New Scientist - Home https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532777-hobbit-hominins-scavenged-meat-left-over-by-komodo-dragons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:00:38 +0100 An experiment that involved feeding a dead goat to a Komodo dragon as well as an analysis of thousands of ancient bones suggests that Homo floresiensis was neither a skilled hunter of big game nor a master of fire 2532777-hobbit-hominins-scavenged-meat-left-over-by-komodo-dragons|2532777 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532929-a-volcano-has-erupted-remnants-of-earths-primordial-magma-ocean/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:13:44 +0100 Earth was once covered by a global magma ocean, which later cooled and crystallised – now traces of this primordial event have been found in magma from a young volcano in the Indian Ocean 2532929-a-volcano-has-erupted-remnants-of-earths-primordial-magma-ocean|2532929 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532627-audacious-mission-to-rescue-nasas-falling-telescope-has-launched/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:14:19 +0100 NASA’s Swift space telescope is reaching the end of its two-decade run in orbit – unless a satellite launched on 3 July can give it a lifesaving boost 2532627-audacious-mission-to-rescue-nasas-falling-telescope-has-launched|2532627 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532880-orangutan-mothers-seem-to-plan-playdates-for-their-offspring/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:28:59 +0100 Female orangutans are generally solitary, but they travel more and eat less in an apparent effort to ensure their offspring have someone to play with 2532880-orangutan-mothers-seem-to-plan-playdates-for-their-offspring|2532880 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530952-this-thoughtful-book-will-make-you-look-at-the-wonders-of-trees-anew/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:00:13 +0100 Aya Koda's Tree is an account of the late writer's visits to Japan's most famous, and ancient, trees. Featured in Wim Wenders's film Perfect Days, it is original and thought-provoking, says Rowan Hooper 2530952-this-thoughtful-book-will-make-you-look-at-the-wonders-of-trees-anew|2530952 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27136021-900-stunning-photos-reveal-the-intricate-beauty-of-fungi/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0100 The vibrant colours and delicate details of New Zealand's fungi and slime moulds are documented in these images, taken from Jay Lichter's new book The Secret Life of Fungi mg27136021-900-stunning-photos-reveal-the-intricate-beauty-of-fungi|2532209 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532503-evocative-photos-of-canadian-arctic-win-new-scientist-editors-award/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Jul 2026 01:05:34 +0100 Natalya Saprunova's photo series exploring coastal erosion and permafrost thaw across Inuvialuit territories in Canada has won the New Scientist Editors Award at the Earth Photo 2026 competition 2532503-evocative-photos-of-canadian-arctic-win-new-scientist-editors-award|2532503 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532825-june-heatwave-may-have-killed-around-20000-people-in-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:17:09 +0100 It will be some months before the true toll of Europe's worst-ever heatwave is confirmed, but researchers can estimate a death count based on how many people died in Europe during previous hot periods 2532825-june-heatwave-may-have-killed-around-20000-people-in-europe|2532825 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532714-random-wobbles-in-time-could-finally-solve-gravitys-greatest-mystery/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:00:14 +0100 The question of how gravity interacts with the quantum world has long perplexed physicists, but a non-quantum theory of space-time could present an answer 2532714-random-wobbles-in-time-could-finally-solve-gravitys-greatest-mystery|2532714 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532794-synthetic-biology-may-finally-be-ready-to-solve-lifes-biggest-mystery/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:38:05 +0100 What makes something alive? We simply don't know, but synthetic biologists are a step closer to providing an answer thanks to SpudCell, the most sophisticated attempt at creating an artificial life form yet 2532794-synthetic-biology-may-finally-be-ready-to-solve-lifes-biggest-mystery|2532794 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532757-geoengineering-could-expose-plane-passengers-to-sulphuric-acid/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:05:44 +0100 A proposed technique to counter global warming by spraying sun-reflecting particles near the poles would cause commercial flights to pass through clouds of sulphuric acid, posing a danger to passengers and crew 2532757-geoengineering-could-expose-plane-passengers-to-sulphuric-acid|2532757 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532793-the-best-new-popular-science-books-of-july-2026/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:00:55 +0100 From friendship in a world of chatbots to what it means to be alive, this month’s new popular science books are asking some big questions. Liz Else rounds up the ones she’s most looking forward to 2532793-the-best-new-popular-science-books-of-july-2026|2532793 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532689-what-is-spudcell-arguably-the-greatest-bioengineering-feat-yet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:08:26 +0100 A prototype cell partly capable of replicating itself has been created using 36 existing bacterial genes, but it's not really a living organism – yet 2532689-what-is-spudcell-arguably-the-greatest-bioengineering-feat-yet|2532689 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27136022-300-do-you-want-your-underwear-with-added-probiotics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback is informed of an exciting new development in underwear design from a brand that says it infuses its products with beneficial bacteria to nourish the skin microbiome mg27136022-300-do-you-want-your-underwear-with-added-probiotics|2532213 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532479-the-weirdness-of-neutrinos-could-completely-rewrite-particle-physics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:00:29 +0100 A philosopher has put forward an argument for rethinking how particles are defined within the standard model of particle physics 2532479-the-weirdness-of-neutrinos-could-completely-rewrite-particle-physics|2532479 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532336-a-type-of-fibre-that-stimulates-glp-1-release-approved-for-use-in-food/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:00:56 +0100 A form of fibre that boosts the release of the hunger-reducing hormone GLP-1 has been approved as safe by a European regulator, and could be added to foods within a year 2532336-a-type-of-fibre-that-stimulates-glp-1-release-approved-for-use-in-food|2532336 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532492-the-best-new-science-fiction-novels-published-in-july-2026/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:00:48 +0100 Sci-fi fans can enjoy a new Red Dwarf novel – the first for 30 years – this month, as well as sci-fi horror from Paul Tremblay and a journey to Planet Happy with Riley August 2532492-the-best-new-science-fiction-novels-published-in-july-2026|2532492 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532392-slowdown-of-amoc-ocean-current-may-be-gradual-and-reversible/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:27:01 +0100 Scientists worry that a surge of meltwater from Greenland could irreversibly collapse the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, but new modelling suggests the weakening of the current could be reversed if CO2 levels come back down 2532392-slowdown-of-amoc-ocean-current-may-be-gradual-and-reversible|2532392 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532086-the-worlds-fastest-spider-tops-3-5-metres-per-second/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:00:57 +0100 The most comprehensive database ever compiled of how fast arachnids can run has shown how leg anatomy and evolutionary history influence spiders’ running speed 2532086-the-worlds-fastest-spider-tops-3-5-metres-per-second|2532086 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532167-the-most-detailed-survey-of-the-universe-ever-conducted-starts-now/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:00:44 +0100 The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is beginning its extraordinary survey of the southern sky, which will use the largest camera ever built to map the solar system, the galaxy and beyond 2532167-the-most-detailed-survey-of-the-universe-ever-conducted-starts-now|2532167 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530501-this-physicist-is-hunting-for-the-biggest-black-hole-in-the-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:00:06 +0100 Astronomers have recently started looking for black holes bigger than galaxies. Brian Lacki explains how these “stupendously large black holes” might be used by alien civilisations, and what makes them such an intriguing possibility 2530501-this-physicist-is-hunting-for-the-biggest-black-hole-in-the-universe|2530501 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532352-babies-are-born-with-the-neural-foundations-for-maths/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:00:11 +0100 Brain recordings from newborns reveal the first neural evidence that humans are born with an innate sense of numbers 2532352-babies-are-born-with-the-neural-foundations-for-maths|2532352 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532296-im-the-first-person-whose-life-was-saved-by-crispr-base-editing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0100 When standard leukaemia treatments failed, 13-year-old Alyssa Tapley was told she had only weeks left – but then she was offered an experimental procedure 2532296-im-the-first-person-whose-life-was-saved-by-crispr-base-editing|2532296 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532173-us-government-wants-to-have-a-useful-quantum-computer-by-2028/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:00:11 +0100 The US government is trying to speed up the development of quantum computers so it can have one sooner 2532173-us-government-wants-to-have-a-useful-quantum-computer-by-2028|2532173 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532191-childbirth-for-many-primate-species-is-even-harder-than-for-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:00:51 +0100 For decades, we’ve thought that childbirth is uniquely challenging for humans, but it turns out that many other primates find the birth process just as difficult 2532191-childbirth-for-many-primate-species-is-even-harder-than-for-humans|2532191 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530704-humans-sleep-the-least-of-all-apes-is-it-the-secret-to-our-success/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:00:45 +0100 Sleep is essential, yet humans have evolved to need so little of it. When evolutionary anthropologist David Samson delved into our ancient past to find the reasons why, he discovered surprising ways to get a better night’s rest 2530704-humans-sleep-the-least-of-all-apes-is-it-the-secret-to-our-success|2530704 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532245-your-menstrual-cycle-may-affect-how-well-vaccines-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:42:50 +0100 Women who were vaccinated against covid-19 in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle reported having a breakthrough infection sooner than those vaccinated during their follicular phase 2532245-your-menstrual-cycle-may-affect-how-well-vaccines-work|2532245 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531894-remote-controlled-cockroach-swarm-can-now-breathe-underwater/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:00:23 +0100 Tiny 3D-printed diving suits allow cockroaches to walk underwater for up to 3 hours with no ill effects, which could enable a cyborg insect swarm to explore disaster zones and perhaps even Mars 2531894-remote-controlled-cockroach-swarm-can-now-breathe-underwater|2531894 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27036012-800-neuroscience-cant-tell-us-the-way-to-govern-peoples-brains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0100 From the age of legal adulthood to the concept of "profound autism", policy-makers are turning to neuroscience to help shape laws and policies, but the science simply isn't ready mg27036012-800-neuroscience-cant-tell-us-the-way-to-govern-peoples-brains|2531470 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532130-ancient-human-dna-found-on-cave-art-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:45:44 +0100 DNA from ancient humans has been found on a prehistoric cave painting and on cave walls, demonstrating the potential to one day identify individual artists and resolve the debate over Neanderthals' artistic abilities 2532130-ancient-human-dna-found-on-cave-art-for-the-first-time|2532130 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531639-where-when-and-how-to-watch-the-2026-solar-eclipse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:51:05 +0100 This August a total solar eclipse is set to be visible across parts of Europe, while a partial eclipse will sweep across about a quarter of the planet – here’s how to catch it 2531639-where-when-and-how-to-watch-the-2026-solar-eclipse|2531639 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2526630-the-race-to-understand-how-and-when-thwaites-glacier-will-collapse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:59:05 +0100 The loss of Antarctica’s doomsday glacier would transform our planet. Now scientists are revealing the secrets of this remotest of places, and asking the question: is its demise inevitable? 2526630-the-race-to-understand-how-and-when-thwaites-glacier-will-collapse|2526630 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529751-how-menopause-radically-changes-the-brain-and-what-happens-after/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:00:05 +0100 The brain undergoes a full renovation during menopause. Although these changes are profound, we’re learning that the long-term impact needn’t be all bad 2529751-how-menopause-radically-changes-the-brain-and-what-happens-after|2529751 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530223-parenting-may-permanently-improve-brain-health-for-mums-and-dads/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:00:04 +0100 Raising children appears to keep the brain young, potentially acting as a buffer against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s 2530223-parenting-may-permanently-improve-brain-health-for-mums-and-dads|2530223 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530226-the-surprising-ways-your-brain-changes-from-your-20s-to-your-40s/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:00:46 +0100 When does your brain reach adulthood? We're now understanding the many ways the organ continues to mature decades after society first deems you an adult 2530226-the-surprising-ways-your-brain-changes-from-your-20s-to-your-40s|2530226 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531697-lost-books-by-ancient-philosophers-recovered-from-unreadable-scrolls/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:30:43 +0100 Scrolls from the Roman library of Herculaneum that were carbonised by a volcanic eruption have been read in their entirety for the first time, thanks to scans and AI software 2531697-lost-books-by-ancient-philosophers-recovered-from-unreadable-scrolls|2531697 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532073-i-have-a-100-per-cent-chance-of-getting-cancer-due-to-a-rare-gene/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:34 +0100 A rare variant of a gene called TP53 means Tracy Hutchinson has an extreme risk of developing cancer anywhere in her body, causing endless anxiety and requiring regular whole-body MRIs and other screening 2532073-i-have-a-100-per-cent-chance-of-getting-cancer-due-to-a-rare-gene|2532073 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531992-europes-heatwave-is-the-hottest-and-most-humid-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 26 Jun 2026 06:00:51 +0100 The current temperatures in western and central Europe would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, and unprecedented humidity levels make this heatwave