Don’t miss The Browser’s selection of 48 long features from the year. They have superlative taste.

Everyone’s putting together lists of their best work in 2011 and John Rennie is collecting them all. Check it out for some truly great work from some truly talented folk. I particularly want to highlight lists by Alex Wild,  Rennie himself, Jennifer Ouellette, Ivan Oransky and Kate Clancy.

From a Christmas argument to four-eyed fish: why can’t we see underwater? By Michael Holcombe

A science writer’s take on the famous Christmas poem. “Twas the nocturnal time of the preceding day…” Bravo to Edward Willett.

The Elephant in the Room: How Contraception Could Save Future Elephants from Culling, by