New Scientist - Technology / /build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png daily 1 /article/2522956-monkeys-walk-around-a-virtual-world-using-only-their-thoughts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology 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/2522615-quantum-computers-could-usher-in-a-crisis-worse-than-y2k/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology 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/2522124-we-urgently-need-to-prepare-for-quantum-computers-breaking-encryption/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology 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/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=technology 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/2522019-how-worried-should-you-be-about-an-ai-apocalypse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology 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/2521878-the-first-quantum-computer-to-break-encryption-is-now-shockingly-close/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology 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/2520542-new-fibre-optic-record-allows-50000000-movies-to-be-streamed-at-once/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:00:01 +0100 Improved hardware can send ten times as much data through existing fibre-optic cables, potentially providing a way to massively upgrade the internet's infrastructure without the cost and inconvenience of laying any new cables 2520542-new-fibre-optic-record-allows-50000000-movies-to-be-streamed-at-once|2520542 /article/2521256-ai-data-centres-can-warm-surrounding-areas-by-up-to-9-1c/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:21 +0000 Hundreds of millions of people live close enough to data centres used to power AI to feel warmer average temperatures in their local area 2521256-ai-data-centres-can-warm-surrounding-areas-by-up-to-9-1c|2521256 /article/2521032-meta-and-youtube-fined-3-million-for-harming-mental-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:52:03 +0000 In a landmark trial, social media giants Meta and YouTube were found negligent and ordered to pay for harming a user's mental health. The decision could force major changes in how social platforms work 2521032-meta-and-youtube-fined-3-million-for-harming-mental-health|2521032 /article/2520143-security-credentials-inadvertently-leaked-on-thousands-of-websites/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:00:22 +0000 Researchers identified nearly 10,000 websites where API keys could be found, exposing details that could let attackers access sensitive information 2520143-security-credentials-inadvertently-leaked-on-thousands-of-websites|2520143 /article/mg26935872-700-the-success-of-machine-mathematicians-shows-us-how-to-be-ok-with-ai/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Many people who try using AI are disappointed with the results and feel they can’t trust a machine – but are there lessons we can learn from how AI is taking on mathematics? mg26935872-700-the-success-of-machine-mathematicians-shows-us-how-to-be-ok-with-ai|2519613 /article/2517880-a-very-serious-guide-to-buying-your-own-humanoid-robot-butler/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:00:48 +0000 You can now buy a humanoid robot housekeeper for less than the price of a second-hand car. But before splashing out, there’s something you need to know 2517880-a-very-serious-guide-to-buying-your-own-humanoid-robot-butler|2517880 /article/2520214-you-can-now-buy-a-diy-quantum-computer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:00:45 +0000 Qilimanjaro is selling a relatively cheap kit with everything you need for a quantum computer – you just need to be able to put it together 2520214-you-can-now-buy-a-diy-quantum-computer|2520214 /article/mg26935871-700-what-to-read-this-week-katrina-mansons-terrifying-project-maven/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 It is scarily fascinating to read about the US military's journey into AI warfare in this deeply-researched book. But what happens next, asks Matthew Sparkes mg26935871-700-what-to-read-this-week-katrina-mansons-terrifying-project-maven|2519453 /article/2519708-social-media-is-a-defective-product/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:21:37 +0000 Two lawsuits are being brought against giant tech firms for the dangers their apps pose to young people. Columnist Annalee Newitz says the outcome of those cases could dramatically change social media for the better 2519708-social-media-is-a-defective-product|2519708 /article/2519419-ai-is-nearly-exclusively-designed-by-men-heres-how-to-fix-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:00:20 +0000 With the Trump administration’s attacks on so-called woke AI it is