especially dangerous 2531992-europes-heatwave-is-the-hottest-and-most-humid-ever|2531992 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531933-read-an-extract-from-slow-gods-by-claire-north/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:30:47 +0100 The New Scientist Book Club’s read for July is Claire North’s space opera Slow Gods. In this extract from its second chapter, we learn about the upbringing of its protagonist on the planet Tu-mdo 2531933-read-an-extract-from-slow-gods-by-claire-north|2531933 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531953-why-i-started-my-sci-fi-novel-with-a-world-ending-supernova/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:30:05 +0100 Claire North, whose space opera Slow Gods is the July read for the New Scientist Book Club, discusses how a population might deal with knowledge that their planet will be destroyed in 100 years 2531953-why-i-started-my-sci-fi-novel-with-a-world-ending-supernova|2531953 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2532015-can-video-games-help-us-better-understand-quantum-mechanics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:02 +0100 The world of quantum video games is vast – there are hundreds that are either inspired by quantum mechanics or use quantum computers in their development. Columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan explores how these could change our understanding of quantum physics, or even help us make better devices 2532015-can-video-games-help-us-better-understand-quantum-mechanics|2532015 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530765-inside-brazils-vast-network-of-lifesaving-free-milk-banks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:27 +0100 These images from photographer Kristin Bethge document Brazil's milk bank system, which provides some of the world's cheapest and safest donated milk to hundreds of thousands of babies 2530765-inside-brazils-vast-network-of-lifesaving-free-milk-banks|2530765 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27036014-200-the-best-sci-fi-novel-in-2026-so-far-plus-6-other-great-reads/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Sci-fi columnist Emily H. Wilson rounds up her favourite reads of the year to date – and highlights one particular book as her top pick mg27036014-200-the-best-sci-fi-novel-in-2026-so-far-plus-6-other-great-reads|2531484 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531891-can-home-batteries-help-save-the-climate-and-save-you-money/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 18:01:56 +0100 Growing numbers of homeowners are installing batteries that store electricity when it is cheap, which helps balance the grid and cuts emissions, and cheaper plug-in batteries will soon let more people do the same 2531891-can-home-batteries-help-save-the-climate-and-save-you-money|2531891 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531950-weve-uncovered-a-master-gene-that-switches-on-human-development/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:00:21 +0100 We have identified the gene that, when activated, initiates the developmental programme that results in cells forming a human body 2531950-weve-uncovered-a-master-gene-that-switches-on-human-development|2531950 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531853-if-you-arent-terrified-by-this-heatwave-you-should-be/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:29:55 +0100 The extreme heat currently being felt in Europe isn’t the new normal – much worse is to come, and we are doing far too little to adapt, says Michael Le Page 2531853-if-you-arent-terrified-by-this-heatwave-you-should-be|2531853 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530687-record-breaking-ibm-chip-uses-trick-to-cram-in-100-billion-transistors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:54 +0100 IBM's latest chip packs in twice as many transistors as the current state-of-the-art chip by adding a second layer of silicon circuitry 2530687-record-breaking-ibm-chip-uses-trick-to-cram-in-100-billion-transistors|2530687 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531700-phages-could-enable-us-to-hijack-vaccine-immunity-to-kill-cancer-cells/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:21:51 +0100 Phages, viruses that infect bacteria, could be genetically manipulated to destroy cancerous cells using the immunity we have acquired from vaccines 2531700-phages-could-enable-us-to-hijack-vaccine-immunity-to-kill-cancer-cells|2531700 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27036012-600-the-17-best-popular-science-books-of-2026-so-far/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0100 The first six months of the year have brought us popular science reads on everything from consciousness to cosmology. Liz Else rounds up her favourites mg27036012-600-the-17-best-popular-science-books-of-2026-so-far|2531302 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27036012-700-hold-the-onions-and-see-if-they-make-you-cry/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback isn't sure what to make of a ground-breaking piece of research into the understudied topic of "subjective individual variability in onion tearing and its relationship to chemosensory sensitivity" mg27036012-700-hold-the-onions-and-see-if-they-make-you-cry|2531303 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531752-possible-signs-of-ancient-life-on-mars-are-rich-in-complex-carbon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 20:00:49 +0100 An instrument on the Perseverance rover has identified