New Scientist - Home / /build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png daily 1 /article/2523798-98-per-cent-of-meat-and-dairy-sustainability-pledges-are-greenwashing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:42 +0100 The food industry has made big promises to reduce emissions and become more sustainable, but a review concludes that many of the pledges are not backed up by evidence 2523798-98-per-cent-of-meat-and-dairy-sustainability-pledges-are-greenwashing|2523798 /article/2521854-we-need-more-radioactive-drugs-can-we-make-them-from-nuclear-waste/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:58 +0100 The rise of a new generation of radiotherapies means we will soon need much greater quantities of radioactive atoms. That's why companies are scrambling to refine them from all manner of radioactive waste 2521854-we-need-more-radioactive-drugs-can-we-make-them-from-nuclear-waste|2521854 /article/2523918-table-tennis-playing-robot-on-track-to-becoming-world-champion/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:19 +0100 A robot built by Sony AI is rapidly learning how to beat the world's very best table tennis players 2523918-table-tennis-playing-robot-on-track-to-becoming-world-champion|2523918 /article/2523882-exercise-advice-for-long-covid-may-be-doing-more-harm-than-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:23:29 +0100 Exercise has been touted as a tool for managing and treating long covid, but much of the evidence has neglected one of its most debilitating symptoms: post-exertional malaise 2523882-exercise-advice-for-long-covid-may-be-doing-more-harm-than-good|2523882 /article/2523771-fermats-last-theorem-still-a-must-read-about-a-350-year-maths-secret/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:36 +0100 Simon Singh's exploration of mathematical proof – in particular Pierre de Fermat's last theorem – remains an absolute treasure, almost three decades after it was first published 2523771-fermats-last-theorem-still-a-must-read-about-a-350-year-maths-secret|2523771 /article/2523838-if-a-bird-flu-pandemic-starts-we-may-have-an-mrna-vaccine-ready/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:01:21 +0100 A final-stage trial has started of an mRNA vaccine against the bird flu strain infecting many animals – and occasionally people – worldwide 2523838-if-a-bird-flu-pandemic-starts-we-may-have-an-mrna-vaccine-ready|2523838 /article/2523722-titans-strange-plains-may-be-explained-by-unusual-weather/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:44 +0100 Most of Titan’s surface is oddly flat and smooth, and it may be because it is coated by as much as a metre of fluffy organic material that snowed down from the icy moon’s thick atmosphere 2523722-titans-strange-plains-may-be-explained-by-unusual-weather|2523722 /article/2521354-the-monstrous-number-sequences-that-break-the-rules-of-mathematics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:00:07 +0100 Some seemingly simple sequences of multiplication and addition grow so quickly that they question the very foundations of mathematics. In doing so, they demand a whole new level of logic 2521354-the-monstrous-number-sequences-that-break-the-rules-of-mathematics|2521354 /article/2523786-game-theory-explains-why-the-uss-goals-in-iran-keep-changing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:57:39 +0100 The ongoing conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has become a situation in game theory known as a war of attrition. The maths behind it can help explain what's going on, says Petros Sekeris 2523786-game-theory-explains-why-the-uss-goals-in-iran-keep-changing|2523786 /article/2523443-we-might-finally-know-how-to-use-quantum-computers-to-boost-ai/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:52 +0100 Pushing against years of scepticism, an analysis suggests quantum computers may offer real advantages for running machine learning and similar algorithms in the near future 2523443-we-might-finally-know-how-to-use-quantum-computers-to-boost-ai|2523443 /article/2522362-why-the-right-kind-of-stress-is-crucial-for-your-health-and-happiness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:47 +0100 Stress is linked to many of our biggest killers, but a growing body of research suggests that certain types can sharpen the mind and strengthen the body. Here’s how to find your perfect dose 2522362-why-the-right-kind-of-stress-is-crucial-for-your-health-and-happiness|2522362 /article/2523669-a-whole-new-way-to-prevent-death-from-sepsis-shows-promise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:00:05 +0100 Filtering a protein that may cause sepsis out from the blood has shown promising signs for improving survival 2523669-a-whole-new-way-to-prevent-death-from-sepsis-shows-promise|2523669 /article/2523607-diamonds-are-surprisingly-elastic-when-you-make-them-tiny/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:00:37 +0100 Experiment with nanodiamonds