In the most unsurps­ing move of the year, Time has announced Barack Obama as Per­son of the Year, 2008. But it’s the other parts of the Year in Review issue that inter­est me the most.

  • Peo­ple Who Mat­tered tells the story of those who have changed the course of sci­ence, pol­i­tics and sci­ence in 2008: some for bet­ter, some for worse.
  • Fond Farewell is a trib­ute to those who left us this year, leav­ing much behind.
  • Pic­tures of the Year – do I really need to explain?