large, complex carbon compounds alongside unusual patterns on the surface of rocks that resemble traces of microbial activity 2531752-possible-signs-of-ancient-life-on-mars-are-rich-in-complex-carbon|2531752 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531859-screwworm-could-be-the-first-species-targeted-by-an-extinction-drive/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:19:04 +0100 We have developed genetic technologies that could wipe out entire species of pests that are harmful to us. Columnist Michael Le Page says the flesh-eating screwworm is the most likely first target 2531859-screwworm-could-be-the-first-species-targeted-by-an-extinction-drive|2531859 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531654-all-known-homo-naledi-skeletons-seem-to-be-female/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:00:33 +0100 An analysis of tooth proteins suggests all 23 Homo naledi individuals found in the Rising Star cave in South Africa were female, which strengthens the case that they were placed there deliberately 2531654-all-known-homo-naledi-skeletons-seem-to-be-female|2531654 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529785-the-lunar-botanist-with-a-plan-to-farm-vegetables-on-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:00:32 +0100 Jessica Atkin knows more than anyone else about what it would take to supply food for a moon base. She reveals how to build a lunar farm and what astronauts can expect to dine on 2529785-the-lunar-botanist-with-a-plan-to-farm-vegetables-on-the-moon|2529785 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531732-some-of-the-last-neanderthals-were-surprisingly-genetically-diverse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:00:03 +0100 Genetic analysis of Neanderthals in north-western Europe reveals that this population was surprisingly genetically diverse, hinting that inbreeding didn’t lead to the species' demise 2531732-some-of-the-last-neanderthals-were-surprisingly-genetically-diverse|2531732 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531651-fluctuating-oestrogen-levels-may-alter-how-drugs-enter-womens-brains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:00:59 +0100 Oestrogen levels fluctuate throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, which may impact how efficiently a drug that targets the brain can reach its destination 2531651-fluctuating-oestrogen-levels-may-alter-how-drugs-enter-womens-brains|2531651 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531455-hidden-black-hole-could-explain-mystery-at-the-heart-of-our-galaxy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:33 +0100 The area surrounding our galaxy’s central supermassive black hole contains three strangely different populations of stars – but one hidden black hole could explain all of them 2531455-hidden-black-hole-could-explain-mystery-at-the-heart-of-our-galaxy|2531455 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531606-you-should-turn-off-fans-when-its-too-hot-but-how-hot-is-too-hot/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:50:59 +0100 Fans can make you hotter rather than cooler, but the temperature at which you should turn them off depends on several factors, including your age and the humidity level 2531606-you-should-turn-off-fans-when-its-too-hot-but-how-hot-is-too-hot|2531606 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531525-huge-crater-in-australia-may-be-the-oldest-impact-structure-on-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:24 +0100 A study claims that the North Pole Dome crater in Western Australia was caused by an asteroid strike 3 billion years ago, but other researchers dispute the proposed age 2531525-huge-crater-in-australia-may-be-the-oldest-impact-structure-on-earth|2531525 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531564-elite-maya-people-had-teeth-placed-in-a-cave-far-from-their-tombs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:00:57 +0100 A cave in Belize contains teeth from dozens of important Maya people buried elsewhere, which may attest to a ritual intended to ensure their passage to the underworld 2531564-elite-maya-people-had-teeth-placed-in-a-cave-far-from-their-tombs|2531564 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531559-spacexs-secretive-plans-to-deliver-cargo-to-earth-from-space/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:37:25 +0100 Not much is known about Starfall, SpaceX's new delivery system, but an assessment published in May revealed its intended purpose 2531559-spacexs-secretive-plans-to-deliver-cargo-to-earth-from-space|2531559 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530146-how-some-peoples-brains-make-an-extraordinary-recovery-from-stroke/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:00:40 +0100 Around a third of people are able to almost fully rebuild their brains after a stroke and uncovering why is pointing the way to better treatments for everyone 2530146-how-some-peoples-brains-make-an-extraordinary-recovery-from-stroke|2530146 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530933-unapproved-gene-therapy-for-boosting-longevity-is-set-to-go-on-sale/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:14:33 +0100 A gene therapy that instructs cells to produce more of an anti-ageing protein called klotho is about to be offered by a US company at overseas clinics to bypass FDA rules 2530933-unapproved-gene-therapy-for-boosting-longevity-is-set-to-go-on-sale|2530933 