Physics
We’ve discovered a strange twist in the story of how crystals form
The defining feature of a crystal is that it is made from regular, repeating blocks, but a chance discovery in an old German book has turned that view on its head
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Life
Why the hunt for alien life is under way far beneath Earth’s surface
Features
Biochemistry
Life
Life may have begun with simple genes made out of urine
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Humans
Sir William Ramsay added a whole new group to the periodic table
Regulars
Environment
Sticky fluid can be sprayed on grassy verges to prevent wildfires
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Physics
Stealth glider made out of special polymer self-destructs in sunlight
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Environment
Tiny magnets could help rid the ocean of harmful microplastics
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Chemistry
Chemist Lee Cronin is building an alien to work out why life exists
Regulars
Physics
Military-grade jet fuel made cheaply from plant waste instead of coal
An expensive superfuel normally reserved for missiles and hypersonic jets can now be made from crop waste instead of fossil fuels - and more cheaply to boot
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Earth
Earth’s magnetic poles probably won’t flip within our lifetime
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Technology
How to suck water from desert air and quench the planet’s thirst
Features
Physics
Molecules pictured changing shape as they gain and lose electrons
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Earth
Earth’s helium is running out and it has dire consequences for science
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