YEAR IN REVIEW
2009
Most-read science and technology stories of 2009
From giant planets to cellphone wars: 12 science and technology stories that topped your charts in 2009
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 | 4:05 PM ET
CBC News
Year in Review archive
2009
- 2009 Year in Review
- Clickable calendar for 2009 news events
- Most-read news stories of 2009
- The stories you clicked on the most in our Canadian news, World, Money, Consumer, Health, Technology & Science and Arts & Entertainment sections
Arts
- The year in books
- The 10 biggest publishing stories of 2009
- The year on screen
- Martin Morrow chooses his 10 favourite films of 2009 (Audio slideshow)
- The year in pop culture
- Take a visual tour of the memorable moments of 2009 (Photo gallery)
- 10 best albums of 2009
- We pick our favourite albums of the year
- Signs of '09 quiz
- Test your knowledge of pop culture in 2009
Previous years
- 2008 Year in Review
- Clickable calendar for 2008 news events
- 2007 Year in Review
- Photo galleries, top stories of the year
- 2006 Year in Review
- Photo galleries, top stories of the year
- 2005 Year in Review
- The top stories, issues and images of the year
- 2004 Year in Review
- Top news, arts and sports stories
- 2003 Year in Review
- Top news events, month by month
- 2002 Year in Review Quiz
- Test your knowledge of the top names, faces and events of the year
- 2001-2000
- From CBC Digital Archives: calendar of significant events from 2000, 2001
The Technology & Science section covers a lot of ground, and that's reflected in this list of the most read sci-tech stories on CBCNews.ca.
Naturally, stories about the internet (from access to usage) are important to our readers, including our stories on reports that criticized the quality of Canadians' internet service and Facebook's privacy protections.
Space news is always popular, and 2009 brought solid evidence of water on the moon and Earth-like planets outside our solar system.
Surprisingly, of the many stories about new dinosaur species and fossil discoveries, it was the giant snake Titanoboa that made it to the top of our monthly lists of most-viewed stories.
Here is the list of the most popular, but not necessarily the most important, technology and science stories of the year.
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Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- Severe storm in Quebec leaves damage in its wake
- Trees were uprooted, roofs damaged and windows shattered as severe thunderstorms, and possibly a tornado, rattled through southwestern Quebec Friday night. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- The Vatican has confirmed that the Pope's butler was arrested earlier in the week in connection with an embarrassing document leaks scandal. more »
Latest Technology & Science News Headlines
- Unloading of docked SpaceX capsule to start Saturday
- The privately bankrolled SpaceX Dragon capsule made a historic arrival at the International Space Station on Friday, and astronauts will begin unloading some of the 544 kilograms of food, water, clothing and other supplies its carrying starting Saturday.
more »
- South Africa, Australia to share world's largest telescope
- South Africa and Australia will jointly host the Square Kilometre Array, which promises to be the world's largest telescope, the international consortium in charge of the project said Friday. more »
- Bonavista, N.L., 'coyote' was really wolf, tests confirm
- Wolves have not been seen in Newfoundland since around 1930 and were believed to have been hunted to extinction on the island, but genetic tests have confirmed that an 82-pound animal shot on the Bonavista Peninsula in March was, in fact, a wolf. more »
- Once-rare argus butterfly thriving thanks to climate change
- Global warming is threatening the existence of many species, such as the giant polar bear, but in the case of Britain's brown argus butterfly, it took a species in trouble and made it thrive. more »
- Yahoo scraps digital magazine designed for iPad
- Yahoo has killed Livestand, a tablet magazine, just six months after its debut on the iPad. more »
Bob McDonald's Blog
Government to shut down unique fresh water research area May. 25, 2012 12:31 PM The Experimental Lakes Area research facility in Northern Ontario is being closed down after 44 years of providing invaluable data to scientists in Canada and internationally, a decision that has stunned researchers and environmental groups.
Quirks & Quarks
- May 26: Before the Lights Go Out May. 25, 2012 4:15 PM A new book, "Before the Lights Go Out: Conquering the Energy Crisis Before It Conquers Us", suggests that the unpredictable, unplanned, ad-hoc way our energy use developed in the past will shape our energy future.
Latest Features
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- Ottawa man in hospital after lightning strike
- Calmer winds ease fire threat in northeastern Ontario
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