Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific and technological accomplishments of the past 12 months and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events.

Here is the full list of the biggest 100 science and tech stories of 2011, divided up into seven topical sections. We'll be publishing the stories in each topic over the rest of the month. Click on the orange headlines to read more.

The Top 10 Physics and Math Stories of 2011

1. Faster than the Speed of Light: Runaway subatomic particles seem to be breaking the cosmic speed limit. If the results hold up, physicists have some explaining to do.

14. Astronomers Watch Black Hole Devour Star: Researchers luck out, getting a front row seat for stellar annihilation.

20. Helium's Antimatter Twin Created: Scientists catch particle only created once every 28 billion times nuclei are smashed together.

26. The New Physics of Bicycles: Why do riderless bikes stay upright? What we thought was wrong.

32. Where's the Higgs?: The Large Hadron Collider is supposed to solve the top mysteries in physics. That has not happened yet. Joseph Lykken explains why not, and what to do next.

62. Star Birth Seen in Action: Astronomers glimpse stellar creation.

65. America's Atom Smasher, 1983-2011: The Illinois-based Tevatron closes after an auspicious--but all too short--career.

82. Could Random Airplane Boarding Speed Your Trip?: The quickest way to climb aboard a plane may be the least ordered.

93. Super-Rocket Tested: NASA has begun testing its high-powered new engine.

95. Computer Builds A Perfect Galaxy: Nature did it in 13 billion years. Computer does it in 9 months.