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Features The platypus unravelledIt's been an enduring mystery since Western science 'discovered' it 200 years ago, but the publication of the platypus genome is now giving us an unprecedented insight into this perplexing hybrid of mammal and reptile. The acid testIt's been banned for 35 years, but some scientists argue that a comeback for the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs is overdue. Is there a place for LSD in medicine today? The undo effectHappiness has a positive influence on longevity and health, but what's behind this effect? Psychologists are uncovering evidence that positive emotions undo the physical damage done by stress, fear and anxiety. Fusion 2.0Fusion could one day generate limitless cheap energy from little more than water, while emitting no greenhouse gases. We look at its promise as the ultimate power panacea for a warming world. A barcode for lifeSpecies scanners? An ambitious project to catalogue all life on Earth using DNA could revolutionise taxonomy. The great Moon rushChina, Japan, India, Russia, and the U.S. are all sending satellites to the Moon, with landers, rovers and possibly astronauts hot on their heels. So why is the Moon such a draw? UAVs find role in marine mammal surveillanceThis month a flying robot has been pressed into service off the coast of Australia to swoop low over the sea and carry out aerial surveys of endangered dugongs and whales. The science of cosmeticsThe beauty industry makes some wild, and seemingly scientific, claims about anti-ageing products. But how do they hold up under the harsh light of science? The real Sherlock HolmesWas Sherlock Holmes the original forensic scientist? Cosmos investigates the evidence. The science of good and evilCognitive psychology, evolutionary biology and game theory are offering fresh insights into one of the most perplexing of human capacities: morality. Tim Dean explores the science. The biggest challenges of the 21st centuryPredicting the future is a tricky business, but a group of scientists, inventors, and experts have drawn up a blueprint for engineers to build a better tomorrow. What can we look forward to? Bones of contentionThe controversy over the status of the 'hobbit' continues. Cosmos looks on as two teams of spirited scientists try to settle things once and for all. Hard-wired for loveAre robots the sex partners of the future? Though it sounds like a bleak nightmare to some, one academic thinks we will overcome the technological and psychological obstacles by 2050. Talk and chalkSwimming against the cultural tide, physicists – especially theorists – cling to their blackboards. Culinary alchemyScience-savvy chefs are bringing a new standard of experimentation and precision into the kitchen. We get a taste of what this means for the future of food. |
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