Top 25 Scientific breakthroughs

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2007 | by Dan Vergano

In 1982, a human genome was a science-fiction fantasy, and the space shuttle was state-of-the-art science.

The field of science has stretched ever more widely into everyday life since then, bringing us cellphones, Web browsing and the promise of a biotechnology bonanza. With help from longtime science observers, USA TODAY's Dan Vergano counts down the 25 top milestones. Share your choices at Top25.usatoday.com.

1 Accelerating universe (1998)

Exploding stars, receding away at an ever-faster pace, stunned scientists by showing that an anti-gravity effect is relentlessly expanding the universe. This expansion still defies explanationstill defies explanation and is one of the chief mysteries in all of science.

2 Human genome (1999)

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