The most popular news stories on our website this year included viruses so large that they rival a bacterium, one of the longest-running experiments in history and how our Universe could have been created in the collapse of a four-dimensional star.

1. Simulations back up theory that Universe is a hologram

A ten-dimensional theory of gravity makes the same predictions as standard quantum physics in fewer dimensions.

10 December 2013

2. Quantum gas goes below absolute zero

Ultracold atoms pave way for negative-Kelvin materials.

3 January 2013

3. World's slowest-moving drop caught on camera at last

Once-forgotten 'tar pitch' experiment yields results after seven decades.

18 July 2013

4. Underwater volcano is Earth's biggest

Tamu Massif rivals the size of Olympus Mons on Mars.

5 September 2013

5. Did a hyper-black hole spawn the Universe?

Big Bang was mirage from collapsing higher-dimensional star, theorists propose.

13 September 2013

6. Giant viruses open Pandora's box

Genome of largest viruses yet discovered hints at 'fourth domain' of life.

18 July 2013

7. Mystery humans spiced up ancients' sex lives

Genome analysis suggests there was interbreeding between modern humans, Neanderthals, Denisovans and an unknown archaic population.

19 November 2013

8. Animal-rights activists wreak havoc in Milan laboratory

University says loss of animals and lab records may ruin years of work on psychiatric diseases.

22 April 2013

9. Large magma reservoir gets bigger

But earthquakes, not eruptions, are Yellowstone's most serious geological risk.

28 October 2013

10. Long-lost continent found under the Indian Ocean

Sand from Mauritian beaches reveals rock from ancient landmass.

Temperature in a gas can reach below absolute zero thanks to a quirk of quantum physics. Credit: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Thinkstock

24 February 2013

name:

Slow drop

description:

Slow drop

bgcolor:

#FFFFFF

wmode:

transparent

width:

100%

height:

146

playerID:

930839825001

playerKey:

AQ~~,AAAAAFNl7zk~,OmXvgxJOvrFZYqSlJuZl7DkhsNbEfjvA

@videoPlayer:

2552108579001

isVid:

true

isUI:

true

dynamicStreaming:

true