Science
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Clash of the conservationists over new forest
Should we plant more forests? The UK government has backed a project to create a vast green band across England. Reforestation is popular with environmentalists, but it has its critics…
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Boiled alive! Swiss ban cruelty to lobsters
Should humans be allowed to plunge living lobsters into the bubbling pot? Switzerland says not, igniting a furious debate about which animals feel pain — and just how much it matters anyway.
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Meet the world’s largest known prime number
How important are prime numbers? The largest known prime number has just been discovered by an engineer from Tennessee. It is 23 million characters long and is known simply as M77232917.
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How Frankenstein could save the modern world
What can Frankenstein teach modern scientists? For 200 years, the tale has gripped readers. As humans gain greater powers to control life, many...
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Sports, space and scandals: your guide to 2018
Will this be a good or bad year? In such turbulent times, predicting the future is even harder than usual. Start by noting down these five key events in the 2018 calendar…
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Judi Dench, tree talk and the Wood Wide Web
Can trees converse? Scientists have written about their powers of communication. In a new documentary Dame Judi Dench looks at the ways they interact. How much do they share with humans?
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The tide of plastic waste engulfing the world
Will humanity ever manage to break its plastic habit? Western governments are taking steps to fight it. And now the UN has declared the levels of plastic in the oceans a “planetary crisis”.
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World goes crazy for rare ‘supermoon’
Can the Moon really affect the mind? This weekend a rare phenomenon, a supermoon, brightened skies all over the world. Humanity is entranced by our lunar satellite. But is there more to it?
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Not (that) far: a planet where life is likely
Would contacting aliens be such a good idea? Another planet that might support life has been found, while China is investing huge amounts in the world's most advanced alien-spotting radar.
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Quantum leap spells new age of computing
Will quantum computers change the world for the better? IBM has built the most powerful quantum computer ever. The technology has a long way to go, but some think it will change everything.
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World on the edge of ‘ecological Armageddon’
Should insects have rights? According to scientists insect populations are plummeting. This could have disastrous consequences for humanity and ecosystems all across the world.
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‘The Atlas of Beauty’ hopes to redefine looks
Can beauty be defined, or is it in the eye of the beholder? The photographer Mihaela Noroc has travelled the world, photographing ordinary women to challenge “unachievable” beauty standards.
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Einstein’s theory of happiness sold for $1.6m
What is the key to a good life? Albert Einstein had an answer. This week, a note in which the physicist set out his views on happiness sold for a huge sum. But not everyone agrees…
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Why dolphins are even cleverer than we thought
Are we as unique as we like to think? According to a major new study, dolphins and whales have a comparable intelligence to us. This flies against centuries-old beliefs about human nature.
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How ‘smart’ cities will change the world
Should we be excited about the future of cities? In 2050 the modern metropolis could be made of micro-homes, sensors, and cyber infrastructure. Here are five ways our cities may change…