17 January – The Chinese government announces plans for the first prototype exascale supercomputer by the end of the year.[24] 18 January Researchers at Harvard develop a customisable "soft robot" that fits around a heart and helps it beat, potentially offering a new treatment option for patients with heart failure.[25] Independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that 2016 was the hottest year on record, at 0.99°C (1.78°F) above the mid-20th century global mean average. This follows record warmth in the two preceding years 2015 and 2014.[26] 19 January A study published in Nature warns that some of the most important crops in the U.S. are at risk of "abrupt and substantial yield losses" from rising temperatures later this century, with harvests potentially declining by 20% for wheat, 40% for soybean and almost 50% for maize.[27] Researchers at Northwestern University develop an AI system that performs at human levels on a standard visual intelligence test.[28]