A book that changed me: the elusive perfection of For the Time Being
Annie Dillard’s 1975 book taught me, a non-believer, that religion can access deeper truths, says the Dublin-based writer Mark O’Connell
Coronavirus is a tragedy – but it could be the wake-up call we need
Global growth was already slowing but not enough to save the Earth from disaster. Hopefully we will be shocked out of our complacency
Catherine D’Ignazio: ‘Data is never a raw, truthful input – and it is never neutral’
The co-author of Data Feminism on the importance of recognising discrimination in algorithms and introducing measures to stamp it out
Heather Couper obituary
Astronomer and television presenter whose passion for her subject captivated audiences
Jack Welch obituary
Chairman and chief executive of General Electric with a fearsome reputation who set the trend for ‘downsizing’
The devil’s in the detail: what makes forensic science ‘forensic’?
Reports that the part-privatised forensic science system is in danger of failing in England and Wales are a reminder of the legal origins of the word ‘forensic’
Game of Thrones honoured in new classification of pterosaur
Targaryendraco wiedenrothi has been renamed after House of Targaryen in George RR Martin’s fantasy saga
The Bilingual Brain by Albert Costa review – the science of learning
Why it’s never too late to learn another language ... a witty, charming guide to opening our minds
The Bilingual Brain by Albert Costa review – enlightening and astonishing
Does speaking more than one language alter your brain? The findings from a lifetime of research are revelatory
Richard Layard: ‘It’s in politicians’ self-interest to make policies for happiness’
The economist on the science of happiness – and how it can help us rethink the world
Xenobot: how did earth’s newest lifeforms get their name?
The first living robot has been built from frog stem cells. It’s certainly strange, but does it work?
Going local: how to make a big difference in small ways
For readers feeling anxious about the climate crisis, a fresh crop of nature writing is energising grassroots activism and inspiring local conservation
How astrology paved the way for predictive analytics
Astrology has influenced science for millennia, argues a new book – and it endures in algorithmic data modelling
Good Husbandry by Kristin Kimball review – a new life on a community farm
Sustainability and a love of the land are at the heart of a couple’s approach to farming. But grit and perseverance are essential
The Power of Bad and How to Overcome It review – professional Pollyannas
We are living in a golden age and can defeat negativity, argue John Tierney and Roy F Baumeister in this complacent, reactionary book