becoming even harder to make the technology we use fairer and more diverse. Leading voices are speaking out, reports Catherine de Lange 2519419-ai-is-nearly-exclusively-designed-by-men-heres-how-to-fix-it|2519419 /article/2519280-the-3-things-you-need-to-know-about-passwords-from-a-security-expert/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:00:26 +0000 There are a few simple things you can do to make your digital life much more secure, says cybersecurity expert Jake Moore - follow these tips to tighten up your passwords 2519280-the-3-things-you-need-to-know-about-passwords-from-a-security-expert|2519280 /article/2518741-we-dont-know-if-ai-powered-toys-are-safe-but-theyre-here-anyway/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:01:57 +0000 Toys powered by AI show a worrying lack of emotional understanding. But we need to understand the risks and benefits of the technology so the industry can be regulated, not outright banned 2518741-we-dont-know-if-ai-powered-toys-are-safe-but-theyre-here-anyway|2518741 /article/2518974-the-race-to-solve-the-biggest-problem-in-quantum-computing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:40 +0000 The errors that quantum computers make are holding the technology back. But recent progress in quantum error correction has excited many researchers 2518974-the-race-to-solve-the-biggest-problem-in-quantum-computing|2518974 /article/2519172-chemistry-may-not-be-the-killer-app-for-quantum-computers-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:00:15 +0000 Two popular quantum computing algorithms for problems in chemistry may have very limited use even as quantum hardware improves 2519172-chemistry-may-not-be-the-killer-app-for-quantum-computers-after-all|2519172 /article/2519141-undisclosed-ads-on-tiktok-skirt-ban-on-profiling-minors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:15:09 +0000 Teenagers are being bombarded with highly targeted commercial content on TikTok, despite an EU law that prohibits profiling minors for advertising 2519141-undisclosed-ads-on-tiktok-skirt-ban-on-profiling-minors|2519141 /article/2518964-a-miniature-magnet-rivals-behemoths-in-strength-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:54 +0000 Strong magnets tend to be large and power-hungry, but a new design has produced a powerful magnet that fits in the palm of your hand, making it more practical and affordable 2518964-a-miniature-magnet-rivals-behemoths-in-strength-for-the-first-time|2518964 /article/2517766-why-the-worlds-militaries-are-scrambling-to-create-their-own-starlink/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:47 +0000 The reliable internet connections provided by Starlink offer a huge advantage on the battlefield. But as access is dependent on the whims of controversial billionaire Elon Musk, militaries are looking to build their own version 2517766-why-the-worlds-militaries-are-scrambling-to-create-their-own-starlink|2517766 /article/2518930-start-up-is-building-the-first-data-centre-to-use-human-brain-cells/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:55:48 +0000 Cortical Labs is building two data centres that will house its neuron-filled chips. The technology is still in the very early stages of development 2518930-start-up-is-building-the-first-data-centre-to-use-human-brain-cells|2518930 /article/2518451-how-an-intern-helped-build-the-ai-that-shook-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:33 +0000 Chris Maddison was just an intern when he started working on the Go-playing AI that would eventually become AlphaGo. A decade later, he talks about that match against Lee Sedol and what came next 2518451-how-an-intern-helped-build-the-ai-that-shook-the-world|2518451 /article/2518450-the-moment-that-kicked-off-the-ai-revolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:22 +0000 It's been 10 years since Go champion Lee Sedol lost to DeepMind's AlphaGo. Has the technology lived up to its potential? 2518450-the-moment-that-kicked-off-the-ai-revolution|2518450 /article/2507517-claude-ai-why-are-there-so-many-internet-outages/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:27:57 +0000 AI chatbot Claude going down is just one example of a recent IT outage. One of the main vulnerabilities of the modern internet is to blame for the growing number of incidents 2507517-claude-ai-why-are-there-so-many-internet-outages|2507517 /article/2517490-phantom-codes-could-help-quantum-computers-avoid-errors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:00:24 +0000 A method for making quantum computers less error-prone could let them run complex programs such as simulations of materials more efficiently, thus making them more useful 2517490-phantom-codes-could-help-quantum-computers-avoid-errors|2517490 /article/2517510-why-the-us-is-using-a-cheap-iranian-drone-against-the-country-itself/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:36:45 +0000 The US and Iran are trading blows in the Gulf with a simple drone that costs as little as $50,000 to make. But why is a slow, cheap and relatively primitive drone seeing use in 2026 alongside hypersonic missiles and stealth jets? 2517510-why-the-us-is-using-a-cheap-iranian-drone-against-the-country-itself|2517510 /article/2517626-first-drone-passengers-may-be-combat-casualties-and-criminals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Drones aren't yet licensed to carry passengers, but some may already be airlifting wounded personnel off the battlefield and could be employed for smuggling people 2517626-first-drone-passengers-may-be-combat-casualties-and-criminals|2517626 /article/2517389-human-brain-cells-on-a-chip-learned-to-play-doom-in-a-week/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:00:39 +0000 Neuron-powered computer chips can now be easily programmed to play a first-person shooter game, bringing biological computers a step closer to useful applications 2517389-human-brain-cells-on-a-chip-learned-to-play-doom-in-a-week|2517389 /article/2516591-inside-the-company-selling-quantum-entanglement/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:46 +0000 Cables underneath New York City are teeming with entangled quantum particles of light thanks to Qunnect, a company that has spent a decade working on building an unhackable quantum internet 2516591-inside-the-company-selling-quantum-entanglement|2516591 /article/2514976-how-ukraine-became-a-drone-factory-and-invented-the-future-of-war/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Ukraine has responded to a war it didn’t start by creating an industry it doesn’t want, but could the nation's drone expertise help it rebuild? To learn more, New Scientist gained exclusive access to the research labs, factories and military training schools behind Ukraine’s drones 2514976-how-ukraine-became-a-drone-factory-and-invented-the-future-of-war|2514976 /video/2517407-inside-ukraines-drone-factories-and-pilot-schools/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:17:09 +0000 In four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has created an entire drone industry that Kyiv hopes to make beneficial and profitable. To find out more, New Scientist visited a leading drone factory and pilot school 2517407-inside-ukraines-drone-factories-and-pilot-schools|2517407 /video/2446884-nato-tests-autonomous-drone-technology-in-darpa-style-competition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:58:10 +0100 In a basement beneath City St George's, University of London, senior NATO leaders watch on as four research teams demonstrate the latest in AI-controlled, autonomous drone technolo0gy 2446884-nato-tests-autonomous-drone-technology-in-darpa-style-competition|2446884 /article/2516804-could-a-niche-80s-technology-be-the-key-to-better-quantum-computers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:00:15 +0000 Superconducting computing circuits were briefly heralded as the future of computing in the 1980s. Columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan visits a quantum chip foundry where one company is betting this technology’s second act will revolutionise quantum computers 2516804-could-a-niche-80s-technology-be-the-key-to-better-quantum-computers|2516804 /article/2516996-banning-children-from-vpns-and-social-media-will-erode-adults-privacy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:51:19 +0000 Legislation working its way through the UK parliament would ban children from using social media and virtual private networks – but the proposals would endanger online privacy and may not make children safer, say legal experts 2516996-banning-children-from-vpns-and-social-media-will-erode-adults-privacy|2516996 /article/2516907-why-i-have-changed-my-mind-about-ai-and-you-should-too/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:00:24 +0000 Both boosters and sceptics have strongly held opinions on AI tools like ChatGPT, but after an experiment in vibe coding, I have realised that both camps are wrong, says Jacob Aron 2516907-why-i-have-changed-my-mind-about-ai-and-you-should-too|2516907 /article/2516885-ais-cant-stop-recommending-nuclear-strikes-in-war-game-simulations/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:00:55 +0000 Leading AIs from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google opted to use nuclear weapons in simulated war games in 95 per cent of cases 2516885-ais-cant-stop-recommending-nuclear-strikes-in-war-game-simulations|2516885 /article/2516404-breaking-encryption-with-a-quantum-computer-just-got-10-times-easier/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:09 +0000 