What nicotine does to your brain

SubscribeThe Economist ProLog inSkip to contentSubscribeThe Economist ProLog inWeekly editionWorld in briefUnited StatesChinaBusinessFinance & economicsEuropeAsiaMiddle EastAmericasArtificial intelligenceCultureCartoons & gamesundefined undefinedSubscribe to The EconomistUnlock unlimited access to all our award-winning journalism, subscriber-only podcasts and newslettersSubscribe to The EconomistUnlock unlimited access to all our award-winning journalism, subscriber-only podcasts and newslettersSubscribeManage accountGift subscriptionsLog outManage accountGift subscriptionsLog outScience & technology | Well informedThe drug is hugely addictive but it does boost mental performanceIllustration: Cristina Spanò Sep 12th 2025|3 min readThis article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “What nicotine does to your brain”From the September 20th 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contents⇒Explore the editionReuse this contentMore from Science & technologyToo much time with colleagues can sour social interaction A study of an Antarctic crew finds that eventually time together breeds conflictTomorrow’s medical sensors might come served with dinnerListening your gut could involve riboflavin batteries and toothpaste transistors Well InformedYou probably don’t need extra electrolytesUnless you’re athletic or unwellCould microscopic spheres of silica help cool the planet? Private money is bringing new ideas—and new concerns—to solar-geoengineering researchBreakthroughs for batteries could soon make them much betterSolid-state cells would be faster and safer than today’s lithium-ion equivalentsThe hantavirus outbreak is a tragedy—and a valuable data sourceThe risk to public health remains low