At the start of 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope had just begun its voyage, and in mid-July the first images were released to the public, provoking our imaginations. This renewed interest on what exists beyond our planet seemed a fitting antidote to a year where media coverage was consumed by climate change, conflict and sports.

But even the stars aren’t safe: the Ukraine-Russia conflict dominated the news and threatened peace in space. At the start of the year, the Doomsday clock was at 100 seconds to midnight, indicating a that we are at a moment in history that is “both perilous and unsustainable;” in November, fears of a potential Russian nuclear attack heightened.

Possibly as a way to address or undo some of the challenges we have contended with, two of our most popular stories explored whether it was possible to travel through time, and if parallel timelines could exist. And as another avenue for imagining different ways of being, the growing popularity of the metaverse hinted at the emerging possibilities of virtual space.

One of our most popular science stories published by The Conversation Canada brought together two of my favourite things: octopuses (they’re compelling and intelligent) and cities. Octopolis and Octlantis are two octopus-occupied “cities” off the coast of Australia. There, octopuses — who were assumed to be solitary creatures — live, play and fight together, demonstrating that they can produce a culture, which makes farming them a contentious issue.

This past year, taking a closer look helped us learn more about ancient life on Earth. New DNA analysis techniques revealed that mammoths were around more recently than thought. And a closer examination of two overlooked fossils in Alberta and Uzbekistan revealed them to be newly discovered species of apex predators.

As we head into 2023, I’m looking forward to more stories that evoke or satiate our curiosity about the world around — and beyond — us.

Until then, all the best.