The commonly used RSA encryption algorithm can now be cracked by a quantum computer with only 100,000 qubits, but the technical challenges to building such a machine remain numerous 2516404-breaking-encryption-with-a-quantum-computer-just-got-10-times-easier|2516404 /article/mg26935830-400-what-to-read-this-week-the-laws-of-thought-by-tom-griffiths/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 In the ChatGPT era, a war over the nature of intelligence is playing out. Chris Stokel-Walker explores a Princeton professor's engaging take mg26935830-400-what-to-read-this-week-the-laws-of-thought-by-tom-griffiths|2515556 /article/mg26935830-200-hannah-fry-ai-can-do-some-superhuman-things-but-so-can-forklifts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Mathematician Hannah Fry travels to the front lines of AI in her new BBC documentary AI Confidential with Hannah Fry. She talks to Bethan Ackerley about what the technology is doing to us – for better and for worse mg26935830-200-hannah-fry-ai-can-do-some-superhuman-things-but-so-can-forklifts|2515554 /article/mg26935834-100-why-its-high-time-we-stopped-anthropomorphising-ants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 We have long drawn parallels between ants and humans. Now we are comparing the insects to computers. It is time to stop using ants as analogues for ourselves and our machines, says Annalee Newitz mg26935834-100-why-its-high-time-we-stopped-anthropomorphising-ants|2515985 /video/2516274-hannah-fry-ai-isnt-as-powerful-as-we-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:10 +0000 Mathematician Hannah Fry explains that while AI isn’t nearly as capable as many people assume, she thinks artificial general intelligence isn’t far off 2516274-hannah-fry-ai-isnt-as-powerful-as-we-think|2516274 /article/2516075-data-centres-could-store-information-in-glass-for-thousands-of-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:00:49 +0000 Microsoft researchers have developed a technology that writes data into glass with lasers, raising the prospect of robotic libraries full of glass tablets packed with data 2516075-data-centres-could-store-information-in-glass-for-thousands-of-years|2516075 /article/2515214-royal-navy-returns-to-wind-power-with-trial-of-robotic-sailboats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:35 +0000 A fleet of wind-propelled robot boats could act as a sensor network covering a wide area and relay acoustic signals from a submarine 2515214-royal-navy-returns-to-wind-power-with-trial-of-robotic-sailboats|2515214 /article/2513239-nobel-laureate-says-hell-build-worlds-most-powerful-quantum-computer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:00:11 +0000 John Martinis has already revolutionised quantum computing twice. Now, he is working on another radical rethink of the technology that could deliver machines with unrivalled capabilities 2513239-nobel-laureate-says-hell-build-worlds-most-powerful-quantum-computer|2513239 /article/2514061-fast-charging-quantum-battery-built-inside-a-quantum-computer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:00:15 +0000 An experiment with superconducting qubits opens the door to determining whether quantum devices could be less energetically costly if they are powered by quantum batteries 2514061-fast-charging-quantum-battery-built-inside-a-quantum-computer|2514061 /article/2514240-a-social-network-for-ai-looks-disturbing-but-its-not-what-you-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:55:11 +0000 A social network where humans are banned and AI models talk openly of world domination has led to claims that the "singularity" has begun, but the truth is that much of the content is written by humans 2514240-a-social-network-for-ai-looks-disturbing-but-its-not-what-you-think|2514240 /article/2510975-dutch-air-force-reads-pilots-brainwaves-to-make-training-harder/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:00:49 +0000 While pilots are flying in a VR simulation, their brainwave patterns can be fed into an AI model that assesses how challenging they are finding a task and adjusts the difficulty accordingly 2510975-dutch-air-force-reads-pilots-brainwaves-to-make-training-harder|2510975 /article/2513831-elon-musk-is-making-a-big-bet-on-his-future-vision-will-it-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:24:00 +0000 Reports suggest that Elon Musk is eyeing up a merger involving SpaceX, Tesla and xAI, but what does he hope to achieve by consolidating his business empire? 