The year 2018 was marked by exciting discoveries and inventions in the field of medical sciences, life sciences, archeology, physical sciences, and planetary sciences. While some are headline-hitting, most are crucial in cementing our understanding of various tenets in these areas. As we come close to bidding goodbye to 2018, here is a sneak-peek into the trendsetters in science in this year, in no particular order.

You asked it and here we have! Wondering what was popular on Research Matters in 2018? Following are our top-ten stories that gained traction by readers like you. Thank you for your support and hope to see it continue in the years to come.

As the curtain falls on 2018, here is a tribute to those great Indian scientists and innovators who died in the year. These eminent people contributed to various fields of science and helped put India in the frontiers of global scientific advancements. This is in no way an exhaustive list, but it is an effort to bring to the fore the achievers who have left an indelible mark behind. 

Researchers from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta, Kolkata, and the Indian Institute of Technology Patna, have examined the practice of outsourcing in the Indian context. They found that the outsourcing model helps companies remain viable, particularly during economic crises.

Researchers from ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai shows that building toilets is not a challenge, but getting people to use them is the tricky part. The study estimates the prevalence of adults who defecate in the open despite having household toilets and examines the factors driving this practice.

On the 25th of October, 2018, an event was organised in New Delhi to celebrate the successes of a decade-long Indo-UK collaboration in research and innovation, and to mark the launch of the UK Research and Innovation India (UKRI India). UKRI India is a new body that partners with universities, research organisations, and government funding agencies to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish.

In a recent study, published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, a multi-national team of researchers have traced the trail of the Zika virus from the forests of Africa to India and other Asian countries.

Researchers from DST's Centre for Policy Research, the IISc, and CSIR have examined the popular measurement standards used in research and their trustworthiness.

Researchers impress upon the importance of developing cardiovascular disease risk programs in India by utilizing survey data.

In a recent article published in the `Science’ magazine, titled ‘When the cure kills—CBD limits biodiversity research’, researchers have questioned the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a framework formulated to conserve biodiversity.