October 2017 Discover

(Jeff_L) #1
October 2017^ DISCOVER^3

Contents


OCTOBER 2017
VOL. 38, NO. 8

26 This
Old Brain
A 69-year-old writer
explores the aging
process of his own brain.
BY JEFF WHEELWRIGHT

32 What
Once
Was Lost
Though challenges
remain, neural stem cells
are beginning to fulfill
their promise for people
with brain injuries and
degenerative diseases.
BY LINDA MARSA

FEATURES


SECTIONSPECIAL

40 Unraveling


a Secret
Forget pen and paper. How
did the Inka use knotted
cords to keep their records?
BY BRIDGET ALEX

48 Think Like


a Hacker
Smart devices make our
lives easier, but beware:
Cybervillains are everywhere.
BY STEPHEN ORNES

56 The Great
Takeover
Invaders from distant
waters are overwhelming the
Great Lakes, and scientists
are worried. BY DAN EGAN
ERNIE MASTROIANNI/DISCOVER


Quagga mussels cling
to a rope dangled in
Lake Michigan for a year.
Learn how these invasive
creatures are destroying
the Great Lakes’ ecosystem
on page 56.

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