |bibcode=2021PLoSO..1657016A |issn=1932-6203|doi-access=free }} Earlier studies suggested this may explain unusual pattern of organ damage by COVID-19.{{cite journal |last1=McMillan |first1=Philip |last2=Dexhiemer |first2=Thomas |last3=Neubig |first3=Richard R |last4=Uhal |first4=Bruce D |title=COVID-19-A Theory of Autoimmunity Against ACE-2 Explained |journal=Frontiers in Immunology |date=1 January 2021 |volume=12 |pages=582166 |doi=10.3389/fimmu.2021.582166 |pmid=33833750 |pmc=8021777 |issn=1664-3224|doi-access=free }}
• Scientists report that the accelerated, higher-variability warming of the Arctic can cause (more frequent) extremely cold winter weather across parts of Asia and North America – including the February 2021 North American cold wave – via a, observed and modeled, stratospheric polar vortex disruption.{{cite news |title=Climate change: Arctic warming linked to colder winters |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58425526 |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=BBC News |date=2 September 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Cohen |first1=Judah |last2=Agel |first2=Laurie |last3=Barlow |first3=Mathew |last4=Garfinkel |first4=Chaim I. |last5=White |first5=Ian |title=Linking Arctic variability and change with extreme winter weather in the United States |journal=Science |date=3 September 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6559 |pages=1116–1121 |doi=10.1126/science.abi9167 |pmid=34516838 |bibcode=2021Sci...373.1116C |s2cid=237402139 |url=https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abi9167 |url-access=subscription}}
• 6 September – Experts report that one-third of all chondrichthyes fish species are threatened with extinction, mainly caused by overfishing.{{Cite web |title=New Global Study Finds Unprecedented Shark and Ray Extinction Risk |url=http://www.iucnssg.org/1/post/2021/09/new-global-study-finds-unprecedented-shark-and-ray-extinction-risk.html |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last1=Dulvy |first1=Nicholas |last2=Pacoureau |first2=Nathan |last3=Rigby |first3=Cassandra |last4=Pollom |first4=Riley |last5=Jabado |first5=Rima |last6=Ebert |first6=David |last7=Finucci |first7=Brittany |last8=Pollock |first8=Caroline |last9=Cheok |first9=Jesicca |display-authors= |date=2021-11-08 |title=Overfishing drives over one-third of all sharks and rays toward a global extinction crisis |url=https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)01198-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982221011982%3Fshowall%3Dtrue |publication-date=September 6, 2021 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2021.08.062 |last10=Derrick |first10=Danielle |last11=Herman |first11=Katelyn |last12=Sherman |first12=Samantha |last13=VanderWright |first13=Wade |last14=Lawson |first14=Julia |last15=Walls |first15=Rachel |last16=Carlson |first16=John |last17=Charvet |first17=Patricia |last18=Bineesh |first18=Kinattumkara |last19=Fernando |first19=Daniel |last20=Ralph |first20=Gina |last21=Matsushiba |first21=Jay |last22=Hilton-Taylor |first22=Craig |last23=Fordham |first23=Sonja |last24=Simpfendorfer |first24=Colin|journal=Current Biology |volume=31 |issue=21 |pages=4773–4787.e8 |pmid=34492229 |bibcode=2021CBio...31E4773D }}
• 8 September
• Cysteamine, an antioxidant drug already approved for human use, is shown to reverse atherosclerosis, the process responsible for heart attacks and strokes, in mice.{{cite news |title=Antioxidant drug reverses process responsible for heart attacks and strokes |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-antioxidant-drug-reverses-responsible-heart.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=University of Reading }}{{cite journal|date=8 September 2021|title=Cysteamine Decreases Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidation, Causes Regression of Atherosclerosis, and Improves Liver and Muscle Function in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient Mice|journal=Journal of the American Heart Association|doi=10.1161/JAHA.120.017524|last1=Ahmad|first1=Feroz|last2=Mitchell|first2=Robert D.|last3=Houben|first3=Tom|last4=Palo|first4=Angela|last5=Yadati|first5=Tulasi|last6=Parnell|first6=Andrew J.|last7=Patel|first7=Ketan|last8=Shiri-Sverdlov|first8=Ronit|last9=Leake|first9=David S.|volume=10|issue=18|pages=e017524|pmid=34493066|pmc=8649511|doi-access=free}}
• Scientists provide the first scientific assessment of the minimum amount of fossil fuels that would need to be secured from extraction per region as well as globally, to allow for a 50% probability of limiting global warming by 2050 to 1.5 °C.{{cite news |last1=Ramirez |first1=Rachel |title=Majority of remaining fossil fuels must stay in the ground to limit climate crisis below critical threshold, study shows |url=https://us.cnn.com/2021/09/08/us/fossil-fuel-budget-climate-change-study/index.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=CNN}}{{cite journal |last1=Welsby |first1=Dan |last2=Price |first2=James |last3=Pye |first3=Steve |last4=Ekins |first4=Paul |title=Unextractable fossil fuels in a 1.5 °C world |journal=Nature |date=September 2021 |volume=597 |issue=7875 |pages=230–234 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03821-8 |pmid=34497394 |bibcode=2021Natur.597..230W |s2cid=237455006 |issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free }}
• Scientists report that Earth is reflecting less light – a dimming of ~0.5% in reflectance over two decades may have both been co-caused by climate change as well as substantially increase global warming.{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Jennifer |title=The Earth isn't as bright as it once was |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/04/weather/earth-dimming-climate/index.html |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=CNN}}{{cite journal |last1=Goode |first1=P. R. |last2=Pallé |first2=E. |last3=Shoumko |first3=A. |last4=Shoumko |first4=S. |last5=Montañes-Rodriguez |first5=P. |last6=Koonin |first6=S. E. |title=Earth's Albedo 1998–2017 as Measured From Earthshine |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |date=2021 |volume=48 |issue=17 |pages=e2021GL094888 |doi=10.1029/2021GL094888 |bibcode=2021GeoRL..4894888G |s2cid=239667126 |issn=1944-8007|doi-access=free }}
• 10 September
• Scientists report what could be the discovery of the oldest rock art, likely dating back to ~169–226,000 years ago, much older than what was previously thought to be the earliest known drawing, made ~73,000{{cite journal |last1=Henshilwood |first1=Christopher S. |last2=d'Errico |first2=Francesco |last3=van Niekerk |first3=Karen L. |last4=Dayet |first4=Laure |last5=Queffelec |first5=Alain |last6=Pollarolo |first6=Luca |title=An abstract drawing from the 73,000-year-old levels at Blombos Cave, South Africa |journal=Nature |date=October 2018 |volume=562 |issue=7725 |pages=115–118 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0514-3 |pmid=30209394 |bibcode=2018Natur.562..115H |s2cid=52197496 |issn=1476-4687|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01976973/file/Henshilwood-etal_2018.pdf }} years ago. Children likely intentionally placed a series of hands and feet in mud. The findings could also be the earliest evidence of Hominins on the above 4000 m a.s.l. high Tibetan plateau.{{cite news |last1=Lanese |first1=Nicoletta |title=Kids' Fossilized Handprints May Be Some of the World's Oldest Art |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/kids-fossilized-handprints-may-be-some-of-the-worlds-oldest-art/ |access-date=17 October 2021 |work=Scientific American }}{{cite news |last2=Davis-Marks |first2=Isis |title=These 200,000-Year-Old Hand and Footprints Could Be the World's Earliest Cave Art |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-200000-year-old-hand-and-footprints-could-be-the-worlds-oldest-cave-art-180978702/ |first1=Isis |last1=Davis-Marks| access-date=17 October 2021 |work=Smithsonian Magazine }}{{cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=David D. |last2=Bennett |first2=Matthew R. |last3=Cheng |first3=Hai |last4=Wang |first4=Leibin |last5=Zhang |first5=Haiwei |last6=Reynolds |first6=Sally C. |last7=Zhang |first7=Shengda |last8=Wang |first8=Xiaoqing |last9=Li |first9=Teng |last10=Urban |first10=Tommy |last11=Pei |first11=Qing |last12=Wu |first12=Zhifeng |last13=Zhang |first13=Pu |last14=Liu |first14=Chunru |last15=Wang |first15=Yafeng |last16=Wang |first16=Cong |last17=Zhang |first17=Dongju |last18=Lawrence Edwards |first18=R. |title=Earliest parietal art: Hominin hand and foot traces from the middle Pleistocene of Tibet |journal=Science Bulletin |date=10 September 2021 |volume=66 |issue=24 |pages=2506–2515 |doi=10.1016/j.scib.2021.09.001 |pmid=36654210 |bibcode=2021SciBu..66.2506Z |s2cid=239102132 |issn=2095-9273|doi-access=free }}
• 43 expert scientists publish the first scientific framework version that – via integration, review, clarifications and standardization – enables the evaluation of levels of protection of marine protected areas and can serve as a guide for improving, planning and monitoring marine protection-quality and -extents such as in efforts towards the 30%-protection-goal of the "Global Deal For Nature"{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=E. |last2=Vynne |first2=C. |last3=Sala |first3=E. |last4=Joshi |first4=A. R. |last5=Fernando |first5=S. |last6=Lovejoy |first6=T. E. |last7=Mayorga |first7=J. |last8=Olson |first8=D. |last9=Asner |first9=G. P. |last10=Baillie |first10=J. E. M. |last11=Burgess |first11=N. D. |last12=Burkart |first12=K. |last13=Noss |first13=R. F. |last14=Zhang |first14=Y. P. |last15=Baccini |first15=A. |last16=Birch |first16=T. |last17=Hahn |first17=N. |last18=Joppa |first18=L. N. |last19=Wikramanayake |first19=E. |title=A Global Deal For Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets |journal=Science Advances |year=2019 |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=eaaw2869 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.aaw2869|pmid=31016243 |pmc=6474764 |bibcode=2019SciA....5.2869D }} and the UN's SDG 14.{{cite news |title=Improving ocean protection with the first marine protected areas guide |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-09-ocean-marine-areas.html |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=Institut de Recherche pour le Développement }}{{cite journal |last1=Grorud-Colvert |first1=Kirsten |last2=Sullivan-Stack |first2=Jenna |last3=Roberts |first3=Callum |last4=Constant |first4=Vanessa |last5=Horta e Costa |first5=Barbara |last6=Pike |first6=Elizabeth P. |last7=Kingston |first7=Naomi |last8=Laffoley |first8=Dan |last9=Sala |first9=Enric |last10=Claudet |first10=Joachim |last11=Friedlander |first11=Alan M. |last12=Gill |first12=David A. |last13=Lester |first13=Sarah E. |last14=Day |first14=Jon C. |last15=Gonçalves |first15=Emanuel J. |last16=Ahmadia |first16=Gabby N. |last17=Rand |first17=Matt |last18=Villagomez |first18=Angelo |last19=Ban |first19=Natalie C. |last20=Gurney |first20=Georgina G. |last21=Spalding |first21=Ana K. |last22=Bennett |first22=Nathan J. |last23=Briggs |first23=Johnny |last24=Morgan |first24=Lance E. |last25=Moffitt |first25=Russell |last26=Deguignet |first26=Marine |last27=Pikitch |first27=Ellen K. |last28=Darling |first28=Emily S. |last29=Jessen |first29=Sabine |last30=Hameed |first30=Sarah O. |last31=Di Carlo |first31=Giuseppe |last32=Guidetti |first32=Paolo |last33=Harris |first33=Jean M. |last34=Torre |first34=Jorge |last35=Kizilkaya |first35=Zafer |last36=Agardy |first36=Tundi |last37=Cury |first37=Philippe |last38=Shah |first38=Nirmal J. |last39=Sack |first39=Karen |last40=Cao |first40=Ling |last41=Fernandez |first41=Miriam |last42=Lubchenco |first42=Jane |title=The MPA Guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean |journal=Science |year=2021 |volume=373 |issue=6560 |pages=eabf0861 |doi=10.1126/science.abf0861|pmid=34516798 |s2cid=237473020 |url=https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00723/83464/88455.pdf }}
• The CDC reports that despite prevalence of the Delta variant people vaccinated against COVID-19 are ~11 times less likely to die from COVID-19 (age-standardized rates of 1.6 versus 0.1 and 1.1 versus 0.1 weekly deaths per 100,000 U.S. citizens), showing vaccines' effectiveness at preventing severe disease.{{cite news |title=Unvaccinated people 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19, CDC study shows |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-vaccine-deaths-unvaccinated-cdc-study/ |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=CBS News}}{{cite journal |last1=Scobie |first1=Heather M. |last2=Johnson |first2=Amelia G. |last3=Suthar |first3=Amitabh B. |last4=Severson |first4=Rachel |last5=Alden |first5=Nisha B. |last6=Balter |first6=Sharon |last7=Bertolino |first7=Daniel |last8=Blythe |first8=David |last9=Brady |first9=Shane |last10=Cadwell |first10=Betsy |last11=Cheng |first11=Iris |last12=Davidson |first12=Sherri |last13=Delgadillo |first13=Janelle |last14=Devinney |first14=Katelynn |last15=Duchin |first15=Jeff |last16=Duwell |first16=Monique |last17=Fisher |first17=Rebecca |last18=Fleischauer |first18=Aaron |last19=Grant |first19=Ashley |last20=Griffin |first20=Jennifer |last21=Haddix |first21=Meredith |last22=Hand |first22=Julie |last23=Hanson |first23=Matt |last24=Hawkins |first24=Eric |last25=Herlihy |first25=Rachel K. |last26=Hicks |first26=Liam |last27=Holtzman |first27=Corinne |last28=Hoskins |first28=Mikhail |last29=Hyun |first29=Judie |last30=Kaur |first30=Ramandeep |last31=Kay |first31=Meagan |last32=Kidrowski |first32=Holly |last33=Kim |first33=Curi |last34=Komatsu |first34=Kenneth |last35=Kugeler |first35=Kiersten |last36=Lewis |first36=Melissa |last37=Lyons |first37=B. Casey |last38=Lyons |first38=Shelby |last39=Lynfield |first39=Ruth |last40=McCaffrey |first40=Keegan |last41=McMullen |first41=Chelsea |last42=Milroy |first42=Lauren |last43=Meyer |first43=Stephanie |last44=Nolen |first44=Leisha |last45=Patel |first45=Monita R. |last46=Pogosjans |first46=Sargis |last47=Reese |first47=Heather E. |last48=Saupe |first48=Amy |last49=Sell |first49=Jessica |last50=Sokol |first50=Theresa |last51=Sosin |first51=Daniel |last52=Stanislawski |first52=Emma |last53=Stevens |first53=Kelly |last54=Vest |first54=Hailey |last55=White |first55=Kelly |last56=Wilson |first56=Erica |last57=MacNeil |first57=Adam |last58=Ritchey |first58=Matthew D. |last59=Silk |first59=Benjamin J. |title=Monitoring Incidence of COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, by Vaccination Status — 13 U.S. Jurisdictions, April 4–July 17, 2021 |journal=MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report |date=17 September 2021 |volume=70 |issue=37 |pages=1284–1290 |doi=10.15585/mmwr.mm7037e1|pmid=34529637 |pmc=8445374 }}

File:Side-on 3D view of the Per-Tau Shell, giant structure forming star-forming molecular clouds (with Sun).png spherical shell.]]

File:Global mean near-surface air temperature and thermosteric sea-level rise anomalies relative to the 2000–2019 mean for RCP climate change scenarios.webp of greenhouse gas emissions only for up to 2100 is found to be short-sighted. New models for climate change scenarios for up to 2500 are published.]]

