Most-Read Stories 2013

As we approach the end of 2013, we thought we’d highlight a few of our most popular articles of the past year, just in case you missed them.

Academy researcher Zeray Alemseged’s study on early human diets was a chart topper this year. Arachnologist Charles Griswold’s Loureedia spider, named after the famous late rocker, also made the Top Ten.

Another Academy star, our rare Larger Pacific Striped Octopus, seemed to garner a lot of attention this year, too. But then cephalopods always do.

Life, terrestrial or extraterrestrial, always is an attractive subject—from early fish faces to signs of life on other planets.

Fires and volcanoes tend stop people in their tracks (or make them run for their lives) and Science Today readers are no different.

Finally, astronomical stories were some of our most popular of the year. Articles on gamma-ray bursts, dying comets and spaghettifying (a real scientific term!) gas clouds all make the year’s most-read list. Maybe because they’re out of this world! (Sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Enjoy!