New Scientist - News New Scientist - News https://www.newscientist.com/ New Scientist - News https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 Why many studies wrongly claim it’s healthy to drink a little alcohol https://www.newscientist.com/article/2441154-why-many-studies-wrongly-claim-its-healthy-to-drink-a-little-alcohol/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 25 Jul 2024 07:00:03 +0100 It is becoming clear that any amount of alcohol is harmful, so why do so many studies claim that moderate drinking could help you live longer? 2441154-why-many-studies-wrongly-claim-its-healthy-to-drink-a-little-alcohol|2441154 Early humans began wiping out elephant relatives 1.8 million years ago https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440864-early-humans-began-wiping-out-elephant-relatives-1-8-million-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:00:46 +0100 Elephant-like species started going extinct faster when early humans evolved, and the rate of extinction rose even higher when modern humans appeared 2440864-early-humans-began-wiping-out-elephant-relatives-1-8-million-years-ago|2440864 Lunar samples reveal exactly when the moon’s largest crater formed https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440922-lunar-samples-reveal-exactly-when-the-moons-largest-crater-formed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:00:23 +0100 By analysing lunar samples from NASA's Apollo missions, researchers calculated exactly when – and why – the moon was once covered with magma 2440922-lunar-samples-reveal-exactly-when-the-moons-largest-crater-formed|2440922 We're ignoring easy ways to encourage children to be physically active https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335012-400-were-ignoring-easy-ways-to-encourage-children-to-be-physically-active/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Events like the Olympics and Paralympics can be inspiring. But to get more kids moving, we need to address the "enjoyment gap" by shifting the emphasis from competitive sport to activity and play mg26335012-400-were-ignoring-easy-ways-to-encourage-children-to-be-physically-active|2440928 Jurassic fossils show modern mammals grow faster than ancient ones https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440823-jurassic-fossils-show-modern-mammals-grow-faster-than-ancient-ones/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:00:11 +0100 The 166-million-year-old fossils of an adult and a juvenile of the same extinct mammal species reveal that they had longer "childhoods" and lifespans than similar species today 2440823-jurassic-fossils-show-modern-mammals-grow-faster-than-ancient-ones|2440823 Trees have an extra climate benefit thanks to methane-eating microbes https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440976-trees-have-an-extra-climate-benefit-thanks-to-methane-eating-microbes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:00:10 +0100 Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is converted to CO2 by microbes in tree bark, meaning trees are even better for the climate than we thought 2440976-trees-have-an-extra-climate-benefit-thanks-to-methane-eating-microbes|2440976 We may finally know how the placebo effect relieves pain https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440886-we-may-finally-know-how-the-placebo-effect-relieves-pain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:33:20 +0100 A brain circuit discovered in mice could explain why placebo treatments ease pain in people 2440886-we-may-finally-know-how-the-placebo-effect-relieves-pain|2440886 Moon bases will need to be 3 metres underground to avoid radiation https://www.newscientist.com/article/2441002-moon-bases-will-need-to-be-3-metres-underground-to-avoid-radiation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:37:55 +0100 To keep long-term moon residents safe from harmful radiation, lunar bases will need to be built several metres under the surface or inside caves or lava tubes 2441002-moon-bases-will-need-to-be-3-metres-underground-to-avoid-radiation|2441002 AI can predict tipping points for systems from forests to power grids https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440314-ai-can-predict-tipping-points-for-systems-from-forests-to-power-grids/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:00:34 +0100 Combining two neural networks has helped researchers predict potentially disastrous collapses in complex systems, such as financial crashes or power blackouts 2440314-ai-can-predict-tipping-points-for-systems-from-forests-to-power-grids|2440314 Komodo dragons have teeth capped with a layer of iron https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440993-komodo-dragons-have-teeth-capped-with-a-layer-of-iron/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:55:22 +0100 An orange layer on the tips of Komodo dragons’ teeth may give the enamel extra strength for ripping apart their prey 2440993-komodo-dragons-have-teeth-capped-with-a-layer-of-iron|2440993 Physicists may now have a way to make element 120 – the heaviest ever https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440445-physicists-may-now-have-a-way-to-make-element-120-the-heaviest-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 23 Jul 2024 23:00:03 +0100 A method that helped create two atoms of the rare, super-heavy element livermorium may pave the way towards making the hypothetical element 120 2440445-physicists-may-now-have-a-way-to-make-element-120-the-heaviest-ever|2440445 Collision between boat and basking shark captured by camera tag https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440663-collision-between-boat-and-basking-shark-captured-by-camera-tag/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:52 +0100 Researchers are calling for greater protection for basking sharks after a camera on a tagged shark recorded a collision for the first time 2440663-collision-between-boat-and-basking-shark-captured-by-camera-tag|2440663 Neanderthal cooking skills put to the test with birds and stone tools https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440715-neanderthal-cooking-skills-put-to-the-test-with-birds-and-stone-tools/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 24 Jul 2024 06:00:47 +0100 In an effort to understand ancient Neanderthal food preparation techniques, researchers butchered five wild birds using flint stone tools and roasted them 2440715-neanderthal-cooking-skills-put-to-the-test-with-birds-and-stone-tools|2440715 Could we set Uranus on fire to steal its hidden diamonds? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440825-could-we-set-uranus-on-fire-to-steal-its-hidden-diamonds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:04:30 +0100 It would be tricky to burn away the outer layers of Uranus, but doing so could reveal a possible stash of gems – in this episode of Dead Planets Society, the hosts reveal a relatively simpler technique to rob the ice giant 2440825-could-we-set-uranus-on-fire-to-steal-its-hidden-diamonds|2440825 Can solar panels designed for space boost clean energy on Earth? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440785-can-solar-panels-designed-for-space-boost-clean-energy-on-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 23 Jul 2024 19:00:37 +0100 Efficient solar panels have helped make solar power the cheapest form of energy on the planet, and new designs based on space-age technology are going further 2440785-can-solar-panels-designed-for-space-boost-clean-energy-on-earth|2440785 Robot dog can stifle weeds by blasting them with a blowtorch https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439917-robot-dog-can-stifle-weeds-by-blasting-them-with-a-blowtorch/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:00:52 +0100 A Spot robot equipped with a blowtorch can locate weeds on farms and precisely heat them up to stop them growing, offering a possible alternative to herbicides 2439917-robot-dog-can-stifle-weeds-by-blasting-them-with-a-blowtorch|2439917 How diseases like smallpox survived long ocean voyages https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440531-how-diseases-like-smallpox-survived-long-ocean-voyages/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:00:41 +0100 Modern mathematical tools reveal the conditions pathogens needed to remain active in a ship’s population for the duration of a historical journey 2440531-how-diseases-like-smallpox-survived-long-ocean-voyages|2440531 Hundreds of Greenland's glacial lakes have burst since 2008 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440258-hundreds-of-greenlands-glacial-lakes-have-burst-since-2008/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 22 Jul 2024 22:00:42 +0100 Using satellite data, researchers identified hundreds of glacial lakes in Greenland that flooded their frozen shores over the past decade – helping speed up global sea level rise 2440258-hundreds-of-greenlands-glacial-lakes-have-burst-since-2008|2440258 Universe’s missing matter may be explained by galaxies leaking gas https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440552-universes-missing-matter-may-be-explained-by-galaxies-leaking-gas/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 23 Jul 2024 12:08:19 +0100 The gas that surrounds galaxies appears to be more spread out than previously thought – and this could help solve a mystery over missing matter 2440552-universes-missing-matter-may-be-explained-by-galaxies-leaking-gas|2440552 From Pearl Jam to Dolly Parton, how musicians' tempos change over time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440003-from-pearl-jam-to-dolly-parton-how-musicians-tempos-change-over-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:00:43 +0100 The tempo of the songs released by artists changes as they age, according to a study of more than 200 musicians with careers spanning over 20 years 2440003-from-pearl-jam-to-dolly-parton-how-musicians-tempos-change-over-time|2440003 Google AI slashes computer power needed for weather forecasts https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439849-google-ai-slashes-computer-power-needed-for-weather-forecasts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:00:21 +0100 A weather and climate model that fuses artificial intelligence and physics simulations can match state-of-the-art performance while slashing the required computer power, say Google researchers 2439849-google-ai-slashes-computer-power-needed-for-weather-forecasts|2439849 Shock discovery reveals deep sea nodules are a source of oxygen https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440460-shock-discovery-reveals-deep-sea-nodules-are-a-source-of-oxygen/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:00:12 +0100 Sea-floor nodules raise oxygen levels in the deep ocean, suggesting they may have a valuable role in ecosystems and adding to concerns about the impact of deep-sea mining 2440460-shock-discovery-reveals-deep-sea-nodules-are-a-source-of-oxygen|2440460 Chimps respond to each other at a pace similar to human conversation https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440299-chimps-respond-to-each-other-at-a-pace-similar-to-human-conversation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:00:10 +0100 Humans and chimpanzees both take part in rapid social exchanges, suggesting some foundational principles of language may have evolved earlier than previously thought 2440299-chimps-respond-to-each-other-at-a-pace-similar-to-human-conversation|2440299 Chinese nuclear reactor is completely meltdown-proof https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440388-chinese-nuclear-reactor-is-completely-meltdown-proof/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:56:39 +0100 The first ever full-scale demonstration of a nuclear reactor designed to passively cool itself in an emergency was a success, showing that it should be possible to build nuclear plants without the risk of dangerous meltdown 