John Smith/Getty Images; Adobestock Vladimir Lenin is said to have warned that all societies are three square meals from chaos. But in the modern world, it is only a Wi-Fi signal that separates us from anarchy. Every aspect of our lives is reliant on computers and the internet, and when they fail, they do so…
An illustration of polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes the ovaries to enlarge Science Photo Library / Alamy We are finally getting to grips with the genetics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which could open the door to new treatments. PCOS, which is thought to affect up to 1 in 5 women, disrupts how ovaries function,…
Getting vaccinated against covid-19 is safer than catching it Juanmonino/Getty Images The evidence that children were better off being vaccinated against covid-19 than getting infected by it during the pandemic just got even stronger. The largest-ever study, involving nearly 14 million children, has found that the risk of serious – but very rare – side…
Math and physics explain the anguish of a golf ball that zings around the rim of the hole instead of falling in.
Where did the speed of light come from and why is it so stubborn? NASA, ESA, CXC, SSC The following is an extract from our Lost in Space-Time newsletter. Each month, we dive into fascinating ideas from around the universe. You can sign up for Lost in Space-Time here. If you’ve taken a university-level physics class,…
Content note: This story contains harmful language about sexual assault and suicide, sent by chatbots in response to simulated messages of mental health distress. If you or someone you care about may be at risk of suicide, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free, 24/7 support, information and local resources from trained counselors. Call…
November 3, 2025 4 min read The U.S. Might Lose Its Measles-Free Status Soon A meeting of the Pan American Health Organization this week will address the resurgence of measles in the Americas By Stephanie Pappas edited by Tanya Lewis A vial of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The U.S. could risk losing its measles-free…
A preparatory ministerial meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, ahead of COP30 Ton Molina/Bloomberg via Getty Images A decade on from the historic COP21 summit in Paris, world leaders are once again about to gather for the latest UN climate conference. But with the totemic 1.5°C goal already out of reach and even the less ambitious 2°C…
Supernova remnants, stellar nurseries and more populate the new edge-on view of the Milky Way as seen from Earth’s southern hemisphere.
Late last year, dozens of researchers spanning thousands of miles banded together in a race to save one baby boy’s life. The result was a world first: a cutting-edge, gene-editing therapy fashioned for a single person, and produced in a record-breaking six months. Now, baby KJ Muldoon’s doctors are gearing up to do it all…
