Grace Wade, Author at New Scientist

How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after

Grace Wade — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:00:05 +0000

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

Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies

Grace Wade — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:00:41 +0000

One-third of people with anorexia nervosa don’t recover and treatment has remained stagnant for years. Now we’re beginning to understand how the condition takes over the mind

New Scientist recommends Jeff Beal’s New York Études, Vol. II

Grace Wade — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:29 +0000

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Beef is making a comeback – does it fit into a healthy diet?

Grace Wade — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:41:02 +0000

The protein craze is in full swing and beef consumption is on the rise, particularly in the US, where health agencies are promoting red meat as part of an optimum diet. So, how much beef should we really be eating, and how does it impact our well-being?

Why drug overdose deaths have suddenly plummeted in the US

Grace Wade — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:00:16 +0000

Fentanyl-related overdose deaths fell by nearly 30 per cent in the space of a year in the US, which could represent a significant turning point in the country's opioid addiction crisis

Can Michael Pollan crack the problem of consciousness in his new book?

Grace Wade — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:30:22 +0000

The science writer delves into the vast subject of consciousness in his new book A World Appears – and draws some surprising conclusions, finds Grace Wade

Amazing sneak peek of NASA’s spacesuit tests as moon mission nears

Grace Wade — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Astronauts practise tasks in a simulated moon environment

NASA

Preparing to send people back to the moon is a complex business, with astronaut safety at the top of the list of priorities. In the image above, NASA crew members are testing a new generation of spacesuits, built by Texas-based aerospace company Axiom Space.

The company’s Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit aims to make life easier by increasing the flexibility and mobility of the astronauts when they navigate the moon’s surface and collect geological samples.

Axiom Space completed its internal review of the suits earlier this month. Now, it is NASA’s turn to evaluate whether they are ready for its Artemis III mission. Set for 2028, Artemis III aims to return humans to the moon for the first time in over 55 years, this time to the lunar South Pole.

“This achievement reflects our shared commitment to deliver a safe, capable lunar spacesuit that will enable astronauts to explore the Moon’s surface,” Lara Kearney, manager of the extravehicular activity and human surface mobility programme at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, explained in a recent statement.

So far, the suits have undergone more than 850 hours of pressurised testing with someone inside them. Here, two NASA crew members practise emergency rescue drills while donning the suits in a pool that is about 12 metres deep. The suits are weighted to match lunar gravity, which is about a sixth of the gravity we experience on Earth.

Birdwatching may reshape the brain and build its buffer against ageing

Grace Wade — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:00:25 +0000

Expert birdwatchers have changes in their brain structure compared with novices, which probably help them better identify birds and may even protect against age-related cognitive decline

New Scientist recommends The Big Oyster: History on the half shell

Grace Wade — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000