2440388-chinese-nuclear-reactor-is-completely-meltdown-proof|2440388 Covid-19 hit women harder than men in India, unlike most of the world https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440364-covid-19-hit-women-harder-than-men-in-india-unlike-most-of-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 19 Jul 2024 20:00:47 +0100 A new analysis of deaths during the covid-19 pandemic estimates that women and those in certain minority groups experienced the greatest declines in life expectancy 2440364-covid-19-hit-women-harder-than-men-in-india-unlike-most-of-the-world|2440364 Zombie galaxy came back to life after 20 million years https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440317-zombie-galaxy-came-back-to-life-after-20-million-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:08:58 +0100 Galaxies that stop making stars don’t usually start up again, but now we’ve seen one wake from the dead for the first time – and it may explain what we’ve got wrong about galaxies in the early universe 2440317-zombie-galaxy-came-back-to-life-after-20-million-years|2440317 How to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440087-how-to-unsnarl-a-tangle-of-threads-according-to-physics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:44:39 +0100 A jiggling robot has revealed the ideal vibrating speed to free jumbled fibres 2440087-how-to-unsnarl-a-tangle-of-threads-according-to-physics|2440087 Green belts around cities help keep them cool https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440305-green-belts-around-cities-help-keep-them-cool/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:08:05 +0100 Areas of rural countryside around cities are intended to prevent urban sprawl, but can also influence the climate within cities - and now researchers have quantified this cooling effect 2440305-green-belts-around-cities-help-keep-them-cool|2440305 Windows computers around the world are failing in a major outage https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440319-windows-computers-around-the-world-are-failing-in-a-major-outage/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:23:16 +0100 An update to a piece of software called CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor appears to be negatively affecting Windows computers worldwide, with banks, airports, broadcasters and more finding that devices display a "blue screen of death" instead of booting up 2440319-windows-computers-around-the-world-are-failing-in-a-major-outage|2440319 New species of Portuguese man o' war discovered in the Tasman Sea https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440151-new-species-of-portuguese-man-o-war-discovered-in-the-tasman-sea/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:00:04 +0100 Genetic analysis shows that there are four varieties of Portuguese man o’ war, or bluebottle, including an Antipodean species that has yet to be named 2440151-new-species-of-portuguese-man-o-war-discovered-in-the-tasman-sea|2440151 Retinol's anti-ageing effects may work by changing your skin microbes https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439766-retinols-anti-ageing-effects-may-work-by-changing-your-skin-microbes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 19:00:16 +0100 Retinol, which is commonly added to anti-ageing skincare products, may improve hydration by interacting with bacteria on the skin 2439766-retinols-anti-ageing-effects-may-work-by-changing-your-skin-microbes|2439766 Are animals conscious? We’re finally realising that many species are https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440012-are-animals-conscious-were-finally-realising-that-many-species-are/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 10:00:19 +0100 Science is at last confirming what many people have long suspected - that mammals, birds and perhaps some invertebrates have elements of consciousness 2440012-are-animals-conscious-were-finally-realising-that-many-species-are|2440012 NASA's cancelled moon rover calls 2026 crewed landing into question https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440243-nasas-cancelled-moon-rover-calls-2026-crewed-landing-into-question/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:43:11 +0100 The VIPER moon rover was due to launch in 2025 but NASA has suddenly cancelled it, citing budgetary issues, despite the spacecraft being fully built 2440243-nasas-cancelled-moon-rover-calls-2026-crewed-landing-into-question|2440243 Why the UK was so ill prepared for the covid-19 pandemic https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440207-why-the-uk-was-so-ill-prepared-for-the-covid-19-pandemic/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:22:47 +0100 The UK had no plans for preventing or limiting the spread of a covid-19-like infection because it assumed the next pandemic would be caused by an unstoppable flu virus, an inquiry into the outbreak has revealed 2440207-why-the-uk-was-so-ill-prepared-for-the-covid-19-pandemic|2440207 Planes are under attack from GPS jamming – can we find a fix? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439560-planes-are-under-attack-from-gps-jamming-can-we-find-a-fix/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:00:50 +0100 GPS jamming and spoofing has begun to affect transatlantic flights. Now the race is on to develop alternative ways of navigating 2439560-planes-are-under-attack-from-gps-jamming-can-we-find-a-fix|2439560 Anti-inflammatory drug extended the lifespan of mice by 20 per cent https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439800-anti-inflammatory-drug-extended-the-lifespan-of-mice-by-20-per-cent/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:00:32 +0100 A drug that inhibits inflammation helped mice live longer and reduced the animals’ incidence of cancer and age-related health problems 2439800-anti-inflammatory-drug-extended-the-lifespan-of-mice-by-20-per-cent|2439800 Could we share dreams by synchronising REM sleep? https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335000-200-could-we-share-dreams-by-synchronising-rem-sleep/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Time travelling to the middle of the 21st century, Rowan Hooper discovers scientists have developed a method of shared dreaming. Here's how it changes the world mg26335000-200-could-we-share-dreams-by-synchronising-rem-sleep|2439488 Is sharing your smartphone PIN part of a healthy relationship? