Editor's note

A couple of hundred million years after the Big Bang, the universe went from being entirely dark and formless to bright and twinkling, at least in some places. Sadly, we know very little about this cosmic dawn when the very first stars and galaxies formed. But now astronomers have indirectly spotted some of the first stars in a galaxy 13.2 billion light years away. James Geach explains why the research is so important.

Kim Kardashian West was described as a “toxic influence” in an Instagram post after she began promoting appetite suppressing lollipops. The lollipops, made by Flat Tummy Co, aren’t supported by robust scientific evidence, says James Brown. And they only serve to make young women dissatisfied with their bodies.

As Colombia struggles to keep its peace process on track, it’s facing up to five decades of atrocities. High up the list is the so-called “false positives” scandal, in which soldiers abducted and killed civilians then claimed they were FARC guerrillas to get reward money from the government. A new book claims that up to 10,000 civilians may have been killed in this way, Seb Eskauriatza looks at the implications for one of the world’s most remarkable peace deals.

Miriam Frankel

Science Editor

Top stories

Galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223 taken with the Hubble Space Telescope. The inset image is the very distant galaxy MACS1149-JD1. ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, W. Zheng (JHU), M. Postman (STScI), the CLASH Team, Hashimoto et al.

When did the lights first come on in the universe? A galaxy close to the dawn of time gives a clue

James Geach, University of Hertfordshire

Astronomers have indirectly spotted some of the first stars in the universe by making their most distant detection of oxygen in a galaxy that existed just 500m years after the Big Bang.

HELMUT FOHRINGER/Shutterstock.com

Can a Kim Kardashian lollipop help you lose weight?

James Brown, Aston University

Kim Kardashian West comes under fire for promoting an appetite-suppressing lollipop on social media.

Colombian soldiers at a concert tribute to the army. EPA/Mauricio Osorio

Colombia's 'cash-for-kills' victims could number 10,000 civilians

Seb Eskauriatza, University of Birmingham

As reports of crimes against humanity mount, Colombia's post-conflict justice system is still moving desperately slowly.

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