The closer we look at time, the stranger it gets

A new study has shown that eating more of an essential nutrient can improve collagen production and skin health

How one fallen creature can set off a chain reaction of chaos

While some breakfast cereals deliver little more than sugar, others can be a vital source of vitamins and minerals

Imagine having access to a time machine. You could experience historical events first-hand – and finally get to the bottom of all manner of mysteries. Although we can’t travel back in time physically, with a good telescope – like the James Webb Space Telescope – we can essentially see back in time. That’s almost as good, right? Take, for example, the very first stars, which formed around 100-200 million years after the Big Bang. Their sudden appearance set the stage for the Universe we see today, triggering a chain reaction that’s still occurring. And by uncovering the oldest objects in the cosmos and examining their unique makeup, we can retrace the chemistry and physics of creation. Those first stars should be easy to spot thanks to their special compositions, and stellar archaeologists (a cool job title, if I’ve ever heard one) have been seeking them for a long time. But as Dr Emma Chapman explains in this issue, the reason we haven’t found them yet could be because we've not been looking for the right things. What we have found, is that so-called 'ancient stars' aren’t behaving quite as we expected. So far, our search into the deep past has raised more questions than answers.

Can a wearable neuromodulation device that delivers small electric shocks banish anxiety?

Everyone has trouble sleeping from time to time, even sleep scientists

Our emotions can play a big part in how we respond to our furry friends – but not in the way you might think

New research suggests that a combination of volcanic activity, cold summers and famine brought the deadly plague to Europe