Stephanie Merritt reveals why she made the Renaissance monk her leading man
The People's Republic is becoming a technological superpower, but who's checking the facts? Sam Geall seeks out the Chinese science cops
Mired in controversy from Afghanistan to Sudan, humanitarianism itself is in crisis. Susie Linfield surveys the battlefield
Christopher Nolan has created a rare thing – an intelligent summer blockbuster. If only the details were as inspiring as the ideas, says Fred Rowson
Since its launch 20 years ago, the Hubble telescope has been sending back stunning images that have transformed our understanding of the universe. This is Marcus Chown’s favourite
This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows what will become of our own star, says Marcus Chown
Louise Foxcroft on the oddest biography ever
In arguing that quantum physics challenges the materialist view of the world, Jay Lakhani gets his science wrong, says Mano Singham
Evolutionary archaeologist Timothy Taylor on the outrageous fortune that made us the dominant ape
Climate change, AIDS, GM foods – all have their detractors. But when does disbelief become dogma? Keith Kahn-Harris explores the cult of denialism