24/12/12

The most debated stories of 2012

Which stories got people talking in 2012? Copyright: Flickr/ArtbyRetta

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<h1>The most debated stories of 2012</h1>
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<p><strong><em>SciDev.Net</em> brings you the most commented on articles in 2012, including news, editorials and opinions, spanning topics as diverse as wind energy, access to weather data and communicating science. </strong></p>
<p>Stories include an article about an Egyptian teenager who figured out how to turn plastic waste into biofuels, and an article about a controversial study that claimed to have found a way to increase the protein content of cassava only to be retracted due to missing data.</p>
<p>Which <em>SciDev.Net</em> articles do you find the most intriguing? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us <a href="https://twitter.com/SciDevNet" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@scidevnet</a> using #bestof2012</p>
<div class="article cf "><a href="/en/agriculture-and-environment/agri-biotech/news/combining-cassava-species-could-lead-to-better-crops.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/cassavachimeraroot_NagibNassar.jpg" alt="Maize farmer, Africa - Flickr/M. DeFreese/CIMMYT" title="Maize farmer, Africa - Flickr/M. DeFreese/CIMMYT" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/cassavachimeraroot_NagibNassar.jpg" alt="Maize farmer, Africa - Flickr/M. DeFreese/CIMMYT" title="Maize farmer, Africa - Flickr/M. DeFreese/CIMMYT" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/cassavachimeraroot_NagibNassar.jpg" alt="Maize farmer, Africa - Flickr/M. DeFreese/CIMMYT" title="Maize farmer, Africa - Flickr/M. DeFreese/CIMMYT" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="/en/agriculture-and-environment/agri-biotech/news/combining-cassava-species-could-lead-to-better-crops.html"> Combining cassava species could lead to better crops </a></h4>
<p>Researchers have devised a non-GM method for hybridising wild and cultivated cassava species, to create improved varieties.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/open-access/editorials/open-access-for-development-a-battle-not-yet-won.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Cambodia_computers_Flickr_World_Bank_Masaru_Goto_140x140.jpg" alt="Plastic bag protest - Flickr/350.org" title="Plastic bag protest - Flickr/350.org" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Cambodia_computers_Flickr_World_Bank_Masaru_Goto_140x140.jpg" alt="Plastic bag protest - Flickr/350.org" title="Plastic bag protest - Flickr/350.org" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Cambodia_computers_Flickr_World_Bank_Masaru_Goto_140x140.jpg" alt="Plastic bag protest - Flickr/350.org" title="Plastic bag protest - Flickr/350.org" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/open-access/editorials/open-access-for-development-a-battle-not-yet-won.html">Open access for development: a battle not yet won</a></h4>
<p>The momentum for Open Access is unstoppable. Now the global science community must manage change to ensure poorer regions are not left behind.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/health/genomics/news/first-gm-camels-to-be-engineered-for-drug-production.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Camel_Flickr_stevebrownd50_140x140.jpg" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Camel_Flickr_stevebrownd50_140x140.jpg" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Camel_Flickr_stevebrownd50_140x140.jpg" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/health/genomics/news/first-gm-camels-to-be-engineered-for-drug-production.html"> First GM camels to be engineered for drug production </a></h4>
<p>Dubai scientists hope their first GM camel, to be conceived later this year, will eventually make drug production in the region more affordable.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/agriculture-and-environment/forestry/news/slash-and-burn-improves-tropical-forest-biodiversity--1.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/boliviaslashandburn_Flickr_CIATInternationalCenterforTropicalAgriculture.jpg" class="article_image_left lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/boliviaslashandburn_Flickr_CIATInternationalCenterforTropicalAgriculture.jpg" class="article_image_left lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/boliviaslashandburn_Flickr_CIATInternationalCenterforTropicalAgriculture.jpg" class="article_image_left" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/agriculture-and-environment/forestry/news/slash-and-burn-improves-tropical-forest-biodiversity--1.html"> Slash-and-burn ‘improves tropical forest biodiversity’ </a></h4>
<p>Slash-and-burn agriculture is more sustainable than modern clearing methods and improves biodiversity, a study suggests.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/editorials/even-bad-science-needs-putting-in-context-1.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Algerian_journalists_flickr_Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Office.jpg" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Algerian_journalists_flickr_Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Office.jpg" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Algerian_journalists_flickr_Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Office.jpg" alt="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" title="The new turbine - Saphon Energy" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/editorials/even-bad-science-needs-putting-in-context-1.html"> Even ‘bad science’ needs putting in context </a></h4>
<p>Science journalists must help to root out misleading scientific claims, but not without sensitivity to culture and the limitations of science.</p>