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438951-is-sharing-your-smartphone-pin-part-of-a-healthy-relationship/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:57:55 +0100 Smartphones contain some of our most intimate data, but are you willing to share it with your most intimate partner? A survey has revealed that 51 per cent of people are happy to give their PIN to their partner, but other forms of data sharing are less agreeable 2438951-is-sharing-your-smartphone-pin-part-of-a-healthy-relationship|2438951 Many people think AI is already sentient - and that's a big problem https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439884-many-people-think-ai-is-already-sentient-and-thats-a-big-problem/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:00:23 +0100 A survey of people in the US has revealed the widespread belief that artificial intelligence models are already self-aware, which is very far from the truth 2439884-many-people-think-ai-is-already-sentient-and-thats-a-big-problem|2439884 We are risking a heat disaster for athletes at the Olympics in Paris https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439536-we-are-risking-a-heat-disaster-for-athletes-at-the-olympics-in-paris/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 In the era of climate change, France’s capital is prone to more frequent and extreme warmth. Staging the Olympic games there in the height of summer is wrong, says Madeleine Orr 2439536-we-are-risking-a-heat-disaster-for-athletes-at-the-olympics-in-paris|2439536 Watch bees defend their nest by slapping ants with their wings https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439789-watch-bees-defend-their-nest-by-slapping-ants-with-their-wings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:00:41 +0100 When ants try to invade their nest, Japanese honeybees flutter their wings and tilt their bodies to beat away their enemies 2439789-watch-bees-defend-their-nest-by-slapping-ants-with-their-wings|2439789 Butchered bones hint humans were in South America 21,000 years ago https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440063-butchered-bones-hint-humans-were-in-south-america-21000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 20:00:52 +0100 Prehistoric mammal bones found at a construction site in Argentina appear to have been cut with stone tools, suggesting that humans lived in the region much earlier than previously thought 2440063-butchered-bones-hint-humans-were-in-south-america-21000-years-ago|2440063 Tiny jellyfish robots made of ferrofluid can be controlled with light https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439830-tiny-jellyfish-robots-made-of-ferrofluid-can-be-controlled-with-light/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 20:00:35 +0100 Researchers combined hydrogel with magnetic ferrofluid to make small jellyfish robots that can complete an obstacle course when directed with light 2439830-tiny-jellyfish-robots-made-of-ferrofluid-can-be-controlled-with-light|2439830 Blood-thinning drug heparin may stop snakebite victims losing limbs https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439763-blood-thinning-drug-heparin-may-stop-snakebite-victims-losing-limbs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 20:00:21 +0100 Giving mice the blood-thinning drug heparin after they were injected with venom from two cobra species reduced their risk of tissue death, which can lead to amputations 2439763-blood-thinning-drug-heparin-may-stop-snakebite-victims-losing-limbs|2439763 In the race to ramp up renewables, we can't ignore heat storage https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335002-600-in-the-race-to-ramp-up-renewables-we-cant-ignore-heat-storage/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Governments must step up if we are to make good on Thermal Energy Storage's promise as a cheap and easy way to help tackle wind and solar power's intermittency problem mg26335002-600-in-the-race-to-ramp-up-renewables-we-cant-ignore-heat-storage|2439856 Hydrogel can preserve medications for weeks outside of a fridge https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439649-hydrogel-can-preserve-medications-for-weeks-outside-of-a-fridge/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:00:41 +0100 Mixing protein-based drugs with hydrogels can keep the atomic bonds in the medication safe from high temperatures or shaking 2439649-hydrogel-can-preserve-medications-for-weeks-outside-of-a-fridge|2439649 Tiny solar-powered drones could stay in the air forever https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439277-tiny-solar-powered-drones-could-stay-in-the-air-forever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:00:17 +0100 An aerial robot weighing 4 grams is powered by tiny solar panels that produce extremely high voltages – an approach that could enable drones to fly indefinitely 2439277-tiny-solar-powered-drones-could-stay-in-the-air-forever|2439277 Sea slugs discovered working together to hunt in packs https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439768-sea-slugs-discovered-working-together-to-hunt-in-packs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 17 Jul 2024 15:30:58 +0100 Hunting in packs seems like a complex social behaviour, but it isn't limited to large carnivores like wolves. A simple sea slug species teams up to swarm its venomous anemone prey as a group 2439768-sea-slugs-discovered-working-together-to-hunt-in-packs|2439768 Diamond could be the super semiconductor the US power grid needs