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South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/Eurac Research/Marion Lafogler

Some of the microbes lingering on the 5300-year-old remains of “Ötzi the Iceman” may still be metabolically active, despite being kept in icy conservation conditions. Ötzi’s mummified body was discovered in 1991 thawing out of an Alpine glacier close to the border of Austria and Italy. Previous studies have analysed microbial DNA in his tissues, but now researchers have been able to distinguish groups of bacteria that were living in his gut when he was alive, as well as other microbes that colonised his body after he died. Some cold-adapted yeasts show signs of being able to replicate under the conservation conditions, which could threaten the preservation of the Iceman’s body. Read more

For astronomers, antennas and dishes capture radio waves and microwaves from the early cosmos, while special detectors bring us a view in UV, X-rays or infrared. Astrophysicist Emma Chapman shares her lifelong love of radio, and explores what astronomers can learn when they employ the entire electromagnetic spectrum – and the humble signal that could show us we aren’t alone. Read more

Computer simulations have uncovered a new manganese compound that could exist deep in Earth’s mantle and may be connected to the process that gave our atmosphere oxygen. Read more

An exploration of how biological cooperation underpins all life – and why we’ve overlooked its power until now – makes thrilling reading. Read more

CARL COURT/AFP via Getty Images

Once regarded as a mere inconvenience of getting older, hearing loss is now being recognised as a major public health issue. It is strongly linked to problems from dementia to cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, there are ways to restore the hearing of those who are losing it. There are also promising new-generation drug therapies in the pipeline for a condition that, up till now, has had none. Read more

UN secretary-general António Guterres on predictions of a strong El Niño event this year (from Reuters).

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