‘Menace to public health’: 270 experts criticise Spotify over Joe Rogan’s podcast Doctors and scientists express concern about misinformation on Covid – and focus on an episode with virologist Robert Malone
Meet Mr Trash Wheel – and the other new devices that eat river plastic From ‘bubble barriers’ to floating drones, a host of new projects aim to stop plastic pollution before it ever reaches the ocean
Here’s how to solve the UK energy crisis for the long term – store more power Four storage solutions to help Britain keep the lights on deep into the future
Are we witnessing the dawn of post-theory science? Does the advent of machine learning mean the classic methodology of hypothesise, predict and test has had its day?
Five great reads: medical mysteries, stolen attention and easy-to-keep resolutions Guardian Australia’s summertime round-up of written interest and joy selected by Alyx Gorman
From stand-in stars to tech titans: The Observer’s faces to watch in 2022 We look at who will be making headlines this year, in both a positive and negative light
As a new year dawns, expect a fresh assault on big tech Democracies have finally begun to confront the internet giants and their unrivalled and untrammelled power
UK government’s Covid advisers enduring ‘tidal waves of abuse’ Exclusive: Guardian survey shows level of intimidation, including death threats, against scientific and medical advisers
Elon Musk rejects mounting criticism his satellites are clogging space SpaceX founder says planned 42,000-strong network will not dominate slots or radio frequencies
‘It parodies our inaction’: Don’t Look Up, an allegory of the climate crisis, lauded by activists Adam McKay’s end-of-the-world film is a ‘powerful’ depiction of society’s response to scientific warnings, campaigners say
Labour calls for UK crackdown on tech firms over anti-vax content Party says ministers failing to stand up to social media giants as posters continue to churn out disinformation
China berates US after ‘close encounters’ with Elon Musk satellites Beijing urges US to act responsibly after two near misses that it says posed serious threat to astronauts’ lives
Kevin Gornall obituary Other lives: Engineering teacher dedicated to giving girls an opportunity to study science and technology
Engineering the future: meet the Africa prize shortlist innovators Turning invasive plants into a force for good and powering healthcare with solar – here are three of the 2022 nominees
Worried about super-intelligent machines? They are already here Forget about the danger of robots creating a sci-fi-style dystopia. The modern corporation is already doing all of that