Issue 3461 | Magazine cover date: 21 October 2023

This week's magazine

21 October 2023

Issue 3461

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On the cover

Features

The trees in our cities are dying — a sick microbiome may be to blame

We may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer's

Seven wonders of the Milky Way: An astronomer’s guide to the galaxy

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Toys produce far more electronic waste than vapes

We now have the most detailed description of the human brain ever

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Neuron system hologram - 3d rendered image of Neuron cell network on black background. Hologram view interconnected neurons cells with electrical pulses. Conceptual medical image. Glowing synapse. Healthcare concept.

Health

How mental effort can build a cognitive reserve against brain ageing

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Health

We may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer's

Features

Space

Seven wonders of the Milky Way: An astronomer’s guide to the galaxy

Features

CX3N7J View down Paul Revere Mall to the Old North Church on the Freedom Trail, North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Environment

The trees in our cities are dying — a sick microbiome may be to blame

Features

Leaders

Health

How mental effort can build a cognitive reserve against brain ageing

Some people whose brains show hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease display none of its symptoms. Now, finally, we are getting to the bottom of this mystery and how it might aid us in forestalling dementia

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Mathematics

AI is helping mathematicians build a periodic table of shapes

Atomic shapes are so simple that they can't be broken down any further. Mathematicians are trying to build a "periodic table" of these shapes, and they hope artificial intelligence can help

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Environment

Climate change may be improving the quality of Bordeaux wines

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Humans

Mysterious Viking queen may have helped unify Denmark in the 900s

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Life

Female frogs sometimes play dead to avoid mating with males

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Earth

Earth’s core is oddly squishy and we may now know why

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Environment

Toys produce far more electronic waste than vapes

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Space

Two giant planets collided and vaporised in a distant star system

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Space

Samples from asteroid Bennu contain the key ingredients of life

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Life

Inventions based on threatened animals like rhinos are on the rise

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Health

High-dose vitamin D may lower your risk of going to hospital

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Humans

Early humans lived in Ethiopian highlands 2 million years ago

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Health

Simple blood test tweak could make intensive care treatment safer

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Space

We could make roads on the moon by melting lunar dust

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Health

We now have the most detailed description of the human brain ever

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Technology

Ukrainian AI attack drones may be killing without human oversight

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Humans

A site used by ancient humans was also a latrine for giant hyenas

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Environment

Dusting and vacuuming reduce wildfire air pollution inside homes

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Humans

Student uses AI to decipher word in ancient scroll from Herculaneum

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Analysis

HGM7GD Heavy-duty strong opioids, Hydrromorphone 12 mg, vial lid. Prescription only for managing severe pain, usually post surgery. Addiction risk. OD risk.

Health

The surprising ways cannabis can be part of drug addiction treatment

The idea that overcoming addiction means abstaining from all psychoactive substances for good is outdated and misguided - particularly as we learn more about the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis, says Maia Szalavitz

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Physics

Could nuclear weapons testing resume as global tensions rise?

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Technology

Let's use AI to rethink education, instead of panicking about cheating

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Environment

Why I won't be buying sea-farmed salmon ever again

Comment

Aperture

1st Place Hassanain Qambari & Jayden Dickson The Lions Eye Institute Department of Physiology & Pharmacology Perth, Western Australia, Australia Rodent optic nerve head showing astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red) and retinal vasculature (green) Confocal, Fluorescence, Image Stacking 20X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Comment

Intricate photo of rat's retina wins Nikon Small World competition

See the inside of a rodent’s eye like never before, alongside other commended images from the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition

Regulars

Features

Environment

The trees in our cities are dying — a sick microbiome may be to blame

Efforts to expand urban green spaces are undermined by street trees dying prematurely. Restoring their root microbiomes could help them live longer

Features

Health

We may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer's

Features

Space

Seven wonders of the Milky Way: An astronomer’s guide to the galaxy

Features

Culture

2G6HE5R ANNIE JUMP CANNON (1863-1941) American astronomer and suffragist. about 1920

Comment

Her Space, Her Time review: Trailblazing women astronomers

A disdain for misogyny past and present shines through in Shohini Ghose's rich history of women's underappreciated contributions to astronomy and physics

Culture

Comment

Blood in the Machine review: Going back to the Luddites

Culture

Comment

��è��Ƶ recommends: Spies, Lies and Deception and Chimp Empire

Culture

Comment

Cocoon review: One of the biggest gaming treats of the year

Culture

Our home galaxy, the Milky Way in a starry sky. The three bright stars Deneb (left), Vega (middle top), and Altair (right) form the Summer Triangle. The red cloud near the star Deneb is the North America Nebula.

Space

How to spot the constellation Aquila and its deep-sky objects

Use the night sky pattern known as the summer triangle to help you track down Aquila, the eagle, and its collection of open star clusters, says Abigail Beall

Regulars

Puzzle #244: Can you work out how fast the stagecoach was moving?

Regulars

Tom Gauld on optimising good ideas

Regulars

Twisteddoodles on new tech able to keep track of your missing items

Regulars

Major breakthrough for beer-foam-aroma-measuring scientists

A new piece of research finally manages to find a way of measuring the aroma in beer foam - and discovers it is delicious

Regulars

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This week's magazine

21 October 2023

On the cover

Health

How mental effort can build a cognitive reserve against brain ageing

Health

We may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer's

Space

Seven wonders of the Milky Way: An astronomer’s guide to the galaxy

Environment

The trees in our cities are dying — a sick microbiome may be to blame

Table of contents

Leaders

Health

How mental effort can build a cognitive reserve against brain ageing

��è����Ƶ

Mathematics

AI is helping mathematicians build a periodic table of shapes

Environment

Climate change may be improving the quality of Bordeaux wines

Humans

Mysterious Viking queen may have helped unify Denmark in the 900s

Life

Female frogs sometimes play dead to avoid mating with males

Earth

Earth’s core is oddly squishy and we may now know why

Environment

Toys produce far more electronic waste than vapes

Space

Two giant planets collided and vaporised in a distant star system

Space

Samples from asteroid Bennu contain the key ingredients of life

Life

Inventions based on threatened animals like rhinos are on the rise

Health

High-dose vitamin D may lower your risk of going to hospital

Humans

Early humans lived in Ethiopian highlands 2 million years ago

Health

Simple blood test tweak could make intensive care treatment safer

Space

We could make roads on the moon by melting lunar dust

Health

We now have the most detailed description of the human brain ever

Technology

Ukrainian AI attack drones may be killing without human oversight

Humans

A site used by ancient humans was also a latrine for giant hyenas

Environment

Dusting and vacuuming reduce wildfire air pollution inside homes

Humans

Student uses AI to decipher word in ancient scroll from Herculaneum

Analysis

Health

The surprising ways cannabis can be part of drug addiction treatment

Physics

Could nuclear weapons testing resume as global tensions rise?

Technology

Let's use AI to rethink education, instead of panicking about cheating

Environment

Why I won't be buying sea-farmed salmon ever again

Aperture

Comment

Intricate photo of rat's retina wins Nikon Small World competition

Features

Environment

The trees in our cities are dying — a sick microbiome may be to blame

Health

We may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer's

Space

Seven wonders of the Milky Way: An astronomer’s guide to the galaxy

Culture

Comment

Her Space, Her Time review: Trailblazing women astronomers

Comment

Blood in the Machine review: Going back to the Luddites

Comment

��è����Ƶ recommends: Spies, Lies and Deception and Chimp Empire

Comment

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��è��Ƶ recommends: Spies, Lies and Deception and Chimp Empire