Astronomy

A lab experiment that simulated Mars conditions showed that green algae can grow in plastic containers made from the same algae, setting the stage for a self-sustaining system to build habitats on the planet

A lab experiment that simulated Mars conditions showed that green algae can grow in plastic containers made from the same algae, setting the stage for a self-sustaining system to build habitats on the planet

Red heart or thumbs up? Sending emojis to close friends makes them see you as more attentive and likeable than text-only messages do – no matter which emojis you use

Red heart or thumbs up? Sending emojis to close friends makes them see you as more attentive and likeable than text-only messages do – no matter which emojis you use

An ancient human site in Germany features animal bones that were smashed into small pieces and heated to extract fat 125,000 years ago, showing that Neanderthal culinary skills were surprisingly sophisticated

An ancient human site in Germany features animal bones that were smashed into small pieces and heated to extract fat 125,000 years ago, showing that Neanderthal culinary skills were surprisingly sophisticated

We have now learned why wounds in our mouth don't scar, which could lead to treatments that prevent such blemishes on the skin

We have now learned why wounds in our mouth don't scar, which could lead to treatments that prevent such blemishes on the skin

A plume of molten rock deep beneath eastern Africa is pulsing upward in rhythmic surges, slowly splitting the continent and potentially marking the birth of a new ocean, a new study reports.

These dramatic images show the researchers out to understand the storms that produce the biggest hail

From generation ships to climate change, there has been some stellar sci-fi out in the past six months. Our columnist Emily H. Wilson picks her favourites

These dramatic images show the researchers out to understand the storms that produce the biggest hail

From generation ships to climate change, there has been some stellar sci-fi out in the past six months. Our columnist Emily H. Wilson picks her favourites

In this latest instalment of Future Chronicles, an imagined history of future inventions, we journey to the 2030s, when hormone implants enabled users to boost everything from pain tolerance to libidos, writes Rowan Hooper

In this latest instalment of Future Chronicles, an imagined history of future inventions, we journey to the 2030s, when hormone implants enabled users to boost everything from pain tolerance to libidos, writes Rowan Hooper

Feedback is horrified to see AI's attempts at reworking classic novels, and is concerned that the computers might not quite understand the point of literature

Beware the tech leaders making grandiose statements about artificial intelligence. They have lost sight of reality, says Philip Ball

Feedback is horrified to see AI's attempts at reworking classic novels, and is concerned that the computers might not quite understand the point of literature

Beware the tech leaders making grandiose statements about artificial intelligence. They have lost sight of reality, says Philip Ball

The downsides of diagnosis and an epic trek following a Slovenian wolf are among our culture editor's top popular science books of the year to date, featuring a range of authors from Robert MacFarlane to Suzanne O'Sullivan