What are the possible causes of the extermination of the human race? And how would the Earth cope without us? Stephen Baxter looks into the consequences of our absence, and what would rise in our place.

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Service unavailable Nowadays it can seem as if society would grind to a halt without the internet to join all the dots for us. So who would want to destroy the web, and how might they go about it?

Glastonbury 2020 The festivals of the future will utilise more technology and interactivity than ever before. Audio quality will improve – but can science overcome deep mud, smelly toilets and bad dancing?

Another day at the office Being a scientific researcher isn't all about lab coats and cushy stipends. Meet the people who risk their lives on a daily basis for the benefit of human knowledge.

Sleepless in battle The military may be on the verge of beating sleep. Researchers are developing a drug that enables soldiers to stay awake for days on end. Is this as bad an idea as it sounds?

Simon Singh The former physicist and current author and presenter Simon Singh puts alternative medicine on trial when he hops onto an acupuncturist's table.