Editing 2002 (section)

== Science ==
{{Main|2002 in science}}
[[File:里耶秦簡.jpg|thumb|The [[Liye Qin Slips]] were discovered by archaeologists in 2002.]]
Archeological finds in 2002 included [[James Ossuary|the alleged ossuary]] of [[James, brother of Jesus]]; [[red ochre]] cave art in the [[Blombos Cave]] in South Africa, created approximately 77,000 years ago and the oldest known artwork; the largest [[Etruscan civilization]] settlement found to date, from approximately 2,600 years ago; [[Liye Qin Slips|a collection of bamboo slips]] featuring 200,000 characters of calligraphy from the [[Qin dynasty]]; [[Kanaganahalli#Excavation during 2000 to 2002|two stone slabs]] featuring the Indian emperor [[Ashoka]]; ancient irrigation canals under [[Tucson, Arizona]]; a [[Mayan art|Mayan mural]] in [[San Bartolo (Maya site)|San Bartolo]], Guatemala; an Aztec shrine on [[Pico de Orizaba]] in Mexico; and the Palace of Parliament of [[Upper Canada]] that had been destroyed in the [[War of 1812]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|pages=152–154}} A major study published in 2002 provided evidence against the [[Black Sea deluge hypothesis]] that had been popularized in 1996.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=180}} The [[Egyptian Museum]] held an [[Exhibitions of artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun|exhibition for artifacts]] from the [[tomb of Tutankhamun]], including some items never seen by the public.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=234}}

Chemists in 2002 synthesized [[uranium]] from [[noble gases]], observed a [[blackberry]]-shaped molecular structure in [[molybdenum blue]], [[fluorinated]] carbon [[Carbon nanotube|nanotubes]], synthesized a stable [[cyclopentadienyl cation]], discovered the oxidation-resistant gold {{Chem|Au|55}}, incorporated a [[photonic lattice]] into a tungsten [[Electrical filament|filament]], invented the ITQ-21 [[Zeolite membrane|zeolite]] to more efficiently refine [[petroleum]], and developed a method to create [[crystalline oxide film]] without extreme heat.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|pages=261–263}} A team led by Rüdeger Köhler developed a laser that emits [[terahertz radiation]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|pages=263–264}} Early study of [[Bose–Einstein condensates]] continued in 2002, as did that of [[quantum dots]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=264}} A major study into [[antimatter]] across 70 institutions took place in 2002 with results suggesting that antimatter may not be a precise opposite of matter.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=263}}

The discovery of a large [[trans-Neptunian object]], [[Quaoar]], prompted reconsideration of how to define a planet, including doubts about whether [[Pluto]] should be considered a planet.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=264}} Study with the [[Cosmic Background Imager]] revealed a more detailed image of [[cosmic background radiation]], and telescopes were able to counteract the scattering effect of Earth's atmosphere through [[adaptive optics]].<ref name=":14" /> The largest known volcanic eruption in the [[Solar System]] was discovered on the moon [[Io (moon)|Io]] in November 2002, using imaging that had been taken in February 2001.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=183}} The youngest known [[pulsar]] was discovered in 2002, originating from [[SN 1181|a supernova documented in 1181]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=266}}

Two major breakthroughs were made in [[number theory]] in 2002: [[Manindra Agrawal]] led a team in developing the [[AKS primality test]], and [[Preda Mihăilescu]] created a proof for the 150-year-old [[Catalan's conjecture]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=261}}

The September 11 attacks of the previous year caused a shift in focus among cultural anthropologists in 2002 toward the study of violence in society.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=151}}

=== Biology ===
[[File:Sahelanthropus tchadensis - TM 266-01-060-1.jpg|thumb|The discovery of the ''Toumaï'' fossil ''(pictured)'' led to the discovery of ''[[Sahelanthropus]]''.]]
New species of animals described in 2002 include the [[rupicolous gerbil]], the [[lesser Congo shrew]], and the [[bald parrot]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=215}} The rediscovery of [[Bavarian pine vole]]s was announced in Austria after being thought extinct in the 1960s.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|page=467}} Several paleological discoveries in China strong evidence supporting a relation between [[theropods]] and birds.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=241}} The hominid ancestor ''[[Sahelanthropus]]'' was identified in 2002 from fossils found in Chad.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=150}} A new genus of [[conifer]] in Vietnam, ''[[Xanthocyparis]]'', was described.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=239}}