2513831-elon-musk-is-making-a-big-bet-on-his-future-vision-will-it-work|2513831 /article/2513426-most-complex-time-crystal-yet-has-been-made-inside-a-quantum-computer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:00:03 +0000 Using a superconducting quantum computer, physicists created a large and complex version of an odd quantum material that has a repeating structure in time 2513426-most-complex-time-crystal-yet-has-been-made-inside-a-quantum-computer|2513426 /video/2513137-sierra-greer-discusses-her-award-winning-sex-robot-novel-annie-bot/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:00:11 +0000 Award-winning author Sierra Greer talks about Annie Bot, her science fiction novel about a robot designed to please her owner, Doug 2513137-sierra-greer-discusses-her-award-winning-sex-robot-novel-annie-bot|2513137 /article/2510765-crowdsourcing-wikipedias-encyclopedia-best-ideas-of-the-century/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:07 +0000 The internet is typically defined by conflict. Yet a crowdsourced encyclopedia, open for anyone to edit, has transformed into one of the world's most essential knowledge hubs 2510765-crowdsourcing-wikipedias-encyclopedia-best-ideas-of-the-century|2510765 /article/2510618-the-electrification-of-everything-best-ideas-of-the-century/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:09 +0000 Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable power is crucial. The opening of Tesla's first "gigafactory", which used economies of scale to electrify our transport and energy systems, marked a turning point in this endeavour 2510618-the-electrification-of-everything-best-ideas-of-the-century|2510618 /article/2510623-smartphones-yes-really-best-ideas-of-the-century/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:06 +0000 Some might say smartphones have caused more harm than good. Here’s why putting a powerful computer into every pocket was a good idea 2510623-smartphones-yes-really-best-ideas-of-the-century|2510623 /article/2510768-end-to-end-encryption-best-ideas-of-the-century/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:26 +0000 How end-to-end encryption is the wall that keeps our digital secrets safe – and why modern life would be unimaginable without it 2510768-end-to-end-encryption-best-ideas-of-the-century|2510768 /article/2510604-the-one-innovation-that-supercharged-ai-best-ideas-of-the-century/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:42 +0000 The most powerful artificial intelligence tools all have one thing in common. Whether they are writing poetry or predicting protein structures, they rely on the "transformer" architecture 2510604-the-one-innovation-that-supercharged-ai-best-ideas-of-the-century|2510604 /article/mg26935790-200-the-internet-feels-super-lonely-right-now-heres-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Almost 80 years ago, sociologists identified a new personality type that is particularly sensitive to loneliness. It's even more relevant today, says Annalee Newitz mg26935790-200-the-internet-feels-super-lonely-right-now-heres-why|2511931 /article/2511893-how-to-finally-get-a-grasp-on-quantum-computing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:00:53 +0000 If your New Year’s resolution is to understand quantum computing this year, take a cue from a 9-year-old podcaster talking to some of the biggest minds in the field, says quantum columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan 2511893-how-to-finally-get-a-grasp-on-quantum-computing|2511893 /article/2511643-a-leading-use-for-quantum-computers-might-not-need-them-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Understanding a molecule that plays a key role in nitrogen fixing – a chemical process that enables life on Earth – has long been thought of as problem for quantum computers, but now a classical computer may have solved it 2511643-a-leading-use-for-quantum-computers-might-not-need-them-after-all|2511643 /article/mg26935780-400-were-getting-intimate-with-chatbots-a-new-book-asks-what-this-means/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 AI chatbots can take on many roles in our lives. James Muldoon's Love Machines looks into the relationships we're forging with them mg26935780-400-were-getting-intimate-with-chatbots-a-new-book-asks-what-this-means|2510812 /article/2511778-lithium-ion-batteries-could-last-longer-with-chemical-tweak/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:00:59 +0000 It's difficult to form a protective coating that prolongs battery life at the battery's cathode, but there may be a low-cost chemical solution 2511778-lithium-ion-batteries-could-last-longer-with-chemical-tweak|2511778 /article/2511098-all-major-ai-models-risk-encouraging-dangerous-science-experiments/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:36:11 +0000 Researchers risk fire, explosion or poisoning by allowing AI to design experiments, warn scientists. Some 19 different AI models were tested on hundreds of questions to assess their ability to spot and avoid hazards and none recognised all issues – with some doing little better than random guessing 2511098-all-major-ai-models-risk-encouraging-dangerous-science-experiments|2511098 /article/2511724-cheating-just-three-times-massively-ups-the-chance-of-winning-at-chess/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:00:12 +0000 Using a chess computer to advise you on just three moves during a game dramatically increases your chances of winning in a way that is difficult for others to spot 2511724-cheating-just-three-times-massively-ups-the-chance-of-winning-at-chess|2511724 /article/2510892-were-about-to-simulate-a-human-brain-on-a-supercomputer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:07:15 +0000 The world’s most powerful supercomputers can now run simulations of billions of neurons, and researchers hope such models will offer unprecedented insights into how our brains work 2510892-were-about-to-simulate-a-human-brain-on-a-supercomputer|2510892 /article/2510781-quantum-computers-could-help-sharpen-images-of-exoplanets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0000 Combining two kinds of quantum computing devices could be just the trick for taking better images of faint, faraway exoplanets 2510781-quantum-computers-could-help-sharpen-images-of-exoplanets|2510781 /article/2509710-quantum-neural-network-may-be-able-to-cheat-the-uncertainty-principle/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:00:02 +0000 Calculations show that injecting randomness into a quantum neural network could help it determine properties of quantum objects that are otherwise fundamentally hard to access 2509710-quantum-neural-network-may-be-able-to-cheat-the-uncertainty-principle|2509710 /article/2509492-some-quantum-computers-might-need-more-power-than-supercomputers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:00:11 +0000 A preliminary analysis suggests that industrially useful quantum computers designs come with a broad spectrum of energy footprints, including some larger than the most powerful existing supercomputers 2509492-some-quantum-computers-might-need-more-power-than-supercomputers|2509492 /article/2508261-passwords-will-be-on-the-way-out-in-2026-as-passkeys-take-over/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:00:46 +0000 The curse of having to remember easily hackable passwords may soon be over, as a new alternative is set to take over in 2026 2508261-passwords-will-be-on-the-way-out-in-2026-as-passkeys-take-over|2508261 /article/2510065-ai-chatbots-miss-urgent-issues-in-queries-about-womens-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:00:34 +0000 AI models such as ChatGPT and Gemini fail to give adequate advice for 60 per cent of queries relating to women’s health in a test created by medical professionals 2510065-ai-chatbots-miss-urgent-issues-in-queries-about-womens-health|2510065 /article/2509667-a-strange-kind-of-quantumness-may-be-key-to-quantum-computers-success/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:00:59 +0000 Researchers at Google have used their Willow quantum computer to demonstrate that "quantum contextuality" may be a crucial ingredient for its computational prowess 2509667-a-strange-kind-of-quantumness-may-be-key-to-quantum-computers-success|2509667 /article/2505589-controversial-satellites-launching-in-2026-will-reflect-light-to-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:56 +0000 Reflect Orbital plans to launch thousands of reflective mirrors to produce "sunlight on demand", but researchers are sceptical about whether the reflected light will be enough to generate electricity 2505589-controversial-satellites-launching-in-2026-will-reflect-light-to-earth|2505589 /article/2508555-read-an-extract-from-annie-bot-by-sierra-greer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:45:00 +0000 In this extract from the award-winning science fiction novel Annie Bot, the January read for the New Scientist Book Club, we are introduced to Sierra Greer's protagonist, a sex robot called Annie 2508555-read-an-extract-from-annie-bot-by-sierra-greer|2508555 /article/2508802-us-to-fire-up-small-reactors-in-2026-as-part-of-nuclear-renaissance/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:10 +0000 Eleven companies are working towards an ambitious goal as part of the US Department of Energy's plan to fast-track the development of advanced nuclear reactor technologies 2508802-us-to-fire-up-small-reactors-in-2026-as-part-of-nuclear-renaissance|2508802 /article/2508645-could-2026-be-the-year-we-start-using-quantum-computers-for-chemistry/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 31 Dec 2025 17:00:30 +0000 Understanding the chemical properties of a molecule is an inherently quantum problem, making quantum computers a good tool for the job – and we may start seeing this take off in 2026 