The big picture: Psychedelic drugs have long been touted as possible treatments for mental-health disorders like depression and PTSD. But very little is really known about what these substances actually do to our brains. Understanding how they work could help unlock their potential. A new methodology: Some scientists are using AI to figure it out. A team at McGill University in Montreal used natural language processing to study written "trip reports" of users' experiences with a range of drugs.

Huawei could soon be allowed to do business with US companies again, according to leaks ahead of the current trade talks between the US and China. Don't be fooled – we have been here before only to be disappointed. This appears to be, as usual, a sop to the markets as any trade progress is likely to be no more than pedestrian. Last week, we have seen further evidence that the fractures in the global order are increasing – and that they are being driven by technology. Not only has Donald Trump banned several Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) companies from doing business with US companies, but the European Union (EU) has issued a warning about cyberattacks from state-backed companies that have equipment in the bloc's 5G networks. Chinese state media has attacked Apple for providing a map that has assisted protesters in Hong Kong, forcing it to withdraw the application.