1) Cellular reprogramming, which produces customized cell lines from patient cells, was a major scientific breakthrough as it holds promise for life-saving medical advances. 2) Astronomers directly observed exoplanets orbiting other stars for the first time using telescope techniques to distinguish planet light from bright star glare. 3) Researchers sequenced cancer cell genes and uncovered dozens of mutations that remove brakes on cell division, advancing understanding of cancer development.

1. Top ten scientific breakthroughs of 2008

11. Faster, cheaper genome sequencing