2012 Breakthrough of the Year

Each December, the editors of Science reflect back upon the major scientific discoveries of the year and choose one which they believe to be the most significant. In 2012, the journal has selected the observation of an elusive sub-atomic particle, known as the Higgs boson, and given it the distinguished title of Breakthrough of the Year.

In this narrated slideshow, Brandon Bryn from the AAAS Office of Public Programs discusses this groundbreaking achievement-as well as nine runners-up that made big waves this year.

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