https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439812-diamond-could-be-the-super-semiconductor-the-us-power-grid-needs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 16 Jul 2024 22:00:52 +0100 The hidden semiconductor abilities of diamonds could help power grids and electric vehicles manage far greater amounts of electricity more efficiently 2439812-diamond-could-be-the-super-semiconductor-the-us-power-grid-needs|2439812 Hurricane forecasts are improving – but big misses are still possible https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439622-hurricane-forecasts-are-improving-but-big-misses-are-still-possible/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:02:42 +0100 Scientists have made major strides in predicting rapidly intensifying storms over the past decade, but even the best tech can't keep up as climate change fuels rapidly intensifying storms 2439622-hurricane-forecasts-are-improving-but-big-misses-are-still-possible|2439622 Moon of Saturn has an equivalent of freshwater rivers and salty oceans https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439695-moon-of-saturn-has-an-equivalent-of-freshwater-rivers-and-salty-oceans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:00:15 +0100 The liquid hydrocarbon seas, lakes and rivers on Titan have varying compositions and signs of active tides or currents 2439695-moon-of-saturn-has-an-equivalent-of-freshwater-rivers-and-salty-oceans|2439695 How to watch 2024’s spectacular Perseid meteor shower https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439791-how-to-watch-2024s-spectacular-perseid-meteor-shower/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 16 Jul 2024 19:38:19 +0100 The Perseid meteor shower lasts from mid-July until the end of August, and it is one of the most impressive displays of shooting stars there is – here is your guide to spotting it 2439791-how-to-watch-2024s-spectacular-perseid-meteor-shower|2439791 A new formula for defining a planet still keeps Pluto out of the club https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439717-a-new-formula-for-defining-a-planet-still-keeps-pluto-out-of-the-club/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:41:51 +0100 The official definition of a planet, which famously saw Pluto demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006, doesn't really work for worlds outside of our solar system. Now there is a fix – but Pluto is still left out 2439717-a-new-formula-for-defining-a-planet-still-keeps-pluto-out-of-the-club|2439717 People at risk of overdose could be fitted with an anti-opioid implant https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439396-people-at-risk-of-overdose-could-be-fitted-with-an-anti-opioid-implant/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:00:25 +0100 A pacemaker-like implant detected opioid overdoses in pigs within 1 minute and successfully administered a treatment 2439396-people-at-risk-of-overdose-could-be-fitted-with-an-anti-opioid-implant|2439396 Deep pit on moon may be entrance to cave that could act as lunar base https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439470-deep-pit-on-moon-may-be-entrance-to-cave-that-could-act-as-lunar-base/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:00:26 +0100 We may have finally found an entry point to the caves hidden beneath the moon’s surface, which could shield future astronauts from dangerous radiation 2439470-deep-pit-on-moon-may-be-entrance-to-cave-that-could-act-as-lunar-base|2439470 Bird flu cases may be going undetected in US dairy workers https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439627-bird-flu-cases-may-be-going-undetected-in-us-dairy-workers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 15 Jul 2024 23:15:09 +0100 Ten people in the US have been infected with a strain of bird flu called H5N1, but patchy surveillance means that some cases may be slipping through the cracks 2439627-bird-flu-cases-may-be-going-undetected-in-us-dairy-workers|2439627 Raindrop-powered generator harvests electricity from bad weather https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436544-raindrop-powered-generator-harvests-electricity-from-bad-weather/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:00:10 +0100 A device that generates a small electrical current from falling raindrops is able to power lights and fans 2436544-raindrop-powered-generator-harvests-electricity-from-bad-weather|2436544 Is a vital ocean current just decades away from catastrophic collapse? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439295-is-a-vital-ocean-current-just-decades-away-from-catastrophic-collapse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:00:11 +0100 Two studies suggest the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation could collapse by the middle of the century and wreak havoc with the climate, but such predictions are controversial 2439295-is-a-vital-ocean-current-just-decades-away-from-catastrophic-collapse|2439295 AI can identify a child's sex based on their brain activity https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439442-ai-can-identify-a-childs-sex-based-on-their-brain-activity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:01:01 +0100 An AI can identify the sex of a 9 to 10-year-old child based on their brain scans, but may be less accurate when it comes to gauging their gender 2439442-ai-can-identify-a-childs-sex-based-on-their-brain-activity|2439442 A microscopic diving board can cheat the second law of thermodynamics https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438992-a-microscopic-diving-board-can-cheat-the-second-law-of-thermodynamics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 12 Jul 2024 18:00:33 +0100 Working with a tiny cantilever, physicists managed to violate the second law of thermodynamics, using less energy than expected to change the cantilever’s motion 2438992-a-microscopic-diving-board-can-cheat-the-second-law-of-thermodynamics|2438992 Your pupils change size as you