The uplifting science stories that turned heads in 2024

Moments to celebrate included a solar eclipse seen by millions and a lost city discovered by accident.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersLost city found by accident and a fly's brain mapped: 2024's scientific winsReutersA "chopsticks" rocket catch by Elon Musk's SpaceX was among the highlights of 2024A total solar eclipse seen by millions, a lost jungle city discovered by accident and hope for the almost extinct northern white rhino - science has given us a lot to get excited about this year.

One of the biggest news stories was about making space travel cheaper and easier, with Elon Musk's Starship making a giant step towards humanity having a reusable rocket.

Of course it's not all been positive. In bad news for the planet, for example, it is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the world's warmest year on record.

But there has been a lot to celebrate. Here are seven of our favourite uplifting science stories of the year.

In October, Elon Musk's Starship rocket completed a world first after part of it was captured on its return to the launch pad.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2v1rl32j8o

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