RealClearScience likes to take stock of all the terrific (and downright awful) science journalism and communication of the past eleven months, and examine who produces the very best. Out of the hundreds of blogs and websites which we monitor daily, these outlets rise to the top:

20.-11. Scientific American; Nautilus; The Conversation; Starts with a Bang!; National Geographic; BBC; Popular Science; Discover; Smithsonian; The Atlantic

And now for the finalists…

10. Science coverage continues to diminish at major newspaper, but it is alive and well atThe Guardian. Their talented journalists dish out quality coverage of the latest research, with a particular penchant for archaeology. Moreover, their website hosts a lively blog section with articles on varied topics.

9. At the beginning of the year, we wouldn’t have guessed that Gizmodo would make our top ten, but writers George Dvorsky, Ryan Mandelbaum, and Kristen Brown have done an incredible job communicating science to their readers with wonder and a healthy dose of skepticism, all while keeping Gizmodo’s usual hype in check.

8. ScienceNews has been in publication since 1922 (peruse their magazine archives for a fascinating trip back in time), and they’ve been steadfast in their dedication to disseminating the latest in science news completely and accurately. With a clean website and broad coverage across a spectrum of disciplines, what more could you ask for?

7.  NewScientist cracked last year’s top ten, and they make our list again this year because of their dependable coverage and keen eye for cool stories coming out of astrophysics.

6. Cosmos Magazine may come out quarterly in print, but its website is updated daily with concise, clearly-communicated content. Moreover, their writers regularly sniff out stories and studies we don’t see anywhere else. They make our list for the very first time.

5. Live Science ranked fifth in our top ten last year, and they retain their position this year. Setting them apart is their ability to publish a plethora of succinct, accurate content each and every day. Live Science is almost like a Wikipedia for science. (Full disclosure:RealClearScience has a limited content sharing partnership with Purch Media, Live Science’sparent company.)

4. It’s been a few years since Ars Technica made our top ten, but they rolled straight to the top five in 2017 thanks to standout reporting from veteran science writers Eric Berger, Beth Mole, Annalee Newitz, and John Timmer. If you seek science coverage that’s smart and critical, look no further than Ars.

2. Nature News has finally been dislodged from their lofty perch atop our list, but their reporting remains exemplary. Our only complaint is that they don’t publish enough articles. We want more!

1. Congratulations to the news division of Science Magazine! Science scythes across many spheres: political, cultural, technological, and academic. Science Magazine delves into all the areas where science is relevant, so you have a complete understanding of not only the latest research, but the latest policies and controversies, too.