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531319-woman-with-alzheimers-starts-conversing-again-after-taking-psilocybin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:00:24 +0100 A woman with severe Alzheimer's disease who hadn't spoken more than monosyllables in years began initiating conversation after a single dose of psilocybin 2531319-woman-with-alzheimers-starts-conversing-again-after-taking-psilocybin|2531319 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531317-new-to-science-spider-builds-trap-that-flings-ants-into-the-air/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:00:38 +0100 A spider living in the rainforests of Queensland, Australia, builds a snare trap reminiscent of a Roman-era ballista weapon that it uses to catapult green tree ants into a web 30 centimetres above 2531317-new-to-science-spider-builds-trap-that-flings-ants-into-the-air|2531317 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531428-fusogenic-neurosurgery-let-paralysed-pigs-walk-again-are-we-next/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:40:03 +0100 Researchers say a surgery that let pigs with completely severed spinal cords walk again may lead to human trials, and then perhaps even full head or brain transplants. Columnist Helen Thomson is intrigued but sceptical of whether the technique can be successful in humans 2531428-fusogenic-neurosurgery-let-paralysed-pigs-walk-again-are-we-next|2531428 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531254-a-promising-natural-technique-to-remove-co2-could-backfire/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:24:23 +0100 Several start-ups have tried to grow seaweed to remove atmospheric CO2, but this could affect the levels of nutrients in the ocean and hamper other CO2-sucking processes 2531254-a-promising-natural-technique-to-remove-co2-could-backfire|2531254 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531050-people-training-new-ai-models-admit-they-just-get-chatbots-to-do-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:57:59 +0100 The next generation of AI models are meant to be trained by people paid to have conversations with them, but several of these workers have admitted to New Scientist that they simply get chatbots to do it instead. This "AI inbreeding" may reduce the power and usefulness of future models, warn experts 2531050-people-training-new-ai-models-admit-they-just-get-chatbots-to-do-it|2531050 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531107-weve-found-a-mysterious-substance-on-titan-and-pluto/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:00:01 +0100 Something is absorbing light on the surfaces of Pluto and Saturn’s moon Titan, and figuring out what it is could be crucial to understanding Titan’s complex chemistry 2531107-weve-found-a-mysterious-substance-on-titan-and-pluto|2531107 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530459-autism-may-have-two-distinct-subtypes-that-vary-by-brain-activity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:00:42 +0100 Evidence is mounting that there are distinct subtypes of autism, and now, scientists have found that the condition can vary according to the strength of people's brain connections 2530459-autism-may-have-two-distinct-subtypes-that-vary-by-brain-activity|2530459 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529039-a-quantum-state-that-lasts-forever-may-finally-be-within-our-grasp/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:00:05 +0100 Defying the laws of thermodynamics, experiments are beginning to show that a quantum state that is frozen forever might not be impossible. If we can tame it, it could unlock whole new types of matter 2529039-a-quantum-state-that-lasts-forever-may-finally-be-within-our-grasp|2529039 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530057-the-one-film-to-watch-before-seeing-steven-spielbergs-disclosure-day/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:30:56 +0100 With Steven Spielberg’s new extraterrestrial film Disclosure Day just out, it’s the ideal time to watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind – perhaps the perfect UFO film, says film columnist Bethan Ackerley 2530057-the-one-film-to-watch-before-seeing-steven-spielbergs-disclosure-day|2530057 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531241-faecal-transplant-makes-the-brains-of-old-mice-act-young-again/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:48:29 +0100 Older mice that received a faecal microbiome transplant from younger animals went on to have improved brain plasticity, which suggests their brains could overcome a neurological condition that is typically successfully treated only in childhood 2531241-faecal-transplant-makes-the-brains-of-old-mice-act-young-again|2531241 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530899-most-portable-air-conditioners-suck-but-theres-an-easy-fix/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:08:41 +0100 Efficiency ratings on portable air conditioners don’t give consumers the full picture, and one type of aircon unit is so inefficient that it should be banned, says Michael Le Page 2530899-most-portable-air-conditioners-suck-but-theres-an-easy-fix|2530899 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529162-has-the-answer-to-lifes-origins-been-hiding-in-our-cells-all-along/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:00:51 +0100 The surprising discovery of mysterious blobs inside our cells is revolutionising our understanding of how life works, and how it got started 2529162-has-the-answer-to-lifes-origins-been-hiding-in-our-cells-all-along|2529162 