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Science & Culture

Discoveries, the arts and long reads worth your time.

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Science

YouTube star Ms Rachel to match Macklemore’s $1m Palestine aid donation

Educator talks of ‘moral obligation’ and urges ‘every wealthy white celebrity’ to make similar donation YouTube star Ms Rachel has said she is matching rapper Macklemore’s $1m donation to organizations supporting Palestinians, calling on other public figures to follow suit.…

The Guardian Culture·
Science

John Farnham’s 20 best songs

From soaring ballads to a song that belongs on every road-trip playlist, these are the tracks that underscore why ‘the Voice’ is a national treasure In the lead-up to a sold-out tribute concert in celebration of the British-born Australian singer’s music, which is being…

The Guardian Culture·
Science

Mercury is shrinking with age — faster than thought

Nature, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02898-3Impacts by space objects have obscured some of the evidence of the planet’s contraction over the past 4.5 billion years.

Nature·
Science

Schoolhouse meals serve up an income bump

Nature, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02896-5Modelling shows a link between feeding programmes and higher potential earning in five African nations.

Nature·
Science

How fast are you ageing? Ask AI

Nature, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02913-7A new system will help scientists to refine large language models for longevity research and clarify ‘biological’ age.

Nature·
Science

Take a risk or play it safe? Neuronal tug-of-war helps the brain decide

Nature, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02911-9Using a video game involving bombs and treasure chests, researchers show how neural activity flickers between two regions of the frontal cortex when the brain weighs up a tricky decision.

Nature·
Science

Who gets credit in the AI era? OpenAI maths bombshell sparks debate

Nature, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02910-wControversy around OpenAI’s claim to have solved the Navier–Stokes problem highlights how researchers could be inadvertently sharing — and absorbing— ideas through chatbots.

Nature·
Science

Why most stars don’t have outbursts like our Sun’s

Nature, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02833-6A strong magnetic field can disrupt a star’s ability to produce the fountains of matter called coronal mass ejections.

Nature·
Science

Transplanted human brain-tissue takes root in mice without a cortex

Nature, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02927-1Extensive cellular integration might provide platform for in vivo testing of new therapies — plus, the AI tool that turns papers into ‘virtual corresponding authors’.

Nature·
Science

The scenic route: pit stops and detours on Australia’s best road trips

A low-stress drive to a spot not too far from home can be a simple path to calm Choosing to drive rather than fly for your next holiday means you can forget about baggage limits and airport queues. You’ll also be able to enjoy the art of slow travel, and reinvest your flight…

The Guardian Culture·