breathe https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438666-your-pupils-change-size-as-you-breathe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:00:35 +0100 Our pupils shrink and expand as we breathe in and out, but whether this affects vision is unclear 2438666-your-pupils-change-size-as-you-breathe|2438666 Last common ancestor of all life emerged far earlier than thought https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439385-last-common-ancestor-of-all-life-emerged-far-earlier-than-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:00:03 +0100 All life on Earth can trace its origin to LUCA, the last universal common ancestor – and now it seems this organism may have lived a few hundred million years after the planet formed 2439385-last-common-ancestor-of-all-life-emerged-far-earlier-than-thought|2439385 Denisovan DNA may help modern humans adapt to different environments https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438941-denisovan-dna-may-help-modern-humans-adapt-to-different-environments/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:00:37 +0100 Highland and lowland populations in Papua New Guinea have different gene variants derived from Denisovan archaic humans, indicating possible adaptations for lower oxygen levels and higher malaria risk 2438941-denisovan-dna-may-help-modern-humans-adapt-to-different-environments|2438941 Russia is building ground-based kamikaze robots out of old hoverboards https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439161-russia-is-building-ground-based-kamikaze-robots-out-of-old-hoverboards/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 12 Jul 2024 11:00:26 +0100 Hoverboards, or self-balancing scooters, are already used by hobbyists as a basis for robots, but now a group in Russia is putting them to use on the battlefields of Ukraine 2439161-russia-is-building-ground-based-kamikaze-robots-out-of-old-hoverboards|2439161 Astronauts could drink their own urine with water-recycling spacesuit https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436542-astronauts-could-drink-their-own-urine-with-water-recycling-spacesuit/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:00:38 +0100 When astronauts go on a spacewalk, their urine is collected by what is essentially a large diaper before being thrown away, and they have less than a litre of drinking water available - but a new kind of spacesuit could solve both issues 2436542-astronauts-could-drink-their-own-urine-with-water-recycling-spacesuit|2436542 You can turn any random sequence of events into a clock https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439263-you-can-turn-any-random-sequence-of-events-into-a-clock/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 11 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +0100 A set of mathematical equations can help turn apparently random observations into a clock – and then measure its accuracy 2439263-you-can-turn-any-random-sequence-of-events-into-a-clock|2439263 Laser helps turn an electron into a coil of mass and charge https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439243-laser-helps-turn-an-electron-into-a-coil-of-mass-and-charge/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 11 Jul 2024 20:00:19 +0100 Researchers have reshaped single electrons into spiralling matter waves with distinct handedness that could be used to study and control materials 2439243-laser-helps-turn-an-electron-into-a-coil-of-mass-and-charge|2439243 The plague may have wiped out most northern Europeans 5000 years ago https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439016-the-plague-may-have-wiped-out-most-northern-europeans-5000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:00:21 +0100 DNA evidence from tombs in Sweden and Denmark suggests major plague outbreaks were responsible for the Neolithic decline in northern Europe 2439016-the-plague-may-have-wiped-out-most-northern-europeans-5000-years-ago|2439016 Melting sea ice is hindering, not helping, Canadian Arctic shipping https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439335-melting-sea-ice-is-hindering-not-helping-canadian-arctic-shipping/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 11 Jul 2024 17:00:48 +0100 Thick sea ice is flowing into the Northwest Passage, complicating predictions that melting ice due to climate change will open a shorter route between oceans 2439335-melting-sea-ice-is-hindering-not-helping-canadian-arctic-shipping|2439335 Woolly mammoth DNA exceptionally preserved in freeze-dried 'jerky' https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439218-woolly-mammoth-dna-exceptionally-preserved-in-freeze-dried-jerky/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 11 Jul 2024 17:00:21 +0100 A complete genome has been extracted from a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth, which might bring us closer to resurrecting the species 2439218-woolly-mammoth-dna-exceptionally-preserved-in-freeze-dried-jerky|2439218 What would Earth look like in 25 years? I asked the experts https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26334990-400-what-would-earth-look-like-in-25-years-i-asked-the-experts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Exhausted by today's political and environmental instability, Annalee Newitz investigated what a future Earth might look like. Get ready for green mining, soft cities and robo-taxis mg26334990-400-what-would-earth-look-like-in-25-years-i-asked-the-experts|2438719 Menstrual pads that turn blood solid could reduce the risk of leaks https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439166-menstrual-pads-that-turn-blood-solid-could-reduce-the-risk-of-leaks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:51:20 +0100 Adding a polymer-alcohol mixture to menstrual pads causes blood to solidify, rather than being absorbed, which could ward off leaks 2439166-menstrual-pads-that-turn-blood-solid-could-reduce-the-risk-of-leaks|2439166 People with Alzheimer's