• 13 September – A scientific review concludes that accumulating data suggests dietary restriction (DR) – mainly intermittent fasting and caloric restriction – results in many of the same beneficial changes in adult humans as in studied organisms, potentially increasing health- and lifespan.{{cite news |title=Physiology: Fasting may mediate the beneficial effects of calorie restriction in mice {{!}} Nature Metabolism {{!}} Nature Portfolio |url=https://www.natureasia.com/en/research/highlight/13845/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Nature Asia |archive-date=18 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018162605/http://www.natureasia.com/en/research/highlight/13845 |url-status=dead }}{{cite journal |last1=Green |first1=Cara L. |last2=Lamming |first2=Dudley W. |last3=Fontana |first3=Luigi |title=Molecular mechanisms of dietary restriction promoting health and longevity |journal=Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology |date=13 September 2021 |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=56–73 |doi=10.1038/s41580-021-00411-4 |pmid=34518687 |pmc=8692439 |s2cid=237505615 |issn=1471-0080}} A review published on 22 September provides an overview of DR as an intervention and develops a framework for a proposed field of "precision nutrigeroscience".{{cite news |title=Researchers provide a framework to study precision nutrigeroscience |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-framework-precision-nutrigeroscience.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Buck Institute for Research on Aging }}{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Kenneth A. |last2=Chamoli |first2=Manish |last3=Hilsabeck |first3=Tyler A. |last4=Pandey |first4=Manish |last5=Bansal |first5=Sakshi |last6=Chawla |first6=Geetanjali |last7=Kapahi |first7=Pankaj |title=Evaluating the beneficial effects of dietary restrictions: A framework for precision nutrigeroscience |journal=Cell Metabolism |date=22 September 2021 |volume=33 |issue=11 |pages=2142–2173 |doi=10.1016/j.cmet.2021.08.018 |pmid=34555343 |pmc=8845500 |s2cid=237617416 |issn=1550-4131 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354822240}} A study published on 29 September identifies circadian-regulated autophagy as a critical contributor to intermittent time-restricted fasting-mediated lifespan extension in Drosophila and suggests that only certain forms of and/or combinations with intermittent fasting – intervals during which no food but only e.g. water and tea/coffee are ingested{{cite journal |last1=O'Keefe |first1=James H. |last2=Torres-Acosta |first2=Noel |last3=O'Keefe |first3=Evan L. |last4=Saeed |first4=Ibrahim M. |last5=Lavie |first5=Carl J. |last6=Smith |first6=Sarah E. |last7=Ros |first7=Emilio |title=A Pesco-Mediterranean Diet With Intermittent Fasting |journal=Journal of the American College of Cardiology |date=September 2020 |volume=76 |issue=12 |pages=1484–1493 |doi=10.1016/j.jacc.2020.07.049|pmid=32943166 |s2cid=221787788 |doi-access=free }} – may be effective beyond the benefits of healthy body weight.{{cite news |title=Intermittent fasting makes fruit flies live longer—will it work for people? |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-intermittent-fasting-fruit-flies-longerwill.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Columbia University Irving Medical Center }}{{cite journal |last1=Ulgherait |first1=Matt |last2=Midoun |first2=Adil M. |last3=Park |first3=Scarlet J. |last4=Gatto |first4=Jared A. |last5=Tener |first5=Samantha J. |last6=Siewert |first6=Julia |last7=Klickstein |first7=Naomi |last8=Canman |first8=Julie C. |last9=Ja |first9=William W. |last10=Shirasu-Hiza |first10=Mimi |title=Circadian autophagy drives iTRF-mediated longevity |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7880 |pages=353–358 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03934-0 |pmid=34588695 |pmc=9395244 |bibcode=2021Natur.598..353U |s2cid=238229699 |issn=1476-4687}}
• 15 September
• Physicists report candidate dark energy particles, Sun-produced local environment-adjusted "chameleon particles", at the dark matter detector XENON1T experiment.{{cite news |title=Have we detected dark energy? Scientists say it's a possibility |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-09-dark-energy-scientists-possibility.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=University of Cambridge }}{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Elizabeth |title=Signal From The XENON1T Experiment May Be A Hallmark Of Dark Energy |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/fernandezelizabeth/2021/10/14/signal-from-the-xenon1t-experiment-may-be-a-hallmark-of-dark-energy/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Forbes }}{{cite journal |last1=Vagnozzi |first1=Sunny |last2=Visinelli |first2=Luca |last3=Brax |first3=Philippe |last4=Davis |first4=Anne-Christine |last5=Sakstein |first5=Jeremy |title=Direct detection of dark energy: The XENON1T excess and future prospects |journal=Physical Review D |date=15 September 2021 |volume=104 |issue=6 |pages=063023 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevD.104.063023|arxiv=2103.15834 |bibcode=2021PhRvD.104f3023V |s2cid=232417159 }}
• Scientists confirm that widespread phytoplankton blooms can be a feedback effect of wildfires. The climate change-exacerbated 2019–2020 Australian wildfires caused oceanic deposition of wildfire aerosols, enhancing marine productivity and thereby increased oceanic carbon dioxide uptake.{{cite news |title=Australian fires in 2019–2020 had even more global reach than previously thought |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/australia-wildfires-climate-change-carbon-dioxide-ocean-algae |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=Science News |date=15 September 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Tang |first1=Weiyi |last2=Llort |first2=Joan |last3=Weis |first3=Jakob |last4=Perron |first4=Morgane M. G. |last5=Basart |first5=Sara |last6=Li |first6=Zuchuan |last7=Sathyendranath |first7=Shubha |author-link7=Shubha Sathyendranath|last8=Jackson |first8=Thomas |last9=Sanz Rodriguez |first9=Estrella |last10=Proemse |first10=Bernadette C. |last11=Bowie |first11=Andrew R. |last12=Schallenberg |first12=Christina |last13=Strutton |first13=Peter G. |last14=Matear |first14=Richard |last15=Cassar |first15=Nicolas |title=Widespread phytoplankton blooms triggered by 2019–2020 Australian wildfires |journal=Nature |date=September 2021 |volume=597 |issue=7876 |pages=370–375 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03805-8 |pmid=34526706 |bibcode=2021Natur.597..370T |hdl=2117/351768 |s2cid=237536378 |issn=1476-4687 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354614634|hdl-access=free }} A study using satellite data complements these findings, constraining the amount of CO₂ emissions of the fires from November 2019 to January 2020 to around 715 million tons.{{cite news |title=Australian bushfire smoke caused massive phytoplankton bloom in Southern Ocean |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/16/australian-bushfire-smoke-caused-massive-phytoplankton-bloom-in-southern-ocean |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=15 September 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=van der Velde |first1=Ivar R. |last2=van der Werf |first2=Guido R. |last3=Houweling |first3=Sander |last4=Maasakkers |first4=Joannes D. |last5=Borsdorff |first5=Tobias |last6=Landgraf |first6=Jochen |last7=Tol |first7=Paul |last8=van Kempen |first8=Tim A. |last9=van Hees |first9=Richard |last10=Hoogeveen |first10=Ruud |last11=Veefkind |first11=J. Pepijn |last12=Aben |first12=Ilse |title=Vast CO2 release from Australian fires in 2019–2020 constrained by satellite |journal=Nature |date=September 2021 |volume=597 |issue=7876 |pages=366–369 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03712-y |pmid=34526704 |bibcode=2021Natur.597..366V |hdl=1871.1/c4f7bd8b-1e9b-49bb-9604-ba873e5a4d52 |s2cid=237536364 |issn=1476-4687|url=https://research.vu.nl/ws/files/152420184/Vast_CO2_release_from_Australian_fires_in_2019_2020_constrained_by_satellite.pdf }}
• Media outlets report that the world's first cultured coffee products have been created by two biotechnology companies, still awaiting regulatory approval for near-term commercialization.{{cite web |title=Sustainable coffee grown in Finland |url=https://www.vttresearch.com/en/news-and-ideas/sustainable-coffee-grown-finland-land-drinks-most-coffee-capita-produces-its-first |website=VttResearch.com |date=15 September 2021 |access-date=18 October 2021 }} Such products, for which multiple companies' R&D have acquired substantial funding, may have equal or highly similar effects, composition and taste as natural products but use less water, generate less carbon emissions, require less labor{{additional citation needed|date=October 2021}} and cause no deforestation.{{cite news |title=Eco-friendly, lab-grown coffee is on the way, but it comes with a catch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/16/lab-grown-coffee-eco-friendly |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=16 October 2021 }}
• 16 September – Scientists report evidence of clothes being made 120,000 years ago based on findings in deposits in Morocco, a country in the northwestern part of Africa.{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Nicola |title=Scientists find evidence of humans making clothes 120,000 years ago - Tools and bones in Moroccan cave could be some of earliest evidence of the hallmark human behaviour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/sep/16/scientists-find-evidence-of-humans-making-clothes-120000-years-ago |date=16 September 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=16 September 2021 }}{{cite journal |author=Hallett, Emily Y. |display-authors=et al. |title=A worked bone assemblage from 120,000–90,000 year old deposits at Contrebandiers Cave, Atlantic Coast, Morocco |date=16 September 2021 |journal=iScience |volume=24 |issue=9 |page=102988 |doi=10.1016/j.isci.2021.102988 |pmid=34622180 |pmc=8478944 |bibcode=2021iSci...24j2988H |doi-access=free }}
• 17 September
• Scientists report that harmful algal blooms, which have been linked to deforestation, global warming and soil erosion, are proliferating in lakes and rivers around the globe. They add that such toxic algal blooms were a prominent feature of previous mass extinction events, in particular of the End-Permian Extinction.{{cite news |title=Animals died in 'toxic soup' during Earth's worst mass extinction: A warning for today |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-09-animals-died-toxic-soup-earth.html |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=University of Connecticut }}{{cite journal |last1=Mays |first1=Chris |last2=McLoughlin |first2=Stephen |display-authors=etal. |date=17 September 2021 |title=Lethal microbial blooms delayed freshwater ecosystem recovery following the end-Permian extinction |url= |journal=Nature Communications |volume=12 |issue=5511 |page=5511 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-25711-3|pmid=34535650 |pmc=8448769 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.5511M |doi-access=free }}
• Researchers report in a preprint the discovery of i.a. the so far closest known relative virus, with a 96.8% similarity, to SARS-CoV-2 in samples from wild horseshoe bats in northern Laos – 0.7% more similar than the virus RaTG13 discovered in China in 2013. Their findings indicate that, as of 2021, SARS-CoV-2-like viruses potentially infectious for humans circulate in bats in the Indochinese peninsula and that the pandemic virus may not originate from Wuhan.{{cite journal |last1=Mallapaty |first1=Smriti |title=Closest known relatives of virus behind COVID-19 found in Laos |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02596-2 |access-date=20 October 2021 |journal=Nature |date=24 September 2021 |volume=597 |issue=7878 |pages=603 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-02596-2|pmid=34561634 |bibcode=2021Natur.597..603M |s2cid=237626322 }}{{cite journal |last1=Temmam |first1=Sarah |last2=Vongphayloth |first2=Khamsing |last3=Salazar |first3=Eduard Baquero |last4=Munier |first4=Sandie |last5=Bonomi |first5=Max |last6=Régnault |first6=Béatrice |last7=Douangboubpha |first7=Bounsavane |last8=Karami |first8=Yasaman |last9=Chretien |first9=Delphine |last10=Sanamxay |first10=Daosavanh |last11=Xayaphet |first11=Vilakhan |last12=Paphaphanh |first12=Phetphoumin |last13=Lacoste |first13=Vincent |last14=Somlor |first14=Somphavanh |last15=Lakeomany |first15=Khaithong |last16=Phommavanh |first16=Nothasin |last17=Pérot |first17=Philippe |last18=Donati |first18=Flora |last19=Bigot |first19=Thomas |last20=Nilges |first20=Michael |last21=Rey |first21=Félix |last22=Werf |first22=Sylvie van der |last23=Brey |first23=Paul |last24=Eloit |first24=Marc |title=Coronaviruses with a SARS-CoV-2-like receptor-binding domain allowing ACE2-mediated entry into human cells isolated from bats of Indochinese peninsula |date=17 September 2021 |doi=10.21203/rs.3.rs-871965/v1|s2cid=237639577 |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03417488/file/986c09ca-d494-4a7c-a65b-9eec9c0a06b8.pdf }} Other scientists complement these findings, reporting in a preprint published on 20 September, that they could not find any SARS-CoV-2 related viruses in any samples collected in China, including from the only two domestic caves where RaTG13 and RmYN02 were detected, indicating such viruses may currently not circulate in bats in the country.{{cite journal |last1=Wu |first1=Zhiqiang |last2=Han |first2=Yelin |last3=Wang |first3=Yuyang |last4=Liu |first4=Bo |last5=Zhao |first5=Lamei |last6=Zhang |first6=Junpeng |last7=Su |first7=Hao-Xiang |last8=Zhao |first8=Wenliang |last9=Liu |first9=Liguo |last10=Bai |first10=Shibin |last11=Dong |first11=Jie |last12=Sun |first12=Lilian |last13=Zhu |first13=Yafang |last14=Zhou |first14=Siyu |last15=Song |first15=Yiping |last16=Sui |first16=Hongtao |last17=Yang |first17=Jian |last18=Wang |first18=Jianwei |last19=Zhang |first19=Shuyi |last20=Qian |first20=Zhaohui |last21=Jin |first21=Qi |title=A comprehensive survey of bat sarbecoviruses across China for the origin tracing of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 |date=20 September 2021 |doi=10.21203/rs.3.rs-885194/v1|s2cid=240599325 }}
• 22 September – Astronomers report the discovery of a nearby spherical structure, a 'superbubble', on the edges of which giant molecular clouds (Perseus and Taurus) with regions of star formation are being formed, the Per-Tau Shell.{{cite news |title='Superbubble' region of star formation was created by supernovae, study suggests |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/superbubble-region-of-star-formation-was-created-by-supernovae-study-suggests/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Physics World |date=11 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Bialy |first1=Shmuel |last2=Zucker |first2=Catherine |last3=Goodman |first3=Alyssa |last4=Foley |first4=Michael M. |last5=Alves |first5=João |last6=Semenov |first6=Vadim A. |last7=Benjamin |first7=Robert |last8=Leike |first8=Reimar |last9=Enßlin |first9=Torsten |title=The Per-Tau Shell: A Giant Star-forming Spherical Shell Revealed by 3D Dust Observations |journal=The Astrophysical Journal Letters |date=1 September 2021 |volume=919 |issue=1 |pages=L5 |doi=10.3847/2041-8213/ac1f95 |arxiv=2109.09763 |bibcode=2021ApJ...919L...5B |s2cid=237581543 |issn=2041-8205 |doi-access=free }}
• 23 September
• Scientists report the discovery of human footprints in the state of New Mexico that are understood to be ~23,000 years old, around the time of the last Ice Age.{{cite news |last=Zimmer |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Zimmer |title=Ancient Footprints Push Back Date of Human Arrival in the Americas - Human footprints found in New Mexico are about 23,000 years old, a study reported, suggesting that people may have arrived long before the Ice Age's glaciers melted. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/science/ancient-footprints-ice-age.html |date=23 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=23 September 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Bennett |first1=Matthew R. |last2=Bustos |first2=David |last3=Pigati |first3=Jeffrey S. |last4=Springer |first4=Kathleen B. |last5=Urban |first5=Thomas M. |last6=Holliday |first6=Vance T. |last7=Reynolds |first7=Sally C. |last8=Budka |first8=Marcin |last9=Honke |first9=Jeffrey S. |last10=Hudson |first10=Adam M. |last11=Fenerty |first11=Brendan |last12=Connelly |first12=Clare |last13=Martinez |first13=Patrick J. |last14=Santucci |first14=Vincent L. |last15=Odess |first15=Daniel |title=Evidence of humans in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum |journal=Science |date=24 September 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6562 |pages=1528–1531 |doi=10.1126/science.abg7586|pmid=34554787 |bibcode=2021Sci...373.1528B |s2cid=237616125 |url=http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36202/7/science_manuscript_WHSA_rev3_17Aug21.pdf }}
• Researchers report the world's first artificial synthesis of starch. The material essential for many products and the most common carbohydrate in human diets was made from CO₂ in a cell-free process and could reduce land, pesticide and water use as well as greenhouse gas emissions while increasing food security.{{cite news |title=World-first artificial synthesis of starch from CO2 outperforms nature |url=https://newatlas.com/science/artificial-synthesis-starch-from-co2/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=28 September 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Cai |first1=Tao |last2=Sun |first2=Hongbing |last3=Qiao |first3=Jing |last4=Zhu |first4=Leilei |last5=Zhang |first5=Fan |last6=Zhang |first6=Jie |last7=Tang |first7=Zijing |last8=Wei |first8=Xinlei |last9=Yang |first9=Jiangang |last10=Yuan |first10=Qianqian |last11=Wang |first11=Wangyin |last12=Yang |first12=Xue |last13=Chu |first13=Huanyu |last14=Wang |first14=Qian |last15=You |first15=Chun |last16=Ma |first16=Hongwu |last17=Sun |first17=Yuanxia |last18=Li |first18=Yin |last19=Li |first19=Can |last20=Jiang |first20=Huifeng |last21=Wang |first21=Qinhong |last22=Ma |first22=Yanhe |title=Cell-free chemoenzymatic starch synthesis from carbon dioxide |journal=Science |date=24 September 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6562 |pages=1523–1527 |doi=10.1126/science.abh4049 |pmid=34554807 |bibcode=2021Sci...373.1523C |s2cid=237615280 |doi-access=free }}
• After commissioning two impact assessment studies and a technology analysis study, the European Commission proposes the implementation of a standardization – for versions of USB-C – of phone charger products, which may increase device-interoperability, convergence and convenience for consumers while decreasing resource-needs, redundancy and electronic waste.{{cite news |title=Apple opposes EU plans to make common charger port for all devices |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/apple-opposes-eu-plans-to-make-common-charger-port-for-all-devices |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=23 September 2021 }}{{cite news |last1=Peltier |first1=Elian |title=In a setback for Apple, the European Union seeks a common charger for all phones. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/business/european-union-apple-charging-port.html |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=23 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=One common charging solution for all |url=https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/electrical-engineering/red-directive/common-charger_en |website=Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - European Commission |access-date=19 October 2021 |date=5 July 2016}}

File:D85 2002 Plant of Thailand.jpg food, tomatoes, goes on public sale.]]

File:Genomic signatures for predicting the zoonotic potential of novel viruses (graphical summary).png models for genome-based early detection and prioritization of high-risk potential zoonotic viruses.]]

• 24 September
• Researchers conclude that projecting effects – such as regional inhabitability, human migration and food insecurity – of greenhouse gas emissions only for up to 2100, as widely practiced in research and policy-making, is short-sighted and model climate change scenarios for up to 2500.{{cite news |title=By 2500 earth could be alien to humans |url=https://scienmag.com/by-2500-earth-could-be-alien-to-humans/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Scienmag: Latest Science and Health News |date=14 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Lyon |first1=Christopher |last2=Saupe |first2=Erin E. |last3=Smith |first3=Christopher J. |last4=Hill |first4=Daniel J. |last5=Beckerman |first5=Andrew P. |last6=Stringer |first6=Lindsay C. |last7=Marchant |first7=Robert |last8=McKay |first8=James |last9=Burke |first9=Ariane |last10=O'Higgins |first10=Paul |last11=Dunhill |first11=Alexander M. |last12=Allen |first12=Bethany J. |last13=Riel-Salvatore |first13=Julien |last14=Aze |first14=Tracy |title=Climate change research and action must look beyond 2100 |journal=Global Change Biology |year=2021 |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=349–361 |doi=10.1111/gcb.15871 |pmid=34558764 |s2cid=237616583 |issn=1365-2486|doi-access=free }}
• Media outlets report that in Japan the first CRISPR-edited food has gone on public sale. Tomatoes were genetically modified for around five times the normal amount of possibly calming{{cite journal |last1=Boonstra |first1=Evert |last2=de Kleijn |first2=Roy |last3=Colzato |first3=Lorenza S. |last4=Alkemade |first4=Anneke |last5=Forstmann |first5=Birte U. |last6=Nieuwenhuis |first6=Sander |title=Neurotransmitters as food supplements: the effects of GABA on brain and behavior |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |date=6 October 2015 |volume=6 |page=1520 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01520|pmid=26500584 |pmc=4594160 |doi-access=free }} GABA.{{cite news |title=Tomato In Japan Is First CRISPR-Edited Food In The World To Go On Sale |url=https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/tomato-in-japan-is-first-crispredited-food-to-go-on-sale-/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=IFLScience }} CRISPR was first applied in tomatoes in 2014.{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Tian |last2=Zhang |first2=Hongyan |last3=Zhu |first3=Hongliang |title=CRISPR technology is revolutionizing the improvement of tomato and other fruit crops |journal=Horticulture Research |date=15 June 2019 |volume=6 |issue=1 |page=77 |doi=10.1038/s41438-019-0159-x |pmid=31240102 |pmc=6570646 |bibcode=2019HorR....6...77W |issn=2052-7276}}
• Biomedical researchers demonstrate a switchable Yamanaka factors-reprogramming-based approach for regeneration of damaged heart without tumor-formation in mice.{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=Reprogramming heart muscle cells to repair damage from heart attacks |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-reprogramming-heart-muscle-cells.html |access-date=20 October 2021 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Yanpu |last2=Lüttmann |first2=Felipe F. |last3=Schoger |first3=Eric |last4=Schöler |first4=Hans R. |last5=Zelarayán |first5=Laura C. |last6=Kim |first6=Kee-Pyo |last7=Haigh |first7=Jody J. |last8=Kim |first8=Johnny |last9=Braun |first9=Thomas |title=Reversible reprogramming of cardiomyocytes to a fetal state drives heart regeneration in mice |journal=Science |date=24 September 2021 |volume=373 |issue=6562 |pages=1537–1540 |doi=10.1126/science.abg5159|pmid=34554778 |bibcode=2021Sci...373.1537C |s2cid=237617229 }}
• 26 September – Researchers estimate that children born in 2020 (e.g. "Generation Alpha") will experience 2–7 times as many extreme weather events, particularly heat waves, compared to people born in 1960 (e.g. "Baby Boomers" and "Generation X") under current climate policy pledges over their lifetimes, raising issues of intergenerational equity.{{cite news |last1=Gramling |first1=Carolyn |title=2020 babies may suffer up to seven times as many extreme heat waves as 1960s kids |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/children-climate-change-generation-burden-extreme-heat |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=Science News |date=1 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Thiery |first1=Wim |last2=Lange |first2=Stefan |last3=Rogelj |author3-link=Joeri Rogelj|first3=Joeri |last4=Schleussner |first4=Carl-Friedrich |last5=Gudmundsson |first5=Lukas |last6=Seneviratne |first6=Sonia I. |last7=Andrijevic |first7=Marina |last8=Frieler |first8=Katja |last9=Emanuel |first9=Kerry |last10=Geiger |first10=Tobias |last11=Bresch |first11=David N. |last12=Zhao |first12=Fang |last13=Willner |first13=Sven N. |last14=Büchner |first14=Matthias |last15=Volkholz |first15=Jan |last16=Bauer |first16=Nico |last17=Chang |first17=Jinfeng |last18=Ciais |first18=Philippe |last19=Dury |first19=Marie |last20=François |first20=Louis |last21=Grillakis |first21=Manolis |last22=Gosling |first22=Simon N. |last23=Hanasaki |first23=Naota |last24=Hickler |first24=Thomas |last25=Huber |first25=Veronika |last26=Ito |first26=Akihiko |last27=Jägermeyr |first27=Jonas |last28=Khabarov |first28=Nikolay |last29=Koutroulis |first29=Aristeidis |last30=Liu |first30=Wenfeng |last31=Lutz |first31=Wolfgang |last32=Mengel |first32=Matthias |last33=Müller |first33=Christoph |last34=Ostberg |first34=Sebastian |last35=Reyer |first35=Christopher P. O. |last36=Stacke |first36=Tobias |last37=Wada |first37=Yoshihide |title=Intergenerational inequities in exposure to climate extremes |journal=Science |date=8 October 2021 |volume=374 |issue=6564 |pages=158–160 |doi=10.1126/science.abi7339|pmid=34565177 |bibcode=2021Sci...374..158T |s2cid=237942847 |url=https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6345242 }}
• 27 September
• Landsat 9, described as the world's most important satellite, is launched by NASA to study the Earth and its environment.{{cite web|date=27 September 2021|title=Landsat-9: 'Satellite of record' launches to picture Earth|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58683181|access-date=27 September 2021|work=BBC}}{{cite web|date=27 September 2021|title=NASA Launches New Mission to Monitor Earth's Landscapes|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-launches-new-mission-to-monitor-earth-s-landscapes|access-date=28 September 2021|work=NASA}}
• Biochemists and space scientists report that sunlight-, acidity- and water activity-levels in Venus' clouds may have the potential to support Earth-like phototrophy such as photosynthesis.{{cite news |last1=Starr |first1=Michelle |title=A New Paper Claims Photosynthesis Could Be Possible in The Clouds of Venus |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/new-study-deems-life-supporting-photosynthesis-possible-in-the-clouds-of-venus |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=ScienceAlert }}{{cite journal |last1=Mogul |first1=Rakesh |last2=Limaye |first2=Sanjay S. |last3=Lee |first3=Yeon Joo |last4=Pasillas |first4=Michael |title=Potential for Phototrophy in Venus' Clouds |journal=Astrobiology |date=1 October 2021 |volume=21 |issue=10 |pages=1237–1249 |doi=10.1089/ast.2021.0032 |pmid=34569810 |bibcode=2021AsBio..21.1237M |s2cid=237944209 |issn=1531-1074|doi-access=free }}
• 28 September
• Medical scientists report that COVID-19 measures may have, apparently, caused the global extinction of the influenza B virus lineage B/Yamagata.{{cite news |last1=Spalding |first1=Katie |title=COVID-19 Safety Measures May Have Wiped Out An Entire Flu Lineage |url=https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/covid19-safety-measures-may-have-wiped-out-an-entire-flu-lineage/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=IFLScience }}{{cite journal |last1=Koutsakos |first1=Marios |last2=Wheatley |first2=Adam K. |last3=Laurie |first3=Karen |last4=Kent |first4=Stephen J. |last5=Rockman |first5=Steve |title=Influenza lineage extinction during the COVID-19 pandemic? |journal=Nature Reviews Microbiology |date=28 September 2021 |volume=19 |issue=12 |pages=741–742 |doi=10.1038/s41579-021-00642-4 |pmid=34584246 |pmc=8477979 |issn=1740-1534}}
• Pathogen researchers report the development of machine learning models for genome-based early detection and prioritization of high-risk potential zoonotic viruses in animals prior to spillover to humans. They conclude that their tool could be used for virus surveillance for pandemic prevention via (i.a.) measures of "early investigation and outbreak preparedness" and would have been capable of predicting SARS-CoV-2 as a high-risk strain.{{cite news |title=AI may predict the next virus to jump from animals to humans |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-09-ai-virus-animals-humans.html |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=Public Library of Science }}{{cite journal |last1=Mollentze |first1=Nardus |last2=Babayan |first2=Simon A. |last3=Streicker |first3=Daniel G. |title=Identifying and prioritizing potential human-infecting viruses from their genome sequences |journal=PLOS Biology |date=28 September 2021 |volume=19 |issue=9 |pages=e3001390 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001390 |pmid=34582436 |pmc=8478193 |issn=1545-7885 |doi-access=free }}

