2008 was a year of sweeping change, as China reinvented itself for its Olympic close-up and relative newcomer Barack Obama fought his way to victory in an election that carried hefty implications for the future of science policy in the U.S. But it was also a time of frustrating stasis: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) ground to a halt shortly after its heralded start-up and sits dormant as the year draws to a close, and the 25th anniversary of the identification of the virus that causes AIDS passed without a cure in sight.

It was a year when scientists looked out into the heavens, unraveling the secrets of planets both near and far. Others turned their gaze inward, tracing the importance of our genes in defining who we are and what our future holds or sounding the alarm on the risks a common chemical might pose to our bodies. Human tragedies, too, had their place: Soaring food prices took their toll worldwide and the investigation of the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks came to an abrupt end with the apparent suicide of a scientist believed to be behind them.

As we look toward 2009, revisit the 10 biggest science stories of 2008 in a photo slide show.

9 Comments

1. 1. gingrice 02:16 PM 12/15/08

   I have always respected Scientific American, and subscribed to it at one time.
   I do wonder why it took Homeland Security such a lo0ng time to find the person responsible for the anthrax incidents. And are we sure now?

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2. 2. Gus 02:48 PM 12/15/08

   Interesting collection of photos

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3. 3. Gus 02:49 PM 12/15/08

   interesting collection of photographs

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4. 4. Gus 03:18 PM 12/15/08

   Having discovered planets orbiting so many stars, Earth should not be the only one supporting life

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5. 5. desktop 08:07 AM 12/16/08

   Just because Obama clearly won is no reason to douse "claims of foul play". If factions of foul play cannot swing an election with focused electronic hacking in key geographic areas, they will not take the chance of cheating at all. Electronic cheating is all to real, has been done in the past, and will be done in the future unless this is addressed. As it can be done, someone will be willing to do it. Partisan zealots only care about advancing their cause by any means necessary.

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6. 6. squaredbeastnumberone 04:42 PM 12/16/08

   A slide show looking back at the people, places and discoveries that shaped the world of science over the past (?) year ?

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7. 7. squaredbeastnumberone 04:51 PM 12/16/08

   Desejo ao Excelentíssimo Sr Presidente eleito, Mr Barack Obama, um frutífero e exemplar govêrno, pôsto que, os Estados Unidos da América do Norte exercem indubitávelmente uma extensa e fortíssima influência nos demais países. Quero crer que a atual situação econômica que tende ao
   pessimismo quanto ao futuro, seja brevemete superada pela maior potência global, para felicidade geral dos demais povos do planeta.

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8. 8. squaredbeastnumberone 05:08 PM 12/16/08

   Bom, para ser sincero, não dá para ficar parado mesmo, em qualquer campo da ciência, avançar sempre é o lema. Agora, o que se aproveita realmente de positivo em tudo que se pesquisa e se descobre, é o que vale a pena indagar. O único elemento válido em tudo, é que uma descoberta, um avanço, leva invariavelmente à outro, que geralmente é mais significativo do que o anterior. Nesse caso, vale lançar-se em todos os caminhos possíveis.
   Algum resultado positivo, ou com uma boa dose de sórte, um grande resultado positivo poderá coroar os esforços despendidos.

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9. 9. squaredbeastnumberone 05:29 PM 12/16/08

   What is worthwhile to reopen from the past ? Just one affair ? Better to take care of today's several struggles, to avoid keep recalling past tragedies.

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