Life
David Attenborough is one of a kind, for better or worse
Comment
This week's magazine
9 May 2026
Issue 3594
On the cover
Editor's picks
Table of contents
News
Health
Man destined for Alzheimer’s may have been saved by accidental therapy
Doug Whitney has a genetic mutation that means he should have developed Alzheimer’s disease decades ago, but his long-term work in hot engine rooms may have protected him in a similar way to sauna therapy
News
Technology
NHS England rushes to hide software over AI hacking fears
News
Physics
Weird ‘transdimensional’ state of matter is neither 2D nor 3D
News
Health
Doubts cast over ‘wild’ claim that magnetic control can turn on genes
News
Technology
The chips in your phone are probably broken – and that’s a good thing
News
Environment
Extreme weather in 2025 drove record wildfire emissions in Europe
News
Physics
We have figured out a new way to send messages into the past
News
Life
Scorpions reinforce their claws and stingers with metals
News
Health
Your oral microbiome could affect your weight, liver and diabetes risk
News
Health
Prebiotic chewing gum could be helpful for gum disease
News
Health
Woman in cancer remission without treatment in highly unusual case
News
Health
Cancer is increasing in young people and we still don’t know why
News
Space
100-year-old assumption about the universe may soon be overturned
News
Space
The rings of Uranus are even stranger than we thought
News
Technology
Humanoid robots may be about to break the 100-metre sprint record
News
Environment
Coral reefs on a remote archipelago shrugged off a massive heatwave
News
Features
Humans
A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began
A long-overlooked writing system from 5000 years ago is still largely undeciphered, but could mark the moment humans first represented their speech with written words
Features
Physics
The 50-year quest to create a quantum spin liquid may finally be over
Features
Health
Red-light therapy does have health benefits but not the ones you think
Features
Culture
Society
What to read this week: the excellent Beyond Belief by Helen Pearson
Solving society's problems with evidence is a work in progress, argues a must-read new book. The process is surprisingly new – and riddled with complexities, finds Michael Marshall
Culture
Life
Â鶹´«Ã½ recommends Attenborough documentary Making Life on Earth
Culture
Life
The greatest David Attenborough documentaries you really need to watch
Culture
More
Health
We may finally have a cure for many different autoimmune conditions
A revolutionary cancer treatment is now being applied to a wide range of autoimmune disorders. Columnist Michael Le Page finds it is proving to be even more effective than expected
Comment
Physics
An unorthodox version of quantum theory could reveal what reality is
Comment
Mind
How your heart rate variability can offer an insight into your mind
Comment
Tom Gauld on the wisdom of Bertrand Russell
Regulars
Twisteddoodles on a surprisingly effective youth serum
Regulars
Regulars
Comment
Less nostalgia, more pain: scientists study 1763 Eurovision songs
Feedback discovers that the prevailing themes of Eurovision songs may come and go, but the urge to win stays the same.
This Week’s Letters
Letters
What’s the optimal ratio of frozen peas to cold tap water?
Last Word
Why do humans feel the urge to share their thoughts with others?
Last Word
Do left- and right-handedness exist in animals? part 2
Last Word
How can gravity escape a black hole? part 2
Last Word
This week’s new questions
Last Word