reveals that they are less rigid than other diamonds, adding to our understanding of how they could be used in new technologies 2523607-diamonds-are-surprisingly-elastic-when-you-make-them-tiny|2523607 /article/2522501-can-we-vaccinate-ourselves-against-stress/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:59 +0100 A traditional vaccine primes the immune system to build better defences. Researchers think we can do something similar to increase our resilience to the pressures and worries of life 2522501-can-we-vaccinate-ourselves-against-stress|2522501 /article/2523471-parrot-uses-his-broken-beak-to-become-a-dominant-male/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:00:13 +0100 An injured kea with just half a beak has used what's left as a weapon that gives him dominance over a captive colony of the birds 2523471-parrot-uses-his-broken-beak-to-become-a-dominant-male|2523471 /article/2522498-can-you-determine-your-personalised-stress-score/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0100 “I’m stressed” is a phrase that many of us use, but now there are ways to shed light on how stressed you actually are 2522498-can-you-determine-your-personalised-stress-score|2522498 /article/2522972-the-biggest-threat-to-chernobyl-is-no-longer-radiation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:11 +0100 Forty years after the world’s biggest nuclear disaster, the safety of Chernobyl hangs in the balance – though not because of the radiation risk 2522972-the-biggest-threat-to-chernobyl-is-no-longer-radiation|2522972 /article/2523576-brushing-your-teeth-in-hospital-could-prevent-catching-a-bad-infection/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:01:43 +0100 Most hospital patients don't brush their teeth regularly, but doing so could cut their risk of developing pneumonia during their stay 2523576-brushing-your-teeth-in-hospital-could-prevent-catching-a-bad-infection|2523576 /article/2522111-beef-is-making-a-comeback-does-it-fit-into-a-healthy-diet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:41:02 +0100 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? 2522111-beef-is-making-a-comeback-does-it-fit-into-a-healthy-diet|2522111 /article/2521774-how-autoimmune-conditions-can-unexpectedly-drive-mental-illness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:00:08 +0100 Antibodies mistakenly attacking the brain are linked with conditions including schizophrenia, dementia and OCD, prompting a revolution in how we think about mental health conditions 2521774-how-autoimmune-conditions-can-unexpectedly-drive-mental-illness|2521774 /article/2522722-werner-herzog-searches-for-ghost-elephants-in-stunning-new-documentary/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:19 +0100 A film about the quest for “ghost elephants” is as much about not knowing and asking the right questions as about exploration, finds Davide Abbatescianni 2522722-werner-herzog-searches-for-ghost-elephants-in-stunning-new-documentary|2522722 /article/2523429-electric-vehicle-owners-could-earn-thousands-by-supporting-power-grid/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:00:54 +0100 Electric vehicles could store renewable energy when there is excess supply and give it back to the grid when demand peaks, but car companies disagree on the best way to do that 2523429-electric-vehicle-owners-could-earn-thousands-by-supporting-power-grid|2523429 /article/2520367-exclusive-report-inside-chernobyl-40-years-after-nuclear-disaster/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:01 +0100 New Scientist reporter Matthew Sparkes secured unrivalled access to Chernobyl's most crucial scientific sites, where researchers are fighting to protect the area and ensure it remains safe amid the constant threat of attack from Russia 2520367-exclusive-report-inside-chernobyl-40-years-after-nuclear-disaster|2520367 /article/2522729-new-scientist-recommends-jamie-bartletts-insightful-how-to-talk-to-ai/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:38 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week 2522729-new-scientist-recommends-jamie-bartletts-insightful-how-to-talk-to-ai|2522729 /article/2522927-why-is-it-so-hard-to-change-your-mind/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:34 +0100 Changing your opinion can be difficult, and it’s sometimes even seen as a flaw. But research shows being open-minded has a host of benefits. Columnist David Robson finds there are a few simple ways to encourage yourself to withstand the discomfort that gets in the way of mental flexibility 2522927-why-is-it-so-hard-to-change-your-mind|2522927 /article/2523213-the-rise-the-fall-and-the-rebound-of-cyclic-cosmology/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0100 Cyclic cosmology, or the big bounce, is the idea that the universe will eventually crunch back together and then go through another big bang. Columnist Leah Crane finds that, appropriately, it’s coming back 