In America and Asia, our cover considers how ai can revolutionise science. Academic journals and laboratories once altered scientific practice and unlocked more powerful means of making discoveries. AI has the potential to set off a similar transformation. It could accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, especially in areas such as medicine, climate science and green technology.

Leader: How artificial intelligence can revolutionise science
Read more: How scientists are using artificial intelligence
Listen to the author: How science will be transformed by AI

Our second cover, in Europe, looks at the wave of right-wing populism threatening the continent. In Germany the overtly xenophobic Alternative for Germany has become the second-most popular party. Poland’s nationalist government could win another term in next month’s election. And next year could bring more bad news. As the hard right gets closer to power across Europe, centrists need a new plan.

Leader: The EU’s liberals need better ways to deal with populists
Briefing: The hard right is getting closer to power all over Europe
Read more: Germany’s rampant hard-right AfD puts other parties in a fix

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