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531117-gas-from-uranus-reveals-it-has-an-icy-centre/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:28:38 +0100 Carbon monoxide in Uranus's deep atmosphere indicates that the planet contains more ice than rock, suggesting it formed more like Neptune than we thought 2531117-gas-from-uranus-reveals-it-has-an-icy-centre|2531117 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530917-can-prebiotics-probiotics-or-postbiotics-help-your-ageing-microbiome/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:00:28 +0100 The disruption of your gut microbiome is a major consequence, and possible cause, of ageing. Columnist Graham Lawton looks into recent trials examining whether it can be replenished through diet and prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics 2530917-can-prebiotics-probiotics-or-postbiotics-help-your-ageing-microbiome|2530917 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531039-remarkable-fossils-rewrite-the-story-of-how-animals-conquered-the-land/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:00:31 +0100 Palaeontologists have found new evidence that the early ancestors of amphibians, reptiles and mammals did not have a larval stage with external gills like modern frogs or salamanders 2531039-remarkable-fossils-rewrite-the-story-of-how-animals-conquered-the-land|2531039 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531001-almost-the-whole-of-japan-moved-eastward-after-2011-earthquake/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:00:18 +0100 An extremely unusual tectonic movement took place 15 minutes after the Tohoku earthquake in 2011, causing almost the whole of Japan to move 5 millimetres to the east 2531001-almost-the-whole-of-japan-moved-eastward-after-2011-earthquake|2531001 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531003-carl-sagans-the-demon-haunted-world-is-still-supremely-relevant-today/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:29 +0100 Beautifully written, this guide to distinguishing between truth, misinformation and lies, first published in 1995, remains an essential read for anyone who considers themselves a critical thinker, says Leah Crane 2531003-carl-sagans-the-demon-haunted-world-is-still-supremely-relevant-today|2531003 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530639-complex-life-on-earth-may-last-500-million-years-longer-than-expected/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:26 +0100 As the sun expands over the coming billions of years, Earth will become inhospitable to any life more complex than a microbe – but that might take longer than we thought 2530639-complex-life-on-earth-may-last-500-million-years-longer-than-expected|2530639 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27036000-200-new-scientist-recommends-an-excellent-look-at-the-future-of-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Sarah O'Connor's We Are Not Machines explores how we are contorting ourselves to fit AI into our working lives – and what to do about it, finds Tom Knowles mg27036000-200-new-scientist-recommends-an-excellent-look-at-the-future-of-work|2530239 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530818-ancient-monument-marked-summer-solstice-centuries-before-stonehenge/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:01:16 +0100 Archaeologists have discovered traces of a wooden structure built 5000 years ago, 5 kilometres from Stonehenge, which appears to have been an even older monument for marking the summer solstice 2530818-ancient-monument-marked-summer-solstice-centuries-before-stonehenge|2530818 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530733-cervical-cancer-deaths-have-plummeted-thanks-to-hpv-vaccine/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:30:22 +0100 We already know the vaccine against human papillomavirus, or HPV, greatly reduces infections and cases of cervical cancer, and now we have the first evidence it prevents deaths too 2530733-cervical-cancer-deaths-have-plummeted-thanks-to-hpv-vaccine|2530733 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530657-chilling-the-body-with-drugs-could-limit-brain-damage-from-stroke/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:00:21 +0100 Putting brain cells into a hibernation-like state via drugs that cool down core body temperature may help to preserve them following a stroke 2530657-chilling-the-body-with-drugs-could-limit-brain-damage-from-stroke|2530657 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530606-oldest-known-plague-outbreak-killed-hunter-gatherer-children/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:00:53 +0100 DNA evidence shows that plague bacteria devastated a community in Siberia more than 5000 years ago, challenging the idea that there were no major disease outbreaks before the advent of farming and large settlements 2530606-oldest-known-plague-outbreak-killed-hunter-gatherer-children|2530606 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530749-pigeons-lock-their-eyes-in-place-when-they-are-flying/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:00:11 +0100 Bird-mounted headsets and backpacks have revealed the surprising things pigeons do with their eyes when on the wing 2530749-pigeons-lock-their-eyes-in-place-when-they-are-flying|2530749 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2527946-our-brains-have-their-first-thoughts-unexpectedly-early-in-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:00:01 +0100 By the time we’re born, our brains have all the hardware in place to form