2523213-the-rise-the-fall-and-the-rebound-of-cyclic-cosmology|2523213 /article/2522672-startling-images-show-how-fake-news-isnt-just-a-21st-century-issue/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:13 +0100 From huge geese to flying cars, these photographs from a new exhibition at the Rijksmuseum reveal how we have been manipulating images for over a century 2522672-startling-images-show-how-fake-news-isnt-just-a-21st-century-issue|2522672 /article/2523071-our-dreams-become-more-emotive-and-symbolic-as-we-approach-death/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0100 People who are terminally ill are commonly reunited with lost loved ones in their dreams and have visions of doors, stairways and light, which are said to help them accept the dying process 2523071-our-dreams-become-more-emotive-and-symbolic-as-we-approach-death|2523071 /article/2523230-how-to-spot-the-lyrid-meteor-shower-tonight/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:24:32 +0100 The Lyrid meteor shower will soon hit its peak. Here's how to spot it, including by using the New Scientist stargazing companion 2523230-how-to-spot-the-lyrid-meteor-shower-tonight|2523230 /article/2523132-neanderthal-infants-were-enormous-compared-with-modern-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:13 +0100 A detailed analysis of the best-preserved Neanderthal infant skeleton ever found suggests that our ancient relatives grew much faster as young children 2523132-neanderthal-infants-were-enormous-compared-with-modern-humans|2523132 /article/2522686-what-to-read-this-week-emma-chapmans-mind-expanding-radio-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:40 +0100 An imaginative and compelling book reveals how radio waves help us tune in to our universe – and even search for alien civilisations, says Karmela Padavic-Callaghan 2522686-what-to-read-this-week-emma-chapmans-mind-expanding-radio-universe|2522686 /article/2522669-why-cloning-anyone-even-jim-carrey-isnt-the-best-plan-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:20 +0100 Feedback discovers that a conspiracy theory has formed that various celebrities have been replaced by clones, and sees just a few small problems with the idea 2522669-why-cloning-anyone-even-jim-carrey-isnt-the-best-plan-ever|2522669 /article/2523157-people-are-refusing-transfusions-from-donors-vaccinated-against-covid/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:24:25 +0100 Patients are requesting that blood transfusions come from people who they know have not been vaccinated against covid-19, which can cause dangerous delays 2523157-people-are-refusing-transfusions-from-donors-vaccinated-against-covid|2523157 /article/2522956-monkeys-walk-around-a-virtual-world-using-only-their-thoughts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:42 +0100 Monkeys with around 300 electrodes implanted in their brain were able to steer avatars around different virtual environments 2522956-monkeys-walk-around-a-virtual-world-using-only-their-thoughts|2522956 /article/2520008-largest-ever-map-of-universe-captures-47-million-galaxies-and-quasars/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:45 +0100 The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has finished the most detailed survey of the universe to date, and the resulting map will help researchers understand an apparent weakening of dark energy 2520008-largest-ever-map-of-universe-captures-47-million-galaxies-and-quasars|2520008 /article/2522615-quantum-computers-could-usher-in-a-crisis-worse-than-y2k/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:00:12 +0100 The day when a quantum computer manages to break common encryption, or Q-Day, is fast approaching, and the world is not close to being ready 2522615-quantum-computers-could-usher-in-a-crisis-worse-than-y2k|2522615 /article/2523034-is-a-super-el-nino-imminent-and-what-could-the-impacts-be/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:00:28 +0100 A planet-warming El Niño climate phase is now developing, and some models predict it could turn out to be the strongest on record 2523034-is-a-super-el-nino-imminent-and-what-could-the-impacts-be|2523034 /article/2522913-are-neanderthals-descendants-of-modern-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:24:02 +0100 The gap between genetics and archaeology leaves us with an unclear picture of where the Neanderthals originated. Columnist Michael Marshall details a surprising new hypothesis that suggests they may have come from us 2522913-are-neanderthals-descendants-of-modern-humans|2522913 /article/2523048-the-stunning-physics-of-project-hail-mary-go-back-to-ancient-china/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:34:27 +0100 How do you portray momentum in space accurately? Columnist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein takes a look at the origins of our understanding of motion, which runs from Isaac Newton back to the Zhou dynasty a millennia ago 