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Man behind a curtain back

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Exploring sci-fi treats from George Saunders and Matthew Kressel

In George Saunders's Vigil, a ghost visits Earth to help a dying oil tycoon, while terraforming efforts on Mars are about to bear fruit in The Rainseekers by Matthew Kressel. Emily H. Wilson's sci-fi column explores two very different short novels

Culture

Illustration depicting a tidal disruption event (TDE). TDEs are causes when a star passes close to a supermassive black hole and get torn apart by the gravity of the latter. The debris forms a fan-shaped pattern around the black hole before eventually falling in.

Space

A new 'brief history' of the universe paints a wide picture

Culture

Unexpectedly moving book makes the case for the Arctic

Environment

Unexpectedly moving book makes the case for the Arctic

Culture

The best new popular science books of February 2026

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The best new popular science books of February 2026

Culture

The best new science fiction books of February 2026

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The best new science fiction books of February 2026

Culture

Our verdict on Annie Bot: This novel about a sex robot split opinions

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Our verdict on Annie Bot: This novel about a sex robot split opinions

Culture

Read an extract from Juice by Tim Winton

Environment

Read an extract from Juice by Tim Winton

Culture

Tim Winton: 'Sometimes I think we use the word dystopia as an opiate'

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Tim Winton: 'Sometimes I think we use the word dystopia as an opiate'

Culture

Plastic bottle in a breaking wave

Physics

A remarkable book on quantum mechanics reveals a really big idea

Culture

Health workers wearing face mask stand in front of a triage tent for suspected COVID-19 patients outside the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon on April 2, 2020. - Over 500 people have died in Portugal after contracting COVID-19 among more than 6,000 recorded cases of the disease. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Health

Fascinating but flawed book explores how sickness shapes our lives

Susan Wise Bauer's The Great Shadow investigates the effects of illness on individual lives and collective beliefs. It's a mixed bag, says Peter Hoskin

Culture

Physics

Engaging look at friction shows how it keeps our world rubbing along

Culture

Video

Sierra Greer discusses her award-winning sex robot novel 'Annie Bot'

Video

Life

A fascinating book reveals the ancient story of horses and humans

Culture

Space

Peter F. Hamilton's latest is an epic slice of sci-fi – with one flaw

Culture