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Here are 5 record-breaking science discoveries from 2022

Human skeleton from waist down showing earliest surgery

This human skeleton (shown from the waist down) from the island of Borneo bears evidence that the lower left leg was amputated roughly 31,000 years ago.

T.R. MALONEY ET AL/NATURE 2022

By Erin Wayman

New scientific records are set every year, and 2022 was no exception. A bacterial behemoth, a shockingly speedy supercomputer and a close-by black hole are among the most notable superlatives of the year.

Earliest surgery

The first known surgical operation was a leg amputation (SN: 10/8/22 & 10/22/22, p.