New Scientist - Features New Scientist - Features https://www.newscientist.com/ New Scientist - Features https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 Why supersonic, diamond-spewing volcanoes might be coming back to life https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134830-100-why-supersonic-diamond-spewing-volcanoes-might-be-coming-back-to-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Strange volcanoes called kimberlites bring diamonds up from Earth's depths. Scientists have always struggled to understand why they switched off millions of years ago – but perhaps they didn't mg26134830-100-why-supersonic-diamond-spewing-volcanoes-might-be-coming-back-to-life|2422556 Nobel-winning biologist on the most promising ways to stop ageing https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134830-900-nobel-winning-biologist-on-the-most-promising-ways-to-stop-ageing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Efforts to extend our lifespan continue and many look promising, but success will have unintended consequences, says Nobel prizewinner Venki Ramakrishnan mg26134830-900-nobel-winning-biologist-on-the-most-promising-ways-to-stop-ageing|2422732 How bad is vaping for your health? We’re finally getting answers https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406514-how-bad-is-vaping-for-your-health-were-finally-getting-answers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 As more of us take up vaping and concerns rise about the long-term effects, we now have enough data to get a grip on the health impact – and how it compares to smoking 2406514-how-bad-is-vaping-for-your-health-were-finally-getting-answers|2406514 Five climate megaprojects that might just save the world https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134821-800-five-climate-megaprojects-that-might-just-save-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 From solar power stations in space to stabilising melting glaciers, some researchers are proposing extremely ambitious and risky projects to fight climate change. Could they work? mg26134821-800-five-climate-megaprojects-that-might-just-save-the-world|2421554 Ketamine’s unlikely conversion from rave drug to mental health therapy https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134821-900-ketamines-unlikely-conversion-from-rave-drug-to-mental-health-therapy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Bolstered by impressive clinical trials, some companies are offering ketamine therapy as an employee health benefit – but what risks are posed by the drug's newfound popularity? mg26134821-900-ketamines-unlikely-conversion-from-rave-drug-to-mental-health-therapy|2421555 How neuroscience can help you make tough decisions - with no regrets https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134821-700-how-neuroscience-can-help-you-make-tough-decisions-with-no-regrets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Most people are too risk-averse when it comes to life's biggest choices. Learning how to overcome the cognitive biases at play can help you make better decisions - with no looking back mg26134821-700-how-neuroscience-can-help-you-make-tough-decisions-with-no-regrets|2421553 Is the universe conscious? It seems impossible until you do the maths https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632800-900-is-the-universe-conscious-it-seems-impossible-until-you-do-the-maths/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:00:00 +0100 The question of how the brain gives rise to subjective experience is the hardest of all. Mathematicians think they can help, but their first attempts have thrown up some eye-popping conclusions mg24632800-900-is-the-universe-conscious-it-seems-impossible-until-you-do-the-maths|2241831 We may have spotted a parallel universe going backwards in time https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532770-400-we-may-have-spotted-a-parallel-universe-going-backwards-in-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 08 Apr 2020 07:00:00 +0100 Strange particles observed by an experiment in Antarctica could be evidence of an alternative reality where everything is upside down mg24532770-400-we-may-have-spotted-a-parallel-universe-going-backwards-in-time|2239874 ADHD: What's behind the recent explosion in diagnoses? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834372-000-adhd-whats-behind-the-recent-explosion-in-diagnoses/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 02 May 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are rocketing, but what's the cause? Fortunately, we now have a better understanding of the condition - and how to identify those who have it mg25834372-000-adhd-whats-behind-the-recent-explosion-in-diagnoses|2371467 We are finally starting to understand brain fog and how to treat it https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433902-300-we-are-finally-starting-to-understand-brain-fog-and-how-to-treat-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 08 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0100 Brain fog – which encompasses memory problems, lack of mental clarity and an inability to focus – had eluded scientific scrutiny until covid-19 thrust it into the spotlight. Now, we're starting to learn more about what exactly it is and how we can beat it mg25433902-300-we-are-finally-starting-to-understand-brain-fog-and-how-to-treat-it|2323208 The surprising promise and profound perils of AIs that fake empathy https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134810-900-the-surprising-promise-and-profound-perils-of-ais-that-fake-empathy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Millions of us are turning to chatbots for emotional support. But there are good reasons to think AIs will never be capable of genuine empathy, raising profound questions about their role in society mg26134810-900-the-surprising-promise-and-profound-perils-of-ais-that-fake-empathy|2420285 How concussion can lead to brain damage - and what to do to prevent it https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134813-100-how-concussion-can-lead-to-brain-damage-and-what-to-do-to-prevent-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 A new understanding of what happens to the brain after a knock to the head is finally waking us up to the risk of contact sports, and ways to stop long term damage mg26134813-100-how-concussion-can-lead-to-brain-damage-and-what-to-do-to-prevent-it|2420461 How our golden age of asteroid exploration could