News, Seven Days, News Q&A and News Explainer in 2012

Five-year spending plan backs massive investment in research and scientific facilities.

Survey finds that the freshwater mammal is in serious decline.

Satellite data reveal effects of climate change on tropical forests.

A fast-growing salmon moves closer to US approval after a fishy delay.

Park Geun-hye vows to raise investment in basic research and to accelerate Moon-lander plans.

Vaccination will go on despite setback, say eradication campaigners.

Experiments with light confirm the need for quantum machines.

Our pick of 2012's Books & Arts coverage.

Study traces object's path back to outer asteroid belt

Previous expansion projects force the centre's new president to address shortfalls.

The origin of ion-pumping proteins could explain how life began in, and escaped from, undersea thermal vents.

Easier cell-to-cell comparisons hold potential insights into cancer and other biological processes.

Scroll through Nature’s numerical guide to the year’s scientific events.

The highlights of our expert comment pieces, chosen by our editors.

Disintegrating ice, spectacular sunbursts and minuscule lizards are among 2012’s most striking pictures.

The news in brief: Broken boiler delays Antarctic drilling; Texas cancer institute faces criminal probe; and massive shark sanctuary is founded in the Pacific.

Study shows anaesthetics may be a more humane way to kill rats and mice than carbon dioxide, but reveals a surprising twist.

International experts hammer out the future of their field at a top-level workshop on how to fund certain types of work on bird flu.

Validation of long-predicted quantum effect points the way to thermal electronics.