Year in Review

  1. Science & Society

    These scientific discoveries brought us joy in 2025

    Amidst a tough year for science, glimmers of joy burst through in revelations from the silly to the sublime.

    By Laura Sanders
  2. Earth

    Some of 2025’s scientific discoveries broke records

    Longest lightning, the first AI-generated genomes and biggest black hole smashup were among this year’s top science superlatives.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  3. Paleontology

    These fossil finds shed new light on the past in 2025

    The year's top paleontological wonders ranged from a 540-million-year-old penis worm to a decades-old rodent impression.

    By Carolyn Gramling
  4. Animals

    Science taught us a few new tricks about our pets in 2025

    Are we reading our dog’s moods right? Does TV really comfort them when we’re away? These pet stories were catnip to us this year.