• 1 October – A company conducting a preliminary small (~380 patients × 2) clinical trial launched a year ago{{ClinicalTrialsGov|NCT04575597|Efficacy and Safety of Molnupiravir (MK-4482) in Non-Hospitalized Adult Participants With COVID-19 (MK-4482-002)}} reports that molnupiravir substantially reduced the risk of hospitalization (7.3% to 14.1%) and death (8 to 0) from COVID-19.{{cite news |title=Analysis {{!}} Why a New Pill to Treat Covid Could Be a Game Changer: QuickTake |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/why-a-new-pill-to-treat-covid-could-be-a-game-changer-quicktake/2021/11/04/91bb510e-3daa-11ec-bd6f-da376f47304e_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=15 November 2021}}{{cite web |title=Merck and Ridgeback's Investigational Oral Antiviral Molnupiravir Reduced the Risk of Hospitalization or Death by Approximately 50 Percent Compared to Placebo for Patients with Mild or Moderate COVID-19 in Positive Interim Analysis of Phase 3 Study |url=https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-ridgebacks-investigational-oral-antiviral-molnupiravir-reduced-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-by-approximately-50-percent-compared-to-placebo-for-patients-with-mild-or-moderat/ |work=Merck & Co. |access-date=15 November 2021}}
• 4 October
• The 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine is awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for their findings about how heat, cold and touch can initiate signals in the nervous system.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Benjamin |last2=Santora |first2=Marc |last3=Engelbrecht |first3=Cora |title=Nobel Prize Awarded for Research About Temperature and Touch - David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian were honored for their discoveries about how heat, cold and touch can initiate signals in the nervous system. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/health/nobel-prize-medicine-physiology-temperature-touch.html|date=4 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=6 October 2021 }}
• Metascientists report, based on a citation analysis, that "structures fostering disruptive scholarship and focusing attention on novel ideas" could be important as in a growing scientific field citation flows disproportionately consolidate to citing already well-cited papers, possibly slowing and inhibiting canonical progress.{{cite web |last1=Snyder |first1=Alison |title=New ideas are struggling to emerge from the sea of science |date=14 October 2021 |url=https://www.axios.com/science-new-ideas-dbe29601-010c-411a-b79d-bbd1388ec5a0.html |publisher=Axios |access-date=15 November 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Chu |first1=Johan S. G. |last2=Evans |first2=James A. |title=Slowed canonical progress in large fields of science |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=12 October 2021 |volume=118 |issue=41 |pages=e2021636118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2021636118 |pmid=34607941 |pmc=8522281 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11821636C |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }}
• 5 October
• The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi for their work on climate change, resulting from the role of humanity.{{cite news |last1=Metz |first1=Cade |last2=Santora |first2=Marc |last3=Engelbrecht |first3=Cora |title=Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded for Study of Humanity's Role in Changing Climate - The work of Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi "demonstrate that our knowledge about the climate rests on a solid scientific foundation," the committee said.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/science/nobel-prize-physics-manabe-klaus-parisi.html |date=5 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=6 October 2021 }}
• 6 October
• The 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan for their work in creating a tool to build molecules, that may be useful for studies on developing new drugs and reducing the effect of chemicals on the environment.{{cite news |last1=Santora |first1=Marc |last2=Engelbrecht |first2=Cora |title=Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded to Scientists for Creating a Tool to Build Molecules - Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan were honored for work that spurred research into new drugs and reduced the effect of chemistry on the environment. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/science/nobel-prize-chemistry.html |date=6 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=6 October 2021 }}
• The WHO endorses the first malaria vaccine.{{Cite news|date=8 October 2021|title=WHO endorses use of world's first malaria vaccine in Africa |work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/06/who-endorses-use-of-worlds-first-malaria-vaccine-in-africa|access-date=14 October 2021}}
• A study of data traffic by popular smartphones running variants of the Android software finds substantial by-default data collection and sharing with no opt-out and implications for users' privacy, control and security.{{cite news |title=Study reveals scale of data-sharing from Android mobile phones |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-reveals-scale-data-sharing-android-mobile.html |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=Trinity College Dublin }}{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Haoyu |last2=Patras |first2=Paul |last3=Leith |first3=Douglas J. |title=Android Mobile OS Snooping By Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei and Realme Handsets |date=6 October 2021 |url=https://www.scss.tcd.ie/Doug.Leith/Android_privacy_report.pdf |access-date=16 November 2021}}
• With 17 studies a consortium of MICrONS{{cite news |title=This is a map of half a billion connections in a tiny bit of mouse brain |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/02/1030453/microns-connections-in-a-mouse-brain/ |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=MIT Technology Review }} researchers concludes the first phase of a long-term project (BICCN) to generate an atlas of the entire mouse (mammalian) brain, releasing an atlas and census of cell types in the primary motor cortex.{{cite news |title=Neuroscientists roll out first comprehensive atlas of brain cells |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-neuroscientists-comprehensive-atlas-brain-cells.html |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=University of California-Berkeley }}{{cite journal |last=Callaway |first=Edward M. |display-authors=et al. |title=A multimodal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7879 |pages=86–102 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03950-0 |pmid=34616075 |pmc=8494634 |issn=1476-4687}}{{cite journal |last1=Winnubst |first1=Johan |last2=Arber |first2=Silvia |title=A census of cell types in the brain's motor cortex |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02493-8 |access-date=16 November 2021 |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7879 |pages=33–34 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-02493-8|pmid=34616052 |bibcode=2021Natur.598...33W |s2cid=238422012 }}
• 7 October – Scientists show experimentally, with brain organoids grown from stem cells, how differences between humans and chimpanzees are also substantially caused by the 98% of DNA outside the protein-coding genes, often discarded as "junk DNA" – in particular via CRE-regulated expression of the ZNF558 gene for a transcription factor.{{cite news |title=What makes us human? The answer may be found in overlooked DNA |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-human-overlooked-dna.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Cell Press }}{{cite journal |last1=Johansson |first1=Pia A. |last2=Brattås |first2=Per Ludvik |last3=Douse |first3=Christopher H. |last4=Hsieh |first4=PingHsun |last5=Adami |first5=Anita |last6=Pontis |first6=Julien |last7=Grassi |first7=Daniela |last8=Garza |first8=Raquel |last9=Sozzi |first9=Edoardo |last10=Cataldo |first10=Rodrigo |last11=Jönsson |first11=Marie E. |last12=Atacho |first12=Diahann A. M. |last13=Pircs |first13=Karolina |last14=Eren |first14=Feride |last15=Sharma |first15=Yogita |last16=Johansson |first16=Jenny |last17=Fiorenzano |first17=Alessandro |last18=Parmar |first18=Malin |last19=Fex |first19=Malin |last20=Trono |first20=Didier |last21=Eichler |first21=Evan E. |last22=Jakobsson |first22=Johan |title=A cis-acting structural variation at the ZNF558 locus controls a gene regulatory network in human brain development |journal=Cell Stem Cell |date=7 October 2021 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=52–69.e8 |doi=10.1016/j.stem.2021.09.008 |pmid=34624206 |s2cid=238529602 |issn=1934-5909|doi-access=free }}
• 8 October – A new eco-friendly way of extracting and separating rare earth elements is described, using a bacteria-derived protein called lanmodulin, which binds easily to the metals.{{Cite news|date=8 October 2021|title=New, environmentally friendly method to extract and separate rare earth elements |work=Penn State|url=https://science.psu.edu/news/Cotruvo10-2021|access-date=14 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Dong |first1=Ziye |last2=Mattocks |first2=Joseph A. |last3=Deblonde |first3=Gauthier J.-P. |last4=Hu |first4=Dehong |last5=Jiao |first5=Yongqin |last6=Cotruvo |first6=Joseph A. |last7=Park |first7=Dan M. |title=Bridging Hydrometallurgy and Biochemistry: A Protein-Based Process for Recovery and Separation of Rare Earth Elements |journal=ACS Central Science |date=8 October 2021 |volume=7 |issue=11 |pages=1798–1808 |doi=10.1021/acscentsci.1c00724 |pmid=34841054 |pmc=8614107 |s2cid=241976370 |issn=2374-7943}}

File:Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - Gulf of Mexico.jpg from the FSO Safer.]]

• 11 October
• Scientists report more precise dating of what appear to be the earliest bipedal footprints with hominin-like characteristics, the Trachilos footprints. They are found to be ~6.05 million years old, which is around the time of Orrorin – the previously earliest theorized species of Homininae{{cite book |last1=Senut |first1=Brigitte |title=Handbook of Paleoanthropology |chapter=6 the Earliest Putative Hominids |date=2007 |pages=1519–1538 |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-33761-4_49 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-540-32474-4 }} until these footprints were controversially dated in 2017,{{cite news |title=One hell of an impression |url=https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/human-footprints-greece |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=CBC News}} despite being discovered outside of Africa in Crete, Greece. However, these apes are not necessarily associated with human evolution.{{cite news |title=Oldest footprints of pre-humans identified in Crete |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-oldest-footprints-pre-humans-crete.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=University of Tübingen }}{{cite news |last1=Magazine |first1=Smithsonian |last2=Kindy |first2=David |title=New Research Suggests Human-Like Footprints in Crete Date to 6.05 Million Years Ago |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/oldest-human-like-footprints-dated-to-605-million-years-ago-180978889/ |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Smithsonian Magazine }}{{cite journal |last1=Kirscher |first1=Uwe |last2=El Atfy |first2=Haytham |last3=Gärtner |first3=Andreas |last4=Dallanave |first4=Edoardo |last5=Munz |first5=Philipp |last6=Niedźwiedzki |first6=Grzegorz |last7=Athanassiou |first7=Athanassios |last8=Fassoulas |first8=Charalampos |last9=Linnemann |first9=Ulf |last10=Hofmann |first10=Mandy |last11=Bennett |first11=Matthew |last12=Ahlberg |first12=Per Erik |last13=Böhme |first13=Madelaine |title=Age constraints for the Trachilos footprints from Crete |journal=Scientific Reports |date=11 October 2021 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=19427 |doi=10.1038/s41598-021-98618-0 |pmid=34635686 |pmc=8505496 |bibcode=2021NatSR..1119427K |issn=2045-2322}}
• The pilot project of the "world's first automated, driverless train" is launched in the city of Hamburg, Germany. The conventional, standard-track, non-metro train technology could theoretically be implemented for rail transport worldwide and is reported to also be substantially more energy efficient.{{cite news |title=Germany unveils first self-driving train |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-germany-unveils-self-driving.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=techxplore.com }}{{cite news |title=Germany: Hamburg gets first fully automated tram {{!}} DW {{!}} 11 October 2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-hamburg-gets-first-fully-automated-tram/a-59470896 |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com)}}
• Scientists project public health impacts, along with some of the environmental damage, of a, simulated, imminent Red Sea oil spill from the FSO Safer.{{cite news |title=Anticipated spill from deteriorating Red Sea oil tanker threatens public health, study finds |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-deteriorating-red-sea-oil-tanker.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Stanford University Medical Center }}{{cite journal |last1=Huynh |first1=Benjamin Q. |last2=Kwong |first2=Laura H. |last3=Kiang |first3=Mathew V. |last4=Chin |first4=Elizabeth T. |last5=Mohareb |first5=Amir M. |last6=Jumaan |first6=Aisha O. |last7=Basu |first7=Sanjay |last8=Geldsetzer |first8=Pascal |last9=Karaki |first9=Fatima M. |last10=Rehkopf |first10=David H. |title=Public health impacts of an imminent Red Sea oil spill |journal=Nature Sustainability |date=11 October 2021 |volume=4 |issue=12 |pages=1084–1091 |doi=10.1038/s41893-021-00774-8 |pmid=34926834 |pmc=8682806 |bibcode=2021NatSu...4.1084H |s2cid=238586816 |issn=2398-9629}}
• 12 October – Scientists report that for 13,115 cities extreme heat exposure of a wet bulb globe temperature above 30 °C tripled between 1983 and 2016. It increased by ~50% when the population growth in these cities is not taken into account. Urban areas are often significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas.{{cite news |last1=Henson |first1=Bob |title=Exposure to extreme urban heat has tripled worldwide since the 1980s, study finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/11/09/extreme-heat-exposure-urban-climate/ |access-date=15 November 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{cite journal |last1=Tuholske |first1=Cascade |last2=Caylor |first2=Kelly |last3=Funk |first3=Chris |last4=Verdin |first4=Andrew |last5=Sweeney |first5=Stuart |last6=Grace |first6=Kathryn |last7=Peterson |first7=Pete |last8=Evans |first8=Tom |title=Global urban population exposure to extreme heat |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=12 October 2021 |volume=118 |issue=41 |pages=e2024792118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2024792118 |pmid=34607944 |pmc=8521713 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11824792T |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }}
• 13 October – Astronomers report the detection of hundreds of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) from a single system.{{cite news |last=Xin |first=Ling |title=FAST, the World's Largest Radio Telescope, Zooms in on a Furious Cosmic Source - China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope has detected more than 1,600 fast radio bursts from a single enigmatic system |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fast-the-worlds-largest-radio-telescope-zooms-in-on-a-furious-cosmic-source/ |date=13 October 2021 |work=Scientific American |access-date=13 October 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Li |first1=D. |last2=Wang |first2=P. |last3=Zhu |first3=W. W. |last4=Zhang |first4=B. |last5=Zhang |first5=X. X. |last6=Duan |first6=R. |last7=Zhang |first7=Y. K. |last8=Feng |first8=Y. |last9=Tang |first9=N. Y. |last10=Chatterjee |first10=S. |last11=Cordes |first11=J. M. |last12=Cruces |first12=M. |last13=Dai |first13=S. |last14=Gajjar |first14=V. |last15=Hobbs |first15=G. |last16=Jin |first16=C. |last17=Kramer |first17=M. |last18=Lorimer |first18=D. R. |last19=Miao |first19=C. C. |last20=Niu |first20=C. H. |last21=Niu |first21=J. R. |last22=Pan |first22=Z. C. |last23=Qian |first23=L. |last24=Spitler |first24=L. |last25=Werthimer |first25=D. |last26=Zhang |first26=G. Q. |last27=Wang |first27=F. Y. |last28=Xie |first28=X. Y. |last29=Yue |first29=Y. L. |last30=Zhang |first30=L. |last31=Zhi |first31=Q. J. |last32=Zhu |first32=Y. |title=A bimodal burst energy distribution of a repeating fast radio burst source |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7880 |pages=267–271 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03878-5 |pmid=34645999 |arxiv=2107.08205 |bibcode=2021Natur.598..267L |s2cid=238856657 |issn=1476-4687}}
• 15 October – The first brain metabolome atlas of the mouse brain – and of an animal (a mammal) across different life stages – is released.{{cite news |title=A map of mouse brain metabolism in aging |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-mouse-brain-metabolism-aging.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=UC Davis }}{{cite journal |last1=Ding |first1=Jun |last2=Ji |first2=Jian |last3=Rabow |first3=Zachary |last4=Shen |first4=Tong |last5=Folz |first5=Jacob |last6=Brydges |first6=Christopher R. |last7=Fan |first7=Sili |last8=Lu |first8=Xinchen |last9=Mehta |first9=Sajjan |last10=Showalter |first10=Megan R. |last11=Zhang |first11=Ying |last12=Araiza |first12=Renee |last13=Bower |first13=Lynette R. |last14=Lloyd |first14=K. C. Kent |last15=Fiehn |first15=Oliver |title=A metabolome atlas of the aging mouse brain |journal=Nature Communications |date=15 October 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6021 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-26310-y |pmid=34654818 |pmc=8519999 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.6021D |issn=2041-1723}}
• 16 October
• The spacecraft Lucy is launched by NASA, the first mission to explore the Trojan asteroids.{{Cite news|date=16 October 2021|title=Nasa's Lucy mission will seek out Solar System 'fossils' |work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58927969|access-date=16 October 2021}}
• A comprehensive study by Scientists for Future concludes that nuclear fission energy cannot meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation as it is "too dangerous, too expensive, and too sluggishly deployable" as well as "an obstacle to achieving the social-ecological transformation".{{cite news |title=Faktencheck: Ist Atomenergie klimafreundlich?|date=11 November 2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/de/faktencheck-ist-atomenergie-klimafreundlich-was-kostet-strom-aus-kernkraft/a-59709250 |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Deutsche Welle |language=de}}{{cite news |title=Warum Atomkraft nicht im Kampf gegen den Klimawandel hilft |url=https://www.mdr.de/wissen/kernkraft-keine-loesung-klimawandel-100.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=MDR |language=de}}{{cite journal |last1=Wealer |first1=Ben |last2=Breyer |first2=Christian |last3=Hennicke |first3=Peter |last4=Hirsch |first4=Helmut |last5=von Hirschhausen |first5=Christian |last6=Klafka |first6=Peter |last7=Kromp-Kolb |first7=Helga |last8=Präger |first8=Fabian |last9=Steigerwald |first9=Björn |last10=Traber |first10=Thure |last11=Baumann |first11=Franz |last12=Herold |first12=Anke |last13=Kemfert |first13=Claudia |last14=Kromp |first14=Wolfgang |last15=Liebert |first15=Wolfgang |last16=Müschen |first16=Klaus |title=Kernenergie und Klima |date=16 October 2021 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.5573718 |journal=Diskussionsbeiträge der Scientists for Future |volume=9 |pages=1–98}}
• 18 October – A study shows for the first time how immunity is inherited, via epigenetic changes, in mice (mammals).{{cite news |title=Epigenetics: Immunization is passed on to offspring |url=https://idw-online.de/de/news777675 |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=idw-online.de – Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn |language=de}}{{cite journal |last1=Katzmarski |first1=Natalie |last2=Domínguez-Andrés |first2=Jorge |last3=Cirovic |first3=Branko |last4=Renieris |first4=Georgios |last5=Ciarlo |first5=Eleonora |last6=Le Roy |first6=Didier |last7=Lepikhov |first7=Konstantin |last8=Kattler |first8=Kathrin |last9=Gasparoni |first9=Gilles |last10=Händler |first10=Kristian |last11=Theis |first11=Heidi |last12=Beyer |first12=Marc |last13=van der Meer |first13=Jos W. M. |last14=Joosten |first14=Leo A. B. |last15=Walter |first15=Jörn |last16=Schultze |first16=Joachim L. |last17=Roger |first17=Thierry |last18=Giamarellos-Bourboulis |first18=Evangelos J. |last19=Schlitzer |first19=Andreas |last20=Netea |first20=Mihai G. |title=Transmission of trained immunity and heterologous resistance to infections across generations |journal=Nature Immunology |date=November 2021 |volume=22 |issue=11 |pages=1382–1390 |doi=10.1038/s41590-021-01052-7 |pmid=34663978 |hdl=2066/241159 |s2cid=239026066 |issn=1529-2916|hdl-access=free }}
• 19 October – Media outlets report about novel technologies for virtual try-ons of clothes for more sustainable fashion and improved online shopping, which increased relatively due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Wills |first1=Jennifer |title=Saying farewell to a throwaway fashion industry |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-farewell-throwaway-fashion-industry.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Horizon: The EU Research Innovation Magazine }}{{cite news |last1=Fadelli |first1=Ingrid |title=DeepDraper: A technique that predicts how clothes would look on different people |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-deepdraper-technique-people.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Tech Xplore }}

File:Horses on a leash for a bridle.jpg horses descend from the lower Volga-Don region, Russia.]]