Genome sequences were completed for [[indica rice]] and for the malaria carriers ''[[anopheles gambiae]]'' and ''[[plasmodium falciparum]]''.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|pages=456–457}}<ref name=":14" /> Scientists at the [[San Diego Zoo]] successfully created cloned egg cells for the endangered [[banteng]] by applying its DNA to egg cells from cows.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=216}} Scientists in the United States announced in July that they had reconstructed a [[poliovirus]] specimen using its genetic sequence.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=221}}

Two experiments in 2002 were successful in producing plants from old seeds: a lotus plant was grown from a 500-year-old seed, and two other plants were grown after their seeds were bottled and laid dormant since 1879.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=239}} A new [[herbicide]] was discovered by extracting the [[catechin]] toxin of the [[Centaurea stoebe|spotted knapweed]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=238}} Controversy about [[genetically modified crops]] increased when it was discovered that pest-resistant genes can be transferred to [[weed]]s and that crops resistant to some pests can become more vulnerable to others.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=238}}

Other biology developments from 2002 include an understanding of [[Transient receptor potential channel|TRP channels]] in taste, the role of light in a [[circadian rhythm]], and the development of [[Electron cryotomography|3D imagery of cells]].<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=2002-12-23 |title=Science's Top Ten: Discovery Of Genes' "Control Switches" Named Top Advance Of 2002 |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021223084005.htm |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=ScienceDaily |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330071713/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021223084005.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Major advances in the development and application of [[stem cells]] triggered an ethics debate that defined the field, in part because stem cells were commonly developed from the human [[fetus]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|pages=239–240}} Study of hormones led to the identification of two related to appetite: [[ghrelin]] to encourage eating and [[peptide YY]] to discourage it.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=223}}

=== Technology ===
{{See also|2002 in spaceflight}}
[[File:2002 Toyota Prius (3).jpg|thumb|A 2002 [[Toyota Prius]]]]
There were 61 successful and four failed space launches in 2002. [[NASA]] launches included the [[Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager]], the [[Aqua (satellite)|Aqua]] research satellite, and a [[Polar Operational Environmental Satellites|Polar Operational Environmental Satellite]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA - Space Flight 2002 - The Year in Review |url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/reports/2002/index.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=NASA |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330071710/https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/reports/2002/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[CONTOUR]] probe was put into orbit on July 3 but lost when activated on August 15.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=267}} The [[European Space Agency]] launched the [[Meteosat 8]] satellite in August and the [[INTEGRAL]] observatory in October. It also saw the launch of the [[Envisat]] satellite.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|pages=453–454}} China launched the ''[[Shenzhou 3]]'' and ''[[Shenzhou 4]]'' missions in March and December, respectively.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|page=454}} Russia sent the second ever space tourist, [[Mark Shuttleworth]], into space.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|page=453}} The creation of the [[International Space Station]] remained the largest focus of global space programs, but its development was halted for several months after potentially deadly cracks were found on several [[space shuttles]].<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=266}}

The [[open-source-software movement]] saw growth throughout the year, in part because of Microsoft's success in avoiding tighter regulations in court.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|page=458}} China blocked [[Google Search]] and [[AltaVista]] in August,<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=233}} provoking a [[hacktivist]] movement in the United States that worked to circumvent such restrictions in authoritarian nations.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=175}} Some parts of Google were restored on September 12.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=233}} New developments in [[peer-to-peer]] sharing allowed decentralized [[file sharing]] between computers, causing a proliferation of [[online piracy]]. [[Blogging]] also became a common practice in 2002.<ref name=":16" />{{Rp|page=460}} [[Klez]] was a [[computer worm]] that spread extensively in 2002 before public awareness limited its effectiveness.<ref name=":52" />{{Rp|page=175}} [[Hybrid vehicle]]s first saw widespread popularity in 2002.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|pages=94–95}}