thoughts, and possibly even some conscious awareness 2527946-our-brains-have-their-first-thoughts-unexpectedly-early-in-life|2527946 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530700-autism-and-adhd-are-on-the-rise-due-to-widening-diagnostic-criteria/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:00:28 +0100 A study of 140,000 people suggests that a broadening of the diagnostic criteria for autism and ADHD explains the sharp rise in diagnoses, but that doesn't mean too many people are being told they are autistic or have ADHD 2530700-autism-and-adhd-are-on-the-rise-due-to-widening-diagnostic-criteria|2530700 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2529259-the-secrets-to-keeping-your-brain-sharp-in-old-age/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:00:58 +0100 Neuroscientist Emily Rogalski studies superagers – people in their 80s or 90s with unusually keen memories, whose lifestyles suggest ways to slow cognitive decline 2529259-the-secrets-to-keeping-your-brain-sharp-in-old-age|2529259 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530536-walking-shark-found-in-papua-new-guinea-is-new-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:41 +0100 Hemiscyllium dudgeonae is the tenth recorded species of walking shark, which use their pectoral fins to move across reef flats, and its limited range means it may be at high risk of extinction 2530536-walking-shark-found-in-papua-new-guinea-is-new-to-science|2530536 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530334-sperm-have-been-made-magnetic-to-allow-ivf-inside-the-body/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:00:35 +0100 IVF could be done inside the body using a revolutionary technique that reduces the invasiveness of the traditional fertility treatment 2530334-sperm-have-been-made-magnetic-to-allow-ivf-inside-the-body|2530334 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530469-arctic-ocean-reaches-tipping-point-that-could-be-dire-for-marine-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:06:16 +0100 Disappearing sea ice is letting more sunlight in the Arctic Ocean and boosting phytoplankton growth, but this has depleted a crucial nutrient, which could severely affect animals higher up the food chain 2530469-arctic-ocean-reaches-tipping-point-that-could-be-dire-for-marine-life|2530469 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530330-technology-is-changing-our-perspective-on-nature-at-every-scale/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:00:29 +0100 Inspired by Ariel Waldman’s docuseries Life Unearthed, columnist Annalee Newitz explores how microscopes, drones and specialised cameras are giving us an unprecedented view of nature from many different vantage points 2530330-technology-is-changing-our-perspective-on-nature-at-every-scale|2530330 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530341-the-social-media-ban-is-an-experiment-heres-how-it-will-be-studied/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:59:29 +0100 Scientists have long grappled with how to measure the effect of social media on children. Now, the UK government has announced a total ban for everyone under 16, and researchers are rushing to design rigorous studies before it comes into effect 2530341-the-social-media-ban-is-an-experiment-heres-how-it-will-be-studied|2530341 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530349-inside-the-start-up-aiming-for-a-giant-leap-in-robot-intelligence/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:50:40 +0100 Physical Intelligence is drawing on the broad knowledge of large language models to help robots understand instructions and learn to carry out any task independently 2530349-inside-the-start-up-aiming-for-a-giant-leap-in-robot-intelligence|2530349 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530220-we-may-have-finally-solved-cosmologys-chicken-or-the-egg-problem/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:57 +0100 Galaxies and their supermassive black holes evolve together, but which came first is an ongoing question. Now we may finally have an answer, says columnist Leah Crane 2530220-we-may-have-finally-solved-cosmologys-chicken-or-the-egg-problem|2530220 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2530326-are-useful-and-error-free-quantum-computers-only-two-years-away/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:00:37 +0100 Quantum computing firm QuEra says it plans to make a fault-tolerant quantum computer and offer it to users through the cloud in 2028, which will require a real leap in engineering 2530326-are-useful-and-error-free-quantum-computers-only-two-years-away|2530326 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg27035991-900-why-controversial-ideas-in-science-shouldnt-always-be-dismissed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Researchers suggesting that the keto diet could treat mental health conditions find themselves uncomfortably aligned with people like vaccine-sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr, but that is not a reason to reject the idea mg27035991-900-why-controversial-ideas-in-science-shouldnt-always-be-dismissed|2529673 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2527645-what-is-a-normal-memory-slowdown-and-when-should-i-worry/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:00:35 +0100 Lapses in memory are a normal part of ageing but can also be signs of dementia. Here’s how to distinguish between typical brain ageing and cognitive decline 2527645-what-is-a-normal-memory-slowdown-and-when-should-i-worry|2527645