Health
Rethinking our approach to BMI highlights the need for speed
Comment
This week's magazine
14 February 2026
Issue 3582
On the cover
Editor's picks
Table of contents
快猫短视频
Space
See beautiful comet as it nears its closest approach to Earth
Comet C/2024 E1 has been photographed as it nears Earth - but even at its closest, it will still be 150 million kilometres away
News
Mind
Specific cognitive training has ‘astonishing’ effect on dementia risk
News
Humans
Seafarers were visiting remote Arctic islands over 4000 years ago
News
Space
Synchronised volcanic eruptions on Io hint at a spongy interior
News
Environment
Methane surge in 2020 was linked to lower pollution during lockdowns
News
Environment
Forever chemical TFA has tripled due to ozone-preserving refrigerants
News
Health
‘Hidden’ group of gut bacteria may be essential to good health
News
Health
Why exercise isn’t much help if you are trying to lose weight
News
Environment
Weakening ice shelf has caused crucial Antarctic glacier to accelerate
News
Technology
Fast-charging quantum battery built inside a quantum computer
News
Environment
The toxic burden of pesticides is growing all around the world
News
Mind
Psychedelic causes similar brain state to meditation
News
Physics
Physicists can now take control of ‘hidden’ friction in devices
News
Health
Nasal spray could prevent infections from any flu strain
News
Health
Statins don’t cause most of the side effects listed on their labels
News
Environment
CRISPR grapefruit without the bitterness are now in development
News
Physics
Record-breaking quantum simulator could unlock new materials
News
Mind
How to live a meaningful life, according to science
News
Life
Bonobo’s pretend tea party shows capacity for imagination
News
Technology
Dutch air force reads pilots’ brainwaves to make training harder
News
Features
Health
Your BMI can’t tell you much about your health 鈥� here’s what can
People classed as 鈥渙verweight鈥� according to BMI can be perfectly healthy. But there are better measures of fat, and physicians are finally using them
Features
Mind
How teaching molecules to think is revealing what a ‘mind’ really is
Features
Environment
Putting a price tag on nature failed. Can radical tactics save it?
Features
Culture
Mind
What to read this week: Bonded by Evolution by Paul Eastwick
We are told we need cynical strategies to "play" the dating game, but the science says this is totally wrong. David Robson enjoys an evidence-based takedown from psychologist Paul Eastwick
Culture
Comment
快猫短视频 recommends Hamnet, and its look at our links with nature
Culture
Comment
Exploring sci-fi treats from George Saunders and Matthew Kressel
Culture
More
Environment
Why I’m still an environmental optimist 鈥� despite it all
It's hard not to despair about the state of the world today, but here are five reasons to be a little bit hopeful, says Fred Pearce
Comment
Life
Can we genetically improve humans using George Church鈥檚 famous list?
Comment
Physics
The weird rules of temperature get even stranger in the quantum realm
Comment
Health
Why adding cross training into your exercise routine is the way to go
Regulars
Tom Gauld on a Valentine’s Day experiment
Regulars
Twisteddoodles on classic experimental results
Regulars
Regulars
‘Roughly 109.5 golden retrievers’: a new way to measure ice
Feedback is always on the lookout for better ways to measure things, and was delighted to learn how the weight of ice is quantified in Austin, Texas
This Week鈥檚 Letters
Letters
Is it more efficient to dry towels hung up portrait or landscape?
Last Word
If Earth exploded, how many rocks would have signs of life?
Last Word
Why do we scream in fear? part 3
Last Word
Why do jewellery chains become so tightly knotted together? part 2
Last Word
This week鈥檚 new questions
Last Word
