In 2018, Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced that the first children had been born from embryos whose DNA had been modified using CRISPR technology. Twin girls, known as Lulu and Nana, were born with the CCR5 gene modified in an attempt to confer immunity to HIV.

A major genetic study suggests the gene behind red hair became more common in Europe over the past 10,000 years through natural selection, possibly offering advantages in low-sunlight environments and reflecting broader shifts in human survival after farming.

From artificial intelligence and gene editing to Moon missions and particle physics, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for global science, according to projections highlighted by the international science journal Nature