Editing 2018 in science

**The Brazilian government reports that [[Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest|deforestation in the Amazon rainforest]] has reached its highest rate for a decade, with 7,900&nbsp;km² (3,050 sq miles) destroyed between August 2017 and July 2018, largely due to illegal logging.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-46327634|title=Amazon rainforest deforestation 'worst in 10 years', says Brazil|date=24 November 2018|publisher=BBC News|access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mma.gov.br/informma/item/15259-governo-federal-divulga-taxa-de-desmatamento-na-amaz%C3%B4nia.html|title=Taxa de desmatamento na Amazônia Legal|date=23 November 2018|publisher=Ministry of Environment|access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>

**Researchers report, after detecting the presence on the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) of five ''[[Enterobacter|Enterobacter bugandensis]]'' bacterial strains, none pathogenic to humans, that [[microorganism]]s on ISS should be carefully monitored to continue assuring a medically healthy environment for [[astronaut]]s.<ref name="EA-20181122">{{cite web |author=BioMed Central |title=ISS microbes should be monitored to avoid threat to astronaut health |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/bc-ims112018.php |date=22 November 2018 |work=[[EurekAlert!]] |publisher=AAAS |access-date=25 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="BMC-20181123">{{cite journal |author=Singh, Nitin K. |display-authors=et al |title=Multi-drug resistant Enterobacter bugandensis species isolated from the International Space Station and comparative genomic analyses with human pathogenic strains |date=23 November 2018 |journal=[[BMC Microbiology]] |volume=18 |issue=1 |page=175 |doi=10.1186/s12866-018-1325-2 |doi-access=free |pmid=30466389 |pmc=6251167 }}</ref>

*25 November &ndash; Chinese scientists report the birth of twin human girls, [[Lulu and Nana]], as the world's first [[Genome editing|genetically edited]] babies. The [[human gene]]s were edited to resist [[HIV]].<ref name="MIT-20181125">{{cite news |last=Regalado |first=Antonio |title=Exclusive: Chinese scientists are creating CRISPR babies - A daring effort is under way to create the first children whose DNA has been tailored using gene editing. |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612458/exclusive-chinese-scientists-are-creating-crispr-babies/ |date=25 November 2018 |work=[[MIT Technology Review]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Reuters |title=China Orders Investigation After Scientist Claims First Gene-Edited Babies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/11/26/world/asia/26reuters-health-china-babies-genes.html |date=26 November 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="AP-20181126">{{cite news |last=Marchione |first=Marilyn |title=Chinese researcher claims first gene-edited babies |url=https://www.apnews.com/4997bb7aa36c45449b488e19ac83e86d |date=26 November 2018 |work=[[AP News]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="SN-20181126">{{cite news |last=Begley |first=Sharon |title=Claim of CRISPR'd baby girls stuns genome editing summit |url=https://www.statnews.com/2018/11/26/claim-of-crispred-baby-girls-stuns-genome-editing-summit/ |date=26 November 2018 |work=[[Stat News]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="BBC-20181126">{{cite news |last=Roberts|first=Michelle |title=China baby gene editing claim 'dubious' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-46342195 |date=26 November 2018 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="CNET-20181125">{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Jackson |title=Scientists in China claim to have created first gene-edited human babies - A Chinese research group claims to have used CRISPR to genetically edit human embryos leading to the birth of healthy twin girls. |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-in-china-claim-to-have-created-first-gene-edited-human-babies/ |date=25 November 2018 |work=[[CNET]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="ZDN-20181126">{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Charlie |title=Meet Lulu and Nana, claimed to be the world's first gene-edited children - A Chinese scientist claims the twins have been born healthy after coming into the world with edited DNA. |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/meet-lulu-and-nana-the-worlds-first-reported-gene-edited-children/ |date=26 November 2018 |work=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref>

*26 November &ndash; [[NASA]] reports that the [[InSight|InSight Lander]] landed successfully on the planet [[Mars]]. Two touch down images are received. Also, from additional received transmissions, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK5bOZx2xXs sounds of the winds on Mars] can be heard - for the first time.<ref name="NYT-20181126">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=NASA's Mars InSight Mission Lands on Red Planet's Surface - In the months ahead, the spacecraft will begin its study of the Martian underworld, listening for marsquakes and revealing secrets about the dusty world's formation. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/science/nasa-insight-mars-landing.html |date=26 November 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=26 November 2018 }}</ref>