Health
A hidden drug overdose crisis has struck Scotland – can we fix it?
News
This week's magazine
5 October 2019
Issue 3250
On the cover
Editor's picks
Humans
We need to talk about technology that people use to influence others
News
Physics
What the quark?! Why matter’s most basic building blocks may not exist
Features
Environment
How many trees are there on Earth? Mission to measure planet’s biomass
Features
Humans
AI can predict your future behaviour with powerful new simulations
Features
Table of contents
快猫短视频
Space
The rocket Elon Musk wants to send to Mars is almost ready to launch
Elon Musk's giant Starship rocket is due to take passengers on a trip around the moon in 2020. Last night, he said orbital tests will begin within two months
News
Health
Many cancer drugs can be co-opted to treat different types of tumour
News
Technology
WhatsApp restrictions slow the spread of fake news 鈥� but don’t stop it
News
Earth
We’ve totted up all Earth’s carbon – and 99 per cent is underground
News
Environment
World鈥檚 largest untapped coal reserve about to go up in smoke
News
Humans
Female orgasm may have evolved from a trigger for ovulation
News
Technology
Where have I left my wallet? This smart camera can remind you
News
Health
Avoiding red or processed meat doesn’t seem to give health benefits
News
Space
Ocean worlds with a thick atmosphere may be better for life than Earth
News
Environment
Sticky fluid can be sprayed on grassy verges to prevent wildfires
News
Space
Exclusive: Rocket test in Alaska polluted 230 tonnes of soil
News
Space
Christina Koch snapped this majestic picture of Soyuz 61 from the ISS
News
Earth
Fossilised microbes from 3.5 billion years ago are oldest yet found
News
Humans
Around half of your chances of career success comes down to sheer luck
News
Life
Desert birds are struggling to get enough water to stay cool
News
Health
Experimental diabetes drug may lower blood sugar and reduce obesity
News
Environment
Plastic tea bags shed billions of microplastic particles into the cup
News
Physics
A strange new type of crystal is made of fluid tied into knots
News
Humans
Ancient European megastructures may have been community centres
News
Life
Crypt-keeper wasps can control the minds of 7 other species of wasp
News
Analysis
Health
Google is taking over DeepMind’s NHS contracts 鈥� should we be worried?
Five NHS trusts have agreed contracts with Google Health after it swallowed up its UK sister firm DeepMind Health.聽But a lack of transparency means it's hard to tell how much has changed
News
Physics
Google has reached quantum supremacy 鈥� here’s what it should do next
News
Health
A hidden drug overdose crisis has struck Scotland – can we fix it?
News
Comment
Scare stories of mutant GM mosquitoes aren鈥檛 true, but have some truth
News
Space
Dust is annoying, but it is also key to life and death in the cosmos
News
Features
Environment
How many trees are there on Earth? Mission to measure planet’s biomass
Trees are our biggest ally against climate change - but we've never been sure how big. New space-based technology is revealing their potential for the first time
Features
Humans
AI can predict your future behaviour with powerful new simulations
Features
Physics
What the quark?! Why matter’s most basic building blocks may not exist
Features
Culture
Earth
Volcanoes and Wine: Why a match made in hell tastes like heaven
From Etna to Vesuvius, Santorini to Stromboli, volcanoes have long been linked to excellent wines. New book Volcanoes and Wine explores this unlikely terroir
Culture
Humans
Gamechanger: L. X. Beckett鈥檚 latest sci-fi novel lives up to its name
Culture
Don’t miss: Body portraits, killer doubles and a stellar mind at work
Culture
Environment
Sea of Shadows: Film documents demise of the world’s smallest porpoise
Culture
More
Space
The imperial units error that downed a multi-million-dollar Mars probe
20 years ago, NASA鈥檚 Mars Climate Orbiter dived too deep and was crushed in Mars鈥檚 atmosphere. The reason? A mix-up between metric and imperial measurements
Regulars
Space
How to measure light pollution where you live by counting stars
Regulars
Humans
Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten on the science of mindfulness
Regulars
Regulars
How not to cheat at Scrabble: change the value of all the letters
Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more
This Week鈥檚 Letters
Letters
Time and tide: what is the smallest body of water with lunar tides?
Last Word
This week鈥檚 new questions
Last Word
Freewheeling: does one finger provide significant support on a bike?
Last Word
