51

materials science

Futuristic city

Space

Science fiction picks: Time for a reality check

In this season’s crop of science fiction, the world turns to putty in our hands, we dodge “calendrical rot” and worry about absolute truth

Culture

Exploding lightbulb

Technology

Eight great accidents in scientific discovery

Features

Waves in water

Earth

Quantum gravity detector will use atom clouds to survey for oil

51

Ada Lovelace

Technology

Time to bust the myth that Ada Lovelace was an overhyped aristo

Comment

explosion in desert

Physics

Bigger bang theory: teach atoms new tricks to beef up explosives

Features

Plastics made fireproof thanks to mother-of-pearl mimic

Technology

Plastics made fireproof thanks to mother-of-pearl mimic

51

plastic bottles

Earth

Throwaway culture: The truth about recycling

Features

Abstract pattern made from strings of light

Technology

Quantum cheques could be a forgery-free way to move money

51

Solar panels

Earth

Invisibility cloak makes solar panels work more efficiently

51

Mary Somerville

Health

Mary Somerville: Queen of 19th-century science

Mary Somerville had vast knowledge and a social network to die for. That helped her write one of the most amazing and popular science books of the 19th century

Features

Technology

Google on track for quantum computer breakthrough by end of 2017

51

Space

Chinese satellite beats distance record for quantum entanglement

51

Earth

Ocean plastics from Haiti’s beaches turned into laptop packaging

51

Physics

Time, mass and custard provide the physics in The Earthworks

Culture

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