The latest batch of AI models are revealing a host of vulnerabilities across the worldwide web. Soon, they could be in the wrong hands

Not every narcissist is a Patrick Bateman waiting in the wings

Massive, invisible stars that formed in the earliest days of the Universe may hold clues to the true nature of dark matter. And we might have found some

Near-death experiences are unique. Large portions of people have reported intense visions and increased happiness – but why?

Our best research – studies that looked at the health records of millions of children – has, to date, found no causal link between taking acetaminophen (otherwise known as paracetamol and sold under the brand name Tylenol in the US) during pregnancy and the onset of autism. In fact, as rates of autism diagnoses have gone up, acetaminophen use during pregnancy has actually gone down. So why do some high-profile US politicians suggest otherwise? Well, there was a study, published a decade ago, that looked at data collected on almost 2,650 children, which did find an effect. But it’s possible that this research was actually observing the effect of whatever symptom the drug was meant to treat – not the drug itself. The backdrop to this row is the undeniable observation that autism diagnoses are on the rise. One in 59 children were thought to have the condition in the US in 2015; that figure is now one in 31, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most experts attribute this rise to improvements in identifying autism. Indeed, we’ve gotten better at understanding what autism looks like in all its forms. And therein lies some clarity. Just as we’re beginning to understand that there are different types of autism, there are likely to be several factors that can shift the dance between genetics and the environment as your brain develops during pregnancy. Timing is everything in the womb, which is why one scientist is growing tiny human brains (or at least parts of them) in a lab – to find out when and where the first signs of autism appear.

New studies have shown that several small lifestyle changes can drastically improve your heart health

Which animal kills the most humans per year? If you guessed sharks, you'd be wrong

In a galaxy far, far away, two black holes are locked in a battle to the death

We've been nattering less and less each year since 2005