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January-February 2012

#1: Faster than the Speed of Light

Runaway subatomic particles seem to be  breaking the cosmic speed limit. If the results hold  up, physicists have some explaining to do.

by Gregory Mone

#10: Immune  Supercells Purge Leukemia

A new therapy turns leukemia patients’ own cells into cancer  assassins. It may one day help fight other cancers, too.

#2: Altered Immune Cells Block HIV

Lab-made proteins are revolutionizing AIDS therapy  by retrofitting the immune system so it  resists HIV. Human trials are already under way.

#5: Social Media Stoke Unrest and Ignite  Web-Rights Debate

When the explosion in social networking helped topple  repressive regimes last year, governments worldwide took  notice, stepping up efforts to limit public Internet access.

#8: The Man Who Gave Us Less for More

Impatient Futurist columnist David H. Freedman  examines the crushing success of Steve Jobs.

#25: Mercury’s New Face

NASA's Messenger probe delivers impressive new views of the inner-most planet, which is in some respects harder to reach than distant Pluto.

#6: In Memoriam

With great ambivalence we note the passing of  the first and only reusable spaceship, the space shuttle,  on July 21, 2011. Our prayers are with NASA.

#9: The Year’s Worst Natural Disasters

In 2011, at least 10 major weather disasters struck the United States alone, inflicting more than $45 billion in damages. Here, a survey of the epic floods, droughts, and other natural calamities that terrorized the planet.

#7: Japan Quakes; Nuke Power Stays Steady

This year enthusiasm for nuclear power in some developed nations  seemed to vanish after Japan’s nuclear disaster. But while those countries  recoil from atomic energy, others are committing to a nuclear future.