2523048-the-stunning-physics-of-project-hail-mary-go-back-to-ancient-china|2523048 /article/2522944-antioxidant-in-mushrooms-may-target-uterus-cells-to-ease-period-pain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:00:37 +0100 An antioxidant found in certain mushrooms is thought to neutralise damaging molecules in uterine cells that may contribute to period pain 2522944-antioxidant-in-mushrooms-may-target-uterus-cells-to-ease-period-pain|2522944 /article/2522884-from-autism-to-migraines-birth-order-may-have-wide-reaching-effects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:10 +0100 A study of more than 10 million siblings suggests that firstborns are more likely to be autistic and have allergies, while conditions like migraine and shingles tend to affect their younger sibling 2522884-from-autism-to-migraines-birth-order-may-have-wide-reaching-effects|2522884 /article/2522770-a-key-solution-to-climate-change-isnt-happening-and-thats-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:00:02 +0100 Removing CO2 from the atmosphere by capturing the carbon from burning biomass is supposed to save the planet, but it looks like the flagship project will never happen 2522770-a-key-solution-to-climate-change-isnt-happening-and-thats-good|2522770 /article/2522701-urban-living-may-be-causing-big-changes-to-our-oestrogen-levels/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:00:29 +0100 Some gut bacteria recycle discarded sex hormones, like oestrogens, back into the body. The level of these bacteria seems to be higher in industrialised societies, which could have big implications for our health 2522701-urban-living-may-be-causing-big-changes-to-our-oestrogen-levels|2522701 /article/2522785-weve-caught-a-comet-switching-its-spin-direction-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:00:37 +0100 A small comet has been spotted slowing down and then speeding up again – but in the opposite direction, which we have never seen before 2522785-weve-caught-a-comet-switching-its-spin-direction-for-the-first-time|2522785 /article/2520451-my-life-as-a-meteorologist-in-chernobyl-under-russian-occupation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:05 +0100 When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Chernobyl lay on the path to the capital Kyiv. When the plant was occupied by Russian troops, meteorologist Lyudmila Dyblenko fearlessly continued taking vital measurements to monitor the nuclear exclusion zone 2520451-my-life-as-a-meteorologist-in-chernobyl-under-russian-occupation|2520451 /article/2520435-the-man-who-crawls-into-the-perilous-heart-of-the-chernobyl-reactor/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:24 +0100 Ever since the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded in 1986, scientists have needed to monitor radioactive conditions inside. That job currently falls to Anatoly Doroshenko, who explains the dangers and importance of his work to New Scientist 2520435-the-man-who-crawls-into-the-perilous-heart-of-the-chernobyl-reactor|2520435 /article/2522765-collapse-of-key-ocean-current-may-release-billions-of-tonnes-of-carbon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:44 +0100 If the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation shut down, the knock-on effects could release hundreds of billions of tonnes of CO2, raising global temperatures even further 2522765-collapse-of-key-ocean-current-may-release-billions-of-tonnes-of-carbon|2522765 /article/2522124-we-urgently-need-to-prepare-for-quantum-computers-breaking-encryption/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:37 +0100 The maths problems that secure your online bank transactions and emails may soon be undermined by quantum technology. It’s imperative we act now, before it’s too late 2522124-we-urgently-need-to-prepare-for-quantum-computers-breaking-encryption|2522124 /article/2522687-the-secret-project-to-settle-controversial-maths-proof-with-a-computer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:30:13 +0100 Working in secret for more than two years, a group of mathematicians has set out to resolve one of the longest and most bitter battles in modern mathematics 2522687-the-secret-project-to-settle-controversial-maths-proof-with-a-computer|2522687 /article/2520573-were-solving-the-fundamental-mystery-of-how-reality-is-glued-together/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:00:03 +0100 For decades, scientists have tried and failed to explain how the force that binds the heart of atoms together really works. But new mathematical tools are finally prising the problem open 2520573-were-solving-the-fundamental-mystery-of-how-reality-is-glued-together|2520573 /article/2519999-the-invisibility-cloak-inventor-now-has-better-tricks-up-his-sleeve/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:00:26 +0100 John Pendry is known for creating an invisibility cloak. Twenty years on, he has used the same principles to fashion an even more powerful kind of metamaterial