HighlightsThe calendar year 2007 has been an excellent year for Group 14 chemistry. Silicon- and lead-centered radicals have featured heavily this year, as have the materials aspects of silica, silsesquioxanes and silicon and germanium nanowires. The controversy over the nature of bonding in M(14)–M(14) dimers rages on, a fantastic arena wherein we can continue to investigate just what higher order bonding means. Explosive molecules tetraazido methane and tetrakis(azidomethyl) silane have been prepared and characterised in a feat of chemical derring-do and the activation of carbon dioxide remains a hot target. Germanium, tin and lead clusters have also featured heavily this year, with an array of Zintl ions, endohedral clusters and mixed-metal assemblies reported. The theoreticians continue to challenge the synthetic chemist to prepare the exotic and hitherto unknown species which they predict might be liable to synthesis. This year, each member of the group has been shown to have something new to offer and the prospect remains very bright indeed for the Group 14 devote