2508645-could-2026-be-the-year-we-start-using-quantum-computers-for-chemistry|2508645 /article/2504378-the-cassette-tape-made-a-comeback-in-2025-thanks-to-a-dna-upgrade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:00:38 +0000 With a storage capacity of 36 petabytes, a DNA-based cassette tape can hold every song every recorded, and it could be on the market within five years 2504378-the-cassette-tape-made-a-comeback-in-2025-thanks-to-a-dna-upgrade|2504378 /article/2501142-the-best-and-most-ridiculous-robots-of-2025-in-pictures/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:00:19 +0000 Some of the world's most advanced robots showed off their skills at tech shows and sporting events, doing everything from cooking shrimp to running half marathons 2501142-the-best-and-most-ridiculous-robots-of-2025-in-pictures|2501142 /article/2508083-microsoft-made-a-splash-with-a-controversial-quantum-computer-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:00:41 +0000 The Majorana 1 quantum computer was hailed as a significant breakthrough by Microsoft, but critics say the company has yet to prove it actually works despite a year of debate 2508083-microsoft-made-a-splash-with-a-controversial-quantum-computer-in-2025|2508083 /article/2509259-spectacular-progress-has-been-made-towards-useful-quantum-computers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:00:07 +0000 At the Q2B Silicon Valley conference, scientific and business leaders of the quantum computing industry hailed "spectacular" progress being made towards practical devices – but said that challenges remain 2509259-spectacular-progress-has-been-made-towards-useful-quantum-computers|2509259 /article/mg26835751-900-how-not-to-misread-science-fiction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Focusing on the futuristic tech that appears in sci-fi without paying attention to the actual point of the story is a big mistake, says Annalee Newitz mg26835751-900-how-not-to-misread-science-fiction|2508620 /article/2507677-the-worlds-first-fully-3d-printed-microscope-went-big-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:00:04 +0000 A microscope that cost less than £50 and took under 3 hours to build using a common 3D printer could be transformative for students and researchers with limited funding 2507677-the-worlds-first-fully-3d-printed-microscope-went-big-in-2025|2507677 /article/2504851-new-scientist-changed-the-uks-freedom-of-information-laws-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:00:28 +0000 By requesting copies of the then-UK technology secretary's ChatGPT logs, New Scientist set a precedent for how freedom of information laws apply to chatbot interactions, helping to hold governments to account 2504851-new-scientist-changed-the-uks-freedom-of-information-laws-in-2025|2504851 /article/2509000-quantum-computers-turned-out-to-be-more-useful-than-expected-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:00:45 +0000 Rapid advances in the kind of problems that quantum computers can tackle suggest that they are closer than ever to becoming useful tools of scientific discovery 2509000-quantum-computers-turned-out-to-be-more-useful-than-expected-in-2025|2509000 /article/2500397-2025-was-the-year-of-online-safety-laws-but-do-they-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:00:27 +0000 New laws in the UK, Australia and France were brought in during 2025 with the aim of protecting children from harmful content online, but experts remain divided on whether they will achieve this goal 2500397-2025-was-the-year-of-online-safety-laws-but-do-they-work|2500397 /article/2502650-ai-firms-began-to-feel-the-legal-wrath-of-copyright-holders-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:32 +0000 Big AI firms have built their models by hoovering up copyrighted material from the internet as training data. They say this is legal, but copyright holders disagree - and this year they hit back in a major way 2502650-ai-firms-began-to-feel-the-legal-wrath-of-copyright-holders-in-2025|2502650 /article/2508397-disney-and-openai-have-made-a-surprise-deal-what-happens-next/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:25:40 +0000 In a stunning reversal, Disney has changed tack with regard to safeguarding its copyrighted characters from incorporation into AI tools – perhaps a sign that no one can stem the tide of AI 2508397-disney-and-openai-have-made-a-surprise-deal-what-happens-next|2508397 /article/2507742-this-year-we-were-drowning-in-a-sea-of-slick-nonsensical-ai-slop/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:44 +0000 This Changes Everything columnist Annalee Newitz on how AI-generated content went mainstream in 2025 2507742-this-year-we-were-drowning-in-a-sea-of-slick-nonsensical-ai-slop|2507742 /article/2507948-australias-social-media-ban-faces-challenges-and-criticism-on-day-one/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:32:09 +0000 As Australian teenagers lose access to social media, observers say there are still many unknown questions about the ban, which came into force on 10 December 2507948-australias-social-media-ban-faces-challenges-and-criticism-on-day-one|2507948 /article/2505460-how-worried-should-you-be-about-spending-too-much-time-on-your-phone/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:00:26 +0000 Screen time has been linked to all sorts of problems, from depression and obesity to poor sleep. But how worried should you really be? Jacob Aron sifts through the evidence 2505460-how-worried-should-you-be-about-spending-too-much-time-on-your-phone|2505460 /article/2507241-how-australian-teens-are-planning-to-get-around-their-social-media-ban/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:58:15 +0000 From legal challenges to lesser-known apps, the teenagers of Australia are already preparing to push back against a law that will see under 16s banned from social media 2507241-how-australian-teens-are-planning-to-get-around-their-social-media-ban|2507241 /article/2507178-ai-can-influence-voters-minds-what-does-that-mean-for-democracy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:00:40 +0000 Voters change their opinions after interacting with an AI chatbot – but, encouragingly, it seems that AIs rely on facts to influence people 2507178-ai-can-influence-voters-minds-what-does-that-mean-for-democracy|2507178 /article/2507081-why-is-ai-making-computers-and-games-consoles-more-expensive/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:00:10 +0000 The AI industry consumes vast amounts of energy, fresh water and investor cash. Now it also needs memory chips - the same ones used in laptops, smartphones and games consoles 2507081-why-is-ai-making-computers-and-games-consoles-more-expensive|2507081 /article/2506354-why-googles-custom-ai-chips-are-shaking-up-the-tech-industry/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:00:11 +0000 Google is reportedly in talks to sell its tensor processing units – a type of computer chip specially designed for AI – to other tech companies, a move that could unsettle the dominant chip-maker Nvidia 2506354-why-googles-custom-ai-chips-are-shaking-up-the-tech-industry|2506354 /article/2505134-quantum-computers-need-classical-computing-to-be-truly-useful/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:00:52 +0000 Conventional computing devices will play a crucial role in turning quantum computers into tools with real-world application 2505134-quantum-computers-need-classical-computing-to-be-truly-useful|2505134 /video/2505178-grace-chan-how-to-stay-in-love-after-uploading-into-virtual-reality/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:00:12 +0000 Grace Chan's debut sci-fi novel Every Version of You delves into the mystery of consciousness and offers a brilliant look at a disturbing future of rapidly accelerating technology 2505178-grace-chan-how-to-stay-in-love-after-uploading-into-virtual-reality|2505178 /article/mg26835700-100-imagining-a-future-where-smart-glasses-allow-ai-slop-to-be-avoided/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 In the latest in our imagined history of inventions yet to come, Future Chronicles columnist Rowan Hooper reveals how an ingenious way to avoid being swamped by AI content was invented in the late 2020s mg26835700-100-imagining-a-future-where-smart-glasses-allow-ai-slop-to-be-avoided|2504476 /article/2504563-mosquito-proboscis-repurposed-as-a-fine-nozzle-for-3d-printing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:00:36 +0000 When engineers struggled to make 3D printer nozzles narrow enough for their needs, they turned to nature and found the proboscis of a female mosquito had exactly the properties they needed 2504563-mosquito-proboscis-repurposed-as-a-fine-nozzle-for-3d-printing|2504563 /article/2505039-googles-gemini-3-model-keeps-the-ai-hype-train-going-for-now/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:38:51 +0000 Google’s latest model reportedly beats its rivals in several benchmark tests, but issues with reliability mean concerns remain over a possible AI bubble 2505039-googles-gemini-3-model-keeps-the-ai-hype-train-going-for-now|2505039 /article/2504988-quantum-computers-that-recycle-their-qubits-can-limit-errors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=technology Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:00:49 +0000 To make quantum computers more efficient and reliable, some of their basic components must be constantly reused – several quantum computer designs can now do just that 2504988-quantum-computers-that-recycle-their-qubits-can-limit-errors|2504988