FROM THE EDITOR

COVER: ANDY POTTS THIS PAGE: BERNARD LEONARDO, GETTY

EYE OPENER

A monster in deep space CASSIOPEIA A The

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YOUR OPINIONS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND OUR MAGAZINE

DISCOVERIES

“If we give [the T cell treatment] to

BLACK HOLE UNBALANCES ENTIRE GALAXY WITH MASSIVE TANTRUM

The XMM-Newton space observatory has spotted a black hole going ‘full toddler’

NEW CAMERA TECH SEES THE WORLD THROUGH ANIMALS’ EYES

Advanced video camera reproduces animals’ eyesight capabilities with over 90 per cent accuracy

WATER FOUND BURIED UNDER MARTIAN EQUATOR

New observations reveal what’s inside the mysterious deposits hidden beneath giant formations on the Red Planet

MEGALODON MAY NOT HAVE BEEN QUITE SO MEGA, CONTROVERSIAL STUDY SUGGESTS

Shark experts now disagree over the apex predator’s shape and size

BREAKTHROUGH ANTI-AGEING CELL DISCOVERY COULD HELP YOU STAY YOUNGER FOR LONGER

A white blood cell in our bodies could give extended youth

NEED TO TUNE OUT THE RINGING OF TINNITUS? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

Initial trials of MindEar suggest it can help tinnitus sufferers filter out the ringing in their ears 

AI ANALYSIS SHOWS YOUR FINGERPRINTS AREN’T UNIQUE

The findings could lead to the reopening of many criminal cases

PEEK INSIDE WHAT COULD BE THE FIRST HUMAN SETTLEMENT ON THE MOON

The Sun will never set on this lunar habitat that could double as an exclusive tourist destination

RADIO WAVES OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN HAVE SCIENTISTS PUZZLED

Fast radio bursts originating from outside the Milky Way were first detected almost 20 years ago. But what are they?

STRUGGLING TO FIND THE MOTIVATION TO EXERCISE? BLAME YOUR BRAIN

We all know that working out makes us feel better. So why do most of us find it so difficult to actually do it? 

ONE HORMONE COULD BE THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS A CURE FOR MORNING SICKNESS

The nausea and vomiting that, in extreme cases, can endanger mothers and babies might soon be just a memory

TONGUE SCRAPING: CAN THE LATEST TIKTOK TREND PUT AN END TO BAD BREATH?

Advocates of tongue scraping claim it’s an effective way to remove odour-causing bacteria

WATER BOTTLES: HOW SAVING THE PL ANET COULD MAKE YOU SICK

Reusable water bottles reduce waste from single-use plastic, but without regular cleaning become havens for bacteria

POTHOLES: HIGH-TECH SOLUTIONS COULD FILL THE CRACKS IN UK ROADS

Britain’s roads are cratered with 750,000 potholes. Bacteria and self-healing asphalt could make them smooth again

CROSSWORD

PENCILS AT THE READY!

A MATTER OF THE HEART

BETTER LIVING THROUGH SCIENCE

FROM CES 2024

Each year, Las Vegas plays host to the Consumer Electronics Show, where the world’s tech manufacturers assemble to unveil their latest developments. Here are some of the highlights…

AI TECH

Yes, artificial intelligence. Who would have guessed that

BREAKOUT CES TECH

A brief history of the landmark tech that made its debut at CES

TRANSPARENT TECH

GETTY IMAGES X3, EVAN AMOS/WIKIPEDIA X2 Televisions have

ROBOT TECH

“You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile… also,

HEALTH TECH

In years gone by, CES has brought us

HIDDEN TECH

The idea of hidden technology probably makes you

ACCESSIBILITY TECH

The past few years have seen significant progress

COOKING TECH

Over the years, some revolutionary kitchen gadgets have

IN THE LINE OF FIRE

AFTER THREE YEARS OF FIERY ERUPTIONS, EXPERTS ARE NOW CONFIDENT THAT ICEL AND’S REYKJANES PENINSUL A HAS ENTERED A NEW PHASE OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

DARK MATTER: A NEW DAWN

DO CRACKS IN THE STANDARD MODEL HINT AT THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW PHYSICS?

THE POWER OF THOUGHT

IS MANIFESTATION PURE PSEUDOSCIENCE OR COULD THERE BE SOMETHING TO IT?

COSMOS

THE WORLD ISN’T WHAT IT SEEMS. HERE’S HOW SCIENCE HAS EXPOSED THE FALLACIES AND MISCONCEIVED IDEAS OF EARTH AND THE HEAVENS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO ASK FOR HELP?

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE AND ANIMALS LACTOSE INTOLERANT, DESPITE DRINKING THEIR MOTHER’S MILK WHEN YOUNG?

It’s normal to be lactose intolerant. Mammals evolved

HOW MANY TENTACLES DOES AN OCTOPUS HAVE?

None. Octopuses are named for their eight limbs,

THE SAIGA ANTELOPE

A saiga antelope walks into a bar. “Why

IF GENES ONLY MAKE UP AROUND TWO PER CENT OF OUR DNA, WHAT MAKES UP THE OTHER 98 PER CENT?

It was barely a generation ago – during

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASPIRIN, PARACETAMOL AND IBUPROFEN?

Aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen are painkillers with different

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO HAVING TRACTOR BEAMS, LIKE IN STAR TREK?

GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY ILLUSTRATIONS: BERNARD LEONARDO, PETE LAWRENCE

WHY DO WE PICK FAVOURITES?

At the root of favouritism is the fact

ASTRONOMY FOR BEGINNERS

TRICKS OF THE LIGHT WHEN: FEBRUARY–MARCH The early

The Search for Planet Nine

Do orbital oddities reveal the existence of an undiscovered

MYTHBUSTERS

IS THERE ANY SCIENCE BEHIND ‘LOVE LANGUAGES’?

SCIENTIFICALLY, WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO CUT A SANDWICH?

The consensus view favours cutting sandwiches diagonally to

WHY DO SNAILS MOVE SO SLOWLY? IS THERE AN EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGE TO THEIR LACK OF PACE?

Slugs and snails use a ‘ventral foot’ –

IF YOU SHOT A BULLET STRAIGHT UP, HOW FAR WOULD IT TRAVEL?

The formula for an object thrown straight up

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

WHY DOES PROTEIN MAKE ME FART?