When HIV was first discovered in the early 1980s, it was virtually a death sentence. Now, we have treatments that can keep it at bay and prevent it from progressing to AIDS — but for some people, the disease never progresses, even without treatment. These so-called elite controllers make up perhaps less than 0.5 percent of all HIV patients, and their survival could hold the secret to a lasting “functional” cure to the disease. In this month’s Highlight cover story, Diana Kwon investigates what makes “elite controllers” different, how their HIV resistance functions, and whether it’s replicable for others. Also in this issue: young men and Viagra. Sports gambling’s table tennis mania. How robots are revolutionizing mastectomy surgery. And climate-proofing conservation.Trump wants an immigration deal. He could start with caregivers.By Rachel Cohen BoothAre you abandoning the fight if you move from a red state to a blue one?By Sigal SamuelRobots could transform breast surgery foreverBy Anusha SubramanianHIV was supposed to kill them. Now they could help scientists find a cure.By Diana KwonScientists were racing to save this rare bird from extinction. Then came the super typhoon.By Rachel RamirezComing November 12Why are so many young guys taking Viagra?By Allie VolpeComing November 12Why online gamblers are obsessed with table tennisBy Jack MeserveComing November 13