• 20 October
• Astronomers report the first evidence of a giant impact between two exoplanets, which occurred in the HD 172555 system, based on analysis of gas and dust concentrations.{{Cite news|date=20 October 2021|title=Astronomers detect signs of an atmosphere stripped from a planet in a giant impact |work=Science Daily|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211020135916.htm |access-date=20 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Schneiderman |first1=Tajana |last2=Matrà |first2=Luca |last3=Jackson |first3=Alan P. |last4=Kennedy |first4=Grant M. |last5=Kral |first5=Quentin |last6=Marino |first6=Sebastián |last7=Öberg |first7=Karin I. |last8=Su |first8=Kate Y. L. |last9=Wilner |first9=David J. |last10=Wyatt |first10=Mark C. |title=Carbon monoxide gas produced by a giant impact in the inner region of a young system |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7881 |pages=425–428 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03872-x |pmid=34671135 |arxiv=2110.15377 |bibcode=2021Natur.598..425S |s2cid=239050652 |issn=1476-4687}}
• Scientists report that, according to their analysis, today's domestic horses descend from the lower Volga-Don region, Russia. 273 ancient horse genomes further indicate that these populations replaced almost all local populations as they expanded rapidly throughout Eurasia from about 4200 years ago, that certain adaptations were strongly selected for by horse riding, and that equestrian material culture – including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots and in the case of Asia Indo-Iranian languages – spread alongside.{{cite news |title=Scientists found modern domestic horses' homeland in southwestern Russia |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dna-genes-modern-domestic-horses-origin-russia |access-date=14 November 2021 |work=Science News |date=20 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last=Librado |first=Pablo |display-authors=et al. |title=The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7882 |pages=634–640 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-04018-9 |pmid=34671162 |pmc=8550961 |bibcode=2021Natur.598..634L |issn=1476-4687}}
• Researchers report on the first natural protein that, using lanmodulin, complexes actinium, a natural but radioactive element used in cancer therapy, alongside yttrium-90.{{Cite web|title=Protein shows potential to accelerate cancer therapy research and application |url=https://www.ans.org/news/article-3370/protein-shows-potential-to-accelerate-cancer-therapy-research-and-application/|access-date=19 November 2021|website=Ans.org}}{{Cite journal|last1=Deblonde|first1=Gauthier J.-P.|last2=Mattocks|first2=Joseph A.|last3=Dong|first3=Ziye|last4=Wooddy|first4=Paul T.|last5=Cotruvo|first5=Joseph A.|last6=Zavarin|first6=Mavrik|title=Capturing an elusive but critical element: Natural protein enables actinium chemistry|journal=Science Advances|year=2021|volume=7|issue=43|pages=eabk0273|doi=10.1126/sciadv.abk0273|pmc=8528432|pmid=34669462|bibcode=2021SciA....7..273D }}
• 21 October
• Medical researchers announce that on 25 September the first successful xenotransplantation of a genetically engineered pig kidney, along with the pig thymus gland to make the immune system recognize it as part of the body, to a brain-dead human with no immediate signs of rejection, moving the practice closer to clinical trials with living humans.{{cite news |title=What does the first successful test of a pig-to-human kidney transplant mean? |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/xenotransplantation-pig-human-kidney-transplant |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Science News |date=22 October 2021}}{{cite web |title=Progress in Xenotransplantation Opens Door to New Supply of Critically Needed Organs |url=https://nyulangone.org/news/progress-xenotransplantation-opens-door-new-supply-critically-needed-organs |website=NYU Langone News |access-date=15 November 2021 }}
• A study shows how COVID-19 may inflict long-term brain damage, including in cases of 'long COVID', via endothelial cell-death disrupting the blood–brain barrier.{{cite news |title=Study reveals how COVID-19 can directly damage brain cells |url=https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-damage-blood-brain-barrier-cells-cognitive-long-covid/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=25 October 2021}}{{cite journal |last=Wenzel |first=Jan |display-authors=et al. |title=The SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro causes microvascular brain pathology by cleaving NEMO in brain endothelial cells |journal=Nature Neuroscience |date=November 2021 |volume=24 |issue=11 |pages=1522–1533 |doi=10.1038/s41593-021-00926-1 |pmid=34675436 |pmc=8553622 |issn=1546-1726}}
• 22 October
• Researchers describe and substantiate the hypothesis that a recent decrease in brain size "in the last 3,000 years" (previously thought to instead have occurred during the last ~28,000 years) has resulted from externalization of knowledge and group decision-making, partly via social systems of distributed cognition and sharing of information.{{cite news |title=When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? Ants may hold clues |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-human-brains-decrease-size-years.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=DeSilva |first1=Jeremy M. |last2=Traniello |first2=James F. A. |last3=Claxton |first3=Alexander G. |last4=Fannin |first4=Luke D. |title=When and Why Did Human Brains Decrease in Size? A New Change-Point Analysis and Insights From Brain Evolution in Ants |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |date=2021 |volume=9 |pages=712 |doi=10.3389/fevo.2021.742639 |issn=2296-701X|doi-access=free }} A study by Villmoare et al. (2022) that reanalyzes the used data refutes their findings. It concludes that "the samples need to be specific enough to test the hypothesis across different times and populations".{{cite web |last1=Corless |first1=Victoria |title=No, the human brain did not shrink |url=https://www.advancedsciencenews.com/no-the-human-brain-did-not-shrink/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Advanced Science News |date=18 August 2022 }}{{cite journal |last1=Villmoare |first1=Brian |last2=Grabowski |first2=Mark |title=Did the transition to complex societies in the Holocene drive a reduction in brain size? A reassessment of the DeSilva et al. (2021) hypothesis |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |date=2022 |volume=10 |doi=10.3389/fevo.2022.963568 |issn=2296-701X|doi-access=free|hdl=10852/99818 |hdl-access=free }}
• A study shows that mandatory face masks and social distancing can allow for relatively safe public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing infection rates by 93.5% and 98.1% in tracking-based simulations of common contemporary forms of public transport during congestion peak-hour.{{cite news |title=How safe is it to travel on public transport amid COVID-19? |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211112/How-safe-is-it-to-travel-on-public-transport-amid-COVID-19.aspx |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=News-Medical.net |date=12 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Ku |first1=Donggyun |last2=Yeon |first2=Chihyung |last3=Lee |first3=Seungjae |last4=Lee |first4=Kyuhong |last5=Hwang |first5=Kiyeon |last6=Li |first6=Yuen Chong |last7=Wong |first7=Sze Chun |title=Safe traveling in public transport amid COVID-19 |journal=Science Advances |year=2021 |volume=7 |issue=43 |pages=eabg3691 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abg3691|pmid=34678065 |pmc=8535823 |bibcode=2021SciA....7.3691K }}
• 25 October
• Astronomers report, with two studies, that 'BLC1' does not appear to be a technosignature or extraterrestrial radio transmission because 15 similar observations were made between 2019 and 2020 that did not originate from around Proxima Centauri – and hence are likely results of forms of local radiofrequency interference – and propose a sequence of "verification checks for narrowband technosignature signals".{{cite news |title=Alien false alarm: 'Extraterrestrial' radio signals turn out to be human |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/26/alien-false-alarm-extraterrestrial-radio-signals-turn-out-to-be-human |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=25 October 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Shane |last2=Price |first2=Danny C. |last3=Sheikh |first3=Sofia Z. |last4=Czech |first4=Daniel J. |last5=Croft |first5=Steve |last6=DeBoer |first6=David |last7=Gajjar |first7=Vishal |last8=Isaacson |first8=Howard |last9=Lacki |first9=Brian C. |last10=Lebofsky |first10=Matt |last11=MacMahon |first11=David H. E. |last12=Ng |first12=Cherry |last13=Perez |first13=Karen I. |last14=Siemion |first14=Andrew P. V. |last15=Webb |first15=Claire Isabel |last16=Drew |first16=Jamie |last17=Worden |first17=S. Pete |last18=Zic |first18=Andrew |title=A radio technosignature search towards Proxima Centauri resulting in a signal of interest |journal=Nature Astronomy |date=November 2021 |volume=5 |issue=11 |pages=1148–1152 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01479-w |arxiv=2111.08007 |bibcode=2021NatAs...5.1148S |s2cid=239948037 |issn=2397-3366}}{{cite journal |last1=Sheikh |first1=Sofia Z. |last2=Smith |first2=Shane |last3=Price |first3=Danny C. |last4=DeBoer |first4=David |last5=Lacki |first5=Brian C. |last6=Czech |first6=Daniel J. |last7=Croft |first7=Steve |last8=Gajjar |first8=Vishal |last9=Isaacson |first9=Howard |last10=Lebofsky |first10=Matt |last11=MacMahon |first11=David H. E. |last12=Ng |first12=Cherry |last13=Perez |first13=Karen I. |last14=Siemion |first14=Andrew P. V. |last15=Webb |first15=Claire Isabel |last16=Zic |first16=Andrew |last17=Drew |first17=Jamie |last18=Worden |first18=S. Pete |title=Analysis of the Breakthrough Listen signal of interest blc1 with a technosignature verification framework |journal=Nature Astronomy |date=November 2021 |volume=5 |issue=11 |pages=1153–1162 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01508-8 |arxiv=2111.06350 |bibcode=2021NatAs...5.1153S |s2cid=239906760 |issn=2397-3366}}
• Another, clearer case of quantum advantage with Zuchongzhi is reported.{{cite news |title=Quantum advantage takes a giant leap in optical and superconducting systems |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-advantage-takes-a-giant-leap-in-optical-and-superconducting-systems/ |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Physics World |date=26 October 2021}}{{cite journal |author=Yulin Wu |display-authors=et al. |title=Strong Quantum Computational Advantage Using a Superconducting Quantum Processor |journal=Physical Review Letters |date=25 October 2021 |volume=127 |issue=18 |pages=180501 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.180501|pmid=34767433 |arxiv=2106.14734 |bibcode=2021PhRvL.127r0501W |s2cid=235658633 }}{{cite journal |last1=Zhong |first1=Han-Sen |last2=Deng |first2=Yu-Hao |last3=Qin |first3=Jian |last4=Wang |first4=Hui |last5=Chen |first5=Ming-Cheng |last6=Peng |first6=Li-Chao |last7=Luo |first7=Yi-Han |last8=Wu |first8=Dian |last9=Gong |first9=Si-Qiu |last10=Su |first10=Hao |last11=Hu |first11=Yi |last12=Hu |first12=Peng |last13=Yang |first13=Xiao-Yan |last14=Zhang |first14=Wei-Jun |last15=Li |first15=Hao |last16=Li |first16=Yuxuan |last17=Jiang |first17=Xiao |last18=Gan |first18=Lin |last19=Yang |first19=Guangwen |last20=You |first20=Lixing |last21=Wang |first21=Zhen |last22=Li |first22=Li |last23=Liu |first23=Nai-Le |last24=Renema |first24=Jelmer J. |last25=Lu |first25=Chao-Yang |last26=Pan |first26=Jian-Wei |title=Phase-Programmable Gaussian Boson Sampling Using Stimulated Squeezed Light |journal=Physical Review Letters |date=25 October 2021 |volume=127 |issue=18 |pages=180502 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.180502|pmid=34767431 |arxiv=2106.15534 |bibcode=2021PhRvL.127r0502Z |s2cid=235669908 }} A third study reported that Zuchongzhi 2.1 completed a task of classically simulating random circuit sampling that "is about 6 orders of magnitude more difficult than that of Sycamore".{{cite journal |author1=Qingling Zhu |author2=Sirui Cao |display-authors=et al. |title=Quantum computational advantage via 60-qubit 24-cycle random circuit sampling |journal=Science Bulletin |date=25 October 2021 |volume=67 |issue=3 |pages=240–245 |doi=10.1016/j.scib.2021.10.017 |pmid=36546072 |arxiv=2109.03494 |s2cid=237442167 |issn=2095-9273}}

File:Policycycle.png sequencing" framework, in particular for policies of polycentric governance for completely halting and preventing deforestation.]]

• 27 October
• Astronomers propose a "Confidence of Life Detection" scale (CoLD) for reporting evidence of life beyond Earth.{{cite news |last=Fuge |first=Lauren |title=NASA proposes playbook for communicating the discovery of alien life - Sensationalising aliens is so 20th century, according to NASA scientists. |url=https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/astrobiology/what-happens-when-we-find-aliens/ |date=30 October 2021 |work=Cosmos |access-date=1 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last=Green |first=James |display-authors=et al. |title=Call for a framework for reporting evidence for life beyond Earth |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03804-9 |date=27 October 2021 |journal=Nature |volume=598 |issue=7882 |pages=575–579 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03804-9 |pmid=34707302 |arxiv=2107.10975 |bibcode=2021Natur.598..575G |s2cid=236318566 |access-date=1 November 2021 }}
• Astronomers report that the orbits of the detected exoplanets hosted by the star HD 3167 are unusual: two planets (HD 3167 c; HD 3167 d) revolve around the poles of the star, whereas the third planet (HD 3167 b) orbits around the equator of the star instead.{{cite news |last=O'Callaghan |first=Jonathan |title=Star System With Right-Angled Planets Surprises Astronomers - Two planets orbit the poles while another revolves around the star's equator, suggesting a mysterious, undetected force. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/06/science/perpendicular-planets-star-system.html |date=6 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |access-date=7 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last=Bourrier |first=V. |display-authors=et al. |title=The Rossiter–McLaughlin effect revolutions: an ultra-short period planet and a warm mini-Neptune on perpendicular orbits |url=https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2021/10/aa41527-21/aa41527-21.html |date=27 October 2021 |journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics |volume=654 |number=A152 |pages=A152 |doi=10.1051/0004-6361/202141527 |arxiv=2110.14214 |bibcode=2021A&A...654A.152B |s2cid=239087858 |access-date=7 November 2021 }}
• Researchers release a "policy sequencing" framework, in particular for policies of polycentric governance for completely halting and preventing deforestation based on data about already implemented government-designed policies, UN-decided REDD+ initiatives and voluntary private sector initiatives of recent deforestation interventions.{{cite news |title=Timing is everything: Researchers reveal why the right sequence of policies is essential to slow deforestation |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-reveal-sequence-policies-essential-deforestation.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Stanford University }}{{cite journal |last1=Furumo |first1=Paul R. |last2=Lambin |first2=Eric F. |title=Policy sequencing to reduce tropical deforestation |journal=Global Sustainability |date=27 October 2021 |volume=4 |doi=10.1017/sus.2021.21 |bibcode=2021GlSus...4E..24F |s2cid=239890357 |issn=2059-4798|doi-access=free }}
• The world's first urban autonomous vessels, 'Roboats', are deployed in the canals of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The ships developed by three institutions could carry up to five people, collect waste, deliver goods, and provide "on-demand infrastructure".{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Rachel |title=Self-driving Roboats set sail in Amsterdam canals |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-self-driving-roboats-amsterdam-canals.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Massachusetts Institute of Technology }}{{cite news |title=MIT deploys first full-scale autonomous Roboat on canals of Amsterdam |url=https://newatlas.com/marine/mit-first-full-scale-autonomous-roboat-amsterdam/ |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=New Atlas |date=28 October 2021}}
• A potentials-assessment study proposes hypothetical portable solar-powered atmospheric water harvesting devices which are under development, along with design criteria, finding they could help a billion people to access safe drinking water, albeit such off-the-grid generation may sometimes "undermine efforts to develop permanent piped infrastructure".{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=Model suggests a billion people could get safe drinking water from hypothetical harvesting device |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-billion-people-safe-hypothetical-harvesting.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Tech Xplore }}{{cite news |title=Solar-powered harvesters could produce clean water for one billion people |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/solar-powered-harvesters-could-produce-clean-water-for-one-billion-people/ |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Physics World |date=13 November 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Lord |first1=Jackson |last2=Thomas |first2=Ashley |last3=Treat |first3=Neil |last4=Forkin |first4=Matthew |last5=Bain |first5=Robert |last6=Dulac |first6=Pierre |last7=Behroozi |first7=Cyrus H. |last8=Mamutov |first8=Tilek |last9=Fongheiser |first9=Jillia |last10=Kobilansky |first10=Nicole |last11=Washburn |first11=Shane |last12=Truesdell |first12=Claudia |last13=Lee |first13=Clare |last14=Schmaelzle |first14=Philipp H. |title=Global potential for harvesting drinking water from air using solar energy |journal=Nature |date=October 2021 |volume=598 |issue=7882 |pages=611–617 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-03900-w |pmid=34707305 |pmc=8550973 |bibcode=2021Natur.598..611L |issn=1476-4687}}
• 28 October
• An open letter by {{tooltip|2=296|almost 300}} scientists asks the WTO to eliminate increasing harmful fisheries subsidies.{{cite news |title=Scientists join international push to ban harmful fisheries subsidies |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-10-scientists-international-fisheries-subsidies.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=University of Western Australia }}{{cite journal |last1=Sumaila |first1=U. Rashid |display-authors=et al. |title=WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies |journal=Science |date=29 October 2021 |volume=374 |issue=6567 |pages=544 |doi=10.1126/science.abm1680|issn=0036-8075 |pmid=34709891 |bibcode=2021Sci...374..544S |hdl=11585/836841 |s2cid=240153044 |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7vb903rd }}
• One year after India and South Africa called on WTO to temporarily waive TRIPS vaccine patents for accelerated deployment of COVID-19 vaccines around the world, the WTO reportedly fails to find an accord for doing so.{{cite news |title=WTO again fails to agree on Covid vaccine patent waiver |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-wto-covid-vaccine-patent-waiver.html |access-date=16 November 2021 }} No mechanisms of alternative medical research and development incentive-systems or technical details of proposed "sharing" after certain amounts of profit{{cite news |title=Canada lacks 'political will' to waive COVID-19 vaccine patents, Bolivian minister says |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8243635/bolivian-minister-canada-covid-vaccine-waiver/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=Global News}} were reported and some argue that, instead of intellectual property rights, manufacturing know-how is the main barrier to expanding capacity.{{cite journal |last1=Feinmann |first1=Jane |title=Covid-19: global vaccine production is a mess and shortages are down to more than just hoarding |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2375 |journal=BMJ |access-date=16 November 2021 |pages=n2375 |doi=10.1136/bmj.n2375 |date=28 October 2021|volume=375 |pmid=34711605 |s2cid=240001631 |doi-access=free }}
• Scientists discover that up to about 20,000 metric tons of microplastics may be stored in coral skeletons worldwide every year, marking the first time that a living microplastic "sink", or long-term storage site, has been quantified.{{cite web|title=Corals may store a surprising amount of microplastics in their skeletons|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coral-reef-microplastics-skeletons|publisher=sciencenews.org|date=29 November 2021|access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Reichert |first1=Jessica |last2=Arnold |first2=Angelina L. |last3=Hammer |first3=Nils |last4=Miller |first4=Ingo B. |last5=Rades |first5=Marvin |last6=Schubert |first6=Patrick |last7=Ziegler |first7=Maren |last8=Wilke |first8=Thomas |title=Reef-building corals act as long-term sink for microplastic |journal=Global Change Biology |date=2022 |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=33–45 |doi=10.1111/gcb.15920 |pmid=34710272 |s2cid=240154145 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.15920 |issn=1365-2486}}
• 30 October – A comprehensive review summarizes scientific research and data about health impacts of climate change.{{cite news |last1=Langmaid |first1=Virginia |title=Report warns of climate change's 'code red' impact on health |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/20/health/climate-change-health-covid-19/index.html |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=CNN}}{{cite journal |last=Romanello |first=Marina |display-authors=et al. |url=https://www.cpha.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/advocacy/2021_lancet/2021_Lancet_Countdown_e.pdf |title=The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future |journal=The Lancet |date=30 October 2021 |volume=398 |issue=10311 |pages=1619–1662 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01787-6 |pmid=34687662 |pmc=7616807 |hdl=10278/3746207 |s2cid=239046862 |issn=0140-6736}}

• 1 November – Astronomers report detecting, in a "first-of-its-kind" process based on SAM instruments, organic molecules, including benzoic acid, ammonia and other related unknown compounds, on the planet Mars by the Curiosity rover.{{cite news |last=Rabie |first=Passant |title=Organic Molecules Found On Mars For The First Time - The Curiosity rover demonstrated a useful technique to search for Martian biosignatures. |url=https://www.inverse.com/science/organic-molecules-found-on-mars-for-the-first-time |date=1 November 2021 |work=Inverse |access-date=2 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last=Millan |first=M. |display-authors=et al. |title=Organic molecules revealed in Mars's Bagnold Dunes by Curiosity's derivatization experiment |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01507-9 |date=1 November 2021 |journal=Nature Astronomy |volume=6 |pages=129–140 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01507-9 |bibcode=2022NatAs...6..129M |s2cid=240490556 |access-date=2 November 2021 }}

File:Comparison of footprint-based and transboundary pollution-based relationships among G20 nations for the number of PM2.5-related premature deaths.webp caused by the trade and consumption by the {{tooltip|2=the EU as a whole (not a nation) is not included here|19}} G20 nations causes two million premature deaths annually.]]

• 2 November – A study concludes that PM_2.5 air pollution induced by contemporary forms of free trade and consumption by the 19 G20 nations (the EU as a whole is not included) causes two million premature deaths annually, suggesting that the average lifetime consumption of about ~28 people in these countries causes at least one premature death (average age ~67) while developing countries "cannot be expected" to implement or be able to implement countermeasures without external support or internationally coordinated efforts.{{cite news |title=Air pollution from G20 consumers caused two million deaths in 2010 |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2295873-air-pollution-from-g20-consumers-caused-two-million-deaths-in-2010/ |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=New Scientist}}{{cite journal |last1=Nansai |first1=Keisuke |last2=Tohno |first2=Susumu |last3=Chatani |first3=Satoru |last4=Kanemoto |first4=Keiichiro |last5=Kagawa |first5=Shigemi |last6=Kondo |first6=Yasushi |last7=Takayanagi |first7=Wataru |last8=Lenzen |first8=Manfred |title=Consumption in the G20 nations causes particulate air pollution resulting in two million premature deaths annually |journal=Nature Communications |date=2 November 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6286 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-26348-y |pmid=34728619 |pmc=8563796 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.6286N |issn=2041-1723}}

File:White-tailed deer.jpg.]]

• 3 November
• Astronomers using the ALMA report the presence of water in SPT0311-58, a galaxy nearly 12.9 billion light-years from Earth. This is the most distant detection of a required element for life in a regular star-forming galaxy.{{cite news |title=ALMA Scientists Detect Signs of Water in a Galaxy Far, Far Away |url=https://public.nrao.edu/news/alma-scientists-detect-signs-of-water-in-a-galaxy-far-far-away/ |date=3 November 2021 |work=National Radio Astronomy Observatory |access-date=3 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Jarugula |first1=Sreevani |last2=Vieira |first2=Joaquin D. |last3=Weiss |first3=Axel |last4=Spilker |first4=Justin S. |last5=Aravena |first5=Manuel |last6=Archipley |first6=Melanie |last7=Béthermin |first7=Matthieu |last8=C. Chapman |first8=Scott |last9=Dong |first9=Chenxing |last10=Greve |first10=Thomas R. |last11=Harrington |first11=Kevin |last12=Hayward |first12=Christopher C. |last13=Hezaveh |first13=Yashar |last14=Hill |first14=Ryley |last15=Litke |first15=Katrina C. |last16=Malkan |first16=Matthew A. |last17=Marrone |first17=Daniel P. |last18=Narayanan |first18=Desika |last19=Phadke |first19=Kedar A. |last20=Reuter |first20=Cassie |last21=Rotermund |first21=Kaja M. |title=Molecular Line Observations in Two Dusty Star-forming Galaxies at z = 6.9 |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |date=1 November 2021 |volume=921 |issue=1 |pages=97 |doi=10.3847/1538-4357/ac21db |arxiv=2108.11319 |bibcode=2021ApJ...921...97J |s2cid=237291519 |issn=0004-637X |doi-access=free }}
• Scientists report that large shares of wild deer in the U.S. have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The test results showed one "mismatch" for 2019, low inhibition values in 2020 and 152 positive samples (40%) in 2021.{{cite journal |last1=Chandler |first1=Jeffrey C. |last2=Bevins |first2=Sarah N. |last3=Ellis |first3=Jeremy W. |last4=Linder |first4=Timothy J. |last5=Tell |first5=Rachel M. |last6=Jenkins-Moore |first6=Melinda |last7=Root |first7=J. Jeffrey |last8=Lenoch |first8=Julianna B. |last9=Robbe-Austerman |first9=Suelee |last10=DeLiberto |first10=Thomas J. |last11=Gidlewski |first11=Thomas |last12=Torchetti |first12=Mia Kim |last13=Shriner |first13=Susan A. |title=SARS-CoV-2 exposure in wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=23 November 2021 |volume=118 |issue=47 |pages=e2114828118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2114828118 |pmid=34732584 |pmc=8617405 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11814828C |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }} A preprint published on 1 November found that ~80% of samples between late November 2020 and January were positive.{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |title=Widespread Coronavirus Infection Found in Iowa Deer, New Study Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/02/science/deer-covid-infection.html |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=2 November 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Kuchipudi |first1=Suresh V. |last2=Surendran-Nair |first2=Meera |last3=Ruden |first3=Rachel M. |last4=Yon |first4=Michelle |last5=Nissly |first5=Ruth H. |last6=Nelli |first6=Rahul K. |last7=Li |first7=Lingling |last8=Jayarao |first8=Bhushan M. |last9=Vandegrift |first9=Kurt J. |last10=Maranas |first10=Costas D. |last11=Levine |first11=Nicole |last12=Willgert |first12=Katriina |last13=Conlan |first13=Andrew J. K. |last14=Olsen |first14=Randall J. |last15=Davis |first15=James J. |last16=Musser |first16=James M. |last17=Hudson |first17=Peter J. |last18=Kapur |first18=Vivek |title=Multiple spillovers and onward transmission of SARS-Cov-2 in free-living and captive White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) |url=https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.31.466677v1 |pages=2021.10.31.466677 |doi=10.1101/2021.10.31.466677 |date=1 November 2021|s2cid=242043639 }} Such spillovers may cause reservoirs for mutating variants that spill back to humans – a possible source for variants of concern other than immunocompromised people.
• A review outlines research and data about COVID-19 vaccinations for children – recommended in the U.S. a day previously (for 5–11 years olds) by the CDC{{cite web |title=Coronavirus Disease 2019 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1102-PediatricCOVID-19Vaccine.html |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=13 December 2021 |date=3 November 2021}} – including about populations-levels factors.{{cite journal |last1=Zimmermann |first1=Petra |last2=Pittet |first2=Laure F. |last3=Finn |first3=Adam |last4=Pollard |first4=Andrew J. |last5=Curtis |first5=Nigel |title=Should children be vaccinated against COVID-19? |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood |date=1 November 2021 |volume=107 |issue=3 |pages=e1–e7 |doi=10.1136/archdischild-2021-323040 |pmid=34732388 |s2cid=241609697 |issn=0003-9888|doi-access=free }}

