This week's magazine

Table of contents

Leaders

Health

Covid-19’s many unknowns are what make it so tricky to beat

IN THE UK, back in July, covid-19 cases had dropped so much that politicians spurred people to dine out to boost the economy. Citizens were told that restrictions on daily life would be over "in time for Christmas". That didn't happen. Instead, as the northern summer ended, infections climbed, and kept on climbing despite complicated …

News

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News

Health

Rosamund Kissi-Debrah: Clean air 'Ella's law' would honour her memory

Rosamund Kissi-Debrah outside Southwark Coroner's Court in London, after the inquest into the death of her daughter Ella A landmark inquest has finally put a name and face to the human cost of air pollution – an environmental crisis estimated to kill up to 36,000 people in the UK and 7 million globally each year …

News

Health

Home baking frenzy inspires tissue scaffold for growing muscle

News

Life

Koalas are being given birth control to fight overpopulation

News

Environment

Adult fish sizes have shrunk over 50 years of sea temperature rises

News

Humans

Treasure trove of ancient human remains hints at undiscovered species

News

Health

Coronavirus crisis worsens with global surges and fresh outbreaks

News

Health

New coronavirus variants: What are they and how worried should we be?

News

Health

What does smell loss reveal about covid-19, and how long will it last?

News

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Analysis

Environment

Over 100 cities have made public transport free – others should follow

Dozens of cities around the world already provide free public transport for their residents. Many other places should get on board, says Richard Webb

News

Space

How every galaxy comes from quantum fluctuations billions of years ago

News

Humans

Is digging a tunnel under Stonehenge good or bad for archaeology?

News

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Aperture

Life

Inside the fight to save the Great Barrier Reef from climate change

Our reporter, Donna Lu, joined the researchers who are attempting to regrow damaged parts of the Great Barrier Reef by collecting and incubating coral larvae

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Features

Health

Low-carb diets: An easy way to lose weight or recipe for heart attack?

More people are cutting carbs and filling up on fat and protein to lose weight or get healthier – despite warnings about this boosting cholesterol. New Scientist investigates the true risks of low-carb life

Features

Technology

Plants that suck metals from the soil can be farmed to make our tech

Features

Health

Five reasons the covid-19 pandemic has been such a nightmare

Features

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Culture

Humans

The New Climate War review: Reasons to be optimistic about the future

The forces fighting climate science have not been defeated, just changed tactics. But Michael Mann, a key figure in the fightback, argues for hope in his new book

Culture

Technology

Brave New Planet review: A guide to future tech’s moral dilemmas

Culture

Humans

Don’t Miss: Sci-fi writer Adrian Tchaikovsky returns with Bear Head

Culture

Humans

iHuman review: Should we be afraid of a world run by AI?

Culture

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More

Puzzle #95: What piece should you chose to build the tallest tower?

#95 Catch up Catch Up 5 is a two-player game using five stacks of toy bricks of height 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The aim is to end with a taller tower than your opponent. Player A starts by taking a single stack of any height – in the example above, they chose the …

Regulars

Life

How you can help with penguin research by browsing images at home

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Tom Gauld's groundbreaking study of behavioural scientists

Regulars

Twisteddoodles on moving away from the coronavirus crisis

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Why you should trust reindeer to pick stocks over politicians

Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more

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Letters

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The last word