page_title: 2016 in science
section_title: April
hierarchical_section_title: 2016 in science / Events / April
caption_attribution_description: English: A rough map of the Amazon Reef, a coral + sponge reef, recently discovered off the coast of the northern South American coast, in April 2016. The map is based on a map of the reef, published in Science Advances.
context_page_description: A number of significant scientific events occurred in 2016. The United Nations declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses.
context_section_description: 1 April – A study by the University of Southern California concludes that drinking even moderate amounts of coffee can significantly reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
  4 April
  Researchers found the fossil of Aquilonifer spinosus covered in carbonate from a formation called the Herefordshire Lagerstätte in UK.
  A new quantum state of matter is discovered in a graphene-like magnetic material RuCl₃ hosting curious magnetic quasiparticles called Majorana fermions which are their own antiparticles. It is a step forward in materials which will allow quantum computation.
  7 April
  A new analysis of clouds and their role in global warming reveals they contain more liquid water (as opposed to ice) than previously thought. This makes them less reflective and therefore results in more heat reaching the Earth's surface, meaning that future temperature increases may have been underestimated.
  A new method to produce transistors is presented, based on nanocrystal 'inks'. This allows them to be produced on flexible surfaces, possibly with 3D printers.
  8 April – SpaceX successfully lands the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket (SpaceX CRS-8) on a floating drone ship for the first time.
  9 April – By adding a one-atom thick layer of graphene to solar panels, Chinese scientists report that electricity can be generated from raindrops.
  11 April – Scientists announce an updated biological "tree of life" summarizing the evolution of all known life forms, and find that the branches of the new overview, based on the latest genetic findings, are mainly composed of bacteria.
  12 April – Scientists announce Breakthrough Starshot, a Breakthrough Initiatives program, to develop a proof-of-concept fleet of small centimeter-sized light sail spacecraft, named StarChip, capable of making the journey to Alpha Centauri, the nearest extrasolar star system, at speeds of 20% and 15% of the speed of light, taking between 20 and 30 years to reach the star system, respectively, and about 4 years to notify Earth of a successful arrival.
  13 April
  A quadriplegic man, Ian Burkhart from Ohio, is able to perform complex functional movements with his fingers after a chip was implanted in his brain.
  Astronomers report the discovery of Crater 2, the fourth largest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, at a distance of 380,000 light years.
  An international team reports synthesising ultra-long carbyne inside double-walled nanotubes. This exotic form of carbon is even stronger than graphene.
  14 April – The discovery of hormone asprosin is reported in Cell.
  21 April – BioViva USA reports the first successful use of gene therapy to extend the length of telomeres in a human patient.
  22 April
  The discovery of quantum tunneling of water molecules is reported.
  Scientists announce the discovery of an extensive reef system near the Amazon River, covering an estimated 3,600 square miles (9,300 km²).
  26 April – Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope report the discovery of a moon orbiting the remote dwarf planet Makemake.
  28 April
  Scientists identify a pair of molecular signals controlling skin and hair colour, which could be targeted by new drugs to treat skin pigment disorders like vitiligo.
  A new paper in Astrobiology suggests there could be a way to simplify the Drake equation, based on observations of exoplanets discovered in the last two decades.
  29 April – A team at Stanford University reveals "OceanOne", a humanoid robot capable of moving around the seabed using thrusters.
caption: 22 April: Map showing an extensive reef system near the Amazon River.[120]
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