Science & technology

Red planet

Wildfires are getting more frequent and more devastating

Climate change is accelerating the blaze

Cryptography

The world needs codes quantum computers can’t break

America’s standards agency thinks it has identified three

Carbon-based artforms

Why a new art gallery in Bangalore is important for Indian science

It aims to make research and tinkering more accessible to the public

Sleeper species

Climate change could reawaken harmful invasive plants

The sooner they can be weeded out, the better

Backprop in the brain

AI scientists are producing new theories of how the brain learns

The challenge for neuroscientists is how to test them

Rays of hope

Exposure to the sun’s UV radiation may be good for you

For now, though, keep the sun cream handy

Terraforming Mars

Engineered dust could help make Mars habitable

Restoring water on Mars may be easier than you think

Soft power

New batteries are stretchable enough to wear against the skin

They take their inspiration from electric eels

Gendered medicine

Do women make better doctors than men?

Research suggests yes

Purple patches

Lavender extract makes excellent mosquito-repellent

Scientists have turned it into clothing

Keeping your marbles

How to reduce the risk of developing dementia

A healthy lifestyle can prevent or delay almost half of cases

On your marks

GPT, Claude, Llama? How to tell which AI model is best

Beware model-makers marking their own homework