File:Infographic showing the effect of DART's impact on the orbit of Didymos B.jpg (DART)]]

• 4 November
• Astronomers report, in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey for the 2020s, recommended scientific priorities and investments for the next decade to help achieve the following primary goals: search for habitable exoplanets and extraterrestrial life, study black holes and neutron stars and study the growth and evolution of galaxies.{{cite news |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis Overbye |title=A New 10-Year Plan for the Cosmos - On astronomers' wish list for the next decade: two giant telescopes and a space telescope to search for life and habitable worlds beyond Earth. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/science/astronomy-decadal-survey-telescope.html |date=4 November 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=5 November 2021 }}{{cite web |title=New Report Charts Path for Next Decade of Astronomy and Astrophysics; Recommends Future Ground and Space - Telescopes, Scientific Priorities, Investments in Scientific Community |url=https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2021/11/new-report-charts-path-for-next-decade-of-astronomy-and-astrophysics-recommends-future-ground-and-space-telescopes-scientific-priorities-investments-in-scientific-community |date=4 November 2021 |publisher=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |access-date=5 November 2021 }}
• A study contributes to a disentangling of the current geopolitical and economic implications of and incentives for a swift renewable energy transition, suggesting i.a. that how fast fossil energy markets decline is primarily decided by the major energy importers China, India, Japan and the EU and that transition dynamics may reverse the free-rider problem in the case of energy sectors, specifically from strategic national standpoints which are not short-term.{{cite news |last1=Watts |first1=Jonathan |last2=Kirk |first2=Ashley |last3=McIntyre |first3=Niamh |last4=Gutiérrez |first4=Pablo |last5=Kommenda |first5=Niko |title=Half world's fossil fuel assets could become worthless by 2036 in net zero transition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/nov/04/fossil-fuel-assets-worthless-2036-net-zero-transition |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=The Guardian }}{{cite journal |last1=Mercure |first1=J.-F. |last2=Salas |first2=P. |last3=Vercoulen |first3=P. |last4=Semieniuk |first4=G. |last5=Lam |first5=A. |last6=Pollitt |first6=H. |last7=Holden |first7=P. B. |last8=Vakilifard |first8=N. |last9=Chewpreecha |first9=U. |last10=Edwards |first10=N. R. |last11=Vinuales |first11=J. E. |title=Reframing incentives for climate policy action |journal=Nature Energy |date=4 November 2021 |volume=6 |issue=12 |pages=1133–1143 |doi=10.1038/s41560-021-00934-2 |bibcode=2021NatEn...6.1133M |s2cid=243792305 |issn=2058-7546|doi-access=free }}
• Researchers demonstrate a novel X-ray imaging technique, "HiP-CT", for 3D cellular-resolution scans of whole organs, using the ESRF's EBF. The published online Human Organ Atlas includes the lungs from a donor who died with COVID-19.{{cite news |title=From whole-organ to cellular resolution: synchrotron X-ray images reveal COVID-19 lung damage |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/from-whole-organ-to-cellular-resolution-synchrotron-x-ray-images-reveal-covid-19-lung-damage/ |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=Physics World |date=16 November 2021}}{{cite news |title=Brightest ever X-ray shows lung vessels altered by COVID-19 |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-brightest-x-ray-lung-vessels-covid-.html |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=University College London }}{{cite journal |last1=Walsh |first1=C. L. |last2=Tafforeau |first2=P. |last3=Wagner |first3=W. L. |last4=Jafree |first4=D. J. |last5=Bellier |first5=A. |last6=Werlein |first6=C. |last7=Kühnel |first7=M. P. |last8=Boller |first8=E. |last9=Walker-Samuel |first9=S. |last10=Robertus |first10=J. L. |last11=Long |first11=D. A. |last12=Jacob |first12=J. |last13=Marussi |first13=S. |last14=Brown |first14=E. |last15=Holroyd |first15=N. |last16=Jonigk |first16=D. D. |last17=Ackermann |first17=M. |last18=Lee |first18=P. D. |title=Imaging intact human organs with local resolution of cellular structures using hierarchical phase-contrast tomography |journal=Nature Methods |date=December 2021 |volume=18 |issue=12 |pages=1532–1541 |doi=10.1038/s41592-021-01317-x |pmid=34737453 |pmc=8648561 |issn=1548-7105}}
• 5 November – A company reports that a phase 2/3 clinical trial shows that Paxlovid can reduce COVID-19 hospitalizations of high-risk adults by 89% when given within three days after symptom onset.{{cite news |last1=Sutherland |first1=Stephani |title=How the New Antiviral Pills Help Thwart COVID |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-new-antiviral-pills-help-thwart-covid/ |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=Scientific American }}{{cite news |last1=Mahase |first1=Elisabeth |title=Covid-19: Pfizer's paxlovid is 89% effective in patients at risk of serious illness, company reports |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2713 |access-date=11 December 2021 |journal=BMJ |date=8 November 2021 |pages=n2713 |doi=10.1136/bmj.n2713}}
• 8 November – Scientists prove that the brain (the insular cortex of mice/mammals) also "remembers" immune activity against past infections, with reactivation – or stimulation – of the neurons being able to cause – or shape – the inflammatory immune response.{{cite news |last1=L |first1=Esther |title=The Brain Can Recall and Reawaken Past Immune Responses |url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-science-shows-immune-memory-in-the-brain-20211108/ |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=Quanta Magazine |date=8 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Koren |first1=Tamar |last2=Yifa |first2=Re'ee |last3=Amer |first3=Mariam |last4=Krot |first4=Maria |last5=Boshnak |first5=Nadia |last6=Ben-Shaanan |first6=Tamar L. |last7=Azulay-Debby |first7=Hilla |last8=Zalayat |first8=Itay |last9=Avishai |first9=Eden |last10=Hajjo |first10=Haitham |last11=Schiller |first11=Maya |last12=Haykin |first12=Hedva |last13=Korin |first13=Ben |last14=Farfara |first14=Dorit |last15=Hakim |first15=Fahed |last16=Kobiler |first16=Oren |last17=Rosenblum |first17=Kobi |last18=Rolls |first18=Asya |title=Insular cortex neurons encode and retrieve specific immune responses |journal=Cell |date=24 November 2021 |volume=184 |issue=24 |pages=5902–5915.e17 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.013 |pmid=34752731 |s2cid=243843719 |issn=0092-8674|doi-access=free }}
• 9 November
• Astrophysicists report the discovery of unexplained blockage of high-energy cosmic rays entering the Galactic Center, such as a strong magnetic field.{{cite news |title=A strange barrier is keeping cosmic rays out of the Milky Way's centre |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296717-a-strange-barrier-is-keeping-cosmic-rays-out-of-the-milky-ways-centre/ |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=New Scientist}}{{cite journal |last1=Huang |first1=Xiaoyuan |last2=Yuan |first2=Qiang |last3=Fan |first3=Yi-Zhong |title=A GeV-TeV particle component and the barrier of cosmic-ray sea in the Central Molecular Zone |journal=Nature Communications |date=9 November 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6169 |arxiv=2012.05524| doi=10.1038/s41467-021-26436-z |pmid=34753922 |pmc=8578646 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.6169H |issn=2041-1723}}
• Scientists report the detection of coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 (92.6% nucleotide identity) in two bats sampled in Cambodia in 2010,{{cite news |title=Detection of a coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2 in Cambodian bats |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211115/Detection-of-a-coronavirus-similar-to-SARS-CoV-2-in-Cambodian-bats.aspx |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=News-Medical.net |date=15 November 2021 }}{{cite news |title=Scientists find SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in Cambodian bats from 2010 |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-scientists-sars-cov-related-coronaviruses-cambodian.html |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=Wildlife Conservation Society }}{{cite journal |last1=Delaune |first1=Deborah |last2=Hul |first2=Vibol |last3=Karlsson |first3=Erik A. |last4=Hassanin |first4=Alexandre |last5=Ou |first5=Tey Putita |last6=Baidaliuk |first6=Artem |last7=Gámbaro |first7=Fabiana |last8=Prot |first8=Matthieu |last9=Tu |first9=Vuong Tan |last10=Chea |first10=Sokha |last11=Keatts |first11=Lucy |last12=Mazet |first12=Jonna |last13=Johnson |first13=Christine K. |last14=Buchy |first14=Philippe |last15=Dussart |first15=Philippe |last16=Goldstein |first16=Tracey |last17=Simon-Lorière |first17=Etienne |last18=Duong |first18=Veasna |title=A novel SARS-CoV-2 related coronavirus in bats from Cambodia |journal=Nature Communications |date=9 November 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6563 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-26809-4 |pmid=34753934 |pmc=8578604 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.6563D |issn=2041-1723}} complementing i.a. a study published on 17 September.
• 10 November – Researchers report the development of chewing gums that could mitigate COVID-19 spread. The ingredients – CTB-ACE2 proteins grown via plants – bind to the virus.{{cite news |title=A chewing gum that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-12-gum-sars-cov-transmission.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=University of Pennsylvania }}{{cite journal |last1=Daniell |first1=Henry |last2=Nair |first2=Smruti K. |last3=Esmaeili |first3=Nardana |last4=Wakade |first4=Geetanjali |last5=Shahid |first5=Naila |last6=Ganesan |first6=Prem Kumar |last7=Islam |first7=Md Reyazul |last8=Shepley-McTaggart |first8=Ariel |last9=Feng |first9=Sheng |last10=Gary |first10=Ebony N. |last11=Ali |first11=Ali R. |last12=Nuth |first12=Manunya |last13=Cruz |first13=Selene Nunez |last14=Graham-Wooten |first14=Jevon |last15=Streatfield |first15=Stephen J. |last16=Montoya-Lopez |first16=Ruben |last17=Kaznica |first17=Paul |last18=Mawson |first18=Margaret |last19=Green |first19=Brian J. |last20=Ricciardi |first20=Robert |last21=Milone |first21=Michael |last22=Harty |first22=Ronald N. |last23=Wang |first23=Ping |last24=Weiner |first24=David B. |last25=Margulies |first25=Kenneth B. |last26=Collman |first26=Ronald G. |title=Debulking SARS-CoV-2 in saliva using angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in chewing gum to decrease oral virus transmission and infection |journal=Molecular Therapy |date=10 November 2021 |volume=30 |issue=5 |pages=1966–1978 |doi=10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.11.008 |pmid=34774754 |pmc=8580552 |issn=1525-0016}}
• 11 November
• Astronomers using the Very Large Telescope report the discovery of a black hole in NGC 1850 by viewing its influence on the motion of a star in close proximity, the first direct dynamical detection of a black hole in a young massive cluster.{{cite news |title=Black hole found hiding in star cluster outside our galaxy |url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2116/|date=11 November 2021 |work=ESO |access-date=11 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Saracino |first1=S |last2=Kamann |first2=S |last3=Guarcello |first3=M G |last4=Usher |first4=C |last5=Bastian |first5=N |last6=Cabrera-Ziri |first6=I |last7=Gieles |first7=M |last8=Dreizler |first8=S |last9=Da Costa |first9=G S |last10=Husser |first10=T-O |last11=Hénault-Brunet |first11=V |title=A black hole detected in the young massive LMC cluster NGC 1850 |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |date=11 November 2021 |volume=511 |issue=2 |pages=2914–2924 |doi=10.1093/mnras/stab3159|doi-access=free |hdl=10261/275847 |hdl-access=free }}
• The first-ever simulation of baryons on a quantum computer is reported by a university.{{cite news |title=Canadian researchers achieve first quantum simulation of baryons |url=https://uwaterloo.ca/news/media/canadian-researchers-achieve-first-quantum-simulation |date=11 November 2021 |work=University of Waterloo |access-date=12 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Atas |first1=Yasar Y. |last2=Zhang |first2=Jinglei |last3=Lewis |first3=Randy |last4=Jahanpour |first4=Amin |last5=Haase |first5=Jan F. |last6=Muschik |first6=Christine A. |title=SU(2) hadrons on a quantum computer via a variational approach |journal=Nature Communications |date=11 November 2021 |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6499 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-26825-4 |pmid=34764262 |pmc=8586147 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.6499A |issn=2041-1723}}
• Astronomers identify a long filament of cold, dense gas connecting two of the Milky Way's spiral arms, the first known observation of such a galactic structure in the Milky Way.{{cite web|title=Astronomers have found the Milky Way's first known 'feather'|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/astronomy-milky-way-galaxy-feather-gas-spiral-arms-gangotri-wave|work=sciencenews.org|date=23 November 2021|access-date=27 November 2021}}
• Bionanoengineers report a novel therapy for spinal cord injury – an injectable gel of nanofibers that contain moving molecules that cause cellular signaling and mimic the matrix around cells in mice.{{cite news |title=Therapy used on mice may transform spinal injury treatments, say scientists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/11/therapy-used-in-mice-may-revolutionise-treatment-of-spinal-cord-injuries-say-scientists |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=11 November 2021 }}{{cite news |last1=University |title='Dancing molecules' successfully repair severe spinal cord injuries in mice |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-molecules-successfully-severe-spinal-cord.html |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=Northwestern University }}{{cite journal |last1=Álvarez |first1=Z. |last2=Kolberg-Edelbrock |first2=A. N. |last3=Sasselli |first3=I. R. |last4=Ortega |first4=J. A. |last5=Qiu |first5=R. |last6=Syrgiannis |first6=Z. |last7=Mirau |first7=P. A. |last8=Chen |first8=F. |last9=Chin |first9=S. M. |last10=Weigand |first10=S. |last11=Kiskinis |first11=E. |last12=Stupp |first12=S. I. |title=Bioactive scaffolds with enhanced supramolecular motion promote recovery from spinal cord injury |journal=Science |date=12 November 2021 |volume=374 |issue=6569 |pages=848–856 |doi=10.1126/science.abh3602|pmid=34762454 |pmc=8723833 |bibcode=2021Sci...374..848A |s2cid=244039388 }}
• A study investigates how tidal energy could be best integrated into the Orkney energy system.{{cite journal |last1=Almoghayer |first1=Mohammed A. |last2=Woolf |first2=David K. |last3=Kerr |first3=Sandy |last4=Davies |first4=Gareth |title=Integration of tidal energy into an island energy system – A case study of Orkney islands |journal=Energy |date=11 November 2021 |volume=242 |pages=122547 |doi=10.1016/j.energy.2021.122547 |s2cid=244068724 |issn=0360-5442}} On 3 November, a review assesses the potential of tidal energy in the UK's energy systems, finding that it could, according to their considerations that include economic cost-benefit analysis, deliver 34 TWh/y or 11% of its energy demand.{{cite news |title=Tidal stream power can aid drive for net-zero and generate 11% of UK's electricity demand |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-11-tidal-stream-power-aid-net-zero.html |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=University of Plymouth }}{{cite journal |last1=Coles |first1=Daniel |last2=Angeloudis |first2=Athanasios |last3=Greaves |first3=Deborah |last4=Hastie |first4=Gordon |last5=Lewis |first5=Matthew |last6=Mackie |first6=Lucas |last7=McNaughton |first7=James |last8=Miles |first8=Jon |last9=Neill |first9=Simon |last10=Piggott |first10=Matthew |last11=Risch |first11=Denise |last12=Scott |first12=Beth |last13=Sparling |first13=Carol |last14=Stallard |first14=Tim |last15=Thies |first15=Philipp |last16=Walker |first16=Stuart |last17=White |first17=David |last18=Willden |first18=Richard |last19=Williamson |first19=Benjamin |title=A review of the UK and British Channel Islands practical tidal stream energy resource |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |date=24 November 2021 |volume=477 |issue=2255 |pages=20210469 |doi=10.1098/rspa.2021.0469|pmid=35153596 |pmc=8564615 |bibcode=2021RSPSA.47710469C |s2cid=240424151 }}
• 14 November – A time-allocation study estimates that in 2020 over 130 million hours of researchers' time were spent on peer review.{{cite news |last1=Chawla |first1=Dalmeet Singh |title=Researchers spent an estimated 130 million hours peer-reviewing papers in 2020 |url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/researchers-spent-an-estimated-130-million-hours-peer-reviewing-papers-in-2020/4014841.article |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=Chemistry World }}{{cite journal |last1=Aczel |first1=Balazs |last2=Szaszi |first2=Barnabas |last3=Holcombe |first3=Alex O. |title=A billion-dollar donation: estimating the cost of researchers' time spent on peer review |journal=Research Integrity and Peer Review |date=14 November 2021 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=14 |doi=10.1186/s41073-021-00118-2 |pmid=34776003 |pmc=8591820 |issn=2058-8615 |doi-access=free }}
• 16 November
• A study reports the second case of a person whose immune system apparently cleared the HIV on its own without a therapy.{{cite news |title=Rare case of woman's body ridding itself of HIV |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59297311 |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=BBC News |date=16 November 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Turk |first1=Gabriela |last2=Seiger |first2=Kyra |last3=Lian |first3=Xiaodong |last4=Sun |first4=Weiwei |last5=Parsons |first5=Elizabeth M. |last6=Gao |first6=Ce |last7=Rassadkina |first7=Yelizaveta |last8=Polo |first8=Maria Laura |last9=Czernikier |first9=Alejandro |last10=Ghiglione |first10=Yanina |last11=Vellicce |first11=Alejandra |last12=Varriale |first12=Joseph |last13=Lai |first13=Jun |last14=Yuki |first14=Yuko |last15=Martin |first15=Maureen |last16=Rhodes |first16=Ajantha |last17=Lewin |first17=Sharon R. |last18=Walker |first18=Bruce D. |last19=Carrington |first19=Mary |last20=Siliciano |first20=Robert |last21=Siliciano |first21=Janet |last22=Lichterfeld |first22=Mathias |last23=Laufer |first23=Natalia |last24=Yu |first24=Xu G. |title=A Possible Sterilizing Cure of HIV-1 Infection Without Stem Cell Transplantation |journal=Annals of Internal Medicine |date=16 November 2021 |volume=175 |issue=1 |pages=95–100 |doi=10.7326/L21-0297 |pmid=34781719 |pmc=9215120 |s2cid=244131565 |issn=0003-4819}}
• Biochemists report one of the{{clarify|date=December 2021}} first supercomputational approaches for the development of new antibiotic derivatives against antimicrobial resistance.{{cite news |title=Antibiotic resistance outwitted by supercomputers |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-antibiotic-resistance-outwitted-supercomputers.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=University of Portsmouth }}{{cite journal |last1=König |first1=Gerhard |last2=Sokkar |first2=Pandian |last3=Pryk |first3=Niclas |last4=Heinrich |first4=Sascha |last5=Möller |first5=David |last6=Cimicata |first6=Giuseppe |last7=Matzov |first7=Donna |last8=Dietze |first8=Pascal |last9=Thiel |first9=Walter |last10=Bashan |first10=Anat |last11=Bandow |first11=Julia Elisabeth |last12=Zuegg |first12=Johannes |last13=Yonath |first13=Ada |last14=Schulz |first14=Frank |last15=Sanchez-Garcia |first15=Elsa |title=Rational prioritization strategy allows the design of macrolide derivatives that overcome antibiotic resistance |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=16 November 2021 |volume=118 |issue=46 |pages=e2113632118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2113632118 |pmid=34750269 |pmc=8609559 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11813632K |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }}
• Scientists report a large extent of alternative splicing – cases of a single gene (a template) being used to create instructions (mRNAs) for building different proteins – in the mouse and human cortex and release the transcriptomes on a public database.{{cite news |title=Some genes in the brain may make 100 different proteins |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297650-some-genes-in-the-brain-may-make-100-different-proteins/ |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=New Scientist}}{{cite journal |last1=Leung |first1=Szi Kay |last2=Jeffries |first2=Aaron R. |last3=Castanho |first3=Isabel |last4=Jordan |first4=Ben T. |last5=Moore |first5=Karen |last6=Davies |first6=Jonathan P. |last7=Dempster |first7=Emma L. |last8=Bray |first8=Nicholas J. |last9=O'Neill |first9=Paul |last10=Tseng |first10=Elizabeth |last11=Ahmed |first11=Zeshan |last12=Collier |first12=David A. |last13=Jeffery |first13=Erin D. |last14=Prabhakar |first14=Shyam |last15=Schalkwyk |first15=Leonard |last16=Jops |first16=Connor |last17=Gandal |first17=Michael J. |last18=Sheynkman |first18=Gloria M. |last19=Hannon |first19=Eilis |last20=Mill |first20=Jonathan |title=Full-length transcript sequencing of human and mouse cerebral cortex identifies widespread isoform diversity and alternative splicing |journal=Cell Reports |date=16 November 2021 |volume=37 |issue=7 |page=110022 |doi=10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110022 |pmid=34788620 |pmc=8609283 |issn=2211-1247}}
• A tech company reveals a new 127 quantum bit processor named 'IBM Eagle', which is the most powerful quantum processor ever made.{{cite news |title=IBM creates largest ever superconducting quantum computer |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297583-ibm-creates-largest-ever-superconducting-quantum-computer/ |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=New Scientist}}{{Cite web|title=IBM Unveils Breakthrough 127-Qubit Quantum Processor|url=https://newsroom.ibm.com/2021-11-16-IBM-Unveils-Breakthrough-127-Qubit-Quantum-Processor|access-date=12 January 2022|website=IBM Newsroom}}

File:Omicron SARS-CoV-2 radial distance tree 2021-Dec-01.svg as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern.
The image shows one Nextstrain-based visualization of genetic distance of several such variants.]]

