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Mathematicians are chasing a number that may reveal the edge of maths

Some numbers are so unimaginably large that they defy the bounds of modern mathematics, and now mathematicians are closing in on a number that may mark the edge of this bizarre abyss. Read more

'Hybrid' skull may have been a child of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens

The skull of a 5-year-old girl who lived 140,000 years ago has similarities with modern Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, suggesting her parents might have belonged to different species. Read more

A youthful brain and immune system may be key to a long life

Maintaining good overall health is key to living a long life, but we may want to particularly focus on the state of our brain and immune system. Read more

Michał Bednarski

'Flashes of brilliance and frustration': I let an AI agent run my day

Ordering takeaway food, writing emails, reworking presentations: AI assistants are promoted as a way of outsourcing mundane tasks to free up your time for more interesting pursuits. So, what are they actually good for – and what are the risks? Read more

70,000 years ago humans underwent a major shift – that’s why we exist

Ancient humans in Africa changed their behaviour in a major way 70,000 years ago, which could explain how their descendants managed to people the rest of the world. Read more

Why falling in love with an AI isn’t laughable, it’s inevitable

It’s easy to sneer at people who say they’ve fallen in love with ChatGPT. But we've been developing confusing feelings for bots for decades longer than you might think, writes Alex Wilkins. With so many people feeling lonely, can that be a good thing? Read more

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Geoengineering could avoid climate tipping points, but not if we delay

Injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight could prevent vital ocean currents from shutting down – but only if we start soon, a modelling study suggests. Read more

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