Issue 3266 | Magazine cover date: 25 January 2020

This week's magazine

25 January 2020

Issue 3266

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On the cover

Features

A radical idea suggests mental health conditions have a single cause

The epic ocean journey that took Stone Age people to Australia

Inside the mission to stop killer asteroids from smashing into Earth

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Mysterious drone swarms flying at night are baffling US authorities

We’ve seen wolf pups play fetch just like dogs for the first time

Chinese Chang’e 4 engineer explains how to garden on the moon

CRISPR-edited chickens made resistant to a common virus

Analysis

Goop Lab on Netflix shows how easy it is to fall for bad science

The claim that our food is becoming less nutritious is overblown

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Health

Food allergies may be on the rise because babies start solids too late

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Health

New understanding of mental illness may improve access to treatment

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Health

A radical idea suggests mental health conditions have a single cause

Features

Life

Inside the mission to stop killer asteroids from smashing into Earth

Features

Humans

The epic ocean journey that took Stone Age people to Australia

Features

Leaders

Health

New understanding of mental illness may improve access to treatment

One-size-fits all therapies may be the best place to start when treating mental health conditions, according to genetic analyses that link many conditions to a common cause

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Space

Weird dust balls seen impossibly close to our galaxy’s huge black hole

The black hole at the heart of our galaxy has some strange neighbours At the centre of our galaxy, less than 0.2 light years from Sagittarius A* , the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, six strange objects are defying gravity. They look like clouds of gas and dust, but behave like stars, and astronomers don't …

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Environment

Australia's fire-driven storms are pumping smoke into the stratosphere

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Health

Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy may trigger PTSD and depression

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Health

Swapping breakfast for brunch on weekends may lead to weight gain

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Earth

Living 'concrete' made from bacteria used to create replicating bricks

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Technology

Mysterious drone swarms flying at night are baffling US authorities

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Life

Strange spider-shaped microorganisms could be our distant ancestors

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Mind

DeepMind found an AI learning technique also works in human brains

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Life

AI suggests Earth has had fewer mass extinctions than we thought

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Life

We’ve seen wolf pups play fetch just like dogs for the first time

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Health

Benzodiazepine prescriptions reach ‘disturbing’ levels in the US

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Chemistry

��è��Ƶs made a bow tie-shaped molecule and it changes colour

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Space

Chinese Chang’e 4 engineer explains how to garden on the moon

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Environment

Our current food system can feed only 3.4 billion people sustainably

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Life

Releasing rescued orangutans into the wild doesn’t boost populations

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Health

A special kind of nose cell may trigger allergic reactions

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Environment

Michelin sustainable rubber criticised for deforestation

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Technology

Electrified artificial skin can feel exactly where it is touched

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Health

Cell injections may restore fertility lost through cancer treatment

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Environment

CRISPR-edited chickens made resistant to a common virus

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Health

Sixth person dies as Wuhan coronavirus spreads between people

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Humans

DNA from ancient skeletons reveals a lost branch of modern humans

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Analysis

Health

Goop Lab on Netflix shows how easy it is to fall for bad science

Gwyneth Paltrow is the owner of alternative health company Goop Psychic readings, energy healing and vampire facials are just a few of the adventures had by actor and alternative health guru Gwyneth Paltrow and her team in her forthcoming Netflix series The Goop Lab. Goop, Paltrow’s natural health company, has already become a byword for …

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Health

The claim that our food is becoming less nutritious is overblown

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Health

Food allergies may be on the rise because babies start solids too late

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Aperture

Humans

People have built a glacier in the desert using a huge tower of ice

THE Himalayan desert of Ladakh is home to this majestic tower of ice, known as an ice stupa, after the domed Buddhist buildings. It is effectively an artificial glacier, created by local people to store water and designed to start melting when they need it. In winter, temperatures in Ladakh rarely rise much above -40°C, …

Regulars

Features

Health

A radical idea suggests mental health conditions have a single cause

The discovery of a link between anxiety, depression, OCD and more is set to revolutionise how we think about these conditions – and offer new treatments

Features

Humans

The epic ocean journey that took Stone Age people to Australia

Features

Life

Inside the mission to stop killer asteroids from smashing into Earth

Features

Culture

Humans

Black activism has been shaped by tech and data for 100 years

An exhibition and new book trace the battle, fought via infographics and social media platforms, to make black communities in the US visible through technology

Culture

Humans

Don't miss: A singing bridge, a lost people and brilliant minds

Culture

Technology

Video game Ancestors lets you meddle with the epic story of evolution

Culture

Humans

Here's how to make your own tofu for Chinese New Year

To celebrate Chinese New Year, why not make your own tofu and turn it into a multisensory experience with a recipe that activates heat and touch receptors along with taste

Regulars

��è��Ƶ puzzle #43: dividing Grandma's field

Regulars

Humans

Here's the secret to the ultimate thrill ride according to science

Regulars

Twisteddoodles on science being all too relatable

Regulars

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

How a NASA intern discovered a planet on his third day in the office

Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more

Regulars

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This week's magazine

25 January 2020

On the cover

Health

Food allergies may be on the rise because babies start solids too late

Health

New understanding of mental illness may improve access to treatment

Health

A radical idea suggests mental health conditions have a single cause

Life

Inside the mission to stop killer asteroids from smashing into Earth

Humans

The epic ocean journey that took Stone Age people to Australia

Table of contents

Leaders

Health

New understanding of mental illness may improve access to treatment

��è����Ƶ

Space

Weird dust balls seen impossibly close to our galaxy’s huge black hole

Environment

Australia's fire-driven storms are pumping smoke into the stratosphere

Health

Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy may trigger PTSD and depression

Health

Swapping breakfast for brunch on weekends may lead to weight gain

Earth

Living 'concrete' made from bacteria used to create replicating bricks

Technology

Mysterious drone swarms flying at night are baffling US authorities

Life

Strange spider-shaped microorganisms could be our distant ancestors

Mind

DeepMind found an AI learning technique also works in human brains

Life

AI suggests Earth has had fewer mass extinctions than we thought

Life

We’ve seen wolf pups play fetch just like dogs for the first time

Health

Benzodiazepine prescriptions reach ‘disturbing’ levels in the US

Chemistry

��è����Ƶs made a bow tie-shaped molecule and it changes colour

Space

Chinese Chang’e 4 engineer explains how to garden on the moon

Environment

Our current food system can feed only 3.4 billion people sustainably

Life

Releasing rescued orangutans into the wild doesn’t boost populations

Health

A special kind of nose cell may trigger allergic reactions

Environment

Michelin sustainable rubber criticised for deforestation

Technology

Electrified artificial skin can feel exactly where it is touched

Health

Cell injections may restore fertility lost through cancer treatment

Environment

CRISPR-edited chickens made resistant to a common virus

Health

Sixth person dies as Wuhan coronavirus spreads between people

Humans

DNA from ancient skeletons reveals a lost branch of modern humans

Analysis

Health

Goop Lab on Netflix shows how easy it is to fall for bad science

Health

The claim that our food is becoming less nutritious is overblown

Health

Food allergies may be on the rise because babies start solids too late

Aperture

Humans

People have built a glacier in the desert using a huge tower of ice

Features

Health

A radical idea suggests mental health conditions have a single cause

Humans

The epic ocean journey that took Stone Age people to Australia

Life

Inside the mission to stop killer asteroids from smashing into Earth

��è��Ƶ

��è��Ƶ

��è��Ƶs made a bow tie-shaped molecule and it changes colour

��è��Ƶ puzzle #43: dividing Grandma's field