Health
Life in the pandemic is exhausting, but there is hope for calmer times
News
This week's magazine
6 February 2021
Issue 3320
On the cover
Editor's picks
Table of contents
News
Health
UK coronavirus variant gets nastier as South African variant spreads
The faster-spreading UK coronavirus variant has acquired a mutation that will help it evade immune protection 鈥� the same mutation already found in the South African variant
News
Health
Inside the race to tweak covid-19 vaccines and stay ahead of mutations
News
Health
How effective are coronavirus vaccines at stopping transmission?
News
Health
Slow vaccination in low-income countries will delay the pandemic’s end
News
Health
African nations lead the world in offering PrEP HIV prevention drug
News
Technology
AI art critic can predict which emotions a painting will evoke
News
Health
Human placentas are full of mutated cells dumped by the embryo
News
Technology
Robot that looks like a bin bag can understand what a hug is
News
Technology
Video game graphics cards can simulate monkey brains on the cheap
News
Life
A new species of baleen whale has been found in the Gulf of Mexico
News
Environment
Strange death of Russian mountaineers may be due to unusual avalanche
News
Life
Sharks鈥� tooth-like scales help to boost their acceleration rates
News
Life
Naked mole rats mimic the dialect of their colony鈥檚 queen
News
Life
Flowering plants may be 100 million years older than we thought
News
Humans
Using hand gestures when we talk influences what others hear
News
Environment
Microplastic fibres affect plants by impacting soil as much as drought
News
Humans
Our dexterous thumbs have a 2 million-year-old origin
News
Technology
Wood can easily be turned transparent to make energy-saving windows
News
Analysis
Health
Coronavirus vaccine: What should you do if pregnant or breastfeeding?
With little safety data available, individuals who are pregnant must weigh up the risks and benefits for themselves, while evidence for those who are breastfeeding is more clear
News
Health
Vaccine nationalism will leave everyone more at risk of coronavirus
News
Physics
Why the universe can be described by the equations of fluids
News
Features
Health
Pandemic burnout: Do you have it and what can you do about it?
As the coronavirus crisis goes on, an increasing number of us are feeling worn out and unable to cope. Here鈥檚 how you can tell if this is burnout, and what you can do to protect yourself
Features
Humans
How to be an expert: What does it really take to master your trade?
Features
Environment
A hydrogen fuel revolution is coming 鈥� here’s why we might not want it
Features
Culture
Humans
Netflix’s The Dig review: An archaeology drama with impeccable acting
Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan star in Netflix鈥檚 film The Dig, which reimagines the excavation at Sutton Hoo, where a 27-metre burial ship was uncovered
Culture
Humans
How the pandemic is revolutionising art galleries and museums
Culture
Humans
Don鈥檛 Miss: Manchester Science Festival majors on our changing climate
Culture
Humans
The Mandalorian review: How special effects made the Star Wars series
Culture
More
Mind
Playing smartphone games could help researchers understand the brain
You can help researchers studying the brain and mental health conditions by playing games on the Brain Explorer app, finds Layal Liverpool
Regulars
Twisteddoodles on the weirdness of cats
Regulars
Tom Gauld reworks his primate feeding study due to covid restrictions
Regulars
Regulars
We have finally discovered how wombats make cube-shaped poos
Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more
This Week鈥檚 Letters
Letters
Why do some people struggle to tell left from right (continued)?
Last Word
When walking, does a person who takes more steps get more exercise?
Last Word
This week鈥檚 new questions
Last Word
