Space
2024 is set to be the year of the moon, but let’s proceed with care
News
This week's magazine
13 January 2024
Issue 3473
On the cover
Editor's picks
Table of contents
快猫短视频
Space
The Peregrine lunar lander may not make it to the moon
After its 8 January launch aboard a Vulcan rocket, Astrobotic鈥檚 Peregrine lander has experienced a fuel leak that may leave it without enough propellant to land on the moon
News
Life
Why huge ape Gigantopithecus went extinct up to 295,000 years ago
News
Environment
2023 was officially the hottest year on record
News
Physics
First working graphene semiconductor could lead to faster computers
News
Space
鈥業slands鈥� poking out of black holes may solve the information paradox
News
Environment
Animal bones ground into an edible paste could help reduce food waste
News
Technology
Should nations try to ban bitcoin because of its environmental impact?
News
Technology
AI sheds light on the ancient origins of England’s place names
News
Chemistry
Strange material made of soap could be used for photosynthesis
News
Environment
How Bolivia鈥檚 gold rush is poisoning Indigenous communities
News
Mind
Psychedelic drug helps treat PTSD and traumatic brain injuries
News
Space
A renegade moon may have flipped Venus鈥檚 spin
News
Technology
There鈥檚 a 5% chance of AI causing humans to go extinct, say scientists
News
Health
Severe covid-19 infections linked to increased risk of schizophrenia
News
Technology
Humanoid robot acts out prompts like it’s playing charades
News
Earth
Vast submerged area near Australia may once have hosted 500,000 people
News
Chemistry
Notoriously complex material called ‘plumber’s nightmare’ created
News
Life
Tiny T. rex fossils may be distinct species 鈥� but not everyone agrees
News
Space
Neptune isn’t as blue as we thought it was
News
Life
1.75-billion-year-old fossils help explain how photosynthesis evolved
News
Technology
Most large fishing boats go untracked as 鈥榙ark vessels鈥�
News
Analysis
Physics
Why we should all be concerned about the shortage of science teachers
From Australia to the UK, the global shortage of science teachers will have a damaging effect on diversity and equity in science, says physics teacher Alom Shaha
News
Space
How galactic mysteries near and far are poised to shake up cosmology
News
Features
Health
We鈥檙e finally working out why the Mediterranean diet is so good for us
We have known for decades that the Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of heart attack and other conditions 鈥� now we are starting to understand how certain components of the diet work their magic
Features
Life
Are there really freshwater manatees thriving deep within West Africa?
Features
Space
Meet Christina Koch, who will be the first woman to go to the moon
Features
Culture
Comment
Not the End of the World review: Crunching the data on saving Earth
Hannah Ritchie's smart new book is sure to whip up major controversy by arguing that the data shows we can win the battle to save the planet. But are its solutions credible?
Culture
Comment
快猫短视频 recommends: Naomi Alderman’s The Future and Doctor Who
Culture
Comment
Our Moon review: Humanity’s history with our closest satellite
Culture
Comment
Eight sci-fi video games to look forward to in 2024
Culture
More
Mathematics
Are we all related to Henry VIII’s Master of the Mint?
After discovering that a Ralph Rowlett was in charge of the Royal Mint in 1540, Peter Rowlett runs the genealogy calculations to find out if he could be related
Regulars
Tom Gauld on the early stages of a project
Regulars
Twisteddoodles on a site where people can pay to watch … research
Regulars
Regulars
Can you make batteries from tiny black holes? Maybe, say scientists
Feedback continues investigating both the whereabouts and the usefulness of black holes, in the process uncovering new research suggesting the cosmic phenomena could be used as rechargeable batteries
This Week鈥檚 Letters
Letters
This week鈥檚 new questions
Last Word
Why does a slightly damp sponge absorb water better than a dry one?
Last Word
What is the probability that Voyager 1 or 2 will hit a planet or star?
Last Word
