Year in Review

Science & Society

What’s ahead for science in 2020? Here’s what we’re watching

Science News writers are awaiting new Mars missions, a new search for dark matter, results from a male birth control pill study and more.

Paleontology

Science News’ favorite fossils of 2019

Fossil discoveries reported this year included Cambrian creatures, ancient bone cancer and a peek at life’s recovery after the dinosaur die-off.

Space

How 2019’s space missions explored distant worlds

Planets and asteroids and Arrokoth, oh my. Space probes had a busy year.

Science & Society

These science claims from 2019 could be big deals — if true

Some of this year’s most tantalizing scientific finds aren’t yet ready for a “best of” list.

Science & Society

Top 10 stories of 2019: A black hole picture, measles outbreaks, climate protests and more

Science News' top stories for 2019 include the first picture of a black hole, a quantum computing milestone and CRISPR's first U.S. clinical trials.

Health & Medicine

In 2019, a ketamine-based antidepressant raised hopes and concerns

Ketamine and related molecules might ease severe depression, but the drugs come with baggage.

Animals

A year of big numbers startled the world into talking about nature

One million species are at risk. Three billion birds have been lost. Plus surges in Amazon burning.

Health & Medicine

Vaping’s dangers loom large amid more than 50 U.S. deaths this year

Lung injuries and deaths linked to vaping in 2019 are a sobering indication of the dangers of e-cigarettes as teen use continues to rise.

Space

2019 brought us the first image of a black hole. A movie may be next

The Event Horizon Telescope team is gearing up for more black hole discoveries.

Humans

Mysterious Denisovans emerged from the shadows in 2019

Denisovan fossil and DNA finds this year highlighted the enigmatic hominid’s complexity and our own hybrid roots.

Climate

Record-breaking heat amplified waves of student climate protests in 2019

While the world experienced record-breaking heat, Greta Thunberg and other activists pushed decision makers to take climate change seriously.

Health & Medicine

Measles got a foothold in the United States this year and almost didn’t let go

Areas of low vaccination are blamed for the United States' largest number of measles cases in more than 25 years.