The 20th century was a famously fertile time for visions of the future, but the 21st century has failed to inspire them in the same way. Science fiction writer William Gibson, author of the prescient cyberpunk novel Neuromancer , has called this “future fatigue”, pointing out that we barely ever make reference to the 22nd…
Researchers found that fruit fly sperm push against one another and align in orderly bundles, preventing knots that could block reproduction.
September 4, 2025 3 min read This Sneaky Spacecraft Bacteria Can Play Dead to Survive A type of bacteria found in clean rooms has an unexpected method of survival, with implications for planetary protection By Stephanie Pappas edited by Clara Moskowitz NASA’s Curiosity rover is prepared for launch in the clean room at the Spacecraft…
A geothermal power plant in Iceland where carbon dioxide has been injected underground for long-term storage Sigrg/CarbFix The world may run out of storage space for captured carbon dioxide within the next two centuries, according to new research that suggests the planet’s practical capacity for holding CO2 underground is far less than we thought. Storing…
Psychoanalysts can help couples articulate their relationship problems Carles Navarro Parcerisas/Getty Images Love’s LabourStephen Grosz (UK: Chatto & Windus, out now; US: Random House, out 10 February 2026) With their expert knowledge of the human mind and its desires, you might expect psychoanalysts’ relationships to be free from the chaos that characterises most of our…
It may be a good idea to leave your phone outside of the bathroom Ekaterina Demidova/Getty Images Do you use your smartphone while you sit on the toilet? If so, you are probably spending longer there than you would do otherwise – and that could be increasing your risk of haemorrhoids by nearly 50 per…
September 3, 2025 4 min read A Giant Map Shows How DNA Changes as We Age A map of DNA methylation changes in human organs—from the stomach to the retinas—could help researchers discover more targets for antiaging therapies By Chris Simms & Nature magazine The visible effects of ageing on our body are in part…
Plant-based and meaty kibbles may both lack some important nutrients Snizhana Halytska/Alamy Vegetarian and vegan dog foods just need a few tweaks to make them nutritionally complete diets. Analyses reveal that meat-free dry kibbles meet dogs’ protein and fat requirements, lacking only sufficient iodine and B vitamins. With supplements or – better yet – improved…
Venice’s famous bronze statue of a winged lion, which stands atop a pedestal in St. Mark’s Square, took an intercontinental trip to Italy. This symbol of medieval Venetian statehood started out as a tomb guardian sculpture in China’s Tang Dynasty, say archaeologist Massimo Vidale of the University of Padua in Italy and colleagues. Tang rulers…
September 3, 2025 3 min read Spouses Tend to Share Psychiatric Disorders, Massive Study Finds Spouses often share psychiatric diagnoses, according to an analysis of almost 15 million people in three countries By Mohana Basu & Nature magazine Malte Mueller/Getty Images People with a psychiatric disorder are more likely to marry someone who has the…