that can teach us about the wild frontiers of physics 2519999-the-invisibility-cloak-inventor-now-has-better-tricks-up-his-sleeve|2519999 /article/2522238-two-excellent-new-sci-fi-novels-tackle-robots-in-very-different-ways/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:26 +0100 Luminous by Silvia Park and Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer are both thoughtful and well-written science fiction novels, featuring robots in richly realised worlds. But there the similarities end, says Emily H. Wilson 2522238-two-excellent-new-sci-fi-novels-tackle-robots-in-very-different-ways|2522238 /article/2520604-i-dont-see-images-in-my-head-can-training-give-me-a-minds-eye/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:00:25 +0100 Training programmes for people with aphantasia – the inability to create mental images – are challenging neuroscientists' understanding of how we create thoughts 2520604-i-dont-see-images-in-my-head-can-training-give-me-a-minds-eye|2520604 /article/2522636-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-was-a-historic-success/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Sat, 11 Apr 2026 02:20:21 +0100 The astronauts of the Artemis II mission around the moon have made it home safely to Earth, marking the end of a triumphant mission and the beginning of a longer road to stay on the moon 2522636-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-was-a-historic-success|2522636 /article/2522781-tweaking-the-smell-of-cat-food-can-encourage-fussy-felines-to-eat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:00:04 +0100 Some cats will suddenly refuse to touch brands of cat food that they have eaten for years. Changing the way the food smells might solve the problem 2522781-tweaking-the-smell-of-cat-food-can-encourage-fussy-felines-to-eat|2522781 /article/2522739-hidden-fossils-reveal-secrets-of-oceans-before-major-mass-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:00:13 +0100 A handful of plankton fossils buried in a small chunk of rock show that the oceans were teeming with life before the Late Ordovician mass extinction, the second most severe on record 2522739-hidden-fossils-reveal-secrets-of-oceans-before-major-mass-extinction|2522739 /article/2522404-quantum-batteries-could-be-charged-by-reversing-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:15 +0100 Physicists have shown how time can effectively be reversed for some quantum systems, which would allow for new ways to harvest energy 2522404-quantum-batteries-could-be-charged-by-reversing-time|2522404 /article/2522297-the-man-who-ruined-mathematics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:35 +0100 The incompleteness theorem is accepted as part of the mathematical canon today, but columnist Jacob Aron says it was a bombshell when Kurt Gödel first introduced it. Gödel’s seminal work directly contradicted one of the great minds of mathematics and limited the field forever 2522297-the-man-who-ruined-mathematics|2522297 /article/2522294-physicists-resolve-a-long-standing-puzzle-over-the-size-of-a-proton/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:07 +0100 Two extremely precise experiments agree with a previously shocking measurement of just how big the proton is, which may help future searches for new particles 2522294-physicists-resolve-a-long-standing-puzzle-over-the-size-of-a-proton|2522294 /article/2522541-chimpanzee-groups-violent-rupture-hints-at-evolutionary-roots-of-war/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:00:45 +0100 Researchers who observed a murderous conflict unfolding in a once-unified group of wild chimpanzees say there are parallels with civil wars in human societies 2522541-chimpanzee-groups-violent-rupture-hints-at-evolutionary-roots-of-war|2522541 /article/2522566-sci-fi-show-the-miniature-wife-underwhelms-despite-the-big-names/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:38 +0100 Elizabeth Banks stars as an author shrunk by her scientist husband Matthew Macfadyen in this major new series – but it fails to live up to its promise, finds Josh Bell 2522566-sci-fi-show-the-miniature-wife-underwhelms-despite-the-big-names|2522566 /article/2522314-mysterious-compound-x-clears-toxic-parkinsons-proteins-from-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:01 +0100 A drug known only as compound X helped to remove the problematic proteins associated with Parkinson's disease from the brains of mice, and improved their balance and mobility 2522314-mysterious-compound-x-clears-toxic-parkinsons-proteins-from-brain|2522314 /article/2522508-emperor-penguins-added-to-endangered-list-after-rapid-decline/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:00:20 +0100 The International Union for Conservation of Nature has updated the Red List status for three of Antarctica’s most famous species after a dire assessment of their prospects under climate change 2522508-emperor-penguins-added-to-endangered-list-after-rapid-decline|2522508 /article/2522203-what-to-read-this-week-beyond-inheritance-by-roxanne-khamsi/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:18 +0100 A fresh and important book reveals the messy reality of our ever-mutating cells – and why the quest to defeat ageing is futile, says Michael Le Page 2522203-what-to-read-this-week-beyond-inheritance-by-roxanne-khamsi|2522203 /article/2522140-is-this-the-most-niche-scientific-tourist-attraction-in-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback is delighted by the discovery of a very specific scientific sculpture park in China – and wonders if readers can top it 2522140-is-this-the-most-niche-scientific-tourist-attraction-in-the-world|2522140 /article/2522283-car-t-cell-therapy-takes-woman-from-bedridden-to-perfectly-fine/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:00:27 +0100 A woman with three different autoimmune conditions had all of them treated simultaneously by genetically modifying her immune cells to kill off the rogue ones causing problems 2522283-car-t-cell-therapy-takes-woman-from-bedridden-to-perfectly-fine|2522283 /article/2522463-key-ocean-current-is-slowing-at-locations-around-the-atlantic/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:28 +0100 Measurements by buoys at four latitudes in the western Atlantic provide the strongest evidence yet that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation is weakening 2522463-key-ocean-current-is-slowing-at-locations-around-the-atlantic|2522463 /article/2521995-stunning-photographs-show-the-dynamic-patterns-of-the-natural-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:24 +0100 A new book from photographer Jon McCormack collects his shots of patterns in nature from around the world, from flamingoes to icebergs 2521995-stunning-photographs-show-the-dynamic-patterns-of-the-natural-world|2521995 /article/2522100-quantum-entanglement-can-be-measured-in-solids-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:39 +0100 A method that relies on hitting materials with neutrons can measure how much quantum entanglement hides within them, which could enable new kinds of quantum technology 2522100-quantum-entanglement-can-be-measured-in-solids-for-the-first-time|2522100 /article/2522425-why-early-humans-radically-changed-their-toolkits-200000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:19 +0100 A decline in ancient megafauna in the Middle East coincided with a shift towards smaller, lighter toolkits in the archaeological record – though scientists are still in debate about why 2522425-why-early-humans-radically-changed-their-toolkits-200000-years-ago|2522425 /article/2522324-particles-seen-emerging-from-empty-space-for-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:39 +0100 By tracing the origins of an unusual, short-lived particle, researchers have gathered some of the strongest evidence yet that mass can emerge from fluctuations in the vacuum 2522324-particles-seen-emerging-from-empty-space-for-first-time|2522324 /article/2519886-why-the-double-helix-is-such-an-extraordinary-but-infuriating-book/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:36 +0100 James Watson’s The Double Helix is probably one of the greatest science books of all time – but Michael Le Page finds he can’t recommend that anyone actually reads it 2519886-why-the-double-helix-is-such-an-extraordinary-but-infuriating-book|2519886 /article/2522105-how-a-century-long-argument-over-lights-true-nature-came-to-an-end/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:00:45 +0100 Two of the forefathers of quantum theory, Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, had a famous argument over whether light is a wave or a particle. Columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan finds that the matter has been settled once and for all 2522105-how-a-century-long-argument-over-lights-true-nature-came-to-an-end|2522105 /article/2522280-the-most-stunning-pictures-from-artemis-iis-flyby-of-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:26:58 +0100 The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission have captured extraordinary views of the moon, including close-ups of the far side and a breathtaking solar eclipse 2522280-the-most-stunning-pictures-from-artemis-iis-flyby-of-the-moon|2522280 /article/2522159-migraines-could-be-treated-by-ramping-up-the-brains-cleaning-system/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:00:19 +0100 Amplifying the brain's waste disposal system seems to clear a substance that drives migraines, relieving some of the pain associated with the condition 2522159-migraines-could-be-treated-by-ramping-up-the-brains-cleaning-system|2522159 /article/2522081-are-manure-digesters-a-real-solution-to-dairy-farm-emissions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:00:04 +0100 Anaerobic digesters converting manure to biogas reduce methane emissions from livestock, but incentives for them have encouraged factory