reveal life's origins https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134811-000-how-our-golden-age-of-asteroid-exploration-could-reveal-lifes-origins/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 What did NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to sample Bennu discover? Mission leader Dante Lauretta says the asteroid could hold clues about how life began mg26134811-000-how-our-golden-age-of-asteroid-exploration-could-reveal-lifes-origins|2420286 Largest ever animal may have been Triassic ichthyosaur super-predator https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634180-900-largest-ever-animal-may-have-been-triassic-ichthyosaur-super-predator/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:00:00 +0000 New fossil discoveries show predatory marine reptiles from 200 million years ago may have been bigger than today’s blue whales – and that they evolved astonishingly rapidly mg25634180-900-largest-ever-animal-may-have-been-triassic-ichthyosaur-super-predator|2352224 Dishabituation: How to trick your brain to find more joy in life https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134800-900-dishabituation-how-to-trick-your-brain-to-find-more-joy-in-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Learning a psychological trick to overcome your brain's tendency to stop noticing things could help you love your old clothes, notice the effects of climate change and fix gender biases, says neuroscientist Tali Sharot mg26134800-900-dishabituation-how-to-trick-your-brain-to-find-more-joy-in-life|2418972 The unexpected ways your skin impacts your health and longevity https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134802-900-the-unexpected-ways-your-skin-impacts-your-health-and-longevity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Looking after your skin isn't just a vanity project, with growing evidence that damage to the skin can drive ageing, inflammation and even cognitive decline mg26134802-900-the-unexpected-ways-your-skin-impacts-your-health-and-longevity|2419220 Why we're finally on the cusp of finding exomoons around other planets https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134800-800-why-were-finally-on-the-cusp-of-finding-exomoons-around-other-planets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Moons circling exoplanets would be some of the most promising places to look for life outside our solar system. Now, we might finally be about to find these elusive objects mg26134800-800-why-were-finally-on-the-cusp-of-finding-exomoons-around-other-planets|2418971 Beyond Wegovy: Could the next wave of weight-loss drugs end obesity? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934470-900-beyond-wegovy-could-the-next-wave-of-weight-loss-drugs-end-obesity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 11 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Wegovy and Ozempic have made headlines, but a new wave of more effective drugs like Mounjaro have the potential to end obesity altogether. How will they work and are they safe? mg25934470-900-beyond-wegovy-could-the-next-wave-of-weight-loss-drugs-end-obesity|2381690 The hidden evolutionary advantages of the teenage brain https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-800-the-hidden-evolutionary-advantages-of-the-teenage-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Recent research suggests teenagers’ brains are particularly suited to coping with volatility and new experiences, including socialising and venturing to unknown places mg26134791-800-the-hidden-evolutionary-advantages-of-the-teenage-brain|2417724 How newly discovered brain cells have made us rethink the human mind https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-500-how-newly-discovered-brain-cells-have-made-us-rethink-the-human-mind/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000 Strange new types of cells keep coming to light in the human brain. By the latest count, there are more than 3300, and we don’t even know what most of them do mg26134791-500-how-newly-discovered-brain-cells-have-made-us-rethink-the-human-mind|2417721 Why the brain's microbiome could hold the key to curing Alzheimer's https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-400-why-the-brains-microbiome-could-hold-the-key-to-curing-alzheimers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 19 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 The surprising discovery that your brain has its own microbiome is raising an intriguing possibility – that some dementias might be reversible mg26134791-400-why-the-brains-microbiome-could-hold-the-key-to-curing-alzheimers|2417720 How to make sure your brain is performing at its peak https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-600-how-to-make-sure-your-brain-is-performing-at-its-peak/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 The time of day, the amount of sleep we get and our stage in life can each affect how our brains function. But the good news is there are ways to make sure your brain is working at its best mg26134791-600-how-to-make-sure-your-brain-is-performing-at-its-peak|2417722 New evidence finally reveals how male and female brains really differ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-300-new-evidence-finally-reveals-how-male-and-female-brains-really-differ/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:58:00 +0000 Research is cutting through historical discrimination and gender politics to get to the truth about differences between the brains of men and women mg26134791-300-new-evidence-finally-reveals-how-male-and-female-brains-really-differ|2417719 The strange truth about why thinking hard makes you feel exhausted https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-200-the-strange-truth-about-why-thinking-hard-makes-you-feel-exhausted/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Your brain burns through the same amount of energy whether you’re daydreaming or taking an exam. So why do we experience mental fatigue? mg26134791-200-the-strange-truth-about-why-thinking-hard-makes-you-feel-exhausted|2417718 How entropy and equilibrium can help explain consciousness https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-700-how-entropy-and-equilibrium-can-help-explain-consciousness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Thinking about consciousness from the perspective of a physicist may be key to figuring out whether it is a single phenomenon or a collection of discrete states mg26134791-700-how-entropy-and-equilibrium-can-help-explain-consciousness|2417723 How to get a better night's sleep by hacking your brainwaves https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034663-000-how-to-get-a-better-nights-sleep-by-hacking-your-brainwaves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 22 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Wearable technology that stimulates the brain to make you sleep more deeply promises to revolutionise your slumber – can it really lead to a better night’s rest? mg26034663-000-how-to-get-a-better-nights-sleep-by-hacking-your-brainwaves|2403970 Your ultimate guide to ultra-processed food – how bad is it really? