What is Hikikomori, the Japanese phenomenon of extreme social isolation — and why it seems to be spreading
The walls can hide many secrets. Image credits: Valentina Locatelli. Loneliness is a big issue in Japanese society. Especially among...
Latest headlines
Modified immune cells could be a long-term treatment for type 1 diabetes
Patients with type 1 diabetes currently need daily injections of insulin to manage the disease.
Archaeologists track down the earliest use of maize in the Mesoamerican area
When corn first entered people's lives, it was likely in the form of an alcoholic liquor.
Largest and oldest Maya monument forces archaeologists to rethink how the civilization evolved
There's more than one hot item in the state of Tabasco.
Mars may have had planetary rings billions of years ago — and might get a new one
A tiny Martian moon suggests Mars may have had planetary rings.
The world’s cleanest air is in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica
It's truly pristine and unaffected by pollution from human activities.
Three times more Americans are now experiencing psychological distress due to the pandemic
Looming fears over contracting disease and economic uncertainty is causing major psychological suffering among American adults.
Fuel tank collapses in Russia, leaking 20,000 tons of diesel in Arctic river
It's considered the second largest environmental accident in modern Russian history.
Scientists engineer squid-like transparent human cells
Sorry -- no invisible humans any time soon, but the applications can be intriguing.
Pregnant women living near oil and gas wells are 40% more likely to birth low-weight babies
Researchers looked at the records of three million births in California and found a disturbing pattern.
Book reviews
The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success — a Must-Read for the Current Times
Many people are concerned about our climate and would like to do something. But in between a complex economy, mammoth...
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Outbreaks like the coronavirus will become more common. Here’s how we must prepare
We know that outbreaks like coronavirus will become more common in the future and tackling them is the Apollo programme...
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