Humans
Why it is important to explore the outer limits of knowledge
News
This week's magazine
14 January 2023
Issue 3421
On the cover
Editor's picks
Health
How to be happy, according to the longest-running study of happiness
Features
Mind
Logic underpins knowledge 鈥� but what if logic itself is flawed?
Features
Mind
Why some aspects of physical reality must be experienced to be known
Features
Mathematics
Why maths, our best tool to describe the universe, may be fallible
Features
Physics
How AI is shifting the limits of knowledge imposed by complexity
Features
Physics
How can we understand quantum reality if it is impossible to measure?
Features
Table of contents
快猫短视频
Space
First satellite launch from the UK failed due to an 鈥榓nomaly鈥�
Virgin Orbit鈥檚 LauncherOne rocket and a group of nine satellites it was taking to low-Earth orbit may have burned up in the atmosphere as the launch failed
News
Technology
AI legal assistant will help defendant fight a speeding case in court
News
Environment
How California can capture stormwater to fight off the drought
News
Health
Genetic map of cells linked to endometriosis could improve treatments
News
Life
Twisted shapes of ancient trees may explain their extreme longevity
News
Life
Urban lizards have gene mutations that help them adapt to city life
News
Technology
AI chatbots could hit a ceiling after 2026 as training data runs dry
News
Society
Men predicted to outnumber women in physics until the year 2158
News
Life
Sloths have double the grip strength of humans and other primates
News
Environment
Climate cooling effect of volcanoes is bigger than we thought
News
Health
We may now know how childhood adversity leaves its mark on the brain
News
Technology
Quantum computers can break major encryption method, researchers claim
News
Environment
Inside an insect farm: Are mealworms a sustainable meat alternative?
News
Health
Some regions of your brain can communicate faster as you age
News
Space
Strangely strong interstellar meteorites may come from supernovae
News
Technology
Hackers can trick Wi-Fi devices into draining their own batteries
News
Technology
Supersized wind turbine could weather storms by bending like palm tree
News
Life
Reef fish are more placid around islands infested with invasive rats
News
Health
Pre-eclampsia and hypertension in pregnancy linked to 19 gene variants
News
Health
We’ve just discovered a new part of the brain’s waste disposal system
News
Environment
Amazon deforestation may shrink Himalayan snow and Antarctic ice
News
Health
Synthetic tissue restores erections in pigs with penis injuries
News
Analysis
Life
Why we shouldn’t attribute human motivations to animals like bees
Anthropomorphising animals such as chimps, dolphins and bees will stifle scientific enquiry instead of encouraging it, says evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk
News
Environment
The worst-case climate scenarios are no longer plausible today
News
Features
Physics
How can we understand quantum reality if it is impossible to measure?
If we can鈥檛 measure something, we can鈥檛 know its true nature. This fundamental limitation hampers our understanding of the quantum world 鈥� but it doesn't preclude scientific thinking
Features
Physics
How AI is shifting the limits of knowledge imposed by complexity
Features
Mathematics
Why maths, our best tool to describe the universe, may be fallible
Features
Mind
Why some aspects of physical reality must be experienced to be known
Features
Mind
Logic underpins knowledge 鈥� but what if logic itself is flawed?
Features
Health
How to be happy, according to the longest-running study of happiness
Features
Culture
Technology
Attention Span review: A welcome injection of evidence
Gloria Mark has studied distraction since 2004. Her first book is a valuable guide to how to balance work and well-being in a world increasingly dependent on tech
Culture
Humans
Don鈥檛 Miss: Reading up on Quantum Theory, As Simply As Possible
Culture
Humans
Remnants of Ancient Life review: Explore the palaeobiology revolution
Culture
Humans
The best video games out in 2023
Culture
More
Regulars
Turtles nearly all the way down (and a few elephants too)
Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more
This Week鈥檚 Letters
Letters
This week鈥檚 new questions
Last Word
Does a latte cool faster than a cappuccino? (part 2)
Last Word
Why are many people squeamish about the sight of blood? (part 2)
Last Word
Could any photons that were around me in my childhood still exist?
Last Word
Why is this snail carrying an extra shell on its back?
Last Word