farms to get bigger 2522081-are-manure-digesters-a-real-solution-to-dairy-farm-emissions|2522081 /article/2522113-the-artemis-ii-astronauts-have-flown-around-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:24:59 +0100 Four NASA astronauts have now travelled further from Earth than any humans before them, as they flew around the moon during the Artemis II mission on 6 April 2522113-the-artemis-ii-astronauts-have-flown-around-the-moon|2522113 /article/2520090-iodised-salt-has-become-uncool-but-many-of-us-need-to-eat-more-iodine/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0100 Iodine deficiency is on the rise among people in the UK, the US and Australia. A century ago this led to drops in IQ, height and thyroid health – and the modern fancy salt fad may be leading to a resurgence, says columnist Alice Klein 2520090-iodised-salt-has-become-uncool-but-many-of-us-need-to-eat-more-iodine|2520090 /article/2522065-novel-approach-to-clearing-brain-waste-shows-promise-for-alzheimers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:00:57 +0100 Boosting the brain's waste-disposal system is increasingly showing promise for Alzheimer's disease, with a study now suggesting that a novel approach eases brain deficits and symptoms associated with the condition 2522065-novel-approach-to-clearing-brain-waste-shows-promise-for-alzheimers|2522065 /article/2519611-oceans-are-darkening-all-over-the-planet-whats-going-on/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:00:58 +0100 In a shift that is reshaping entire ecosystems, the open oceans are letting less light in. We don't fully understand the consequences yet, but there is still hope, says oceanographer Tim Smyth 2519611-oceans-are-darkening-all-over-the-planet-whats-going-on|2519611 /article/2519026-a-once-fantastical-collider-could-answer-physics-biggest-mysteries/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:00:50 +0100 The muon collider was once dismissed as impossible, but is now gaining steam as the successor to the Large Hadron Collider. If built, it could offer a new window to reality  2519026-a-once-fantastical-collider-could-answer-physics-biggest-mysteries|2519026 /article/2520783-stark-photos-show-quest-for-profit-cutting-swathes-through-the-amazon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:56 +0100 Photographer Lalo de Almeida has been documenting the industrialisation taking place in the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian government relaxed environmental controls 2520783-stark-photos-show-quest-for-profit-cutting-swathes-through-the-amazon|2520783 /article/2521412-michael-pollan-consciousness-is-really-under-siege/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:12 +0100 A psychedelic experience set author Michael Pollan on a quest to understand consciousness in his new book A World Appears. He tells Olivia Goldhill what he learned – and how it changed him 2521412-michael-pollan-consciousness-is-really-under-siege|2521412 /article/2522015-we-may-have-seen-a-dirty-fireball-star-explosion-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Apr 2026 15:00:47 +0100 An incredibly powerful flash of X-rays spotted by the Einstein Probe telescope appears to be a kind of explosion first theorised more than 30 years ago 2522015-we-may-have-seen-a-dirty-fireball-star-explosion-for-the-first-time|2522015 /article/2519667-the-profound-effect-the-heart-brain-connection-has-on-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:00:47 +0100 Cognitive decline, mental health and heart disease are all shaped by the deep links between heart and brain – with major implications for diagnoses and treatment 2519667-the-profound-effect-the-heart-brain-connection-has-on-your-health|2519667 /article/2522019-how-worried-should-you-be-about-an-ai-apocalypse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:00:55 +0100 Fears that artificial intelligence could rise up to wipe out humanity are understandable given our steady diet of sci-fi stories depicting just that, but what is the real risk? Matthew Sparkes looks at what the experts say 2522019-how-worried-should-you-be-about-an-ai-apocalypse|2522019 /article/2521670-multipurpose-anti-viral-pill-may-treat-colds-norovirus-flu-and-covid/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:52 +0100 AI predicted that a forgotten breast cancer drug could be repurposed to treat many respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, and subsequent animal tests suggests it may be right 2521670-multipurpose-anti-viral-pill-may-treat-colds-norovirus-flu-and-covid|2521670 /article/2521536-how-a-diy-worm-farm-can-compost-food-scraps-paper-or-a-whole-kangaroo/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:12 +0100 For those who want a little help composting, take a cue from James Woodford’s experience raising worms – both the small colony of wrigglers he keeps in a sensible bin in his city garden and the dumpster-sized worm farm he has that can turn even