Nature magazine has released its annual list of individuals who made a significant impact on the scientific community and the world in 2024. The list highlights achievements in fields ranging from epidemiology and AI to space exploration and human rights advocacy.

• Placide Mbala, an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raised alarms over a deadly monkeypox outbreak. His accurate prediction of the virus's ability to spread beyond borders proved critical.

• Anna Abalkina, a researcher at the Free University of Berlin, uncovered fraud in scientific publications, including plagiarism and paper mills. Her work earned her recognition despite being added to a Russian watchlist.

• Huji Xu, a Chinese physician at the Naval Medical University in Shanghai, revolutionized autoimmune disease treatment using gene-edited donor-derived T cells.

• Ekkehard Peik, a physicist at Germany’s National Metrology Institute, recorded the first tick of a clock synced with the frequency of an atomic nucleus, paving the way for ultra-precise timekeeping.

• Li Chunlai, a geologist with China’s National Space Administration, became the first scientist to analyze lunar soil samples from the Chang'e 6 mission.

• Wendy Freedman, an astronomer from the University of Chicago, presented findings that may resolve the long-standing mystery of the Universe's expansion rate.

• Remi Lam, a researcher at Google DeepMind in San Francisco, applied advanced AI tools to weather forecasting, delivering faster and more accurate predictions than traditional models.

The list also celebrates individuals who championed critical causes:

• Kaitlin Kharas, a PhD student at the University of Toronto, led a campaign that secured the first pay raise in two decades for Canadian doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.

• Cordelia Bahr, a Swiss lawyer, successfully represented thousands of women in a landmark case, arguing that climate change is a human rights issue.

• Muhammad Yunus, Nobel laureate economist, temporarily led Bangladesh following a student-led revolution, demonstrating his commitment to rebuilding the nation.