Read more: "2014 preview: 10 ideas that will matter next year"
From the first example of interspecies telepathy
This year we saw the appearance of two nasty viruses – a deadly new strain of bird flu and a respiratory virus in the Middle East.
On the flip side, we also saw a demonstration of the world's first mind-controlled exoskeleton for people who are paralysed, and several promising treatments for HIV and cancer.
It is also 150 years since the UK's Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital first opened its doors – New Scientist took a look inside to see how research there could help shed light on the biological mechanisms that underlie some extreme behaviour.
Here are 10 of the year's memorable stories.
Fear of a smell can be passed down several generations
Mice whose father feared a smell, such as cherry blossom, reacted fearfully to the same odour even though they had never come across it before
Your genomic future: Personalised medicine is here
Genome sequencing is bringing a medical revolution for families with rare diseases, and the rest of us will benefit too.
How to grow human spare organs inside pigs
Groundbreaking experiments are starting to make it possible to grow personalised organs in a host animal
Rapid evolution of tumours may be their Achilles' heel
One man's sacrifice has revealed how his cancer mutated from its emergence to its last lethal change, opening the door to a Darwinian approach to therapy
DNA tests can prevent the next horsemeat scandal
Food fraud is not new, but experience from the fish industry shows how genetic databases and cheaper sequencing can ensure we know what we are eating
Obama to scientists: Tell us how to calm gun violence
The president asked Congress to release millions of dollars for fresh research into gun violence, including the influence of video games
Deadly Middle East coronavirus spreads
Fears a new respiratory virus identified last year in the Middle East could cause a pandemic prove unfounded. The virus isn't showing signs of it – yet
First human infections with H7N9 bird flu
The hunt is on for the source of a deadly strain of bird flu and drugs to tackle it
HIV 'cured': first a baby, now 14 adults
A small group of adults given rapid drug treatment after HIV infection no longer need drugs to keep the virus in check
Are Alzheimer's and diabetes the same disease?
People with type 2 diabetes often have memory problems. That may be a result of Alzheimer's-like brain changes – changes which can be reversed in rats
If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.
