Issue 3457 | Magazine cover date: 23 September 2023

This week's magazine

23 September 2023

Issue 3457

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On the cover

Features

Dark stars: Have we finally found a weird sun powered by dark matter?

How scientists are cracking historical codes to reveal lost secrets

Why being more open about mental health could be making us feel worse

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City-wide quantum communication network in China is most advanced yet

Mosquitoes dodge efforts to swat them by surfing a wave of air

NASA’s UFO task force has released its final report – it’s not aliens

Analysis

When nature gives people the 'ick'

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Health

To improve mental health, we must do more than just raise awareness

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Space

Dark stars: Have we finally found a weird sun powered by dark matter?

Features

Technology

How scientists are cracking historical codes to reveal lost secrets

Features

Anxiety badge as featured on Etsy. Set of 5 Anxiety Pin Badges 38mm/buttons/mental health awareness/social anxiety/ GAD/ hidden disability/anxiety warrior/anxious ?6.99 Sold by OliviasPrintEmporium. https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/871763854/set-of-5-anxiety-pin-badges?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_-accessories&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS3H3gB5Uvjm3Xmhv8BrKgYrOruolUGGhol1lWRQCgd8ZhabNhAFFtcaAiJmEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_11073922980_109610251118_462914649514_pla-294930372950_c__871763854engb_102858184&utm_custom2=11073922980&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_5unBhCMARIsACZyzS3H3gB5Uvjm3Xmhv8BrKgYrOruolUGGhol1lWRQCgd8ZhabNhAFFtcaAiJmEALw_wcB

Mind

Why being more open about mental health could be making us feel worse

Features

Leaders

Health

To improve mental health, we must do more than just raise awareness

We are talking about mental health more than ever before – but if we are serious about improving it, we need more evidence about which interventions really help

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Physics

City-wide quantum communication network in China is most advanced yet

A network that connects quantum devices and a central server that spans Hefei, China, can allow multiple secure quantum chats at once

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Space

The universe’s evolution seems to be slowing and we don’t know why

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Health

Mental health 'first aid' training has no clear medical benefit

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Environment

High-flying microplastics could pose a threat to the ozone layer

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Space

Reusable rocket built by students is about to launch to space

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Environment

Humans use a quarter of all the biomass created by plants on land

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Environment

English rivers regularly pumped full of oxygen to prevent fish deaths

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Technology

DNA-based computer can run 100 billion different programs

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Humans

Stone Age carvings of animal footprints identified by expert trackers

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Life

Mosquitoes dodge efforts to swat them by surfing a wave of air

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Health

Moderna's improved mRNA covid-19 vaccine is effective at lower doses

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Life

Frogs have been trying to mate with odd things for 220 million years

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Technology

Thousands of people apparently cheat at Wordle every day

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Technology

Facebook change to control covid-19 vaccine misinformation failed

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Health

MDMA therapy for PTSD expected to get US approval after latest trial

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Environment

Oxygen levels are dropping in rivers across the US and central Europe

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Health

Key immune cells may help protect against inflammatory bowel disease

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Earth

NASA’s UFO task force has released its final report – it’s not aliens

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Space

JWST has taken an astonishing image of a baby star with powerful jets

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Life

Tadpoles can change colour to blend in with their environment

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Health

Anti-ageing drugs could make more organs viable for transplants

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Health

Spinal fluid test may enable earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

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Earth

Rare Australian pink diamonds emerged when a supercontinent broke up

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Technology

Watch a cyborg cockroach navigate a maze

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Mind

The entire brain may be involved in language, not just a few regions

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Analysis

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jim West/imageBROKER/Shutterstock (4549809a) Children inspect a caterpillar found in their garden which is tended by children ages 5-11 in a program called Growing Healthy Kids, as part of the Earthworks Urban Garden, which grows food for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, Michigan, USA VARIOUS

Life

When nature gives people the 'ick'

People living in urban environments are often alienated from the great outdoors and therefore find it scary and disgusting. This "biophobia" is on the rise, says Graham Lawton

Comment

Technology

AI is evolving for its own benefit, not ours

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Aperture

Comment

Painting at the top of Mont Blanc

James Hart Dyke set out to recreate the mountain-top paintings of 19th-century artist Gabriel Loppé. But climate change means the route to the summit is very different today

Regulars

Features

Space

Dark stars: Have we finally found a weird sun powered by dark matter?

