November 2016
Issue 16: Sex
Are we selling out? Hardly. But it's true, everyone's interested in sex, in some way or another, so this month we're getting stuck into it. Technology, sociology, medical research, conservation biology: the reach of sex is far and wide — you'll be surprised.
Also, look out for our new column this month, Ethograms! It doesn't have much to do with sex, but sometimes it's just good to cool off a bit, you know?
Cover illustration by Keely Van Order.
Editorial
Features
The future of sex is designed, digitised, fetishised and controversial — and it might not fit in your bedside table drawer.
Virtual reality is the next big thing in the pornography industry, but will it be able to progress beyond novelty?
Our official processes for threatened species are failing to save the Running River rainbowfish, which is rapidly mating itself into oblivion.
New medical treatments must be proven effective, but the majority of research studies are carried out on men. This discrepancy negatively affects the quality of care women receive.
Population decline is threatening the future of Japan, and changing attitudes toward relationships and sex are contributing to the problem.
Columns
Looking at the night sky can do more than simply open up a window to the wider universe.
Famous for his Bad Science column in the Guardian, Ben Goldacre is a beloved science activist. For Ellen Rykers, he was the catalyst to get her out of the lab and into writing about science instead.
Anne Aulsebrook is studying how artificial lighting affects the behaviour and sleep patterns of urban black swans in Albert Park, Melbourne.
A bit of salacious science can arouse our curiosity and ignite exciting new ideas.