2012: The year in scientific discoveries

26 December 2012

News image — A new species of frog – thought to be the world’s smallest – was discovered in Papua New Guinea. Paedophryne amanuensis grows to only 7mm. (Copyright: Louisiana State University)

Louisiana State University A new species of frog – thought to be the world’s smallest – was discovered in Papua New Guinea. Paedophryne amanuensis grows to only 7mm. (Copyright: Louisiana State University) — A new species of frog – thought to be the world’s smallest – was discovered in Papua New Guinea. Paedophryne amanuensis grows to only 7mm. (Copyright: Louisiana State University)

From a new species of monkey to mysterious new planets, scientists were kept busy in 2012.

More amazing image galleries of the year:

A year in space

The year in technology

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Large Hadron Collider

The life-or-death plan to evacuate a space station

Astronauts orbiting the Earth are drilled to deal with the worst possible scenarios. That includes having to leave a doomed space station – quickly.

7 days ago

14 Jan 2026

A rare wildcat photographed by camera trap in the Doupov Mountains, Czech Republic (Credit: Vladimír Čech Jr)

Rare images of Europe's 'ghost cat'

Wildcats are so elusive, they were thought to be extinct in parts of Europe. But they are making a comeback in some areas.

14 Jan 2026

13 Jan 2026

Panels and cables of the Large Hadron Collder at Cern (Credit: Alamy)

The coolest science in the world

One of the world's most sophisticated scientific facilities is turning to ultra-low temperatures to try and unravel hidden secrets of our Universe.

13 Jan 2026

8 Jan 2026

A dark gecko sits on bright leafy vegetation (Credit: Alejandra Arana)

The animals saved in ancient accidental 'arks'

Shielded from development and agriculture, many archaeological sites from ancient Greece have now become inadvertent safe harbours for plants and animals.

8 Jan 2026

31 Dec 2025

A woman sips a glass of champagne with festive lights blurred in the background (Credit: Getty Images)

The dos and don'ts of drinking champagne

From the best way to hold your glass while pouring, to choosing the right glass shape and when to drink it – this is how science says you can get the most from your sparkling wine.

31 Dec 2025

2012: The year in scientific discoveries

Inside Cern’s 'antimatter factory' creating antihydrogen

Dark Matter: The underground lab unlocking the Universe

Five ways the world could end

How can we truly understand what's real?

The physics that suggests there is a new force of nature

Why physics suggests other dimensions exist

The physics behind the tiniest particle in the Universe

The moment that changed our understanding of black holes

The physics that suggests we have no free will

Could the Big Bang have created a hidden 'twin' Universe?

Are you experiencing time wrong?

The missing ingredient in every recipe book

What your toaster can teach you about the Universe

Probing the Universe's dark energy with a super-telescope

How spilling your tea could help you survive an earthquake

Could you handle living on Mars?

Could there be an edge to our Universe?

Apollo 11: The ‘kids’ who took us to the Moon

The physics that tells us what the Universe is made of

Why you should mostly trust what science tells you

The life-or-death plan to evacuate a space station

Rare images of Europe's 'ghost cat'

The coolest science in the world

The animals saved in ancient accidental 'arks'

The dos and don'ts of drinking champagne