Seething activity on the Sun, Martian caves and bizarre black holes were among the most clicked-on subjects of the year.
1. Dazzling new images reveal the 鈥榠mpossible鈥� on the Sun
Japan鈥檚 Hinode telescope revealed the restless frothing of the Sun鈥檚 surface in astonishing detail.
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2. Strange Martian feature not a 鈥榖ottomless鈥� cave after all
An extremely dark feature on Mars was found to be just a pit 鈥� not the entrance to a deep cavern that future astronauts could call home.
3. Could black holes be portals to other universes?
A study suggested that the objects thought to be black holes could instead be wormholes leading to exotic cosmic locales.
4. Mars probe may have spotted lost rover
In 1997, NASA lost contact with its Pathfinder lander and tiny Sojourner rover, but a decade later, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter鈥檚 eagle eyes spied them both.
5. Satellites solve mystery of low gravity over Canada
A satellite pair called GRACE answered a weighty question: why does Canada have such low gravity?
6. Do black holes really exist?
A controversial study suggested that matter may never collapse completely into a black hole, an idea that would solve a troubling quantum paradox.
7. Satellite snaps first images of mysterious glowing clouds
NASA鈥檚 new AIM satellite took its first data on silvery blue 鈥榥octilucent鈥� clouds, which may be linked to global warming.
8. Strange alien world made of 鈥榟ot ice鈥�
The smallest planet known to pass in front of its host star was found. Intriguingly, it may be made of exotic hot ice and shrouded in steam.
9. Satellite could see shadow of extra dimensions
Researchers calculated that if our 3D universe is floating in a higher dimensional space, the shape of those extra dimensions might be detectable by Europe鈥檚 Planck satellite, set to launch in 2008.
10. Atom smasher may give birth to 鈥楤lack Saturns鈥�
Physicists said tiny, ringed black holes resembling Saturn might be produced at the Large Hadron Collider, set to open in 2008.
Honourable mention
13 things that do not make sense
One of our most popular stories in 2005 and 2006 continued to attract lots of users in 2007. Included in the article are the placebo effect, cold fusion, dark energy, the 鈥渨ow鈥� signal and bizarre homeopathy results.
