HEALTH-TRENDS
Alzheimer’s disease: surprising new theory about what might cause it
A recent study found that in some rare, inherited forms of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia can result from low levels of amyloid-beta 42 and not necessarily from plaques
WORLD
Elon Musk is wrong: Research shows content rules on Twitter help preserve free speech from bots and other manipulation
But, as a corporation, Twitter can regulate speech on its platform as it chooses. And Musk’s plans for Twitter are unlikely to do anything about the manipulative behaviours on it.
TRENDS
Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the V&A is an unflinching look at the country’s creative rise
The story of the Korean Wave on display at Hallyu! is frank about the political tensions and controversies that were formative in the development of contemporary Korean creative expression.
ENVIRONMENT
To reach net zero the world still needs mining
After 26 years, here’s what I’ve learned about this ‘evil’ industry.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Noise in the brain enables us to make extraordinary leaps of imagination. It could transform the power of computers too
Noise is usually seen as a nuisance – something to be minimised wherever possible. However, in nonlinear systems, noise can be your friend and actually contribute to boosting a signal.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Muscle is important for good health — here’s how to maintain it after middle age
For most of us, loss of muscle strength and mass are some of the first and most obvious age-related changes we see
SPORTS-TRENDS
World Cup 2022: Qatar’s frantic countdown to a football tournament full of controversy
The huge influx of visitors will test the resilience of critical infrastructure. While some immigrant workers have been told to leave Qatar during the tournament, schools and colleges will be closed and government officials will work from home
FEATURES
The 5,000-year history of writer’s block
The fear and frustration of writing doesn’t discriminate between an award-winning writer and a first-timer
SCIENCE
Nobel prizes most often go to researchers who defy specialization
Winners are creative thinkers who synthesize innovations from varied fields and even hobbies.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Depression is probably not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain – new study
If you’re taking antidepressants, it’s very important you don’t stop doing so without speaking to your doctor first. But people need all this information to make informed decisions.
TRENDS
The iPhone turns 15: a look at the past (and future) of one of the 21st century’s most influential devices
iPhone 14 is expected to launch in September 2022. A look back at all the previous iterations of the Apple phone.
ENVIRONMENT
David Bowie and the birth of environmentalism
50 years on, how Ziggy Stardust and the first UN climate summit changed our vision of the future.
TRENDS
Fatigue after COVID is way more than just feeling tired. 5 tips on what to do about it
ENVIRONMENT
Record-smashing heatwaves are hitting Antarctica and the Arctic simultaneously. Here’s what’s driving them
Based on 10-day forecasts, some climate scientists expect another heat wave in Antarctica in April. The heat is again expected to impact West Antarctica and the Thwaites glacier.
TRENDS
Five reasons Andy Warhol is so popular right now
There are striking resonances between Andy Warhol's time and our contemporary moment.
WORLD
How weapons get to Ukraine and what’s needed to protect vulnerable supply chains
The 'materiel' supply chain required to fulfill the Biden administration’s agreement to support Ukraine with military aid has some conceptual similarities to that of an e-commerce supply chain.
TRENDS
‘Hangxiety’: why some people experience anxiety during a hangover
By one estimate, around 12% of people get hangxiety. To be sure, there is overlap between the ways a hangover and anxiety affect the body.
BUSINESS
Could the Ukraine invasion spark a global financial crisis?
Rating agencies think the prospect of Russia defaulting on its debts is higher than before. According to a group of global banks, a default is extremely likely
TRENDS
Olympic skiers and snowboarders are competing on 100% fake snow – the science of how it’s made and how it affects performance
TRENDS
Sidney Poitier – Hollywood’s first Black leading man reflected the civil rights movement on screen
Sidney Poitier, who died at 94 on January 7, 2022, broke the mold of what a Black actor could be in Hollywood.
TRENDS
Omicron may not be the final variant, but it may be the final variant of concern
Perhaps omicron won’t get any better because it is limited by genetic probability. In the same way that zebras haven’t evolved eyes at the back of their heads to avoid predators.
WORLD
Writing history: 30 years on, a former Moscow correspondent reflects on the end of the USSR
In December 1991, then Russian president Boris Yeltsin, along with the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus, signed the agreement that created the Commonwealth of Independent States. It was the end for the USSR.
TRENDS
Why some people find it harder to be happy
Genes influence the behaviour that helps people choose their environment. For example, extroversion passed from parents to children helps children build their friendship groups. Equally, the environment changes gene expression.
ENVIRONMENT
‘Try harder. Try harder’: Today, COP26 negotiators will fight to save life on Earth. The next decade will reveal if they succeeded
From the outset, COP26 was seen not as an end point, but a kickstart to a decade of truly transformative action. Only in coming years will we know if the event was a real game-changer for the planet.