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398937-your-ultimate-guide-to-ultra-processed-food-how-bad-is-it-really/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:04:00 +0100 Highly processed foods, from pizza to bread, are said to be seriously bad for your health. Here is a digestible guide to what the evidence says, to help you make sense of the conflicting claims 2398937-your-ultimate-guide-to-ultra-processed-food-how-bad-is-it-really|2398937 Is the human brain really the most complex object in the universe? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134792-100-is-the-human-brain-really-the-most-complex-object-in-the-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 There are 86 billion neurons in your brain, roughly the same number as there are galaxies in the observable universe. Whether the mind is more complex than the cosmos, however, is up for debate mg26134792-100-is-the-human-brain-really-the-most-complex-object-in-the-universe|2417727 Neural-network brain scans are revealing how to boost your creativity https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134791-900-neural-network-brain-scans-are-revealing-how-to-boost-your-creativity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 With fresh insights into the communication between different brain networks in creative people, neuroscientists have shown how we can all produce more original ideas mg26134791-900-neural-network-brain-scans-are-revealing-how-to-boost-your-creativity|2417725 Why forgetting things is a key part of the way your brain works https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134792-000-why-forgetting-things-is-a-key-part-of-the-way-your-brain-works/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Forgetfulness can be frustrating, but cognitive scientists reckon it underpins the brain’s capacity to efficiently process sensory information – and its unique ability to generalise our knowledge mg26134792-000-why-forgetting-things-is-a-key-part-of-the-way-your-brain-works|2417726 Don't stress: The scientific secrets of people who keep cool heads https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532700-600-dont-stress-the-scientific-secrets-of-people-who-keep-cool-heads/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:00:00 +0000 Studies of the world's most unflappable people point to ways we can all better manage stress – and are even inspiring the first stress vaccine mg24532700-600-dont-stress-the-scientific-secrets-of-people-who-keep-cool-heads|2233998 Our human ancestors often ate each other, and for surprising reasons https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134780-500-our-human-ancestors-often-ate-each-other-and-for-surprising-reasons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Fossil evidence shows that humans have been practising cannibalism for a million years. Now, archaeologists are discovering that some of the time they did it to honour their dead mg26134780-500-our-human-ancestors-often-ate-each-other-and-for-surprising-reasons|2416749 How to take control of your dreams to boost learning and creativity https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134780-100-how-to-take-control-of-your-dreams-to-boost-learning-and-creativity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Dream engineers are developing technologies that can help you sleep more soundly and use your nighttime hours to your advantage - but there could also be a dark side mg26134780-100-how-to-take-control-of-your-dreams-to-boost-learning-and-creativity|2416584 Why string theory has been unfairly maligned - and how to test it https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134780-200-why-string-theory-has-been-unfairly-maligned-and-how-to-test-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 String theory is widely considered beyond empirical investigation. But we could conceivably test it thanks to ancient particles called moduli, which might appear in astronomical observations, says theorist Joseph Conlon mg26134780-200-why-string-theory-has-been-unfairly-maligned-and-how-to-test-it|2416585 We’re finally working out why the Mediterranean diet is so good for us https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134730-900-were-finally-working-out-why-the-mediterranean-diet-is-so-good-for-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 We have known for decades that the Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of heart attack and other conditions – now we are starting to understand how certain components of the diet work their magic mg26134730-900-were-finally-working-out-why-the-mediterranean-diet-is-so-good-for-us|2411222 Can we finally reverse balding with these new experimental treatments? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934580-200-can-we-finally-reverse-balding-with-these-new-experimental-treatments/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Male pattern baldness could soon be a thing of the past, with new hair loss treatments beginning to show tantalising results mg25934580-200-can-we-finally-reverse-balding-with-these-new-experimental-treatments|2393615 We may finally know how cognitive reserve protects against Alzheimer's https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034610-800-we-may-finally-know-how-cognitive-reserve-protects-against-alzheimers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0100 Why does mental effort lead to a more resilient brain that can withstand dementia and decline? We are now discovering the mechanisms behind this cognitive reserve, opening up new ways to boost it mg26034610-800-we-may-finally-know-how-cognitive-reserve-protects-against-alzheimers|2397664 The hidden rules that determine which friendships matter to us https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933240-700-the-hidden-rules-that-determine-which-friendships-matter-to-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000 Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar has found that our friendships are governed by secret rules, based on everything from your sex to your sleep schedule. Our unique social fingerprints help determine who we are drawn to, which friendships last and why some friends are ultimately replaceable mg24933240-700-the-hidden-rules-that-determine-which-friendships-matter-to-us|2269706 Why physicists are rethinking the route to a theory of everything https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134773-000-why-physicists-are-rethinking-the-route-to-a-theory-of-everything/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 07 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Physicists’ search for a theory that explains all reality in one framework appeared to have stalled. But now they are reinvigorating the hunt by exploring a wild landscape of abstract geometry mg26134773-000-why-physicists-are-rethinking-the-route-to-a-theory-of-everything|2415857 The radical new theory that wrinkles actually cause ageing https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366093-the-radical-new-theory-that-wrinkles-actually-cause-ageing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Forget vanity, there is a much better reason to care about your laughter lines – wrinkles may be driving ageing in your body and brain via zombie-like senescent cells 2366093-the-radical-new-theory-that-wrinkles-actually-cause-ageing|2366093 The neuroscientist harnessing the placebo effect to help soothe pain https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134770-900-the-neuroscientist-harnessing-the-placebo-effect-to-help-soothe-pain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 06 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 How exactly the placebo effect works is still a mystery, but neuroscientist Luana Colloca is working to find the answers in order to change the way we treat pain mg26134770-900-the-neuroscientist-harnessing-the-placebo-effect-to-help-soothe-pain|2415657 Could mysterious marine fungi save us from antibiotic resistance? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134770-800-could-mysterious-marine-fungi-save-us-from-antibiotic-resistance/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 DNA sampling is revealing fungi thriving throughout the oceans, from hydrothermal vents to the open seas. They might even help tackle antibiotic resistance and clear up plastic pollution mg26134770-800-could-mysterious-marine-fungi-save-us-from-antibiotic-resistance|2415656 The gold hydrogen rush: Does Earth contain near-limitless clean fuel? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134760-500-the-gold-hydrogen-rush-does-earth-contain-near-limitless-clean-fuel/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Prospectors around the world are scrambling to find reserves of "gold hydrogen", a naturally occurring fuel that burns without producing carbon dioxide. But how much is really out there and how easy is it to tap into? mg26134760-500-the-gold-hydrogen-rush-does-earth-contain-near-limitless-clean-fuel|2414535 A bold new take on quantum theory could reveal how reality emerges https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134762-400-a-bold-new-take-on-quantum-theory-could-reveal-how-reality-emerges/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:02:00 +0000 At the smallest scales, everything is made out of a cloud of quantum possibilities. A new idea attempts to explain how our everyday world comes from this, using the laws of thermodynamics mg26134762-400-a-bold-new-take-on-quantum-theory-could-reveal-how-reality-emerges|2414790 Can a blood sugar monitor really help boost your health? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134760-600-can-a-blood-sugar-monitor-really-help-boost-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 As more and more people without diabetes start to monitor their blood glucose levels, we take a look at what the evidence says about limiting your blood sugar spikes after eating mg26134760-600-can-a-blood-sugar-monitor-really-help-boost-your-health|2414536 Artificial touch: The new tech making virtual reality more immersive https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333780-900-artificial-touch-the-new-tech-making-virtual-reality-more-immersive/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 16 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000 The feelings of touch and temperature are complex biological processes. Now everyday chemicals like menthol and capsaicin are being used to simulate them – and create more realistic VR experiences mg25333780-900-artificial-touch-the-new-tech-making-virtual-reality-more-immersive|2312252 Long covid: What we now know about its causes and possible treatments https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034670-800-long-covid-what-we-now-know-about-its-causes-and-possible-treatments/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 27 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Almost four years after the first cases emerged, we are accumulating evidence about the physiology behind this complex condition – from microclots to viral persistence mg26034670-800-long-covid-what-we-now-know-about-its-causes-and-possible-treatments|2404890 Why postmenopausal women are so crucial to our evolutionary success https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134750-900-why-postmenopausal-women-are-so-crucial-to-our-evolutionary-success/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Genetic studies suggest postmenopausal women are so important in terms of ensuring the survival of grandchildren that we evolved genes to keep their brains healthy mg26134750-900-why-postmenopausal-women-are-so-crucial-to-our-evolutionary-success|2413433 The surprising benefits of having an asymmetrical face, body and brain https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134751-200-the-surprising-benefits-of-having-an-asymmetrical-face-body-and-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Our unique asymmetries may be key to getting smarter, faster - and being a bit lopsided doesn’t seem to affect your attractiveness mg26134751-200-the-surprising-benefits-of-having-an-asymmetrical-face-body-and-brain|2413436 Why do we have taste buds in our heart and testicles? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134751-400-why-do-we-have-taste-buds-in-our-heart-and-testicles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 The mysterious discovery of taste buds in far flung organs has long puzzled scientists - but understanding their role could provide new ways to fight common conditions like obesity mg26134751-400-why-do-we-have-taste-buds-in-our-heart-and-testicles|2413438 A new understanding of how your blood type influences your health https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134751-500-a-new-understanding-of-how-your-blood-type-influences-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 We now know that there are at least 45 different blood types and that yours may influence your risk of disease, from malaria to cancer mg26134751-500-a-new-understanding-of-how-your-blood-type-influences-your-health|2413439 Looking after the fungi in your gut could be key to better health https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134751-000-looking-after-the-fungi-in-your-gut-could-be-key-to-better-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Researchers are taking a new look at the fungi in our bodies and discovering they may be just as crucial to our health as gut bacteria mg26134751-000-looking-after-the-fungi-in-your-gut-could-be-key-to-better-health|2413434 Cells from other family members live in you and protect your health https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134751-100-cells-from-other-family-members-live-in-you-and-protect-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Cells from your mum, siblings and other family members embed themselves in your organs. Now we know they play a role in keeping you healthy - and might even influence how you think mg26134751-100-cells-from-other-family-members-live-in-you-and-protect-your-health|2413435 A legendary cosmologist on how to find a deeper theory of the universe https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134750-100-a-legendary-cosmologist-on-how-to-find-a-deeper-theory-of-the-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Nobel prizewinner Jim Peebles, who helped create our model of how the universe evolved, discusses dark matter, the value of iconoclastic ideas and the astronomical anomalies to keep your eye on mg26134750-100-a-legendary-cosmologist-on-how-to-find-a-deeper-theory-of-the-universe|2413272 How CRISPR therapy could cure everything from cancer to infertility https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834460-200-how-crispr-therapy-could-cure-everything-from-cancer-to-infertility/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:30:00 +0100 The imminent approval of the world's first CRISPR treatment for sickle cell disease is just the start: soon this gene-editing tool could be used to tackle everything from cancer to high cholesterol and infertility mg25834460-200-how-crispr-therapy-could-cure-everything-from-cancer-to-infertility|2380762 How ultrasound therapy could treat everything from ageing to cancer https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834430-700-how-ultrasound-therapy-could-treat-everything-from-ageing-to-cancer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 14 Jun 2023 16:55:00 +0100 Ultrasound is most familiar to us as a non-invasive imaging technology used during pregnancy – now it is in clinical trials as a powerful new tool for treating all sorts of medical conditions mg25834430-700-how-ultrasound-therapy-could-treat-everything-from-ageing-to-cancer|2377905 Something strange is happening in the Pacific and we must find out why https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934500-100-something-strange-is-happening-in-the-pacific-and-we-must-find-out-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Unexpectedly, the eastern Pacific Ocean is cooling. If this “cold tongue” continues, it could reduce greenhouse gas warming by 30 per cent – but also bring megadrought to the US mg25934500-100-something-strange-is-happening-in-the-pacific-and-we-must-find-out-why|2385182 Could ancient viruses from melting permafrost cause the next pandemic? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333743-200-could-ancient-viruses-from-melting-permafrost-cause-the-next-pandemic/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000 Bacteria and viruses can survive for millions of years frozen in glaciers, ice sheets and permafrost and as global warming increases they are emerging. Here's what we know about the threat mg25333743-200-could-ancient-viruses-from-melting-permafrost-cause-the-next-pandemic|2308482 The peculiar discoveries reviving the search for human pheromones https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134751-300-the-peculiar-discoveries-reviving-the-search-for-human-pheromones/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Do we emit secret chemical signals that influence other people's behaviour? Emerging evidence is providing new insights into human pheromones and how they might work mg26134751-300-the-peculiar-discoveries-reviving-the-search-for-human-pheromones|2413437 Middle-age spread isn't down to metabolism, but we know how to beat it https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333774-900-middle-age-spread-isnt-down-to-metabolism-but-we-know-how-to-beat-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 09 Mar 2022 12:40:00 +0000 It's a myth that extra belly fat in middle age is due to a slowing metabolism – and now we know what really causes the dreaded spread we can also fix it mg25333774-900-middle-age-spread-isnt-down-to-metabolism-but-we-know-how-to-beat-it|2311580 Restoring the brain’s mitochondria could slow ageing and end dementia https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734290-100-restoring-the-brains-mitochondria-could-slow-ageing-and-end-dementia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 08 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0000 The discovery that faulty metabolism is at the root of many brain diseases suggests a surprising transplant could be the way to protect our brains from the ravages of ageing mg25734290-100-restoring-the-brains-mitochondria-could-slow-ageing-and-end-dementia|2362696 Sperm counts are down worldwide and researchers are discovering why https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134743-000-sperm-counts-are-down-worldwide-and-researchers-are-discovering-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 With sperm counts falling around the world, researchers are finally getting to grips with the underlying causes - and coming up with ways to reverse the trend mg26134743-000-sperm-counts-are-down-worldwide-and-researchers-are-discovering-why|2412498 Can quantum hints in the brain revive a radical consciousness theory? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134740-800-can-quantum-hints-in-the-brain-revive-a-radical-consciousness-theory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 With anaesthetics and brain organoids, we are finally testing the idea that quantum effects explain consciousness – and the early results suggest this long-derided idea may have been misconstrued mg26134740-800-can-quantum-hints-in-the-brain-revive-a-radical-consciousness-theory|2412292 Fascia: The long-overlooked tissue that shapes your health https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433861-200-fascia-the-long-overlooked-tissue-that-shapes-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 11 May 2022 13:00:00 +0100 The connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs, known as fascia, has always been ignored – but new insights suggest it holds the key to tackling chronic pain and immune dysfunction mg25433861-200-fascia-the-long-overlooked-tissue-that-shapes-your-health|2319367 Is cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch worth the effort? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134740-100-is-cleaning-up-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-worth-the-effort/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Efforts are underway to tidy up the ocean's biggest plastic hotspot. But this cleanup operation could be damaging a unique ecosystem and doing little to stop the overwhelming plastic problem mg26134740-100-is-cleaning-up-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-worth-the-effort|2412094 Grit salt on our roads is killing freshwater wildlife. What can we do? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412594-grit-salt-on-our-roads-is-killing-freshwater-wildlife-what-can-we-do/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:14:16 +0000 The salt we spread to keep roads safe in winter is damaging ecosystems and threatening water supplies. Do alternatives, from coffee grounds to cheese brine, work? 2412594-grit-salt-on-our-roads-is-killing-freshwater-wildlife-what-can-we-do|2412594 How to hack your stress and turn it into a positive force in your life https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25233630-500-how-to-hack-your-stress-and-turn-it-into-a-positive-force-in-your-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 01 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000 Too much stress hurts mind and body, but the stress response exists for good evolutionary reasons. Recognising that is the first step to turning its negative effects around mg25233630-500-how-to-hack-your-stress-and-turn-it-into-a-positive-force-in-your-life|2299476 Meet Christina Koch, who will be the first woman to go to the moon https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134730-100-meet-christina-koch-who-will-be-the-first-woman-to-go-to-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 08 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Christina Koch, who will become the first woman to go to the moon with the Artemis II mission, on what space smells like, why it is difficult to return to Earth and how astronauts play human bowling mg26134730-100-meet-christina-koch-who-will-be-the-first-woman-to-go-to-the-moon|2411064 Are there really freshwater manatees thriving deep within West Africa? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134734-400-are-there-really-freshwater-manatees-thriving-deep-within-west-africa/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Manatees or sea cows usually inhabit coastal waters, but rumour has it that some are hiding out in Upper Guinea. A scientific expedition goes in search of them mg26134734-400-are-there-really-freshwater-manatees-thriving-deep-within-west-africa|2411724 Why tending your oral microbiome is the secret to a long, healthy life https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034711-800-why-tending-your-oral-microbiome-is-the-secret-to-a-long-healthy-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 27 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000 There are untold legions of viruses, fungi and bacteria living in your mouth. It now seems we can stave off conditions from Alzheimer's disease to cancer by keeping them in a healthy balance mg26034711-800-why-tending-your-oral-microbiome-is-the-secret-to-a-long-healthy-life|2409504 Cold-water swimming: What are the real risks and health benefits? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933250-600-cold-water-swimming-what-are-the-real-risks-and-health-benefits/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000 Social media is awash with people claiming that regular cold dips have transformed their health and well-being. We investigate whether it is actually good for you mg24933250-600-cold-water-swimming-what-are-the-real-risks-and-health-benefits|2270665 World's first tunnel to a magma chamber could unleash unlimited energy https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 In Iceland, scientists are planning to drill two boreholes to a reservoir of liquid rock. One will give us our first direct measurements of magma – the other could supercharge geothermal power mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy|2410316 Why do people get postnatal anxiety and how can we treat it? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-300-why-do-people-get-postnatal-anxiety-and-how-can-we-treat-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 The birth of a child is a happy time for most, but overwhelming anxiety can take hold for some parents. Why does this happen and what can we do about it? mg26134722-300-why-do-people-get-postnatal-anxiety-and-how-can-we-treat-it|2410318 Supernova neutrinos could break physics – if we can make sense of them https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-200-supernova-neutrinos-could-break-physics-if-we-can-make-sense-of-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Neutrinos produced inside an exploding star could betray exotic particles that would lead to a deeper theory of physics. Will our detectors be ready in time for the next nearby supernova? mg26134722-200-supernova-neutrinos-could-break-physics-if-we-can-make-sense-of-them|2410317 Have we found filaments of pure energy unleashed during the big bang? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034710-300-have-we-found-filaments-of-pure-energy-unleashed-during-the-big-bang/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 27 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 Puzzling ancient galaxies and oddly shaped clusters suggest we have glimpsed cosmic strings travelling at the speed of light – and with them clues to a deeper theory of reality mg26034710-300-have-we-found-filaments-of-pure-energy-unleashed-during-the-big-bang|2408813 Hannah Ritchie: 'Eco-anxiety on its own is not that useful' https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034710-200-hannah-ritchie-eco-anxiety-on-its-own-is-not-that-useful/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 26 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Climate change and biodiversity loss may seem like insurmountable problems, but data scientist Hannah Ritchie is cautiously optimistic we can solve them mg26034710-200-hannah-ritchie-eco-anxiety-on-its-own-is-not-that-useful|2408812 15 mind-bending scientific riddles to enjoy solving with your family https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-400-15-mind-bending-scientific-riddles-to-enjoy-solving-with-your-family/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 In 2028, a crystallographer will join an abolitionist and a fire god. Where are they? If you enjoy stretching your mental muscle, try this and 14 other cryptic puzzles for size mg26034691-400-15-mind-bending-scientific-riddles-to-enjoy-solving-with-your-family|2407669 The unlikely extremophiles lurking in your kitchen https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034692-000-the-unlikely-extremophiles-lurking-in-your-kitchen/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 To discover new extreme-loving microbes, there’s no need to travel to the ends of the Earth. New Scientist goes in search of the unexpected inhabitants of your kitchen gadgets mg26034692-000-the-unlikely-extremophiles-lurking-in-your-kitchen|2407675 How to use 'flavour bridging' to cook a bizarre but tasty holiday meal https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034692-300-how-to-use-flavour-bridging-to-cook-a-bizarre-but-tasty-holiday-meal/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Scientists have discovered 'flavour bridges' are key to unlikely – but delicious – food combinations. We tested the idea by creating a festive meal like nothing you've tasted before mg26034692-300-how-to-use-flavour-bridging-to-cook-a-bizarre-but-tasty-holiday-meal|2407678 Test your brain with this fiendish set of museum-themed puzzles https://www.newscientist.com/article/2407998-test-your-brain-with-this-fiendish-set-of-museum-themed-puzzles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:42 +0000 Work your way through the exhibits of a mysterious museum, solving brain-twisting puzzles as you go. Then add your answers together to find the overall solution 2407998-test-your-brain-with-this-fiendish-set-of-museum-themed-puzzles|2407998 Strange alien worlds suggest Earth could survive the death of the sun https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-800-strange-alien-worlds-suggest-earth-could-survive-the-death-of-the-sun/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 We thought there was no chance our world could survive the fiery death of the sun in another 5 billion years. Now sightings of strange "orphan planets" might force us to rewrite the story mg26034691-800-strange-alien-worlds-suggest-earth-could-survive-the-death-of-the-sun|2407673 Science and technology's newest words and what they tell us about 2023 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034692-200-science-and-technologys-newest-words-and-what-they-tell-us-about-2023/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 From ageotypes to marsification and noctalgia, here are nine words that entered our vocabulary this year, expressing fresh concepts, emerging trends and hard-to-articulate emotions mg26034692-200-science-and-technologys-newest-words-and-what-they-tell-us-about-2023|2407677 Make these four classic cocktails and become a fluid dynamics expert https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-900-make-these-four-classic-cocktails-and-become-a-fluid-dynamics-expert/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Delicious drinks can be the perfect miniature laboratory for demonstrating the weird physics of fluids. Here are four of the best examples and how you can try them at home mg26034691-900-make-these-four-classic-cocktails-and-become-a-fluid-dynamics-expert|2407674 Why are there no flightless bats? We're closing in on an answer https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-300-why-are-there-no-flightless-bats-were-closing-in-on-an-answer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 A careful look at the few bats that can walk on the ground – including the common vampire bat – is helping us understand why evolution has yet to produce a flightless bat mg26034691-300-why-are-there-no-flightless-bats-were-closing-in-on-an-answer|2407668 The magnificent medieval map that made cartography into a science https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034692-100-the-magnificent-medieval-map-that-made-cartography-into-a-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Some 550 years ago, a Venetian monk named Fra Mauro set out to create a world map. Rather than myth and religion, it was based on solid evidence for the first time mg26034692-100-the-magnificent-medieval-map-that-made-cartography-into-a-science|2407676 Mystery of the quantum lentils: Are legumes exchanging secret signals? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-200-mystery-of-the-quantum-lentils-are-legumes-exchanging-secret-signals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 For 100 years, we have puzzled over the purpose of biophotons, low-level radiation emitted by all plants. Precision studies of lentils now hint that it could be a form of quantum communication mg26034691-200-mystery-of-the-quantum-lentils-are-legumes-exchanging-secret-signals|2407667 Do animals dream and if so, what about? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-100-do-animals-dream-and-if-so-what-about/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:02:00 +0000 By studying the dream-like states of octopuses, pigeons and spiders, biologists hope to find out why dreaming evolved in the first place mg26034691-100-do-animals-dream-and-if-so-what-about|2407666 Inside the milk bank creating infant formula for orphaned animals https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-700-inside-the-milk-bank-creating-infant-formula-for-orphaned-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 The world's largest frozen animal-milk bank creates custom formulas to help orphaned infants survive. Now it is working on even better versions to help some of the rarest species mg26034691-700-inside-the-milk-bank-creating-infant-formula-for-orphaned-animals|2407672 The future of AI: The 5 possible scenarios, from utopia to extinction https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-600-the-future-of-ai-the-5-possible-scenarios-from-utopia-to-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 How will the rise of artificial intelligence ultimately pan out for society? We sketch the most likely outcomes, including a world where AIs solve all our problems and another in which they wipe us out mg26034691-600-the-future-of-ai-the-5-possible-scenarios-from-utopia-to-extinction|2407671 Arctic cowboys: Meet the people wrangling icebergs for drinking water https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034691-500-arctic-cowboys-meet-the-people-wrangling-icebergs-for-drinking-water/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 It is now technically possible to capture icebergs, tow them to the equator and harvest them for drinking water. But what are the ecological risks? mg26034691-500-arctic-cowboys-meet-the-people-wrangling-icebergs-for-drinking-water|2407670 No more drama: The game theory guide to a happy family holiday https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231040-700-no-more-drama-the-game-theory-guide-to-a-happy-family-holiday/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000 From who will host to the last piece of cake, ‘tis the season to bicker like wild animals. Have yourself a merrier little Christmas with some strategic thinking mg23231040-700-no-more-drama-the-game-theory-guide-to-a-happy-family-holiday|2115809 Kenneth Libbrecht interview: A grand unified theory of snowflakes https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25233653-800-kenneth-libbrecht-interview-a-grand-unified-theory-of-snowflakes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 15 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000 Snowflakes can form in either a plate or column shape, but no one understood why – until physicist Kenneth Libbrecht investigated. His theory is the result of two decades making snow in the lab mg25233653-800-kenneth-libbrecht-interview-a-grand-unified-theory-of-snowflakes|2301397 How the rules of long-lost board games take us inside ancient minds https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231041-200-how-the-rules-of-long-lost-board-games-take-us-inside-ancient-minds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000 Humans have faced off with grids, dice and pieces for millennia – figuring out the rules of long-lost board games can take us inside ancient minds mg23231041-200-how-the-rules-of-long-lost-board-games-take-us-inside-ancient-minds|2115817 How strong is the link between cannabis and schizophrenia? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401611-how-strong-is-the-link-between-cannabis-and-schizophrenia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:00:59 +0000 Psychiatrist Deepak D’Souza says we are finally beginning to understand the relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia, including which drug users are most at risk 2401611-how-strong-is-the-link-between-cannabis-and-schizophrenia|2401611 From Star Wars to Hitchhiker's – how to make the best drinks in sci-fi https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432611-400-from-star-wars-to-hitchhikers-how-to-make-the-best-drinks-in-sci-fi/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:00:00 +0000 New Scientist combines mixology with science fiction to produce recipes for the finest drinks in this – or any other – universe, from Bantha Milk to Ambrosia mg24432611-400-from-star-wars-to-hitchhikers-how-to-make-the-best-drinks-in-sci-fi|2227532 Hangovers: What science says about why you feel so rough https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231040-800-hangovers-what-science-says-about-why-you-feel-so-rough/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000 Hair of the dog? Wine before beer? Why everything you know about hangovers, and how to cure them, is wrong – or unproven mg23231040-800-hangovers-what-science-says-about-why-you-feel-so-rough|2115810 Why reports that Western civilisation will soon collapse are premature https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406477-why-reports-that-western-civilisation-will-soon-collapse-are-premature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 05 Dec 2023 17:15:00 +0000 A scientific analysis of history reveals that societies are becoming more resilient to collapse – and shows how to successfully navigate crises, says complexity scientist Peter Turchin 2406477-why-reports-that-western-civilisation-will-soon-collapse-are-premature|2406477 The ultimate guide to stacking the dishwasher https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22830520-700-the-ultimate-guide-to-stacking-the-dishwasher/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:00:00 +0000 A dishwasher is supposed to make life easy, if only we could agree how to load it. It’s time to settle the argument mg22830520-700-the-ultimate-guide-to-stacking-the-dishwasher|2070256 Inside the secret chocolate garden built to avert a cocoa crisis https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23631571-800-inside-the-secret-chocolate-garden-built-to-avert-a-cocoa-crisis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:00:00 +0000 Pests and disease threaten our supply of cocoa beans, but in a field outside London biologists are working to prevent a chocolate meltdown. We paid a visit mg23631571-800-inside-the-secret-chocolate-garden-built-to-avert-a-cocoa-crisis|2156571 The roboticist who wants to bring AI into contact with the real world https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406229-the-roboticist-who-wants-to-bring-ai-into-contact-with-the-real-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Artificial intelligence may never reach its full potential without a body to interact with the physical world. Roboticist Josh Bongard says that the push for “embodied AI” is suggesting a rethink of what it means to design intelligent robots 2406229-the-roboticist-who-wants-to-bring-ai-into-contact-with-the-real-world|2406229