From new monkeys in Africa and record sea ice melt on top of the world, here are our most-read stories of the year

1 New monkey species identified in Democratic Republic of Congo

Lesula found in remote forests is only the second new monkey species to be discovered in Africa in 28 years

As record sea ice melt scarcely makes the news while the third runway grabs headlines, is there a form of reactive denial at work?

3 Arctic expert predicts final collapse of sea ice within four years

As sea ice shrinks to record lows, Prof Peter Wadhams warns a 'global disaster' is now unfolding in northern latitudes

This illustration shows relatively high concentrations of chlorophyll (yellow to brown is high) in August 2012 where HSRC says they placed the nutrients. Other patches of high chlorophyll in the open waters can bee seen where HSRC was not operating. High chlorophyll indicates higher concentrations of phytoplankton. Careful and thorough research is required to determine what occurs naturally. Photograph: Giovanni/Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center/NASA

Controversial US businessman's iron fertilisation off west coast of Canada contravenes two UN conventions

5 Greenland ice sheet melted at unprecedented rate during July

Scientists at Nasa admitted they thought satellite readings were a mistake after images showed 97% surface melt over four days

6 10 things you should never flush down your toilet

Many sewer blockkages have to be removed by hand. Photograph: Stewart Turkington

Wet wipes are wreaking havoc, but they are not the strangest things to have been found in our sewers

7 Climate change study forces sceptical scientists to change minds

Earth's land shown to have warmed by 1.5C over past 250 years, with humans being almost entirely responsible

8 Mitt Romney confirms he would end US wind power subsidies

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama draw up battle lines over US wind farm tax credits

Changing wind patterns around Antarctica, above, have led to a minor increase in sea ice, as cold winds off the continent blow ice away from the coastline. Photograph: Momatiuk/Eastcott/Corbis

US military satellite data exposes complexity of climate change and impact of changing wind patterns on polar regions

Unless we move quickly to adopt new population, energy, and water policies, the goal of eradicating hunger will remain just that