disease benefit from spending time with horses https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439131-people-with-alzheimers-disease-benefit-from-spending-time-with-horses/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:00:44 +0100 Horse therapy helps people with Alzheimer's disease socialise and improves their mood to a greater extent than music therapy, which is more established for supporting people with dementia 2439131-people-with-alzheimers-disease-benefit-from-spending-time-with-horses|2439131 Why taking our grief out into nature can help us heal https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26334992-900-why-taking-our-grief-out-into-nature-can-help-us-heal/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 When we lose a loved one, it has a profound effect on our bodies. Taking our grief outside offers us better healing in the long term than shutting it away, says Ruth Allen mg26334992-900-why-taking-our-grief-out-into-nature-can-help-us-heal|2438873 Speed of decision-making reflects our biases https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438852-speed-of-decision-making-reflects-our-biases/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 23:00:51 +0100 Within a group of decision-makers, the longer it takes someone to make a choice, the less likely they are to be influenced by their inherent biases according to a mathematical model 2438852-speed-of-decision-making-reflects-our-biases|2438852 Governments bans on quantum computer exports have no basis in science https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26334993-100-governments-bans-on-quantum-computer-exports-have-no-basis-in-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Several nations around the world have placed arbitrary limits on the export of quantum computers, despite today's devices having little practical use. The restrictions are counterproductive and at odds with the scientific method mg26334993-100-governments-bans-on-quantum-computer-exports-have-no-basis-in-science|2439072 A long-standing mystery about breastfeeding may have been solved https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438996-a-long-standing-mystery-about-breastfeeding-may-have-been-solved/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:00:29 +0100 Researchers have discovered a hormone in mice that prevents bone loss during lactation and could one day be used to treat osteoporosis 2438996-a-long-standing-mystery-about-breastfeeding-may-have-been-solved|2438996 Lions' record-breaking swim across channel captured by drone camera https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439061-lions-record-breaking-swim-across-channel-captured-by-drone-camera/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:00:18 +0100 Two lions, one missing a leg, made a 1.5-kilometre swim through crocodile-infested waters in Uganda, probably in order to mate with females 2439061-lions-record-breaking-swim-across-channel-captured-by-drone-camera|2439061 Floating whale carcasses are a problem – can we predict their drift? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2439026-floating-whale-carcasses-are-a-problem-can-we-predict-their-drift/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:21:17 +0100 A dead whale was tagged with satellite tracking equipment and monitored for more than a week as part of an effort to help authorities better deal with giant carcasses that get washed ashore 2439026-floating-whale-carcasses-are-a-problem-can-we-predict-their-drift|2439026 Mobile weather labs map toll of extreme heat in scorching US cities https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438830-mobile-weather-labs-map-toll-of-extreme-heat-in-scorching-us-cities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:00:40 +0100 Trucks outfitted with weather sensors, lasers and balloons are mapping urban microclimates in the extreme heat of the US Southwest 2438830-mobile-weather-labs-map-toll-of-extreme-heat-in-scorching-us-cities|2438830 Crushed rocks and fertiliser switches can cut nitrous oxide from farms https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438925-crushed-rocks-and-fertiliser-switches-can-cut-nitrous-oxide-from-farms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:00:58 +0100 Adding crushed basalt rocks and special fertilisers to soils could cut nitrous oxide emissions without harming the ozone layer, but these strategies will cost billions 2438925-crushed-rocks-and-fertiliser-switches-can-cut-nitrous-oxide-from-farms|2438925 Giant dome filled with CO2 could store excess power from renewables https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438569-giant-dome-filled-with-co2-could-store-excess-power-from-renewables/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 10 Jul 2024 07:00:24 +0100 Italian firm Energy Dome is building a "CO2 battery" in Sardinia that will store excess power from renewables and release it back to the grid when needed 2438569-giant-dome-filled-with-co2-could-store-excess-power-from-renewables|2438569 When did human ancestors start walking on two legs? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438905-when-did-human-ancestors-start-walking-on-two-legs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:00:17 +0100 Anthropologists have been arguing for 20 years about whether Sahelanthropus, a hominin that lived about 7 million years ago, was one of the first bipedal apes 2438905-when-did-human-ancestors-start-walking-on-two-legs|2438905 Artificial flavours released by cooking aim to improve lab-grown meat https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438900-artificial-flavours-released-by-cooking-aim-to-improve-lab-grown-meat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:00:47 +0100 Lab-grown meat can be shaped into steaks and meatballs, but it can be lacking in the flavour department. Aromatic chemicals that are released when heated could offer a solution 2438900-artificial-flavours-released-by-cooking-aim-to-improve-lab-grown-meat|2438900 