International News Editor Richard Stone describes how science in Iran has managed under international isolation, and how it may expand under a new pact.

Black holes may release more energy into their host galaxies than previously thought, potentially affecting star formation.

What does it mean to live in a universe that is ever-expanding? Will discoveries about early galaxy formation and extrasolar planets change our assumptions about our place in the world? If believing in the power of a placebo can trigger the body’s immune-system responses, could religious faith help promote healing, too?