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The hunt for habitable ocean worlds beyond our solar system

Space

The hunt for habitable ocean worlds beyond our solar system

Astronomers think that planets covered in water, with oceans hundreds of metres deep, could be relatively common in our galaxy. Now the race is on to find one

Features

Artists concept view of the interior of the ITER reaction vessel. Nuclear fusion involves creating a plasma of superheated gas to temperatures of more than 200 million degrees C, conditions hot enough to force deuterium and tritium atoms to fuse together and release energy. Fusion takes place inside a 'Tokamak' torus within a giant magnetic field, the only way to contain the heat generated. The ITER reactor is designed to produce 500 MW, 10 times more energy than it consumes. Nuclear fusion is the joining (fusing) of light elements to form heavier elements, which releases large amounts of energy. It is hoped that fusion will be a clean, renewable energy source for the future. Nuclear fusion is the joining (fusing) of light elements to form heavier elements, which releases large amounts of energy. It is hoped that fusion will be a clean, renewable energy source for the future.

Physics

Can a slew of nuclear fusion start-ups deliver unlimited clean energy?

Features

LELYSTAD, NETHERLANDS - APRIL 08: The remains of a deer are seen in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve on April 08, 2018 in Lelystad, Netherlands. Thousands of animals died during this winter due to overpopulation and a shortage of food. Animal activists feed the horses, deer and cattle by throwing hay over the fences despite a ban by the local authorities. Emotions are running high as many of the animals face starvation with Oostvaardersplassen's feeding policy for large grazers being heavily criticised. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Environment

The surprising role death plays in the stability of ecosystems

Features

How to improve your digital diet for greater well-being

Mind

How to improve your digital diet for greater well-being

Features

How curiosity can supercharge your brain and boost your success

Mind

How curiosity can supercharge your brain and boost your success

Features

Human hibernation is a real possibility - this is how it might work

Health

Human hibernation is a real possibility - this is how it might work

Features

Carlo Rovelli at Cornilia Parker exhibition

Physics

Carlo Rovelli on the bizarre world of relational quantum mechanics

Features

Magnetic fields in NGC 1068, or M77, are shown as streamlines over a visible light and X-ray composite image of the galaxy from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Array, and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The magnetic fields align along the entire length of the massive spiral arms ? 24,000 light years across (0.8 kiloparsecs) ? implying that the gravitational forces that created the galaxy?s shape are also compressing its magnetic field. This supports the leading theory of how the spiral arms are forced into their iconic shape known as ?density wave theory.? SOFIA studied the galaxy using far-infrared light (89 microns) to reveal facets of its magnetic fields that previous observations using visible and radio telescopes could not detect. Credits: NASA/SOFIA; NASA/JPL-Caltech/Roma Tre Univ. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/how-to-shape-a-spiral-galaxy

Space

Did magnetism shape the universe? An epic experiment suggests it did

Features

How hacking your metabolism can help you burn fat and prevent disease

Health

How hacking your metabolism can help you burn fat and prevent disease

Features

Why ancient Nubia is finally emerging from Egypt’s long shadow

Humans

Why ancient Nubia is finally emerging from Egypt’s long shadow

Archaeologists once viewed ancient Nubia as separate from and inferior to Egypt. But research is now showing the Nubians had their own rich culture that powerfully influenced the land of the pharaohs

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Humans

Piecing together the story of ancient glass after the Beirut explosion

Features

Health

We are finally waking up to the causes of insomnia and how to treat it

Features

Humans

Rebecca Wragg Sykes on the objects that reveal the Neanderthal mind

Features

Humans

Nature, nurture, luck: Why you are more than just genes and upbringing

Features