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Stay informed with commentary and opinion pieces on the latest issues in science, technology, health and the environment, written by expert 91av journalists and world-leading researchers and thinkers.

The NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on NASA?s James Webb Space Telescope?s reveals a portion of the Milky Way?s dense core in a new light. An estimated 500,000 stars shine in this image of the Sagittarius C (Sgr C) region, along with some as-yet unidentified features. A large region of ionized hydrogen, shown in cyan, contains intriguing needle-like structures that lack any uniform orientation. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and S. Crowe (University of Virginia).

Space

The cosmos is vast, so how do we measure it?

The awe-inspiring distances of the cosmos are hard to visualise, so how can we be certain we are measuring them correctly? Chanda Prescod-Weinstein explains

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Brunette Woman Performing Isometric Exercises on Pink Exercise M; Shutterstock ID 2490925757; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Health

The unexpected benefits of wall squats and other isometric exercises

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fiber optic long exposure

Technology

Will we ever feel comfortable with AIs taking on important tasks?

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Health

Plans to genetically screen newborns for rare diseases are problematic

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A pink robot with heart eyes

Technology

Why falling in love with an AI isn’t laughable, it’s inevitable

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Humans

70,000 years ago humans underwent a major shift – that’s why we exist

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Technology

The dangers of so-called AI experts believing their own hype

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EHNFPG Woman use an oestrogen patch for a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), in order to releive the undesirable effects of menopause.

Health

Could hormone implants allow us to boost focus, endurance and libido?

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FUNAFUTI, TUVALU - NOVEMBER 28: An aerial view of downtown and the airport runway, between the Pacific Ocean (L) and lagoon (R), on November 28, 2019 in Funafuti, Tuvalu. The??low-lying??South Pacific island nation??of about 11,000 people has been classified as ???extremely vulnerable??? to climate change by the??United Nations Development Programme.??The world???s fourth-smallest country is struggling to cope with climate change related impacts including five millimeter per year sea level rise (above the global average), tidal and wave driven flooding, storm surges, rising temperatures, saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion on its nine coral atolls and islands, the highest of which rises about 15 feet above sea level. In addition, the severity of cyclones and droughts in the Pacific Island region are forecast to increase due to global warming. Some scientists have predicted that Tuvalu could become inundated and uninhabitable in 50 to 100 years or less if sea level rise continues.??The country is working toward a goal of 100 percent renewable power generation by 2025 in an effort to curb pollution and set an example for larger nations. Tuvalu is also exploring a plan to build an artificial island. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Environment

The Australia-Tuvalu climate migration treaty is a drop in the ocean

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A woman lying awake in bed

Mind

What sleep scientists recommend doing to fall asleep more easily

Helping yourself get to sleep isn’t just about avoiding screens before bedtime. From cognitive shuffling to sleep-restriction therapy, columnist Helen Thomson finds out what actually works

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Technology

Forget the Terminators, our robot future may be squishy and fun

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Environment

Why climate change fades into the background – and how to change that

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Health

How might society react to babies with two genetic fathers?

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Health

To understand sunburn, you need to know how UV provokes inflammation

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