This week's magazine
19 August 2023
Issue 3452
On the cover
Editor's picks
Table of contents
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Environment
What made July 2023 the hottest month ever recorded?
Extreme weather and temperatures made July 2023 a shocking month, with human-driven global warming, the El Niño climate pattern and perhaps even a 2022 volcanic eruption contributing to the broken records
Environment
Is climate change accelerating and is it worse than we expected?
Environment
The renewable energy revolution is happening faster than you think
Physics
LK-99: Mounting evidence suggests material is not a superconductor
Mind
The audiobook you listen to before bed can shape your dreams
Space
Mars used to have wet and dry seasons similar to ones on Earth
Life
Female stick insect clones itself despite having sex with males
Health
Blood test could aid the diagnosis of 52 conditions including cancer
Space
Russia chases former Soviet glory with Luna 25 moon mission
Life
Young cupboard spiders sometimes turn cannibal and eat their siblings
Life
Ocean bacteria may be closest relatives of mitochondria in our cells
Space
Brown dwarf is locked in a destructive 2-hour orbit with a tiny star
Life
Crocodiles can sense how distressed human babies are from their cries
Health
Vaccine shows promise against the virus linked to multiple sclerosis
Analysis
Environment
Spreading climate doom may make it harder to halt global warming
Focusing too much on extreme weather could trigger a backlash against climate action in the mid-2020s, when global temperature rises are set to slow down as the El Niño climate pattern fades
Health
Ultra-processed foods have a bad reputation – is it backed by science?
Environment
Why knowing how climate change contributes to extreme weather is key
Physics
Why Isaac Newton’s laws still give physicists a lot to think about
Features
Environment
Extreme heat: Inside the expedition to find out how humans can adapt
Climate change means extreme heat will become the norm for millions across the world. We joined an experiment in the Saudi Arabian desert designed to find out what that means for our brains and bodies
Mind
Gesture is a uniquely powerful tool. Here’s how to make the most of it
Space
A guide to cosmic fireworks, from stellar flares to black-hole beacons
Culture
Comment
From One Cell review: Embryology and the future of medicine
From marigolds to human babies, most complex organisms start as a single-celled embryo. In his new book, Ben Stanger explores what our humble origins could teach us about health and disease
Comment
¿ìè¶ÌÊÓÆµ recommends: The Poison Garden near Alnwick Castle
Comment
Game of Edges review: Inside story of how data is transforming sport
Comment
Bridge review: An essential entrant into the multiverse genre
More
Mathematics
The easy tricks that can maximise your lottery winnings
From avoiding the number seven to picking numbers over 31, mathematician Peter Rowlett has a few psychological strategies for improving your chances when playing the lottery
Tom Gauld reveals the Venn diagram of a flying object
Twisteddoodles: Mixing chemicals – fiction versus reality
Regulars
Is it AI or just short for Alan? A reader rages against the machine
A Feedback fan, first name Alan, tells us about the disconcertingly similar appearance of the abbreviation for artificial intelligence and the shortened version of his moniker