Needle formation lets space rubble sneak up on us
We used to think space rocks less than 50 metres across would break up in the atmosphere, but new work shows their debris can crash down on Earth
Paris climate deal is agreed – but is it really good enough?
The Paris climate agreement is better than many expected but it is not enough to achieve the stated aim of limiting warming to 2 °C, let alone 1.5 °C
Rising seas expected to sink islands near US capital in 50 years
The Tangier islands in Chesapeake Bay near Washington DC could become uninhabitable by 2063 as sea levels rise and force people away
Road map of awareness could help us rouse unconscious people
We now know exactly which brain pathways control whether someone is awake or unconscious
*Sad face*: Being happy does not help you live longer
Apologies to self-help authors. A huge study suggests there is no link between being happy and living longer
Experts doubt Google’s claim about its quantum computer’s speed
Google says that its quantum computer can solve problems 100 million times faster than ordinary computers, but its results don't stand up to scrutiny
Rudolph’s new enemy: The eagles hunting adult reindeer in Norway
Golden eagles are known to prey on reindeer calves, but have now been seen killing adults in early winter, when weather makes other prey hard to come by
Simulated brain surgery could personalise epilepsy treatment
Modelling how surgery affects electrical activity in an individual's brain could boost success by tailoring this last-ditch procedure to the patient
Sensors to give early storm warnings to people near deadly lake
An automated SMS network could help save lives on Lake Victoria – where 4000 people drown every year amid near-constant storms
From Pluto fly-by to head transplants – the best stories of 2015
This year was full of exciting stories, including mystery signals from space and the discovery of a new ancient human relative. Here are some of our favourites
