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I would like to share my method for addressing the emotional states of anxiety and unhappiness. Make a list of what is worrying you in one column. Then think of possible solutions and put these in the second column. Then work on how to achieve these( 10 May, p 30 ). It is important to …

You report that ingestion of microplastics by mice changes their behaviour in the face of a deadly corn snake. After being given food contaminated with plastic, they failed to treat the snake as a threat( 10 May, p 38 ). Would it be too cynical to speculate that the lack of concern over the past …

The possibility of geologic hydrogen reserves in mountain ranges is very interesting. But Frank Zwaan saying that these or any other fossil hydrogen sources are "like a free green energy source" is naive at best. Drilling for hydrogen is neither renewable nor without substantial operational and environmental cost( 17 May, p 14 ). Fossil hydrogen …

Rowan Hooper's Future Chronicles instalment "Through their eyes" reminded me of the 1967 novel Night Walk by the Irish science fiction writer Bob Shaw. In this tale, the blind hero designs a device in the form of a pair of spectacles that transmit the signals in the optic nerves of nearby animals into his brain …

From 22 March, p 30

Jon Cartwright points out "that string theory was so flexible it could describe a truly vast array of fantastical universes. Something like 10 500 in fact – a number so huge it belied any physical comparison". I recommend taking a look at protein folding, in which there are reportedly 10 500 potential folding possibilities.

UK governments have long favoured multilateral nuclear disarmament. However, it always seems to boil down to: "You first."

Surely what is beneficial in maintaining a healthy brain is continual stimulation via all the senses, not just smell. Some stimulation, such as studying and practising a second language, may be more effective, but only long-term research will elucidate their relative effectiveness. That said, the benefit of developing the olfactory sense looks promising, and little …

So pleasant smells can help reduce chronic inflammation, and being able to smell unpleasant things can help us avoid health threats and stimulate the immune system when necessary. There is also evidence that a declining sense of smell or its loss may be addressed by regularly exposing people to a wide range of scents. However, …

You report a study that suggests an optimal way to chop onions without crying. Forget slow cuts with sharp blades, black spray paint, electron microscopes and such like – just slice the top and bottom off the onion, soak it in water, chop. No tears. Easy-peasy( 24 May, p 12 ).