• 17 November
• A systematic review and meta-analysis finds that mask-wearing cuts the incidence of COVID-19 by 53%.{{cite news |title=Mask-wearing cuts Covid incidence by 53%, says global study |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/wearing-masks-single-most-effective-way-to-tackle-covid-study-finds |date=18 November 2021 |work=The Guardian |access-date=18 November 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Talic |first1=Stella |last2=Shah |first2=Shivangi |last3=Wild |first3=Holly |last4=Gasevic |first4=Danijela |last5=Maharaj |first5=Ashika |last6=Ademi |first6=Zanfina |last7=Li |first7=Xue |last8=Xu |first8=Wei |last9=Mesa-Eguiagaray |first9=Ines |last10=Rostron |first10=Jasmin |last11=Theodoratou |first11=Evropi |last12=Zhang |first12=Xiaomeng |last13=Motee |first13=Ashmika |last14=Liew |first14=Danny |last15=Ilic |first15=Dragan |title=Effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and covid-19 mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=BMJ |date=18 November 2021 |volume=375 |pages=e068302 |doi=10.1136/bmj-2021-068302 |pmid=34789505 |pmc=9423125 |s2cid=244271780 |issn=1756-1833}}
• The first 256-qubit quantum computer is announced, by a startup company, founded by scientists and funded by DARPA.{{cite news |title=This quantum computing startup says it's ready to take on IBM and Google |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90698019/quera-quantum-computing-startup |date=17 November 2021 |work=Fast Company |access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cite news |title=Harvard and MIT Scientists Launch QuEra Computing Inc. to Build Quantum Computers for Today's Impossible Problems |url=https://www.quera.com/news |date=17 November 2021 |work=QuEra Computing |access-date=20 November 2021 }}
• The largest public dataset of whole genomes is made available through a Web platform. The entire genomes of 200,000 UK Biobank participants, linked to anonymized medical information, are made more accessible for biomedical research than prior, less comprehensive datasets.{{cite news |title=200,000 whole genomes made available for biomedical studies by U.K. effort |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/200-000-whole-genomes-made-available-biomedical-studies-uk-effort |access-date=11 December 2021 |website=Science.org }}{{cite web |title=Whole Genome Sequencing data on 200,000 UK Biobank participants available now |url=https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/learn-more-about-uk-biobank/news/whole-genome-sequencing-data-on-200-000-uk-biobank-participants-available-now |website=UkBiobank.ac.uk |date=17 November 2021 |access-date=11 December 2021}}
• Scientists call for the creation of space biosecurity measures and inform the creation of planetary protection policies that aim to prevent forward contamination of extraterrestrial bodies as well as backward contamination.{{cite news |title=Alien organisms: Hitchhikers of the galaxy? |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-11-alien-hitchhikers-galaxy.html |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=University of Adelaide }}{{cite journal |last1=Ricciardi |first1=Anthony |last2=Cassey |first2=Phillip |last3=Leuko |first3=Stefan |last4=Woolnough |first4=Andrew P |title=Planetary Biosecurity: Applying Invasion Science to Prevent Biological Contamination from Space Travel |journal=BioScience |date=17 November 2021 |volume=72 |issue=3 |pages=247–253 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biab115|doi-access=free }}
• Scientists report the development of a vaccine of mRNAs for the body build 19 proteins in tick saliva which, by enabling quick development of erythema (itchy redness) at the bite site, protects guinea pigs against Lyme disease from ticks.{{cite news |last1=Hathaway |first1=Bill |title=Novel Lyme vaccine shows promise |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-lyme-vaccine.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=Yale University |quote=Compared to non-immunized guinea pigs, vaccinated animals exposed to infected ticks quickly developed redness at the tick bite site. None of the immunized animals developed Lyme disease if ticks were removed when redness developed. In contrast, about half of the control group became infected with B. burgdorferi after tick removal. When a single infected tick was attached to immunized guinea pigs and not removed, none of vaccinated animals were infected compared to 60 percent of control animals. However, protection waned in immunized guinea pigs if three ticks remained attached to the animal. Ticks in immunized animals were unable to feed aggressively and dislodged more quickly than those on guinea pigs in the control group.}}{{cite journal |last1=Sajid |first1=Andaleeb |last2=Matias |first2=Jaqueline |last3=Arora |first3=Gunjan |last4=Kurokawa |first4=Cheyne |last5=DePonte |first5=Kathleen |last6=Tang |first6=Xiaotian |last7=Lynn |first7=Geoffrey |last8=Wu |first8=Ming-Jie |last9=Pal |first9=Utpal |last10=Strank |first10=Norma Olivares |last11=Pardi |first11=Norbert |last12=Narasimhan |first12=Sukanya |last13=Weissman |first13=Drew |last14=Fikrig |first14=Erol |title=mRNA vaccination induces tick resistance and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent |journal=Science Translational Medicine |year=2021 |volume=13 |issue=620 |pages=eabj9827 |doi=10.1126/scitranslmed.abj9827 |pmid=34788080 |s2cid=244375227 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356311422}}
• 19 November
• The first autonomous cargo ship, MV Yara Birkeland is launched in Norway. The fully electric ship is expected to substantially reduce the need for truck journeys.{{cite news |last1=Deshayes |first1=Pierre-Henry |title=First electric autonomous cargo ship launched in Norway |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-11-electric-autonomous-cargo-ship-norway.html |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=techxplore.com }}
• A report by Brazil's INPE based on satellite data finds deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has increased by 22% over 2020 and is at its highest level (13,235 km²) since 2006.{{cite news |title=Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon at highest level since 2006 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/18/deforestation-in-brazils-amazon-rises-by-more-than-a-fifth-in-a-year |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=Reuters/The Guardian |date=19 November 2021 }}{{cite news |title=Brazil: Amazon sees worst deforestation levels in 15 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59341770 |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=BBC News |date=19 November 2021}}{{additional citation needed|date=December 2021|reason=INPE report missing}}
• 21 November – Sri Lanka announces that it will lift its import ban on pesticides and herbicides, explained by both a lack of sudden changes to widely applied practices or education systems and contemporary economics and, by extension, food security, protests and high food costs. The effort to become the world's first completely organic farming nation was challenged by effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Wipulasena |first1=Aanya |last2=Mashal |first2=Mujib |title=Sri Lanka's Plunge Into Organic Farming Brings Disaster |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/world/asia/sri-lanka-organic-farming-fertilizer.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=7 December 2021}}{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka ends farm chemical ban as organic drive fails |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-11-sri-lanka-farm-chemical.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=phys.org }}
• 22 November
• Scientists detect a quantum effect that blocks atoms from scattering light.{{cite web|title=Scientists finally detected a quantum effect that blocks atoms from scattering visible light|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/quantum-physics-atom-light-pauli-exclusion-principle|publisher=sciencenews.org|date=22 November 2021|access-date=27 November 2021}}
• A study using data on ~30,000 patients, for the first time, indicates that aspirin may be associated with an increased (26%) risk for heart failure in persons with at least one cardiovascular risk factor.{{cite news |title=Aspirin is linked with increased risk of heart failure |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-11-aspirin-linked-heart-failure.html |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=European Society of Cardiology }}{{cite journal |last1=Mujaj |first1=Blerim |last2=Zhang |first2=Zhen-Yu |last3=Yang |first3=Wen-Yi |last4=Thijs |first4=Lutgarde |last5=Wei |first5=Fang-Fei |last6=Verhamme |first6=Peter |last7=Delles |first7=Christian |last8=Butler |first8=Javed |last9=Sever |first9=Peter |last10=Latini |first10=Roberto |last11=Cleland |first11=John GF |last12=Zannad |first12=Faiez |last13=Staessen |first13=Jan A. |title=Aspirin use is associated with increased risk for incident heart failure: a patient-level pooled analysis |journal=ESC Heart Failure |year=2021 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=685–694 |doi=10.1002/ehf2.13688 |pmid=34808706 |pmc=8787993 |s2cid=244490558 |issn=2055-5822}} An author notes that the findings require confirmation and the link with heart failure to be clarified.{{cite news |title=Aspirin use associated with raised risk of heart failure |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211123/Aspirin-use-associated-with-raised-risk-of-heart-failure.aspx |access-date=13 December 2021 |work=News-Medical.net |date=23 November 2021 }}
• 24 November – NASA launches the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), the first attempt to deflect an asteroid for the purpose of learning how to protect Earth.{{cite web|title=Nasa Dart asteroid spacecraft: Mission to smack Dimorphos space rock launches|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59327293|website=BBC News|date=24 November 2021|access-date=24 November 2021}}
• 25 November – Researchers systematically assess impacts of climate change mitigation options on 18 constituents of well-being, finding largely beneficial effects of demand-side solutions based on inputs from 604 studies.{{cite news |title=MCC: Quality of life increases when we live, eat and travel energy-efficiently |url=https://idw-online.de/de/news781561 |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=idw-online.de}}{{cite journal |last1=Creutzig |first1=Felix |last2=Niamir |first2=Leila |last3=Bai |first3=Xuemei |last4=Callaghan |first4=Max |last5=Cullen |first5=Jonathan |last6=Díaz-José |first6=Julio |last7=Figueroa |first7=Maria |last8=Grubler |first8=Arnulf |last9=Lamb |first9=William F. |last10=Leip |first10=Adrian |last11=Masanet |first11=Eric |last12=Mata |first12=Érika |last13=Mattauch |first13=Linus |last14=Minx |first14=Jan C. |last15=Mirasgedis |first15=Sebastian |last16=Mulugetta |first16=Yacob |last17=Nugroho |first17=Sudarmanto Budi |last18=Pathak |first18=Minal |last19=Perkins |first19=Patricia |last20=Roy |first20=Joyashree |last21=de la Rue du Can |first21=Stephane |last22=Saheb |first22=Yamina |last23=Some |first23=Shreya |last24=Steg |first24=Linda |last25=Steinberger |first25=Julia |last26=Ürge-Vorsatz |first26=Diana |title=Demand-side solutions to climate change mitigation consistent with high levels of well-being |journal=Nature Climate Change |date=25 November 2021 |volume=12 |pages=36–46 |doi=10.1038/s41558-021-01219-y |s2cid=244657251 |issn=1758-6798|doi-access=free }}
• 26 November – The WHO announces the classification of the Omicron variant as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. The variant, that became dominant (74% of samples) in South Africa in November, was detected by the NGS-SA genomic surveillance on 8 November{{cite news |title=Omicron variant fuelling 'exponential' rise in Covid cases, say South Africa officials |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/02/omicron-variant-fuelling-exponential-rise-in-covid-cases-say-south-africa-officials |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=2 December 2021 }}{{cite web |title=Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) – SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing Update1 December 2021 |url=https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Update-of-SA-sequencing-data-from-GISAID-1-Dec-Final.pdf#page=20 |access-date=11 December 2021}} and reported to the WHO on 24 November. It has a large number of mutations that, according to early preliminary evidence, appear to increase risk of reinfection,{{cite web |title=Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern |url=https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern |publisher=WHO |access-date=11 December 2021 }} may increase transmissibility compared to Delta and may affect vaccines' efficacies with a key question being whether it causes less severe prognoses.{{cite news |last1=Torjesen |first1=Ingrid |title=Covid-19: Omicron may be more transmissiblbe than other variants and partly resistant to existing vaccines, scientists fear |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2943 |access-date=11 December 2021 |journal=BMJ |date=29 November 2021 |pages=n2943 |doi=10.1136/bmj.n2943}}{{cite journal |last1=Callaway |first1=Ewen |title=Heavily mutated Omicron variant puts scientists on alert |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03552-w |access-date=11 December 2021 |journal=Nature |date=25 November 2021 |volume=600 |issue=7887 |pages=21 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-03552-w|pmid=34824381 |bibcode=2021Natur.600...21C |s2cid=244660616 }}
• 29 November – A team of scientists reports a new form of biological reproduction in xenobots that are made up of and are emersed in frog cells.{{cite web|title=Team Builds First Living Robots That Can Reproduce|url=https://www.uvm.edu/news/story/team-builds-first-living-robots-can-reproduce|date=29 November 2021|access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Kriegman |first1=Sam |last2=Blackiston |first2=Douglas |last3=Levin |first3=Michael |last4=Bongard |first4=Josh |title=Kinematic self-replication in reconfigurable organisms |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=7 December 2021 |volume=118 |issue=49 |pages=e2112672118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2112672118 |pmid=34845026 |pmc=8670470 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11812672K |s2cid=244769761 |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }}

• 1 December
• Scientists discover the footprint of an ancient hominid that lived alongside Lucy.{{cite news|title=Ancient footprints suggest a mysterious hominid lived alongside Lucy's kind|url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-footprints-mysterious-hominid-lucy-species|work=sciencenews.org|date=1 December 2021|access-date=2 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=McNutt |first1=Ellison J. |last2=Hatala |first2=Kevin G. |last3=Miller |first3=Catherine |last4=Adams |first4=James |last5=Casana |first5=Jesse |last6=Deane |first6=Andrew S. |last7=Dominy |first7=Nathaniel J. |last8=Fabian |first8=Kallisti |last9=Fannin |first9=Luke D. |last10=Gaughan |first10=Stephen |last11=Gill |first11=Simone V. |last12=Gurtu |first12=Josephat |last13=Gustafson |first13=Ellie |last14=Hill |first14=Austin C. |last15=Johnson |first15=Camille |last16=Kallindo |first16=Said |last17=Kilham |first17=Benjamin |last18=Kilham |first18=Phoebe |last19=Kim |first19=Elizabeth |last20=Liutkus-Pierce |first20=Cynthia |last21=Maley |first21=Blaine |last22=Prabhat |first22=Anjali |last23=Reader |first23=John |last24=Rubin |first24=Shirley |last25=Thompson |first25=Nathan E. |last26=Thornburg |first26=Rebeca |last27=Williams-Hatala |first27=Erin Marie |last28=Zimmer |first28=Brian |last29=Musiba |first29=Charles M. |last30=DeSilva |first30=Jeremy M. |title=Footprint evidence of early hominin locomotor diversity at Laetoli, Tanzania |journal=Nature |date=December 2021 |volume=600 |issue=7889 |pages=468–471 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-04187-7 |pmid=34853470 |pmc=8674131 |bibcode=2021Natur.600..468M |issn=1476-4687}}
• Researchers develop an energy system model for 100% renewable energy, examining feasibility and grid stability in the U.S.{{cite news |last1=Clifford |first1=Catherine |title=U.S. can get to 100% clean energy with wind, water, solar and zero nuclear, Stanford professor says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/21/us-can-get-to-100percent-clean-energy-without-nuclear-power-stanford-professor-says.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=CNBC |date=21 December 2021 }}{{cite journal |author-link=Mark Z. Jacobson |last1=Jacobson |first1=Mark Z. |last2=von Krauland |first2=Anna-Katharina |last3=Coughlin |first3=Stephen J. |last4=Palmer |first4=Frances C. |last5=Smith |first5=Miles M. |title=Zero air pollution and zero carbon from all energy at low cost and without blackouts in variable weather throughout the U.S. with 100% wind-water-solar and storage |journal=Renewable Energy |date=1 January 2022 |volume=184 |pages=430–442 |doi=10.1016/j.renene.2021.11.067 |bibcode=2022REne..184..430J |s2cid=244820608 |issn=0960-1481|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148121016499|url-access=subscription}}
• 2 December
• A method of DNA data storage with a hundred times the density of previous techniques is announced.{{cite news|title=Scientists claim big advance in using DNA to store data|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59489560|work=bbc.co.uk|date=2 December 2021|access-date=3 December 2021}}
• A stem cell-based treatment for type 1 diabetes is announced.{{cite news|title=Stem cell-based treatment produces insulin in patients with Type 1 diabetes

|url=https://news.ubc.ca/2021/12/02/stem-cell-based-treatment-produces-insulin-in-patients-with-type-1-diabetes/|work=news.ubc.ca|date=2 December 2021|access-date=6 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Ramzy |first1=Adam |last2=Thompson |first2=David M. |last3=Ward-Hartstonge |first3=Kirsten A. |last4=Ivison |first4=Sabine |last5=Cook |first5=Laura |last6=Garcia |first6=Rosa V. |last7=Loyal |first7=Jackson |last8=Kim |first8=Peter T. W. |last9=Warnock |first9=Garth L. |last10=Levings |first10=Megan K. |last11=Kieffer |first11=Timothy J. |title=Implanted pluripotent stem-cell-derived pancreatic endoderm cells secrete glucose-responsive C-peptide in patients with type 1 diabetes |journal=Cell Stem Cell |date=2 December 2021 |volume=28 |issue=12 |pages=2047–2061.e5 |doi=10.1016/j.stem.2021.10.003 |pmid=34861146 |s2cid=244855649 |issn=1934-5909|doi-access=free }}

• 3 December – Scientists demonstrate that grown brain cells integrated into digital systems can carry out goal-directed tasks with performance-scores. In particular, playing a simulated (via electrophysiological stimulation) Pong which the cells learned to play faster than known machine intelligence systems, albeit to a lower skill-level than both AI and humans. Moreover, the study suggests it provides first empirical evidence of information-processing capacity differences between neurons from different species.{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=A mass of human brain cells in a petri dish has been taught to play Pong |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-12-mass-human-brain-cells-petri.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |last1=Kagan |first1=Brett J. |last2=Kitchen |first2=Andy C. |last3=Tran |first3=Nhi T. |last4=Parker |first4=Bradyn J. |last5=Bhat |first5=Anjali |last6=Rollo |first6=Ben |last7=Razi |first7=Adeel |last8=Friston |first8=Karl J. |title=In vitro neurons learn and exhibit sentience when embodied in a simulated game-world |url=https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.02.471005v2 |pages=2021.12.02.471005 |doi=10.1101/2021.12.02.471005 |date=3 December 2021|s2cid=244883160 }}
• 4 December – A total solar eclipse occurs in the Antarctic region.{{cite web |title=Solar Eclipses: 2021 - 2030 |url=http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov:80/SEcat/SEdecade2021.html |publisher=NASA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530145509/http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat/SEdecade2021.html |access-date=28 November 2021 |archive-date=30 May 2008 }}
• 5 December – Researchers report the development of a system of machine learning and hyperspectral camera that can distinguish between 12 different types of plastics such as PET and PP for automated separation of waste of, as of 2020, highly unstandardized{{cite journal |last1=Qureshi |first1=Muhammad Saad |last2=Oasmaa |first2=Anja |last3=Pihkola |first3=Hanna |last4=Deviatkin |first4=Ivan |last5=Tenhunen |first5=Anna |last6=Mannila |first6=Juha |last7=Minkkinen |first7=Hannu |last8=Pohjakallio |first8=Maija |last9=Laine-Ylijoki |first9=Jutta |title=Pyrolysis of plastic waste: Opportunities and challenges |journal=Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis |date=1 November 2020 |volume=152 |pages=104804 |doi=10.1016/j.jaap.2020.104804 |bibcode=2020JAAP..15204804Q |s2cid=200068035 |issn=0165-2370}}{{additional citation needed|date=January 2022}} plastics products and packaging.{{cite web |title=Breakthrough in separating plastic waste: Machines can now distinguish 12 different types of plastic |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2022-01-breakthrough-plastic-machines-distinguish.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |publisher=Aarhus University }}{{cite journal |last1=Henriksen |first1=Martin L. |last2=Karlsen |first2=Celine B. |last3=Klarskov |first3=Pernille |last4=Hinge |first4=Mogens |title=Plastic classification via in-line hyperspectral camera analysis and unsupervised machine learning |journal=Vibrational Spectroscopy |date=1 January 2022 |volume=118 |pages=103329 |doi=10.1016/j.vibspec.2021.103329 |s2cid=244913832 |issn=0924-2031 |doi-access=free }}
• 6 December
• Scientists show that and how the flavonoid Procyanidin C1 of the antioxidant grape seed extract increases the health- and lifespan of mice and increases the efficacy of mice' chemotherapy.{{cite news |title=Grape seed chemical allows mice to live longer by killing aged cells |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2300346-grape-seed-chemical-allows-mice-to-live-longer-by-killing-aged-cells/ |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=New Scientist}}{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Qixia |last2=Fu |first2=Qiang |last3=Li |first3=Zi |last4=Liu |first4=Hanxin |last5=Wang |first5=Ying |last6=Lin |first6=Xu |last7=He |first7=Ruikun |last8=Zhang |first8=Xuguang |last9=Ju |first9=Zhenyu |last10=Campisi |first10=Judith |last11=Kirkland |first11=James L. |last12=Sun |first12=Yu |title=The flavonoid procyanidin C1 has senotherapeutic activity and increases lifespan in mice |journal=Nature Metabolism |date=December 2021 |volume=3 |issue=12 |pages=1706–1726 |doi=10.1038/s42255-021-00491-8 |pmid=34873338 |pmc=8688144 |issn=2522-5812 }}
• Sloan Digital Sky Survey's final data release of SDSS-IV including final data products and catalogs.{{cite news |title=This map of distant galaxies could help untangle the mystery of dark energy |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/map-distant-galaxies-could-help-untangle-mystery-dark-energy |access-date=12 February 2022 |website=Science.org }}{{cite web |url=https://sdss.org/science/data-release-publications |title=SDSS Data Release Publications |work=Sloan Digital Sky Survey |access-date=1 February 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203045342/https://www.sdss.org/science/data-release-publications |url-status=dead }}

File:Barriers to conducting replications of experiment in cancer research.jpg: Cancer Biology suggest most studies of the cancer research sector may not be replicable and may contain wrong results.]]

