This week's magazine
27 September 2025
Issue 3562
On the cover
Editor's picks
Table of contents
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Life
See the alien-looking sea slug spotted in UK waters for the first time
Spurilla neapolitana – known as the hair curler slug – is usually found in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, but is now moving northwards, perhaps due to warming oceans
Earth
Atmospheric hydrogen is rising, which may be a problem for the climate
Health
Starting HRT in early menopause may reduce women’s risk of Alzheimer’s
Humans
The oldest human mummies were slowly smoked 14,000 years ago
Health
Where you store fat may influence the effect it has on your brain
Space
Lunar missions may contaminate the moon with hardy Earth microbes
Technology
Quantum computers have finally achieved unconditional supremacy
Health
One blood sample could reveal the age of 11 of your organs and systems
Environment
Cutting down the Amazon will bring extreme rain, wind and heat
Health
Vitamin D supplements may lower your level of one type of vitamin D
Health
Stretching the skin could enable vaccines to be given without a needle
Space
Asteroid exploded ‘similar to a bomb’ over France in a rare event
Life
Stunning amber deposits hold insects from the time of the dinosaurs
Technology
Stealth radio hides signal in background noise to protect drone pilots
Life
Wild chimpanzees may get mildly intoxicated from alcoholic fruit
Health
Long covid may be making your periods longer and heavier
Technology
Around one-third of AI search tool answers make unsupported claims
Health
Good immune health may come at the expense of chronic inflammation
Space
Mars once had an atmosphere that was thicker than Earth’s today
Life
Dome-headed dinosaur from Mongolia is the oldest ever found
Physics
Making atoms self-magnify reveals their quantum wave functions
Features
Health
A deeper understanding of endometriosis is suggesting new treatments
The revelation that endometriosis is linked to autoimmune disorders is opening up a whole new way to treat this painful and poorly understood condition
Space
How faster-than-light explosions could reveal the universe’s secrets
Mind
The truth about narcissists: How to handle them, and can they change?
Culture
Environment
Two climate scientists on how to use emotion in the climate crisis
From anger to hope, Kate Marvel and Tim Lenton explain how to tackle the tricky feelings aroused by climate change and harness them to take action
Humans
A compelling book about the end of the Neanderthals is a rare treat
More
Mind
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Surprisingly, the answer is neither
We are quick to place ourselves on the extremes of the social spectrum, but the truth is that personality is more malleable than you think, says Claudia Canavan
Environment
What made solar power the most desirable energy source on the planet?
Mind
If you feel you don’t really belong, here is some science-based advice
Tom Gauld on paid app upgrades
Twistedddoodles on proposals vs. proposals
Regulars
Comment
How Taylor Swift is helping botany gain celebrity status
Feedback is delighted to learn that researchers have discovered what Taylor Swift is accidentally doing to rescue the science of plants from mid-ness. Just take a look at her videos – sorry, botany teaching aids