Science

Democracy in danger

Elections are easy to manipulate

Manipulated elections undermine confidence in democracy. Yet digital electoral systems are frighteningly vulnerable to attacks. The solution is surprisingly simple.  

Open source pharma

How to stop the rot in drug discovery

There's something rotten in the state of pharma — greed, secrecy, inefficiency — it's all there. And there's no easy fix. But moves toward a more caring, sharing industry through "open source pharma" may be a start.  

After the Soyuz failure

Are astronauts stuck on the ISS? A few questions and answers

The only rocket that takes humans to space has been grounded. Until "spring." That has all sorts of consequences for the astronauts on the space station.  

Hurricane Michael makes landfall in Florida

'Our worst fears realized'

Hurricane Michael has caused widespread damage across the Florida Panhandle. The Category 4 monster was among the most powerful hurricanes in half a century to strike the mainland United States.  

Non-stop madness: How long-haul flights affect your mind

Long-haul travel is as common as cola. We're flying ever greater distances more often and non-stop, like 19 hours from Singapore to New York. But the psychological and biological effects are under-researched.  

Ammonia economy

Shining light on carbon-free fuels

Chemistry postgrad Dayne Swearer talks about how he and his team are using light in their search for carbon-free fuels, a year after meeting DW at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. They could be onto something big.  

The last mile

What failed in the Sulawesi tsunami disaster

When September's tsunami struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, residents weren't warned in time. What failed? And what would have worked better?  

BellingCat investigation

Second Skripal poisoning suspect identified by Bellingcat

An open source investigation has identified the second suspect in the Salisbury poisoning as Russian military doctor Alexander Mishkin. Despite the compelling evidence, Russia has rejected claims that he is a GRU agent.  

Green tech

How mobile apps are changing Africa

Africans are no strangers to mobile apps. In fact, apps big and small have made a difference in the lives of many people across the continent — from rural villages to the traffic-clogged streets of megacities.  

Nobel Prize in Chemistry

A fine line between chemistry, cash and the Nobel Prize

The 2018 Nobel Prize in chemistry has recognized a "revolution in evolution" and biotechnology. But is it one we want?