evidence: Amazing, incredible, emotional. These are uncommon words for summarizing the annual accomplishments of a particle physics experiment. Yet 2012 has been a fantastically uncommon year for ATLAS, one of the main experiments at CERN: marvellous machine performance, numerous and interesting physics results, plenty of interactions with students and general public, and - last but not least - a major discovery! [...] In 2012, ATLAS ramped up its efforts to inform the public of its goals and accomplishments, using a variety of communication platforms. Around the globe, collaboration members from the 176 ATLAS institutions were busy hosting public presentations, participating in media interviews, writing blogs, giving class lectures, and even holding science slams at the local pub. Back at CERN, the ATLAS Visitor Centre welcomed more than 40,000 visitors, half of them students and teachers. Thousands who could not make the trip in person were welcomed into the Control Room on ATLAS Virtual Visits, a live video program that received the Digital Communication Award this year for Best Online Event. In the autumn, ATLAS joined forces with others at CERN to launch Hangout with CERN, a series of public video discussions, focused on answering questions about the laboratory and its physics program. [...] Yes, 2012 was an amazing year for ATLAS and for science; there is no doubt about it. The marvellous thing is that the years to come seem more than promising. With upgraded accelerator and detector, as well as with significantly higher energy in 2015, the ATLAS physicists can’t wait to find out what other surprises Mother Nature is hiding!