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Editor's picks

Physics

Nothingness: Zero, the number they tried to ban

Physics

Nothingness: Mathematics starts with an empty set

Physics

Nothingness: Computers are powered by holes

Physics

Nothingness: The turbulent life of empty space

Physics

Nothingness: The noble gases get to work

Table of contents

News

Successful Soyuz launch saves ISS operations

A crewed Soyuz rocket has launched for the first time since flights were grounded following a crash in August

Health

Geron halts pioneering stem cell research

Earth

Humans killing at least 750 Bornean orang-utans a year

El Naschie questions journalist in Nature libel trial

60 Seconds

Earth

Canada’s tar sands pipeline faces further delay

Earth

New power plants and factories lock us into hot future

Health

Test all kids for cholesterol, says US government

Physics

Atoms find quantum solace in the deep chill of space

Earth

Hyperwarming climate could turn Earth’s poles green

Health

EEG finds consciousness in people in vegetative state

Health

Breast-milk stem cells may bypass ethical dilemmas

Physics

Light pulled out of empty space

Health

Spot cancer before it starts with nanoscale microscopy

Cannibal shrimp kill all but their mating partner

Single gene can make you appear kinder

Physics

Electron tweezers reveal their pluck

Life

Rats became the ultimate human pest four times over

Health

Why dyed hair is dull and lifeless

Life

Strange domes on Europa formed on thin ice

Health

Gene tweak creates supermouse – and prevents diabetes

Space

Universe’s first stars not so big after all

Technology

Liquid could power and cool mobile supercomputers

Technology

Yacht’s attempt to smash sailing’s ‘sound barrier’

Technology

Supreme Court case exposes confusion over GPS tracking

Earth

Oil and gas wells find new life with geothermal

Space

Mars 500 crew share thoughts on their mission

Opinion

Physics

Nothingness: Why nothing matters

Our pursuit of naught provides profound insights into the nature of reality

Health

The dope on mental enhancement

Nobel psychologist reveals the error of our ways

Analysis

Earth

Just how much meat can eco-citizens eat?

We all know we need to eat less meat – here are the hard numbers

Aperture

View a colossal telescopic eye into the cosmic past

In the Atacama desert, Chile, the world's most advanced visible-light observatory catches rays that have taken billions of years to travel across the cosmos

Features

Physics

Nothingness: Zero, the number they tried to ban

Every schoolchild knows the concept of zero – so why did it take so long to catch on? Richard Webb follows its convoluted path from heresy to common sense

Physics

Nothingness: Mathematics starts with an empty set

Physics

Nothingness: Computers are powered by holes

Physics

Nothingness: The turbulent life of empty space

Physics

Nothingness: The noble gases get to work

Culture

Tim Minchin uses comedy to open a door to rationalism

With his heavy eyeliner and quirky act, comedian and musician Tim Minchin considers himself a "gateway drug" to science, philosophy and rationalism

How to grow old with whimsy and wit

Our deluded minds are just trying to make us happy

More

Enigma Number 1673

Regulars

Feedback: Plight of the imprisoned executives

Business-class jail cells, a scientific prediction you can bank on, anxious bedbugs, and more

This Week’s Letters

Flash flood

Think about it

Browse past issues

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12 November 2011

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22 October 2011

15 October 2011