An AI pioneer, an architect of India’s Moon mission and the world’s first global heat officer are some of the people behind this year’s big stories.

The Nature’s 10 list explores key developments in science over the past year and some of the individuals who helped to make amazing discoveries and bring attention to crucial issues. It is not an award or a ranking, but a selection compiled by Nature’s editors to highlight the year’s most compelling stories.

Since its inception more than a decade ago, Nature’s 10 has highlighted the influence of 10 people within the world of science. We are continuing with that tradition in 2023 and are adding to it by including a non-person – an acknowledgement of the role that artificial intelligence designed to mimic human language is having in the development and progress of science.