Astronomers say they have spotted evidence of stars fuelled by the annihilation of dark matter particles. If true, it could solve the cosmic mystery of how supermassive black holes appeared so early

Features

Technology

How scientists are cracking historical codes to reveal lost secrets

Features

Mind

Why being more open about mental health could be making us feel worse

Features

Culture

The Neanderthal woman was re-created and built by Dutch artists Andrie and Alfons Kennis. Research including fossil anatomy and a detailed study of DNA is present in the color of the skin and eyes. (Photo by Joe McNally/Getty Images)

Comment

The Naked Neanderthal review: Looking for the real Neanderthals

From creating cave art to burying their dead, how we see Neanderthals reveals as much about us as it does about them, argues Ludovic Slimak in a fascinating new book. We may have our closest extinct relatives all wrong - again

Culture

Comment

The Deadly Rise of Anti-science review: The personal cost of research

Culture

Comment

��è��Ƶ recommends mixed-reality experience The Butterfly Trail

Culture

Comment

Starfield review: Too much AI-generated content makes for a dull game

Culture

the disc knife cuts. Homemade Pizza with Tomato and Basil

Mathematics

The easy trick to evenly cut a pizza into 5, 7 or any number of slices

You ordered a pizza for your party, but the restaurant forgot to slice it – these mathematical tricks can help you cut it evenly, says Katie Steckles

Regulars

Puzzle #240: Can you help Lord Fusspot tile his ballroom?

Regulars

Tom Gauld on after-work drinks

Regulars

Twisteddoodles on the Ig Nobel prizes

Regulars

Society

Ig Nobel prizes 2023: Rock licking and other unlikely winners

From eating fossils to reanimating dead spiders for use as mechanical gripping tools, this year's Ig Nobel prizes, for science that "makes people laugh, then think", are unveiled

Regulars

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This week's magazine

23 September 2023

On the cover

Health

To improve mental health, we must do more than just raise awareness

Space

Dark stars: Have we finally found a weird sun powered by dark matter?

Technology

How scientists are cracking historical codes to reveal lost secrets

Mind

Why being more open about mental health could be making us feel worse

Table of contents

Leaders

Health

To improve mental health, we must do more than just raise awareness

��è����Ƶ

Physics

City-wide quantum communication network in China is most advanced yet

Space

The universe’s evolution seems to be slowing and we don’t know why

Health

Mental health 'first aid' training has no clear medical benefit

Environment

High-flying microplastics could pose a threat to the ozone layer

Space

Reusable rocket built by students is about to launch to space

Environment

Humans use a quarter of all the biomass created by plants on land

Environment

English rivers regularly pumped full of oxygen to prevent fish deaths

Technology

DNA-based computer can run 100 billion different programs

Humans

Stone Age carvings of animal footprints identified by expert trackers

Life

Mosquitoes dodge efforts to swat them by surfing a wave of air

Health

Moderna's improved mRNA covid-19 vaccine is effective at lower doses

Life

Frogs have been trying to mate with odd things for 220 million years

Technology

Thousands of people apparently cheat at Wordle every day

Technology

Facebook change to control covid-19 vaccine misinformation failed

Health

MDMA therapy for PTSD expected to get US approval after latest trial

Environment

Oxygen levels are dropping in rivers across the US and central Europe

Health

Key immune cells may help protect against inflammatory bowel disease

Earth

NASA’s UFO task force has released its final report – it’s not aliens

Space

JWST has taken an astonishing image of a baby star with powerful jets

Life

Tadpoles can change colour to blend in with their environment

Health

Anti-ageing drugs could make more organs viable for transplants

Health

Spinal fluid test may enable earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

Earth

Rare Australian pink diamonds emerged when a supercontinent broke up

Technology

Watch a cyborg cockroach navigate a maze

Mind

The entire brain may be involved in language, not just a few regions

Analysis

Life

When nature gives people the 'ick'

Technology

AI is evolving for its own benefit, not ours

Aperture

Comment

Painting at the top of Mont Blanc

Features

Space

Dark stars: Have we finally found a weird sun powered by dark matter?

Technology

How scientists are cracking historical codes to reveal lost secrets

��è��Ƶ

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��è��Ƶ recommends mixed-reality experience The Butterfly Trail