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On the subject of AIs with theory of mind, a machine will eventually be able to measure things – such as tone of voice, the look of a person's eyes, body position and so on – that we observe when "reading another person's thoughts". This machine will compare these measurements with a database and use …

The article "Searching for answers" raises interesting questions about the use of AI language models such as ChatGPT in internet search engines( 25 February, p 12 ). With AI also used to generate increasing volumes of internet content, will these systems end up training themselves with their own output? If so, what effect will this …

The role of cellular electrical signalling in depression, stress and anxiety has been a topic of research, but it was fascinating to understand how cellular voltage patterns can facilitate cancer cell propagation and how ion channel blockers can potentially mitigate against this. Mapping out a person's electrome can potentially unlock personalised treatment for health conditions( …

In his book Magisteria , reviewed by Joshua Howgego, Nicolas Spencer identifies two "crunch points" where science and religion conflict. I would cite a third: the existence or otherwise of a supreme being( 4 March, p 34 ). At present, the scientific method leads me to conclude there is no god, but, logically, if evidence …

The picture accompanying Howgego's review nudges us towards the creation versus evolution debate. Creationists believe that God created the universe and everything in it in six days, whereas evolutionists point to the measurably greater age of fossils and other geological evidence as counter to this. Nevertheless, if God is smart enough to have created everything …

While Julia Oh was scrupulous in noting the limitations of the sample group used in her research into how the skin microbiome might cause wrinkles – the narrow range of ages, ethnicities and even facial areas swabbed – neither she nor your reporting fully addressed the most glaring bias: the only people in the sample …

I fear that antibacterial face creams for "anti-ageing" may worsen antimicrobial resistance from antibiotic overuse.

Ray Nayler suggests that legislators and policy-makers should learn from speculative fiction writers in considering impacts of emerging technology. In fact, speculative approaches are already informing such areas( 25 February, p 27 ). At our design-led research centre, Imagination Lancaster, for example, we have a number of projects that include speculative design and design fiction: …

The painting of wind turbines in black and white stripes to make them more visible to birds is a step in the right direction. However, any solution must pay attention to the life of the turbines( 4 March, p 9 ). Some blades can have a surprisingly short life. Black paint absorbs a lot of …

In our look at chronic conditions linked to viral infections ( 4 March, Leader and p 14 ), we should have referred to myalgic encephalomyelitis.