The thing about science is that it never stops to unravel hidden secrets and exploring the universe as we know it. Here are some revolutionary breakthroughs of year 2016 that will certainly go down in history.

And the winner is Gravitational Waves

The biggest and the most exciting discovery of this year has to be the existence of gravitational waves, the discover that the physicists at Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) made twice. Scientists reveal that with this discovery, they will be able to open new windows into unknown parts of the universe. The gravitational waves as a concept was first propounded by Albert Einstein when he wrote the theory of general relativity. It took physicists a good part of the century to confirm what the young scientist proposed back then.

Discovery of Proxima B, an Earth Sized Exoplanet with highest probability of life in space

Despite the discovery of many exoplanets with habitation potential, Proxima B, discovered in August, became quite a breakthrough because it is orbiting only 4.3 light years away from Earth. This planet, the scientists at Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory, believe may have its surface covered with water, raising possibility that it supports alien life forms, The Independent reported.

Hidden 9th Planet

Many scientists wondered if there is a 9th planet out there, surviving in secrecy at the hinges of our solar system. As it turns, there is in fact, a so-called planet that is larger than Neptune and colder than anything known to mankind. Astronomers, Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin, at Caltech presented undeniable evidence that there is a 9th planet that exists and is orbiting the Sun on an elliptical path. However, there is still photographic proof required to confirm its existence, which the scientists believe can be done in no more than a few years, U.S. News reported.