More amazing image galleries of the year:
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Former US astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the moon, died at the age of 82 in August following heart surgery. (Copyright: AP/Nasa)
Former US astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the moon, died at the age of 82 in August following heart surgery. (Copyright: AP/Nasa)
In 1964 the physicist proposed the existence of a particle, now known as the Higgs boson; it took until 2012 for scientists to prove he might be right. (Copyright: Getty Images)
In 1964 the physicist proposed the existence of a particle, now known as the Higgs boson; it took until 2012 for scientists to prove he might be right. (Copyright: Getty Images)
The US business figure left Google to become president and CEO of troubled internet giant Yahoo! in July; she was Yahoo!’s third CEO in a year. (Copyright: Getty Images)
The US business figure left Google to become president and CEO of troubled internet giant Yahoo! in July; she was Yahoo!’s third CEO in a year. (Copyright: Getty Images)
Austrian Felix Baumgartner leaped from a balloon at 39km (24 miles) in October to set records for the highest parachute jump and fastest free-fall. (Copyright: AP/Red Bull Stratos)
Austrian Felix Baumgartner leaped from a balloon 39km (24 miles) up in October to set records for the highest parachute jump and fastest free-fall. (Copyright: AP/Red Bull Stratos)
Film-maker James Cameron became the first person to make a solo submarine dive to the deepest known place on the Earth's sea floor, Challenger Deep. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
Hollywood film-maker James Cameron became the first person to make a solo submarine dive to the deepest place on Earth, Challenger Deep. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
The famous physicist, 70 this year, must ponder how to spend the $3m (£1.8m) money from winning the Special Fundamental Physics Prize for his life’s work. (Copyright: Getty Images)
The famous physicist must now ponder how to spend the $3m (£1.8m) prize money for winning the Special Fundamental Physics Prize for his life’s work. (Copyright: Getty Images)
In July, China’s fourth space mission broke new ground – carrying Liu Yang, the country’s first female astronaut. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
China’s fourth space mission, which set off in July, broke new ground – Liu Yang was the country’s first female astronaut. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
He is said to be $19bn (£11.8bn) richer after Facebook went public; but the share price has since tumbled, losing nearly a third of its value since May. (Copyright: AP/Nasdaq)
He is said to be $19bn (£11.8bn) richer after Facebook went public; but the share price has since tumbled, losing nearly a third of its value since May. (Copyright: AP/Nasdaq)
Six Italian seismologists and a government official were jailed for failing to communicate the risk of the 2009 L’Aquila quake, which killed 308 people. (Copyright: Getty Images)
Six Italian seismologists and a government official were jailed for failing to predict the 2009 L’Aquila quake, which killed 308 people. (Copyright: AFP/Getty Images)
An amateur astronomer turned expert and an eccentric star of British TV for 55 years, "The Sky at Night" host passed away in December at the age of 89. (Copyright: Keystone/Getty)
An amateur astronomer turned expert and an eccentric star of British TV for 55 years, ‘The Sky at Night’ host passed away in December at the age of 89. (Copyright: Keystone/Getty)