“Travellers along the road carried with them ideas and philosophies…”

Did you know you can climb to the summit of Everest, tour the International Space Station and even explore the wreckage of the Titanic all from the comfort of your own home? And that’s just the tip of the virtual reality iceberg. Beyond the fun and games, virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies can improve many other aspects of our lives. Surgeons can practise procedures on virtual simulations of their patients; engineers can test products without building expensive prototypes; and architects can walk you through your new home before it’s been built.

Also inside, discover why viruses defy our definitions of life, learn how drones can re-plant entire forests, and find out how a network of trade routes changed the world. Enjoy the issue!