It’s been an eventful year, full of surprises.

These five trending topics hint at important discoveries to come.

Our picks for the top 10 papers of the year highlight leaps in our understanding of autism, as well as lingering gaps.

Interpreting mouse and rat behavior is tricky because of the hidden factors that can influence experiments.

The books, shows and movies that most accurately portray autism are those that don’t dwell on the condition.

A college student on the spectrum reflects on her struggles relating to others and gaining independence — and on the people who have given her hope.

Peruse our picks for the best science photos published on Spectrum this year.

Autism researchers reflect on the unusual episodes that spawned significant scientific projects.

We took note of our favorite quotes from articles we published this year.