As 2025 draws to a close, for this month’s edition of Periodic Graphics, we summarise the year’s most-read C&EN stories. Stories of innovations included potential underground hydrogen reserves and bacteria that can convert plastics to paracetamol. Health and ethical concerns also charted highly, from lead in protein powders to peer review problems.
See the full graphic over on the C&EN site, along with links to each of the most-read stories.

