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The astronaut in an outer space, at the ISS, repairs and makes experiments. Elements of this image were furnished by NASA; Shutterstock ID 1478957909; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Space

Space travel may make muscles age extremely quickly

Muscle cells that spent a week on the International Space Station revealed changes in gene expression that suggest microgravity can speed up ageing

Environment

One of Earth’s major carbon sinks collapsed in 2023

Health

Why many studies wrongly claim it’s healthy to drink a little alcohol

Humans

Egyptian pyramid may have been built using a water-powered elevator

Life

Early humans began wiping out elephant relatives 1.8 million years ago

Space

Lunar samples reveal exactly when the moon’s largest crater formed

Life

Ants are incredible navigators – let’s celebrate their brilliance

Young boy and girl play on a bluetrack after running in summer; Shutterstock ID 1660158184; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Health

We’re ignoring easy ways to encourage children to be physically active

Life

Jurassic fossils show modern mammals grow faster than ancient ones

Environment

Trees have an extra climate benefit thanks to methane-eating microbes

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is converted to CO2 by microbes in tree bark, meaning trees are even better for the climate than we thought

Health

We may finally know how the placebo effect relieves pain

Space

Moon bases will need to be 3 metres underground to avoid radiation

Technology

AI can predict tipping points for systems from forests to power grids

Life

Komodo dragons have teeth capped with a layer of iron