Life Should we thank god for civilisation? The idea that religion led to modernity is gaining momentum. But that doesn't mean it should lead civilisation now Opinion
Environment Zoologger: The semaphore 'worms' as big as sperm whales Read more: Click here to read the original, longer version of this story . TALK about teamwork. Huge free-floating coalitions of marine invertebrates known as pyrosomes have to coordinate to ensure the colony heads the right way – and light may be their secret to doing so. The tubular pyrosomes are made up of many … 51¶¯Âþ
Earth Natural disaster amnesia: Threats we choose to forget Two centuries ago the biggest volcanic eruption in history unleashed mayhem across the world. Are we prepared for an inevitable repeat? Opinion
Life Reverse silhouettes capture the beauty of nature (Image: György Kepes (1906-2001) © Estate of György Kepes) THEY may look like conventional photographs, but no cameras were used in the making of György Kepes's "photograms". Instead, the artist arranged objects directly on top of light-sensitive paper, then illuminated them. Kepes showed just as much enthusiasm for scientific and mechanical subjects as for natural … Regulars
Earth Battle-scarred Earth: How war reshapes the planet War isn't just for the history books. Bombs, munitions testing and chemical weapons dumps have left an indelible legacy on our planet's geology Features
Technology David and Goliath: What do we do about surveillance? From spyware designed to catch students misbehaving to police tracking rioters by phone, we are spied on as never before, reveals a book by Bruce Schneier CultureLab
Feedback: Death meets his maker Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more Death meets his maker TERRY PRATCHETT was, Feedback guesses, the favourite fiction author of many of our readers. What can one say when the person who invented Death dies? The vicissitudes of weekly publication prevented our making a timely tribute … Regulars