<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/middle-east-and-north-africa/news/sail-inspired-turbine-promises-cheaper-wind-energy.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/saphon-bladeless-wind-turbine1.jpg" alt="Children near Kunsu, Ghana - Flickr/Gates Foundation" title="Children near Kunsu, Ghana - Flickr/Gates Foundation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/saphon-bladeless-wind-turbine1.jpg" alt="Children near Kunsu, Ghana - Flickr/Gates Foundation" title="Children near Kunsu, Ghana - Flickr/Gates Foundation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/saphon-bladeless-wind-turbine1.jpg" alt="Children near Kunsu, Ghana - Flickr/Gates Foundation" title="Children near Kunsu, Ghana - Flickr/Gates Foundation" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/middle-east-and-north-africa/news/sail-inspired-turbine-promises-cheaper-wind-energy.html"> Sail-inspired turbine promises cheaper wind energy</a></h4>
<p>A Tunisian wind turbine that replaces blades with sails, can capture twice the wind energy of existing turbines, its creators claim.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/climate-change-and-energy/news/wmo-weather-information-system-improves-access-to-data.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/A_cyclone_Flickr_thebadastronomer.jpg" alt="Flour mill on a scooter - SRISTI, Ahmedabad" title="Flour mill on a scooter - SRISTI, Ahmedabad" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/A_cyclone_Flickr_thebadastronomer.jpg" alt="Flour mill on a scooter - SRISTI, Ahmedabad" title="Flour mill on a scooter - SRISTI, Ahmedabad" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/A_cyclone_Flickr_thebadastronomer.jpg" alt="Flour mill on a scooter - SRISTI, Ahmedabad" title="Flour mill on a scooter - SRISTI, Ahmedabad" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/climate-change-and-energy/news/wmo-weather-information-system-improves-access-to-data.html"> WMO weather information system improves access to data</a></h4>
<p>The World Meteorological Organization is offering improved access to data for decision-makers in developing countries.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/climate-change-and-energy/biofuels/news/student-finds-new-way-of-turning-plastic-into-biofuel.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/AzzaAbdelHamidFaiad2_EuropeanCommission_140x140.jpg" alt="Lab workers - Shutterstock" title="Lab workers - Shutterstock" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/AzzaAbdelHamidFaiad2_EuropeanCommission_140x140.jpg" alt="Lab workers - Shutterstock" title="Lab workers - Shutterstock" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/AzzaAbdelHamidFaiad2_EuropeanCommission_140x140.jpg" alt="Lab workers - Shutterstock" title="Lab workers - Shutterstock" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/climate-change-and-energy/biofuels/news/student-finds-new-way-of-turning-plastic-into-biofuel.html"> Student finds new way of turning plastic into biofuel</a></h4>
<p>An Egyptian teenager has devised a low-cost method for producing biofuel from plastics, and will receive assistance with progressing her idea.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/editorials/tackling-the-real-crisis-in-science-communication-1.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" alt="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Journalists_Vietnam_140x140.jpg" title="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" alt="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Journalists_Vietnam_140x140.jpg" title="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" alt="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/Journalists_Vietnam_140x140.jpg" title="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-communication/editorials/tackling-the-real-crisis-in-science-communication-1.html"> Tackling the real crisis in science communication</a></h4>
<p>The shortage of credible and diverse voices in science undermines the capacity of journalists to respond to development challenges.</p>
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<div class="article cf "><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/agriculture-and-environment/gm-crops/news/gm-cassava-study-retracted-over-missing-data.html"> <img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" alt="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/cassava_Flickr_IITA.jpg" title="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" alt="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" class="article_image_left lazyload" data-src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/cassava_Flickr_IITA.jpg" title="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img decoding="async" height="80" border="0" alt="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" class="article_image_left" src="http://c96267.r67.cf3.rackcdn.com/cassava_Flickr_IITA.jpg" title="Women labourers in Africa - Flickr/Gates Foundation" /></noscript></noscript> </a></p>
<h4><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/agriculture-and-environment/gm-crops/news/gm-cassava-study-retracted-over-missing-data.html"> GM cassava study retracted over ‘missing’ data</a></h4>
<p>A study that claimed to boost cassava’s protein content has been retracted after the research team found they could not repeat its results.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/agriculture-and-environment/news/the-most-read-stories-in-2012.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">See also the most read stories in 2012</a></p>
<p>What article do you think is missing? Add your comment below.</p></div>
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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/the-most-debated-stories-of-2012/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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SciDev.Net brings you the most commented on articles in 2012, including news, editorials and opinions, spanning topics as diverse as wind energy, access to weather data and communicating science.

Stories include an article about an Egyptian teenager who figured out how to turn plastic waste into biofuels, and an article about a controversial study that claimed to have found a way to increase the protein content of cassava only to be retracted due to missing data.

Which SciDev.Net articles do you find the most intriguing? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @scidevnet using #bestof2012