January-February 2010

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#43: Five Big Additions to Darwin's Theory of Evolution

He had the main idea right, but in the past 150 years, scientists have filled out a lot more of the picture.

#2: NASA Braces for Course Correction

After the end of the disastrous space shuttle program, it's not at all clear where the space agency is going—or if it has enough money, skills, or buy-in to get there.

#3: Meet Ardi, Your First Human Ancestor

A big analysis of the 4.4-million-year-old fossil shows that humans left the trees before leaving the forest and getting much smarter.

#4: Stem Cell Science Takes Off

Obama brought a big policy improvement, and researchers made big leaps with the science.

#5: Astronomer Alan Dressler

Hot on the trail of the first galaxies in the universe

#6: Swine Flu Outbreak Sweeps the Globe

A scary build-up leads to a mostly mild conclusion.

#7: The Graphene Revolution

Flexible, see-through, one-atom-thick sheets of carbon could be a key component for futuristic solar cells, batteries, and roll-up LCD screens—and perhaps even microchips.

#8: Earth-like Worlds Come Into View

Newly discovered planets are becoming ever smaller, lighter, and more familiar to us earthlings.

#9: Experimental Coal Plant Stashes CO2 Underground

If FutureGen can successfully sequester its emissions, it could be a model for clean energy in the future.

#10: Economist George Loewenstein

He explains the psychology behind the current financial meltdown—and how we can overcome our dark side.

#26: Biologist J. Craig Venter

The pioneering scientist/entrepreneur on biology's next leap: digitally designed life-forms that could produce novel drugs, renewable fuels, and plentiful food for tomorrow’s world.

#60: Geographer Mark Serreze

He says a big Arctic melt is inevitable and readies us for what comes next.