• 7 December
• A study suggests that when two people wear surgical masks, while the infectious one is speaking, the risk of COVID-19 infection at a distance of 1.5 m remains below 30% after one hour, but when both wear a well-fitting FFP2 mask, it is 0.4%.{{cite web |title=An upper bound on one-to-one exposure to infectious human respiratory particles |url=https://www.pnas.org/content/118/49/e2110117118 |website=PNAS |date=7 December 2021 |access-date=11 December 2021 }}
• Researchers investigating sources of urban PAHs air pollution in Athens report that wood-burning could be causing a third (31%) of such urban air pollution, like diesel and oil combined or gasoline, and, especially during winter days, is responsible for nearly half of PAH cancer-risk.{{cite news |title=Wood burners cause nearly half of urban air pollution cancer risk – study |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/17/wood-burners-urban-air-pollution-cancer-risk-study |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=17 December 2021 }}{{cite journal |last1=Tsiodra |first1=Irini |last2=Grivas |first2=Georgios |last3=Tavernaraki |first3=Kalliopi |last4=Bougiatioti |first4=Aikaterini |last5=Apostolaki |first5=Maria |last6=Paraskevopoulou |first6=Despina |last7=Gogou |first7=Alexandra |last8=Parinos |first8=Constantine |last9=Oikonomou |first9=Konstantina |last10=Tsagkaraki |first10=Maria |last11=Zarmpas |first11=Pavlos |last12=Nenes |first12=Athanasios |last13=Mihalopoulos |first13=Nikolaos |title=Annual exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban environments linked to wintertime wood-burning episodes |journal=Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |date=7 December 2021 |volume=21 |issue=23 |pages=17865–17883 |doi=10.5194/acp-21-17865-2021 |bibcode=2021ACP....2117865T |s2cid=245103794 |issn=1680-7316 |doi-access=free }}
• A study suggests that mutations that promote breakthrough infections or antibody-resistance could be a new mechanism for viral evolution success of SARS-CoV-2 and that such may become a dominating mechanism of its evolution.{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Rui |last2=Chen |first2=Jiahui |last3=Wei |first3=Guo-Wei |title=Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Evolution Revealing Vaccine-Resistant Mutations in Europe and America |journal=The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters |date=16 December 2021 |volume=12 |issue=49 |pages=11850–11857 |url=https://users.math.msu.edu/users/weig/paper/p272.pdf |doi=10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03380|pmid=34873910 |pmc=8672435 }} On 27 December, a preprint finds that "the rapid spread of the Omicron VOC primarily can be ascribed to the immune evasiveness rather than an inherent increase in the basic transmissibility".{{cite news |title=Study findings suggest spread of Omicron can be ascribed to immune evasiveness rather than an increase in transmissibility |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220105/Study-findings-suggest-spread-of-Omicron-can-be-ascribed-to-immune-evasiveness-rather-than-an-increase-in-transmissibility.aspx |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=News-Medical.net |date=5 January 2022 }}{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Lyngse |first1=Frederik Plesner |last2=Mortensen |first2=Laust Hvas |last3=Denwood |first3=Matthew J. |last4=Christiansen |first4=Lasse Engbo |last5=Møller |first5=Camilla Holten |last6=Skov |first6=Robert Leo |last7=Spiess |first7=Katja |last8=Fomsgaard |first8=Anders |last9=Lassaunière |first9=Maria Magdalena |last10=Rasmussen |first10=Morten |last11=Stegger |first11=Marc |last12=Nielsen |first12=Claus |last13=Sieber |first13=Raphael Niklaus |last14=Cohen |first14=Arieh Sierra |last15=Møller |first15=Frederik Trier |last16=Overvad |first16=Maria |last17=Mølbak |first17=Kåre |last18=Krause |first18=Tyra Grove |last19=Kirkeby |first19=Carsten Thure |title=SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC Transmission in Danish Households |date=27 December 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.12.27.21268278v1}} Studies also showed the variant to escape the majority of existing SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, including of sera from vaccinated and convalescent individuals.{{cite journal |author=Yunlong Cao |display-authors=et al.|title=Omicron escapes the majority of existing SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies |journal=Nature |date=23 December 2021 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-03796-6 |s2cid=245455422|doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Wilhelm |first1=Alexander |last2=Widera |first2=Marek |last3=Grikscheit |first3=Katharina |last4=Toptan |first4=Tuna |last5=Schenk |first5=Barbara |last6=Pallas |first6=Christiane |last7=Metzler |first7=Melinda |last8=Kohmer |first8=Niko |last9=Hoehl |first9=Sebastian |last10=Helfritz |first10=Fabian A. |last11=Wolf |first11=Timo |last12=Goetsch |first12=Udo |last13=Ciesek |first13=Sandra |title=Reduced Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant by Vaccine Sera and Monoclonal Antibodies |date=8 December 2021 |doi=10.1101/2021.12.07.21267432|s2cid=244950946 }}{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Lihong |last2=Iketani |first2=Sho |last3=Guo |first3=Yicheng |last4=Chan |first4=Jasper F-W. |last5=Wang |first5=Maple |last6=Liu |first6=Liyuan |last7=Luo |first7=Yang |last8=Chu |first8=Hin |last9=Huang |first9=Yiming |last10=Nair |first10=Manoj S. |last11=Yu |first11=Jian |last12=Chik |first12=Kenn K-H. |last13=Yuen |first13=Terrence T-T. |last14=Yoon |first14=Chaemin |last15=To |first15=Kelvin K-W. |last16=Chen |first16=Honglin |last17=Yin |first17=Michael T. |last18=Sobieszczyk |first18=Magdalena E. |last19=Huang |first19=Yaoxing |last20=Wang |first20=Harris H. |last21=Sheng |first21=Zizhang |last22=Yuen |first22=Kwok-Yung |last23=Ho |first23=David D. |title=Striking Antibody Evasion Manifested by the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 |journal=Nature |date=23 December 2021 |volume=602 |issue=7898 |pages=676–681 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-04388-0|pmid=35016198 |s2cid=245462866 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Rössler |first1=Annika |last2=Riepler |first2=Lydia |last3=Bante |first3=David |last4=Laer |first4=Dorothee von |last5=Kimpel |first5=Janine |title=SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 variant (Omicron) evades neutralization by sera from vaccinated and convalescent individuals |date=11 December 2021 |doi=10.1101/2021.12.08.21267491|s2cid=245019954 }}
• A scientific review summarizes research and data about telemedicine. Its results indicate that, in general, outcomes of such ICT-use are as good as in-person care with health care use staying similar.{{cite news |title=Telemedicine may be as good as in-person visits for managing chronic illnesses |url=https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2022/01/03/Telemedicine-may-be-as-good-as-in-person-visits-for-managing-chronic-illnesses/4101641229379/ |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=UPI }}{{cite journal |last1=Albritton |first1=Jordan |last2=Ortiz |first2=Alexa |last3=Wines |first3=Roberta |last4=Booth |first4=Graham |last5=DiBello |first5=Michael |last6=Brown |first6=Stephen |last7=Gartlehner |first7=Gerald |last8=Crotty |first8=Karen |title=Video Teleconferencing for Disease Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment |journal=Annals of Internal Medicine |date=7 December 2021 |volume=175 |issue=2 |pages=256–266 |doi=10.7326/m21-3511 |pmid=34871056 |s2cid=244923066 |issn=0003-4819 |url=https://www.pcori.org/sites/default/files/PCORI-Rapid-Review-Report-Video-Teleconferencing-Disease-Prevention-Diagnosis-Treatment.pdf}}
• The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology shows that of 193 experiments from 53 top papers about cancer published between 2010 and 2012, only 50 replication experiments from 23 papers could be completed with effect sizes of that fraction being 85% smaller on average than the original findings. None of the papers had its experimental protocols fully described and 70% of experiments required asking for key reagents.{{cite news |title=Dozens of major cancer studies can't be replicated |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cancer-biology-studies-research-replication-reproducibility |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Science News |date=7 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology |url=https://www.cos.io/rpcb |website=Cos.io |publisher=Center for Open Science |access-date=19 January 2022 }}
• 8 December
• Researchers report the development of face masks that glow under ultraviolet light if they contain SARS-CoV-2 when the filter is taken out and sprayed with a fluorescent dye that contains antibodies from ostrich eggs.{{cite news |title=Japanese scientists develop glowing masks to detect coronavirus |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/12/8a768ba9e395-scientists-develop-glowing-masks-to-detect-coronavirus.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=Kyodo News+}}
• Studies, some of which using large nationwide datasets from either Israel and Denmark, find that vaccine effectiveness of multiple common two-dosed COVID-19 vaccines is substantially lower against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant than for other common variants including the Delta variant, and that a new (often a third) dose – a booster dose – is needed and effective, with it i.a. substantially reducing deaths from the disease compared to cohorts who received two doses.{{cite journal |last1=Arbel |first1=Ronen |last2=Hammerman |first2=Ariel |last3=Sergienko |first3=Ruslan |last4=Friger |first4=Michael |last5=Peretz |first5=Alon |last6=Netzer |first6=Doron |last7=Yaron |first7=Shlomit |title=BNT162b2 Vaccine Booster and Mortality Due to Covid-19 |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=8 December 2021 |volume=385 |issue=26 |pages=2413–2420 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa2115624 |pmid=34879190 |pmc=8728797 }}{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Khoury |first1=David S. |last2=Steain |first2=Megan |last3=Triccas |first3=James A. |last4=Sigal |first4=Alex |last5=Davenport |first5=Miles P. |last6=Cromer |first6=Deborah |title=A meta-analysis of Early Results to predict Vaccine efficacy against Omicron |date=17 December 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.12.13.21267748v2}}{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Garcia-Beltran |first1=Wilfredo F. |last2=Denis |first2=Kerri J. St |last3=Hoelzemer |first3=Angelique |last4=Lam |first4=Evan C. |last5=Nitido |first5=Adam D. |last6=Sheehan |first6=Maegan L. |last7=Berrios |first7=Cristhian |last8=Ofoman |first8=Onosereme |last9=Chang |first9=Christina C. |last10=Hauser |first10=Blake M. |last11=Feldman |first11=Jared |last12=Gregory |first12=David J. |last13=Poznansky |first13=Mark C. |last14=Schmidt |first14=Aaron G. |last15=Iafrate |first15=A. John |last16=Naranbhai |first16=Vivek |last17=Balazs |first17=Alejandro B. |title=mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine boosters induce neutralizing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant |date=14 December 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.12.14.21267755v1}}{{Cite medRxiv |author1=Nicole A. Doria-Rose |author2=Xiaoying Shen |display-authors=et al. |title=Booster of mRNA-1273 Strengthens SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Neutralization |date=20 December 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.12.15.21267805v2}}{{Cite medRxiv |last1=Hansen |first1=Christian Holm |last2=Schelde |first2=Astrid Blicher |last3=Moustsen-Helm |first3=Ida Rask |last4=Emborg |first4=Hanne-Dorthe |last5=Krause |first5=Tyra Grove |last6=Mølbak |first6=Kåre |last7=Valentiner-Branth |first7=Palle |last8=Institut |first8=on behalf of the Infectious Disease Preparedness Group at Statens Serum |title=Vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection with the Omicron or Delta variants following a two-dose or booster BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccination series: A Danish cohort study |date=23 December 2021 |medrxiv=10.1101/2021.12.20.21267966v3}}{{cite journal |last1=Bar-On |first1=Yinon M. |last2=Goldberg |first2=Yair |last3=Mandel |first3=Micha |last4=Bodenheimer |first4=Omri |last5=Freedman |first5=Laurence |last6=Alroy-Preis |first6=Sharon |last7=Ash |first7=Nachman |last8=Huppert |first8=Amit |last9=Milo |first9=Ron |title=Protection against Covid-19 by BNT162b2 Booster across Age Groups |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=23 December 2021 |volume=385 |issue=26 |pages=2421–2430 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa2115926 |pmid=34879188 |pmc=8728796 |issn=0028-4793}}
• Applied behavioural scientists demonstrate a novel type of intervention studies, a "megastudy", and investigate the efficacy of 54 different designed by separate teams interventions to increase weekly gym-visits of ~60,000 members of a fitness chain, such as digital feedback in the form of redeemable points that are rewarded for returning to the gym after a missed workout.{{cite news |title=Testing ways to encourage exercise |url=https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/testing-ways-encourage-exercise |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=National Institutes of Health (NIH) |date=10 January 2022 }}{{cite journal |last1=Milkman |first1=Katherine L. |last2=Gromet |first2=Dena |last3=Ho |first3=Hung |last4=Kay |first4=Joseph S. |last5=Lee |first5=Timothy W. |last6=Pandiloski |first6=Pepi |last7=Park |first7=Yeji |last8=Rai |first8=Aneesh |last9=Bazerman |first9=Max |last10=Beshears |first10=John |last11=Bonacorsi |first11=Lauri |last12=Camerer |first12=Colin |last13=Chang |first13=Edward |last14=Chapman |first14=Gretchen |last15=Cialdini |first15=Robert |last16=Dai |first16=Hengchen |last17=Eskreis-Winkler |first17=Lauren |last18=Fishbach |first18=Ayelet |last19=Gross |first19=James J. |last20=Horn |first20=Samantha |last21=Hubbard |first21=Alexa |last22=Jones |first22=Steven J. |last23=Karlan |first23=Dean |last24=Kautz |first24=Tim |last25=Kirgios |first25=Erika |last26=Klusowski |first26=Joowon |last27=Kristal |first27=Ariella |last28=Ladhania |first28=Rahul |last29=Loewenstein |first29=George |last30=Ludwig |first30=Jens |last31=Mellers |first31=Barbara |last32=Mullainathan |first32=Sendhil |last33=Saccardo |first33=Silvia |last34=Spiess |first34=Jann |last35=Suri |first35=Gaurav |last36=Talloen |first36=Joachim H. |last37=Taxer |first37=Jamie |last38=Trope |first38=Yaacov |last39=Ungar |first39=Lyle |last40=Volpp |first40=Kevin G. |last41=Whillans |first41=Ashley |last42=Zinman |first42=Jonathan |last43=Duckworth |first43=Angela L. |title=Megastudies improve the impact of applied behavioural science |journal=Nature |date=December 2021 |volume=600 |issue=7889 |pages=478–483 |doi=10.1038/s41586-021-04128-4 |pmid=34880497 |pmc=8822539 |bibcode=2021Natur.600..478M |s2cid=245047340 |issn=1476-4687 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356890300}}
• 9 December
• The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency, is launched by SpaceX. It is the first satellite capable of measuring the polarisation of X-rays that come from cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars.{{cite news|title=SpaceX launches a NASA telescope that will observe black holes|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/09/spacex-launches-a-nasa-telescope-that-will-observe-black-holes/|work=Tech Crunch|date=9 December 2021|access-date=9 December 2021}}
• The Log4Shell security vulnerability in a Java logging framework is publicly disclosed two weeks after its discovery. Because of the ubiquity of the affected software, experts have described it as a most serious computer vulnerability.{{cite news |title=The 'most serious' security breach ever is unfolding right now. Here's what you need to know. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/12/20/log4j-hack-vulnerability-java/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=20 December 2021 }} In a high-level meeting, the importance of security maintenance of open-source software – often also carried out largely by few volunteers – to national security was clarified.{{cite news |title=After Log4j, Open-Source Software Is Now a National Security Issue |url=https://gizmodo.com/after-log4j-open-source-software-is-now-a-national-sec-1848356403 |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=Gizmodo }}{{cite news |last1=Greig |first1=Jonathan |title=After Log4j, White House fears the next big open source vulnerability |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/after-log4j-white-house-worries-about-the-next-big-open-source-flaw/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=ZDNet }}
• A study reviews modern analytic procedures, including mass spectrometry techniques, for characterization, analysis, and identification of unknown materials and how such were applied to study materials that, according to witnesses, dropped from hovering unknown aerial objects (or UFOs). It suggests that the full range of current capabilities of materials analysis have not been applied so far and, after reviewing a range of proposed explanations, that these materials' purposes and characteristics, such as their isotope ratios,{{cite news |title=Stanford Professor Garry Nolan Is Analyzing Anomalous Materials From UFO Crashes |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/stanford-professor-garry-nolan-analyzing-anomalous-materials-from-ufo-crashes/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=Vice }} are very odd and remain unexplained.{{cite journal |author-link1=Garry Nolan |author-link2=Jacques Vallée |last1=Nolan |first1=Garry P. |last2=Vallee |first2=Jacques F. |last3=Jiang |first3=Sizun |last4=Lemke |first4=Larry G. |title=Improved instrumental techniques, including isotopic analysis, applicable to the characterization of unusual materials with potential relevance to aerospace forensics |journal=Progress in Aerospace Sciences |date=1 January 2022 |volume=128 |pages=100788 |doi=10.1016/j.paerosci.2021.100788 |bibcode=2022PrAeS.12800788N |issn=0376-0421|doi-access=free }}
• Scientists report the development of a genome editing system, called "twin prime editing", which surpasses the original prime editing system reported in 2019 in that it allows editing large sequences of DNA, addressing the method's key drawback.{{cite news |last1=Dicorato |first1=Allessandra |title=New prime editing system inserts entire genes in human cells |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-12-prime-inserts-entire-genes-human.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=Broad Institute of MIT }}{{cite journal |last1=Anzalone |first1=Andrew V. |last2=Gao |first2=Xin D. |last3=Podracky |first3=Christopher J. |last4=Nelson |first4=Andrew T. |last5=Koblan |first5=Luke W. |last6=Raguram |first6=Aditya |last7=Levy |first7=Jonathan M. |last8=Mercer |first8=Jaron A. M. |last9=Liu |first9=David R. |title=Programmable deletion, replacement, integration and inversion of large DNA sequences with twin prime editing |journal=Nature Biotechnology |date=9 December 2021 |volume=40 |issue=5 |pages=731–740 |doi=10.1038/s41587-021-01133-w |pmid=34887556 |pmc=9117393 |s2cid=245012407 |issn=1546-1696}}
• An mRNA vaccine against HIV with promising results in tests with mice and primates is reported.{{cite news |title=Experimental MRNA HIV Vaccine Safe, Shows Promise In Animals - ScienceMag |url=https://scienmag.com/experimental-mrna-hiv-vaccine-safe-shows-promise-in-animals/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |date=9 December 2021}}{{cite journal |author1=Zhang Peng |author2=Elisabeth Narayanan |display-authors= et al. |title=A multiclade env–gag VLP mRNA vaccine elicits tier-2 HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies and reduces the risk of heterologous SHIV infection in macaques |journal=Nature Medicine |date=December 2021 |volume=27 |issue=12 |pages=2234–2245 |doi=10.1038/s41591-021-01574-5 |pmid= 34887575 |s2cid= 245116317 |issn=1546-170X|doi-access=free }}

File:James Webb Space Telescope 2009 top.jpg, the long-awaited successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, is launched.]]

