Atul Gawande: Aim for a good life, not a good death
We tend to view the end of life as a medical problem, but too often neglect the life we have left, says the surgeon and New Yorker writer
Wonder stuff: Things that repair themselves
Scratch-free cars and chip-free nail varnish are only the start of dreams for "Terminator" materials that can regenerate themselves
Desktop sonic black hole emits Hawking radiation
A model black hole that traps sound instead of light has been caught emitting quantum particles - it could be the first time theoretical Hawking radiation has been seen
Lunar volcanoes suggest the moon may still be warm
Newly found patches on the moon suggest lunar volcanism lasted far longer than thought - and that radioactive elements may keep the interior warm today
Virtual reality throws you in at the deep end
The latest prototype of virtual reality headset Oculus Rift allows you to step right into the movies you watch and the games you play
Nowhere to hide: the danger of satellite spies
The next generation of surveillance is already here and will redefine what we mean by public space
Wonder stuff: Frozen smoke to clean the world
Almost as light as air, aerogels are a heavyweight solution for everything from heat-bleeding windows to carbon emissions
Gamers polled on Xbox can predict US election results
Cheaper, faster and able to reach larger audiences than traditional methods, polling through game consoles could predict the outcome of US elections
Martian methane sniffer adapted for Earth
The hypersensitive methane detector on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is being repurposed to ferret out gas leaks on Earth
Exercise may be the best anti-ageing pill
Muscle loss is now seen as a cause - not a consequence - of disease and frailty in old age. Will muscle-boosting drugs aid those unable to exercise?
Ebola deaths to peak in places before vaccine is ready
Vaccine trials are starting but there won't be enough doses to make a difference until April – by which time the epidemic may have peaked in some regions
Violins evolved by Stradivarian design
Evolutionary tree spanning four centuries of violin shape shows how the maestro of violin-making came out on top
Australia's toad vanguard hops straight to invade fast
The fastest of Australia's cane toad invaders hop along straighter paths, allowing them to invade ever further and faster
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