animal carcasses into nutrient-dense soil 2521536-how-a-diy-worm-farm-can-compost-food-scraps-paper-or-a-whole-kangaroo|2521536 /article/2521980-surprise-fossil-discoveries-push-back-the-evolution-of-complex-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:00:36 +0100 A fossil bed in China containing animals up to 554 million years old suggests that we may have to reconsider the idea that life suddenly diversified during the Cambrian explosion 2521980-surprise-fossil-discoveries-push-back-the-evolution-of-complex-animals|2521980 /article/2522005-bumblebees-surprise-scientists-by-showing-a-sense-of-rhythm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:00:06 +0100 Recognising rhythmic patterns was thought to require a big brain, but a series of experiments has shown that buff-tailed bumblebees have this ability, too 2522005-bumblebees-surprise-scientists-by-showing-a-sense-of-rhythm|2522005 /article/2521782-unprecedented-insight-into-memory-champions-brain-reveals-his-tricks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:00:12 +0100 Nelson Dellis credits techniques like the method of loci for his extraordinary memory. Now, brain scans have revealed the parts of his brain that this approach taps into, and how we can use it to improve our own recall 2521782-unprecedented-insight-into-memory-champions-brain-reveals-his-tricks|2521782 /article/2521924-we-may-have-just-glimpsed-the-universes-first-stars/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:25:22 +0100 A galaxy spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope, known as Hebe, that existed just 400 million years after the big bang appears to contain extremely pure and young stars 2521924-we-may-have-just-glimpsed-the-universes-first-stars|2521924 /article/2521739-i-have-been-bitten-by-more-than-200-snakes-on-purpose/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:00:38 +0100 If you are unlucky enough to have been bitten by a snake, you are unlikely to want to repeat the experience. Not so for Tim Friede, who intentionally exposes himself to deadly bites in the hope of developing a treatment for the 5 million people who are bitten each year 2521739-i-have-been-bitten-by-more-than-200-snakes-on-purpose|2521739 /article/2521377-what-to-read-this-week-lixing-suns-ambitious-on-the-origin-of-sex/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:37 +0100 Ducks with corkscrew penises, fish changing sex – what do we really know about sex and reproduction on Earth? Less than we think, reveals a mind-boggling new book. Elle Hunt explores 2521377-what-to-read-this-week-lixing-suns-ambitious-on-the-origin-of-sex|2521377 /article/2521666-historic-artemis-ii-launch-sends-astronauts-bound-for-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:26 +0100 Four astronauts have begun a 10-day journey around the moon and back again, the first crewed flight to the moon since 1972 2521666-historic-artemis-ii-launch-sends-astronauts-bound-for-the-moon|2521666 /article/2521338-tobacco-plant-altered-to-produce-five-psychedelic-drugs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:03 +0100 Genetically engineering tobacco plants could enable a more sustainable production method for psychedelic drugs, which are increasingly in demand for research and medical uses 2521338-tobacco-plant-altered-to-produce-five-psychedelic-drugs|2521338 /article/2520742-plug-in-solar-is-coming-how-dangerous-is-it-and-is-it-worth-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:00:28 +0100 Plug-in solar panels are a cheaper, simpler alternative to professionally installed panels. But can they really reduce energy bills and are they safe? Matthew Sparkes investigates 2520742-plug-in-solar-is-coming-how-dangerous-is-it-and-is-it-worth-it|2520742 /article/2521878-the-first-quantum-computer-to-break-encryption-is-now-shockingly-close/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:32:09 +0100 Traditional encryption methods have long been vulnerable to quantum computers, but two new analyses suggest a capable enough machine may be built much sooner than previously thought 2521878-the-first-quantum-computer-to-break-encryption-is-now-shockingly-close|2521878 /article/2521744-male-octopuses-have-a-favourite-arm-that-they-mostly-use-for-sex/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:55 +0100 The third right arm of male octopuses has a specialised role in mating, and the creatures take extra care to avoid damaging it or losing it to a predator 2521744-male-octopuses-have-a-favourite-arm-that-they-mostly-use-for-sex|2521744 /article/2521713-the-best-new-popular-science-books-of-april-2026/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:36 +0100 April has a lot to offer when it comes to popular science reading, promising to help us do everything from future-proof our brains courtesy of Hannah Critchlow, to get to grips with really big numbers, thanks to Richard Elwes 2521713-the-best-new-popular-science-books-of-april-2026|2521713