• 10 December – A vaccine to remove senescent cells, a key driver of the aging process, is demonstrated in mice by researchers from Japan.{{cite news|title=Japanese scientists develop vaccine to eliminate cells behind aging |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/12/12/national/science-health/aging-vaccine/|work=Japan Times|date=12 December 2021|access-date=12 December 2021}}{{cite news|title=Senolytic vaccination improves normal and pathological age-related phenotypes and increases lifespan in progeroid mice |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-021-00151-2|work=Nature Aging|date=10 December 2021|access-date=12 December 2021}}
• 13 December
• Astronomers report that AT 2018cow, an extreme FBOT, "could be a neutron star or black hole with a mass less than 850 solar masses," based on high-time-resolution X-ray observation studies.{{cite news |last=Griffin |first=Andrew |title=Scientists finally have explanation for incredibly bright light that came from deep in space |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/space/light-galaxy-blue-light-flash-cow-the-fbot-b1975176.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213161618/https://www.independent.co.uk/space/light-galaxy-blue-light-flash-cow-the-fbot-b1975176.html |archive-date=13 December 2021 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |date=13 December 2021 |work=The Independent |access-date=13 December 2021 }}{{cite journal |author=Pasham, Dheeraj R. |display-authors=et al. |title=Evidence for a compact object in the aftermath of the extragalactic transient AT2018cow |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-021-01524-8 |date=13 December 2021 |journal=Nature Astronomy |volume=74 |issue=2 |pages=249–258 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01524-8 |arxiv=2112.04531 |bibcode=2022NatAs...6..249P |s2cid=245131656 |access-date=13 December 2021 }}
• Scientists studying the huge Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica report evidence that it could "shatter like a car windscreen" within five to ten years, potentially adding 65 cm to global sea levels in the long term.{{cite news|title=Thwaites: Antarctic glacier heading for dramatic change |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59644494 |work=BBC News|date=13 December 2021|access-date=14 December 2021}}
• Observations of 16 years of timing data from the double pulsar PSR J0737−3039 are reported to be in agreement with general relativity by studying the loss of orbital energy due to gravitational waves.{{Cite journal|last1=Kramer|first1=M.|last2=Stairs|first2=I. H.|last3=Manchester|first3=R. N.|last4=Wex|first4=N.|last5=Deller|first5=A. T.|last6=Coles|first6=W. A.|last7=Ali|first7=M.|last8=Burgay|first8=M.|last9=Camilo|first9=F.|last10=Cognard|first10=I.|last11=Damour|first11=T.|date=13 December 2021|title=Strong-Field Gravity Tests with the Double Pulsar|url=https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevX.11.041050|journal=Physical Review X|volume=11|issue=4|page=041050|doi=10.1103/physrevx.11.041050|arxiv=2112.06795|bibcode=2021PhRvX..11d1050K|s2cid=245124502|issn=2160-3308}}{{Cite web|last1=Deller|first1=Adam|last2=Manchester|first2=Richard|title=We counted 20 billion ticks of an extreme galactic clock to give Einstein's theory of gravity its toughest test yet|url=http://theconversation.com/we-counted-20-billion-ticks-of-an-extreme-galactic-clock-to-give-einsteins-theory-of-gravity-its-toughest-test-yet-173157|access-date=16 December 2021|website=The Conversation|date=13 December 2021 }}
• Researchers report the development of a database and analysis tool about perovskite solar cells which systematically integrates over 15,000 publications, in particular data about over 42,400 photovoltaic devices.{{cite news |title=The Wikipedia of perovskite solar cell research |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-12-wikipedia-perovskite-solar-cell.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres }}{{cite journal |author1=T. Jesper Jacobsson |author2=Adam Hultqvist |author3=Alberto García-Fernández |display-authors=et al. |title=An open-access database and analysis tool for perovskite solar cells based on the FAIR data principles |journal=Nature Energy |date=13 December 2021 |volume=7 |pages=107–115 |doi=10.1038/s41560-021-00941-3 |s2cid=245175279 |issn=2058-7546|doi-access=free |hdl=10356/163386 |hdl-access=free }}
• 14 December – Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, is imaged with 20 times greater detail than ever before, by astronomers using the GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope in Chile.{{cite news|title=We've seen our galaxy's huge black hole more clearly than ever before |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2301531-weve-seen-our-galaxys-huge-black-hole-more-clearly-than-ever-before/ |work=New Scientist|date=14 December 2021|access-date=14 December 2021}}{{cite news|title=Watch stars move around the Milky Way's supermassive black hole in deepest images yet |url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2119/ |work=ESO|date=14 December 2021|access-date=14 December 2021}}{{cite news|title=The Galactic Center under the magnifying glass |url=https://www.mpe.mpg.de/7808727/news2021214 |work=Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics|date=14 December 2021|access-date=14 December 2021}}
• 15 December
• Scientists call for accelerated efforts in the development of broadly protective vaccines, especially a universal coronavirus vaccine that durably protects not just against all SARS-CoV-2 variants but also other coronaviruses, including already identified animal coronaviruses with pandemic potential.{{cite journal |last1=Morens |first1=David M. |last2=Taubenberger |first2=Jeffery K. |last3=Fauci |first3=Anthony S. |title=Universal Coronavirus Vaccines — An Urgent Need |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=15 December 2021 |volume=386 |issue=4 |pages=297–299 |doi=10.1056/NEJMp2118468 |pmid=34910863 |s2cid=245219817 |doi-access=free |pmc=11000439 }}
• Researchers report that NOX4 facilitates certain beneficial adaptive responses to exercise mediated by ROS (the opposite of antioxidants), which may be relevant to aging, diabetes, muscle-related and obesity interventions.{{cite news |title=Uncovered: Key to how exercise protects against consequences of ageing |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-12-uncovered-key-consequences-ageing.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Monash University }}{{cite journal |last1=Xirouchaki |first1=Chrysovalantou E. |last2=Jia |first2=Yaoyao |last3=McGrath |first3=Meagan J. |last4=Greatorex |first4=Spencer |last5=Tran |first5=Melanie |last6=Merry |first6=Troy L. |last7=Hong |first7=Dawn |last8=Eramo |first8=Matthew J. |last9=Broome |first9=Sophie C. |last10=Woodhead |first10=Jonathan S. T. |last11=D'souza |first11=Randall F. |last12=Gallagher |first12=Jenny |last13=Salimova |first13=Ekaterina |last14=Huang |first14=Cheng |last15=Schittenhelm |first15=Ralf B. |last16=Sadoshima |first16=Junichi |last17=Watt |first17=Matthew J. |last18=Mitchell |first18=Christina A. |last19=Tiganis |first19=Tony |title=Skeletal muscle NOX4 is required for adaptive responses that prevent insulin resistance |journal=Science Advances |date=December 2021 |volume=7 |issue=51 |pages=eabl4988 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.abl4988 |pmid=34910515 |pmc=8673768 |bibcode=2021SciA....7L4988X }}
• 16 December
• Tokamak Energy announces a more efficient design for the cryogenic electronics in fusion reactors. This provides a 50% reduction in the power needed for the cooling of high-temperature superconducting magnets.{{cite news|title=Breakthrough in efficient powering of HTS magnets |url=https://www.tokamakenergy.co.uk/cryogenic-power-supply/ |work=Tokamak Energy|date=16 December 2021|access-date=16 December 2021}}
• Researchers propose buffer-zones around nature reserves where pesticide-use is drastically reduced, based on Germany-wide field study data which i.a. found insect samples in such areas to be contaminated with ~16 pesticides on average.{{cite news |title=Insekten mit durchschnittlich 16 verschiedenen Pestiziden belastet |url=https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Insekten-mit-durchschnittlich-16-verschiedenen-Pestiziden-belastet-6307087.html?seite=all |access-date=17 January 2022 |work=heise online |language=de}}{{cite journal |last1=Brühl |first1=Carsten A. |last2=Bakanov |first2=Nikita |last3=Köthe |first3=Sebastian |last4=Eichler |first4=Lisa |last5=Sorg |first5=Martin |last6=Hörren |first6=Thomas |last7=Mühlethaler |first7=Roland |last8=Meinel |first8=Gotthard |last9=Lehmann |first9=Gerlind U. C. |title=Direct pesticide exposure of insects in nature conservation areas in Germany |journal=Scientific Reports |date=16 December 2021 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=24144 |doi=10.1038/s41598-021-03366-w |pmid=34916546 |pmc=8677746 |bibcode=2021NatSR..1124144B |issn=2045-2322}}
• Researchers report the development of perovskite solar cells based on self-constructed high-throughput screening of mixtures and contact layers, that – based on the stability tests – are estimated to last for over two years under normal circumstances.{{cite news |title=Perovskite solar cell with ultra-long stability |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-12-perovskite-solar-cell-ultra-long-stability.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Forschungszentrum Juelich }}{{cite journal |last1=Zhao |first1=Yicheng |last2=Heumueller |first2=Thomas |last3=Zhang |first3=Jiyun |last4=Luo |first4=Junsheng |last5=Kasian |first5=Olga |last6=Langner |first6=Stefan |last7=Kupfer |first7=Christian |last8=Liu |first8=Bowen |last9=Zhong |first9=Yu |last10=Elia |first10=Jack |last11=Osvet |first11=Andres |last12=Wu |first12=Jianchang |last13=Liu |first13=Chao |last14=Wan |first14=Zhongquan |last15=Jia |first15=Chunyang |last16=Li |first16=Ning |last17=Hauch |first17=Jens |last18=Brabec |first18=Christoph J. |title=A bilayer conducting polymer structure for planar perovskite solar cells with over 1,400 hours operational stability at elevated temperatures |journal=Nature Energy |date=16 December 2021 |volume=7 |issue=2 |page=144 |doi=10.1038/s41560-021-00953-z |bibcode=2022NatEn...7..144Z |s2cid=245285868 |issn=2058-7546}}
• In two separate studies, researchers, using vanadium dioxide, report the development of a "smart-roof coating" for radiative cooling that switches to warming during cold temperatures{{cite news |title=New smart-roof coating enables year-round energy savings |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-12-smart-roof-coating-enables-year-round-energy.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory }}{{cite journal |last1=Tang |first1=Kechao |last2=Dong |first2=Kaichen |last3=Li |first3=Jiachen |last4=Gordon |first4=Madeleine P. |last5=Reichertz |first5=Finnegan G. |last6=Kim |first6=Hyungjin |last7=Rho |first7=Yoonsoo |last8=Wang |first8=Qingjun |last9=Lin |first9=Chang-Yu |last10=Grigoropoulos |first10=Costas P. |last11=Javey |first11=Ali |last12=Urban |first12=Jeffrey J. |last13=Yao |first13=Jie |last14=Levinson |first14=Ronnen |last15=Wu |first15=Junqiao |title=Temperature-adaptive radiative coating for all-season household thermal regulation |journal=Science |date=17 December 2021 |volume=374 |issue=6574 |pages=1504–1509 |doi=10.1126/science.abf7136 |pmid=34914515 |bibcode=2021Sci...374.1504T |osti=1875448 |s2cid=245263196 |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0fr1q984 }} and "smart windows" that self-adapt to heat or cool for energy conservation in buildings.{{cite news |title=Scientists invent energy-saving glass that 'self-adapts' to heating and cooling demand |url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-12-scientists-energy-saving-glass-self-adapts-cooling.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=Nanyang Technological University }}{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Shancheng |last2=Jiang |first2=Tengyao |last3=Meng |first3=Yun |last4=Yang |first4=Ronggui |last5=Tan |first5=Gang |last6=Long |first6=Yi |title=Scalable thermochromic smart windows with passive radiative cooling regulation |journal=Science |date=17 December 2021 |volume=374 |issue=6574 |pages=1501–1504 |doi=10.1126/science.abg0291 |pmid=34914526 |bibcode=2021Sci...374.1501W |s2cid=245262692 }}
• 20 December – The first known magnetosphere around an exoplanet is reported, surrounding the hot Neptune HAT-P-11b.{{cite news|title=Astronomers Detect Signature of Magnetic Field on an Exoplanet |url=https://news.arizona.edu/story/astronomers-detect-signature-magnetic-field-exoplanet |work=The University of Arizona|date=20 December 2021|access-date=23 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Ben-Jaffel |first1=Lotfi |last2=Ballester |first2=Gilda E. |last3=Muñoz |first3=Antonio García |last4=Lavvas |first4=Panayotis |last5=Sing |first5=David K. |last6=Sanz-Forcada |first6=Jorge |last7=Cohen |first7=Ofer |last8=Kataria |first8=Tiffany |last9=Henry |first9=Gregory W. |last10=Buchhave |first10=Lars |last11=Mikal-Evans |first11=Thomas |last12=Wakeford |first12=Hannah R. |last13=López-Morales |first13=Mercedes |title=Signatures of strong magnetization and a metal-poor atmosphere for a Neptune-sized exoplanet |journal=Nature Astronomy |date=16 December 2021 |volume=6 |pages=141–153 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01505-x |arxiv=2211.05155 |bibcode=2022NatAs...6..141B |s2cid=245316715 |issn=2397-3366}}
• 22 December – Japanese scientists announce a key step in the development of a quantum computer using photons, which eliminates the need for an ultracold environment used to cool existing machines.{{cite news|title=Realization of modularized quantum light source toward fault-tolerant large-scale universal optical quantum computers |url=https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2021/12/22/211222a.html |work=Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation|date=22 December 2021|access-date=23 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Kashiwazaki |first1=Takahiro |last2=Yamashima |first2=Taichi |last3=Takanashi |first3=Naoto |last4=Inoue |first4=Asuka |last5=Umeki |first5=Takeshi |last6=Furusawa |first6=Akira |title=Fabrication of low-loss quasi-single-mode PPLN waveguide and its application to a modularized broadband high-level squeezer |journal=Applied Physics Letters |date=20 December 2021 |volume=119 |issue=25 |pages=251104 |doi=10.1063/5.0063118 |arxiv=2201.01457 |bibcode=2021ApPhL.119y1104K |s2cid=245704341 |issn=0003-6951}}
• 23 December – An international team reports the use of an electron microscope to change the chirality of a carbon nanotube, creating a transistor with a length of just 2.8 nanometres.{{cite news|title=Researchers use electron microscope to turn nanotube into tiny transistor |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-12-electron-microscope-nanotube-tiny-transistor.html |work=Phys.org|date=23 December 2021|access-date=24 December 2021}}{{cite journal |last1=Tang |first1=Dai-Ming |last2=Erohin |first2=Sergey V. |last3=Kvashnin |first3=Dmitry G. |last4=Demin |first4=Victor A. |last5=Cretu |first5=Ovidiu |last6=Jiang |first6=Song |last7=Zhang |first7=Lili |last8=Hou |first8=Peng-Xiang |last9=Chen |first9=Guohai |last10=Futaba |first10=Don N. |last11=Zheng |first11=Yongjia |last12=Xiang |first12=Rong |last13=Zhou |first13=Xin |last14=Hsia |first14=Feng-Chun |last15=Kawamoto |first15=Naoyuki |last16=Mitome |first16=Masanori |last17=Nemoto |first17=Yoshihiro |last18=Uesugi |first18=Fumihiko |last19=Takeguchi |first19=Masaki |last20=Maruyama |first20=Shigeo |last21=Cheng |first21=Hui-Ming |last22=Bando |first22=Yoshio |last23=Liu |first23=Chang |last24=Sorokin |first24=Pavel B. |last25=Golberg |first25=Dmitri |title=Semiconductor nanochannels in metallic carbon nanotubes by thermomechanical chirality alteration |journal=Science |date=24 December 2021 |volume=374 |issue=6575 |pages=1616–1620 |doi=10.1126/science.abi8884 |pmid=34941420 |bibcode=2021Sci...374.1616T |s2cid=245828327 |url=https://eprints.qut.edu.au/226002/1/ACCEPTED_SCIENCE_PDF.pdf }}
• 24 December – A study suggests that, based on the strength of positive selection pressure, the molecular spectrum of mutations and known mutations for adaptation to mouse hosts, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant may have evolved in mice and then spilled back to humans.{{cite news |last1=Hewitt |first1=John |title=Omicron might have come from a mouse, but what kind of mouse? |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-omicron-mouse-kind.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=medicalxpress.com }}{{cite journal |last1=Wei |first1=Changshuo |last2=Shan |first2=Ke-Jia |last3=Wang |first3=Weiguang |last4=Zhang |first4=Shuya |last5=Huan |first5=Qing |last6=Qian |first6=Wenfeng |title=Evidence for a mouse origin of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant |journal=Journal of Genetics and Genomics |date=24 December 2021 |volume=48 |issue=12 |pages=1111–1121 |doi=10.1016/j.jgg.2021.12.003 |pmid=34954396 |pmc=8702434 |issn=1673-8527}}
• 25 December – The James Webb Space Telescope, "NASA's most powerful and complex space telescope"{{cite web |last1=Chan |first1=DM |title=Most powerful space telescope set for 2021 launch |url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/09/article/most-powerful-space-telescope-set-for-2021-launch/ |website=Asia Times |access-date=10 September 2019|date=September 2019 }} and successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, launches successfully.{{cite web |title=James Webb Space Telescope Launch Update |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/james-webb-space-telescope-launch-update |date=21 December 2021 |publisher=NASA |access-date=22 December 2021 }}
• 26 December – A third{{cite news |title=Maui Shell is a Beautiful Vision for the Future of Linux |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2021/12/maui-shell-convergent-desktop-for-linux-devices |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |date=27 December 2021}} convergent graphical shell and UI framework, based on KDE/Kirigami, for the Linux operating system on phones, desktops and other devices, is released.{{cite news |last=Crume |first=Jacob |title=Maui Shell is Here, Ushering in a New Era of Desktop Linux |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/maui-shell-unveiled/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=It's FOSS – News |date=30 December 2021 }}{{cite web |last=Higuita |first=Camilo |title=Introducing Maui Shell |url=https://nxos.org/maui/introducing-maui-shell/ |website=Nitrux |access-date=16 January 2022 |date=26 December 2021 }}
• 28 December – Scientists report that production of ammonia in the clouds of Venus, possibly by life, may make the environment less acidic and suitable for life, with the atmospheric model matching observations better than earlier ones.{{cite news |last1=Chu |first1=Jennifer |title=Could acid-neutralizing life-forms make habitable pockets in Venus' clouds? |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-12-acid-neutralizing-life-forms-habitable-pockets-venus.html |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=phys.org }}{{cite journal |last1=Bains |first1=William |last2=Petkowski |first2=Janusz J. |last3=Rimmer |first3=Paul B. |last4=Seager |first4=Sara |title=Production of ammonia makes Venusian clouds habitable and explains observed cloud-level chemical anomalies |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=28 December 2021 |volume=118 |issue=52 |pages=e2110889118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2110889118 |pmid=34930842 |pmc=8719887 |arxiv=2112.10850 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11810889B |s2cid=245353905 |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free }}
• 30 December
• China's EAST tokamak sustains 120 million °C plasma for 17 minutes (1,056 seconds) for the development of fusion energy (which requires i.a. temperatures over 150 million °C).{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=Chinese tokamak facility achieves 120-million-degree C for 1,056 seconds |url=https://phys.org/news/2022-01-chinese-tokamak-facility-million-degree-seconds.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=phys.org }}{{cite web |title=1,056 Seconds, another world record for EAST |url=http://english.ipp.cas.cn/syxw/202112/t20211231_295485.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103170927/http://english.ipp.cas.cn/syxw/202112/t20211231_295485.html |archive-date=3 January 2022 |publisher=Institute Of Plasma Physics Chine Academy Of Sciences}}
• Researchers report the development of "nanoantennas" made out of DNA that attach to proteins and produce a signal via fluorescence when these perform their biological functions, in particular for distinct conformational changes, i.a. enabling monitoring their motion.{{cite news |title=Chemists use DNA to build the world's tiniest antenna |url=https://phys.org/news/2022-01-chemists-dna-world-tiniest-antenna.html |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=University of Montreal }}{{cite journal |last1=Harroun |first1=Scott G. |last2=Lauzon |first2=Dominic |last3=Ebert |first3=Maximilian C. C. J. C. |last4=Desrosiers |first4=Arnaud |last5=Wang |first5=Xiaomeng |last6=Vallée-Bélisle |first6=Alexis |title=Monitoring protein conformational changes using fluorescent nanoantennas |journal=Nature Methods |date=January 2022 |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=71–80 |doi=10.1038/s41592-021-01355-5 |pmid=34969985 |s2cid=245593311 |issn=1548-7105 |doi-access=free }}
• {{clarify|date=January 2022|reason=precise dates of both the sale launch and the official approval unknown; on 30 December the Nature news article was published}}The first CRISPR-gene-edited marine animals/seafood and second set of CRISPR-edited food has gone on public sale in Japan: two fish of which one species grows to twice the size of natural specimens due to disruption of leptin, which controls appetite, and the other grows to 1.2 the natural size with the same amount of food due to disabled myostatin, which inhibits muscle growth.{{cite journal |title=Japan embraces CRISPR-edited fish |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-01197-8 |access-date=17 January 2022 |journal=Nature Biotechnology |date=1 January 2022 |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=10 |doi=10.1038/s41587-021-01197-8|pmid=34969964 |s2cid=245593283 }}{{cite news |title=Startup Hopes Genome-Edited Pufferfish Will Be a Hit in 2022 |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/01/05/food/startup-hopes-genome-edited-pufferfish-will-hit-2022/ |access-date=17 January 2022 |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=5 January 2022 }}

{{See also|2021 in spaceflight}}

• Engineering first light of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's camera was anticipated for 2021 with full science operations to begin a year later.{{cite web |title=Vera C. Rubin Observatory |url=https://www.aura-astronomy.org/centers/nsfs-oir-lab/rubinobservatory/ |website=AURA Astronomy |access-date=16 September 2020}}{{cite magazine |last=Wu |first=Katherine J. |title=For the First Time, a National U.S. Observatory Has Been Named for a Female Astronomer: Vera Rubin |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-telescope-facility-renamed-commemorate-dark-matter-scientist-vera-rubin-180973923/ |access-date=16 September 2020 |magazine=Smithsonian Magazine }}{{cite news |title=What Does the Future of Astronomy Hold? We'll Find Out Soon |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-does-the-future-of-astronomy-hold-well-find-out-soon |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=Discover Magazine }} Delayed to October 2022{{Cite web |url=https://www.lsst.org/about/project-status |title=Monthly Updates |date=23 March 2021 |publisher=LSST Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418104114/https://www.lsst.org/about/project-status |archive-date=18 April 2021 }} and later to February 2023{{cite web |url=https://www.lsst.org/about/project-status |title=Monthly Updates |work=LSST Corporation |date=6 December 2016 |access-date=1 February 2022 }} due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

{{Main|Lists of science and technology awards}}

{{Science and technology awards|state=uncollapsed}}

• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for their discoveries of receptors for [i.a.] temperature and touch{{cite web |title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2021/summary/ |website=NobelPrize.org |access-date=4 October 2021}} [the discovery/mechanics of TRPV1 and PIEZO2]
• Nobel Prize in Physics – Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann (1/2) "for the physical modelling of Earth's climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming" and Giorgio Parisi (1/2) "for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales" – all of which "for groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex systems"{{cite web |title=The Nobel Prize in Physics 2021 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2021/summary/ |website=NobelPrize.org |access-date=5 October 2021}}
• Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Benjamin List and David W.C. MacMillan "for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis"{{cite web |title=The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2021/press-release/ |website=NobelPrize.org |access-date=6 October 2021}}

{{#section-h:Q1 2021 in science|Deaths}}

{{#section-h:April–June 2021 in science|Deaths}}

• 23 July – Toshihide Maskawa, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1940)
• 23 July – Steven Weinberg, American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1933)

{{2021 in space|state=collapsed}}

• :Category:Science events
• :Category:Science timelines
• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on science and technology
• List of technologies
• List of emerging technologies
• List of years in science

{{Category tree all|Scientific and technical responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|mode=all|depth=0}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01654-6 Rise of the preprint: how rapid data sharing during COVID-19 has changed science forever], Nature
• [https://www.natureindex.com/annual-tables/2021 Nature 2021 tables]
• [https://imgur.com/a/UBrAn3A Science Summary infographics based on this article]
• Altmetric Top 100 for 2021: [https://altmetric.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Re-imagining_the_top_100_-_Top_100_2021_Feat_Subjects_/17075036 'Feat. Subject Areas'], [https://altmetric.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Top_100_2021_-_Techno_Remix/17216567 'Techno Remix'], [https://altmetric.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Re-imagining_the_top_100_-_The_Old_School_Remix_xls_/16974022 'Old School Remix']
• [https://www.science.org/content/article/breakthrough-2021 2021 BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR] {{doi|10.1126/science.acx9810}}

{{Portal bar |Science |Technology |Astronomy |Outer space |Current events}}

{{2020s|state=expanded}}

Category:2021-related lists

Category:21st century in science

Category:Science timelines by year