Because every story published by Times Online is available indefinitely, articles keep accruing readers months or even years after the date they were published. Consequently we can only give approximate readership figures for each story. Anything more definite would be out of date before we publish it.

1: Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran

The oldest story in our list. In the first week of the year we revealed this chillingly apocalyptic plan to use nuclear-tipped ‘bunker buster’ bombs against Iran’s nuclear facilities. >655,000 views

2: Scientists hail frozen smoke as material that will change world

Aerogel is a new wonder material that is as light as it is strong and promises to be in the 21st century what plastics were in the 20th. It generated extraordinary interest among our readers in August. >650,000 views

3: Madeleine McCann: the key questions

Our late September round-up of the few solid facts available from the distressingly insoluble Praia da Luz mystery. >535,000 views

4: Alan Greenspan claims Iraq war was really for oil

When America’s most venerable financial expert published his memoirs they were expected to reveal some explosive truths. That he sided so unequivocally with critics of the Iraq adventure was nevertheless a major shock. > 530,000 views

5: Israelis blew apart Syrian nuclear cache

In September 2007 another example of Israel’s uncompromisingly aggressive attitude to nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. >520,000 views

6: Sex ban on the Airbus A380

A reminder to passengers on Singapore Airlines’ new double-bed first class service that certain in-flight activities would not be encouraged excited extraordinary interest among our readers. >485,000 views

7: An experiment that hints we are wrong on climate change

Nigel Calder’s level-headed analysis of the climate change debate was the stand-out story in February 2007. > 480,000 views

8: Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash

The motorsport hero’s death in a tragic helicopter accident shocked fans, who left hundreds of tributes in the comments section of our news report. >475,000 views

9: Could nude pictures of Vanessa Hudgens sink Disneys billion-dollar franchise?

Some ill-advised candid snaps of the toothsome ingénue escaped onto the Internet over the summer, leading to speculation that she might be sacked from the money-spinning High School Musical series.>430,000 views

10: Skydiver charged with murder after love rival fell 13000ft to her death

A genuine old-fashioned love triangle murder mystery brought thousands of visitors to Times Online in January 2007. >420,000 views

There's more to Times Online than up-to the minute news. Read our best feature offerings of 2007:

Times Online's Multimedia Hits of 2007

Top 10 stories from 'Most Curious'

The Top 10 Sport stories

Top 20 Search terms used on Times Online