We’ve created a special downloadable e-book of some of our most popular stories of the year – stories that sparked the curiosity of readers like you, covering topics ranging from super-earths to mosquito magnets, and from why we need to file tax returns to why we can’t just throw all our trash into volcanoes.

We hope this is a special – albeit small – sample of the great work we’ve been able to accomplish this year with the support of the universities, academics and donors who are our partners in creating independent, fact-based, nonprofit journalism.

Together, we are a force for good, helping the public better understand the complex issues shaping our communities and lives.

It’s a simple but innovative model: We find experts to dig into topical and newsy issues and work with them to craft articles that explain simply – without oversimplifying. We give away all our stories for free, to readers and newsrooms around the world, without syndication fees or paywalls or advertising. And those stories reach more than 10 million readers each month. We’re so glad you’re one of them.

If you’d rather just read the articles on our website, here you go:

• Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? A medical entomologist points to metabolism, body odor and mindset

• 50-year-old muscles just can’t grow big like they used to – the biology of how muscles change with age

• Super-Earths are bigger, more common and more habitable than Earth itself – and astronomers are discovering more of the billions they think are out there

• Could people breathe the air on Mars?

• Does turning the air conditioning off when you’re not home actually save energy? Three engineers run the numbers

• When the power grid goes out, could solar and batteries power your home?

• The IRS already has all your income tax data – so why do Americans still have to file their taxes?

• Why can’t we throw all our trash into a volcano and burn it up?

Thanks for reading! If you find these articles to be informative and enjoyable, please partner with us to sustain our work.