News: Readers' choice

The most read news stories of 2011.

Quantum mechanics, particle physics and quirky biology are the big winners in our line up of the most popular news stories from 2011.

Credit: Phil M Rogers / Alamy

1. Moving mirrors make light from nothing

Researchers claim to have produced sought-after quantum effect.

3 June 2011

2. Particles break light-speed limit

Neutrino results challenge cornerstone of modern physics.

22 September 2011

Credit: Andrew Thurber

3. Yeti crab grows its own food

Deep-sea species farms bacteria on its own claws.

2 December 2011

Credit: K. Welsh, Alamy / R. Cyril, BIOSphoto, Still Pictures

4. How the penis lost its spikes

Humans ditched DNA to evolve smooth penises and bigger brains.

9 March 2011

Credit: MEDICAL RF.COM/SPL

5. Gene therapy can protect against HIV

An introduced gene conveys long-lived resistance to HIV infection in mice.

30 November 2011

Credit: Andy Hair/iStockphoto

6. Quantum theorem shakes foundations

The wavefunction is a real physical object after all, say researchers.

17 November 2011

Credit: BRYNA PRODS/UNITED ARTISTS / THE KOBAL COLLECTION

7. Did Vikings navigate by polarized light?

'Sunstone' crystals may have helped seafarers to find the Sun on cloudy days.

31 January 2011

Credit: Malte Gather

8. Human cell becomes living laser

Jellyfish protein amplifies light in first biological laser.

12 June 2011

Credit: C. MARCELLONI/CERN

9. Beautiful theory collides with smashing particle data

Latest results from the LHC are casting doubt on the theory of supersymmetry.

28 February 2011

10. Faster-than-light neutrinos face time trial

Did gravity mess with the clocks that measured particles breaking cosmic speed limit?

5 October 2011

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