The science we cover here on Greater Good—aka, “the science of a meaningful life”—has exploded over the past 10 years, with many more studies published each year on gratitude, mindfulness, and our other core themes than we saw a decade ago.

2012 was no exception. In fact, in the year just past, new findings added nuance, depth, and even some caveats to our understanding of the science of a meaningful life. Here are 10 of the scientific insights that made the biggest impression on us in 2012—the findings most likely to resonate in scientific journals and the public consciousness in the years to come, listed in roughly the order in which they were published.

  1. There’s a personal cost to callousness […]

  2. High status brings low ethics […]

  3. Happiness is about respect, not riches […]

  4. Kindness is its own reward—even to toddlers […]

  5. We can train ourselves to be more compassionate […]

  6. Gratitude sustains relationships through tough times […]

  7. Humans are quicker to cooperate than compete […]

  8. There’s a dark side to pursuing happiness […]

  9. Parenthood actually does make most—but not all—people happier […]

  10. Kindness makes kids popular […]

Read the article for the details.