Humans

A tightly stacked wall of yellow metal ballot boxes from the 2007 Philippine Barangay Elections in Davao. Each box is labelled either “VALID BALLOTS” or “SPOILED BALLOTS” in embossed capital letters. One box near the centre features a glass window, standing out among the otherwise solid fronts. The boxes are weathered, with some showing signs of rust, dents, and faded paint.

Disposition

Democratic countries are linked to kinder personalities and greater wellbeing than autocratic regimes.

Close-up photo of a vial labelled "M-M-RvaxPro," a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The vial has a blue cap and white label with blue text, placed on a dark textured surface. The vaccine is intended for injection via intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) use.

Refusal Archive

Falling childhood vaccination rates in the US risk widespread disease resurgence, hospitalisations, and deaths.

A war-damaged street in the Christian quarter of Aleppo, Syria, showing collapsed buildings with shattered facades and debris filling the roadway. Rubble, broken furniture, and twisted metal are strewn across the scene. Survivors navigate the destruction, some standing on the wreckage, while others move cautiously through the ruins. Sunlight filters through the open space where buildings once stood, casting long shadows over the devastation.

Held in the Blood

Violence alters DNA across generations, with trauma-linked genetic changes in Syrian refugees showing inherited effects and prenatal exposure accelerating ageing.

Small Debris on the Ground Beside Curiosity: This image from the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity shows a small bright object on the ground beside the rover at the "Rocknest" site (Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS).

The Bones of Mars

Mars exploration has created an archaeological record, with researchers advocating to preserve humanity’s cultural and technological legacy.

A traffic jam in Mumbai. There are lots of cars and pollution.

Shrouds of Ash

India’s air pollution causes millions of deaths, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and interventions.

Photograph of ancient fossilized footprints embedded in a flat, cracked limestone surface. The footprints are faint but visible, surrounded by shallow pools of water and patches of green algae. The scene is located near a coastal area with the ocean in the background and a few people visible in the distance for scale.

Footprints in Deep Time

Footprints reveal two ancient human species coexisted in Kenya, sharing lakeside environments 1.5 million years ago.

A vibrant cosmic scene showing asteroids and comets streaking through a colorful galaxy, with bright stars and swirling nebulae surrounding a central glowing star.

The Volatility of Life

Research reveals that most of Earth’s zinc likely came from ancient, unmelted space rocks, shedding light on how planets form.

A street lit by artificial light with people stood looking lost.

Lost in the Night Light

Nighttime light exposure has been linked to increased Alzheimer’s disease risk, especially in younger people.

The Nature of the Selfie

Social media boosts nature tourism but disrupts wildlife, prompting calls for ethical guidelines to protect vulnerable species and biodiversity.