Support 100 years of independent journalism.

Subscribe

Account

My profile
Subscriptions
Newsletters
Sign out

Sign In

Politics
World
Culture
Ideas
Long Reads
Business
State of the Nation
Spotlight
Magazine

My profile

Subscriptions

Newsletters

Sign out

Subscribe

Sign In

Home

Politics
- Back to all sections
- UK
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- Polling
- Media
- Brexit
World
- Back to all sections
- US
- Europe
- Africa
- Asia
- Australasia
- Americas
- Middle East
- China
- India
- US Midterms
Culture
- Back to all sections
- Books
- Film
- TV
- Music
- Radio & Podcasts
- Art & Design
- Food & Drink
- Interviews
- Nature
- Poetry
- Fiction
- Sport
Ideas
Long Reads
Business
State of the Nation
Spotlight
Magazine

Explore the NS

Newsletters
Archive
Podcasts
Video
Events
Long reads
Featured writers
Women Leading Debate
About us
Partners

Latest Magazine

Give a gift

Anna Petherick

Latest articles

Long reads

Scientist of the soft stuff

Athene Donald, Physicist

By Anna Petherick

Scientist of the soft stuff

New Statesman

About us
History
FAQs
Contact us
Advertising
RSS

Social

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

Legal

Privacy policy
T&Cs

New Times
New Ideas
New Statesman

© 2022 New Statesman