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Rendition of the molten surface of COROT-7b, the planet where it rains rocks. Credit: ESO/L. Calcada. (source)
In celebration of the approaching New Year, I present a list of my most popular science stories of 2009. Taken from the vast expanse of all fields of science, they may not be everyone's top ten, but they are among the top news makers and will have repercussions well past the ending days of 2009. Check back everyday for new stories leading up to the top science story of 2009.
This list links out to the individual articles:
1. A planet that rocks: On COROT-7b the weather is a little rocky. Literally. Models show that the atomosphere may create showers of pebbles.
2. Hubble turns back on: The Hubble Space Telescope is back to doing what it does best: taking stunning pictures of the sky for science.
3. Against the odds ancient octopus fossils discovered: Most octopus remains don't survive fossilization. That makes these 95-million-year-old gems uncovered in Jordan were the discovery of the year.
4. Up to 90 percent of US money has traces of cocaine: It's a crazy thought: you may be carrying drugs in your wallet. This research may help police understand how the drug travels through communities.
5. Evidence shows some dinosaurs survived the mass extinction: Not surprisingly, this bit of science news sparked debate in the paleontological world. Read both sides of the story.
6. Male cats are lefties: In a great set of experiments, researchers show that cats have a 'hand' preference, just like their owners. The best part is that anyone can do the experiments to find out the handedness of their own pets.
7. Psychopaths have brain structure abnormality: Reserachers have identified a part of the brain that is physically shaped differently in psychopaths.
8. New discovery may end transplant rejection: Perhaps one of the biggest medical stories of the year. The end of transplant rejection and the need for organ recipients to take so many immune-suppressing drugs may be in sight.
9. Flu virus 'paralyzes' the immune system: Like so many discoveries in science, this groundbreaking finding of the flu virus's crafty nature came as a surprise to researchers.
10. Wii-hab helps treat Parkinson's: Science stories aren't often referred to as “touching,” but the tale of Wii-hab certainly falls into that category. A small study of Parkinson's patients shows that even limited exposure to Wii Sports is enough to help stave off depression and lessen the symptoms of the debilitating disease.
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