Hello Nature readers,
Merry Christmas! While I relax somewhere with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head, I hope you enjoy this holiday assortment of Briefing treats.

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The best science images of the year

Kenya’s black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) have rebounded from near-extinction thanks to conservation efforts, but protecting them is difficult work. In this photograph — a winner in the 2025 BigPicture wildlife photography competition — a team treats a sick rhino, showing the skill and coordination needed to handle these powerful animals safely — even when the rhino is under sedation.

See more of the year’s sharpest science shots, selected by Nature’s photo team.

Nature | Leisurely scroll

The feel-good science stories of the year

Nature’s pick of some of the best uplifting science stories we reported in 2025 includes:

• The return of the adorable Australian marsupial known as the ampurta (Dasycercus hillieri) — which moved from near-extinction to ‘least concern’ this year.
• The continued recovery of the Antarctic ozone layer — thanks to the international cooperation that saved it via the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
• Heroic efforts from health workers and African governments contained an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in just 42 days.

Nature | 10 min read

The year’s 10 best science books

Spineless creatures, bold women and possibly the world’s oldest beer receipt are among Andrew Robinson’s pick of the year’s top science books to put on your gift list (or just buy for yourself).

Nature | 11 min read

Science to watch out for in 2026

The rise of AI scientists, missions to explore the moons of Earth and Mars and a massive ocean-floor drill are among the developments set to shape research in 2026.

Nature | 8 min read

Podcast: Festive spectacular 2025

This festive episode of the Nature Podcast features games, gifts and the annual slate of festive songs celebrating the science of the past year — including “I am the Very Model of a Miniature Tyrannosaur”, the story of a diminutive dinosaur that turned out to be its own species.

Nature Podcast | 42 min listen
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Podcast: Scientists on science

News & Views articles offer expert analysis of cutting-edge research. In this week’s Nature Podcast, the News & Views team talk about some of their science highlights of 2025, from astrophysics to genetics, climate change to materials science.

Nature Podcast | 20 min listen
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News & Views end-of-year quiz

Think you know science? Go beyond the headlines with these 12 questions to test your knowledge of the expert research analysis published in Nature this year.

Nature | 5-min quiz