'Butter' made from CO2 could pave the way for food without farming https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438345-butter-made-from-co2-could-pave-the-way-for-food-without-farming/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 13:00:54 +0100 US start-up Savor says its synthetic vegan fat, made without livestock or the crops needed for margarine, could cut carbon emissions and save rainforests 2438345-butter-made-from-co2-could-pave-the-way-for-food-without-farming|2438345 How tiny black holes would behave inside the sun, Earth – and us https://www.newscientist.com/article/2437748-how-tiny-black-holes-would-behave-inside-the-sun-earth-and-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:05:43 +0100 In this episode of Dead Planets Society, our hosts place primordial black holes in a variety of objects with surprising results 2437748-how-tiny-black-holes-would-behave-inside-the-sun-earth-and-us|2437748 Google creates self-replicating life from digital 'primordial soup' https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438117-google-creates-self-replicating-life-from-digital-primordial-soup/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:14:42 +0100 A digital "primordial soup" with no rules or direction can lead to the emergence of self-replicating artificial life forms, in an experiment that may hint at how biological life began on Earth 2438117-google-creates-self-replicating-life-from-digital-primordial-soup|2438117 Stunning blue-skinned frog is a rare genetic mutant https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438862-stunning-blue-skinned-frog-is-a-rare-genetic-mutant/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:47:13 +0100 The magnificent tree frog (Litoria splendida) is normally a vibrant green, but conservationists in Australia have spotted a blue-skinned individual 2438862-stunning-blue-skinned-frog-is-a-rare-genetic-mutant|2438862 Self-cooling artificial grass could help cities handle extreme weather https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438809-self-cooling-artificial-grass-could-help-cities-handle-extreme-weather/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:00:21 +0100 An artificial sports pitch that stores water below the surface cools itself down on hot days by letting water evaporate, just like natural grass 2438809-self-cooling-artificial-grass-could-help-cities-handle-extreme-weather|2438809 Cosmic rays can help synchronise the global financial system https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438801-cosmic-rays-can-help-synchronise-the-global-financial-system/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:25:53 +0100 Particles generated by cosmic rays can penetrate indoor and underground environments with ease, and could provide a more secure alternative to GPS for synchronising financial transactions worldwide 2438801-cosmic-rays-can-help-synchronise-the-global-financial-system|2438801 Is ultra-processed food unhealthy? Here's why no one can agree https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438428-is-ultra-processed-food-unhealthy-heres-why-no-one-can-agree/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:00:53 +0100 While ultra-processed food is the latest buzzword in nutrition, the scientific evidence for how it affects our health continues to point in different directions. Why can't researchers just tell us the perfect diet? 2438428-is-ultra-processed-food-unhealthy-heres-why-no-one-can-agree|2438428 Evolutionary story of Australia's dingoes revealed by ancient DNA https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438706-evolutionary-story-of-australias-dingoes-revealed-by-ancient-dna/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:00:31 +0100 Dingoes, the native wild dogs of Australia, arrived on the continent more than 3000 years ago and their gene pool has had little input from domestic dogs 2438706-evolutionary-story-of-australias-dingoes-revealed-by-ancient-dna|2438706 Gene therapy could prevent the tau tangles linked with Alzheimer's https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438660-gene-therapy-could-prevent-the-tau-tangles-linked-with-alzheimers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 08 Jul 2024 13:00:07 +0100 Tests on lab-grown “mini-brains” show a one-off gene therapy treatment can prevent the formation of the tau tangles associated with several neurodegenerative conditions 2438660-gene-therapy-could-prevent-the-tau-tangles-linked-with-alzheimers|2438660 Multiple nations enact mysterious export controls on quantum computers https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436023-multiple-nations-enact-mysterious-export-controls-on-quantum-computers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:00:09 +0100 Identical wording placing limits on the export of quantum computers has appeared in regulations across the globe. There doesn't seem to be any scientific reason for the controls, and all can be traced to secret international discussions 2436023-multiple-nations-enact-mysterious-export-controls-on-quantum-computers|2436023 Ariane 6 rocket launch: What is it and when is it happening? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438607-ariane-6-rocket-launch-what-is-it-and-when-is-it-happening/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:45:47 +0100 Europe is set to regain its capacity to launch satellites into space when the Ariane 6 rocket finally flies after years of delays 2438607-ariane-6-rocket-launch-what-is-it-and-when-is-it-happening|2438607 Millions of UK homes scanned for energy leaks to help reach net zero https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436921-millions-of-uk-homes-scanned-for-energy-leaks-to-help-reach-net-zero/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:00:05 +0100 Cars carrying sensors and scanners have been touring UK cities collecting data to help property owners plan carbon-cutting retrofit projects 2436921-millions-of-uk-homes-scanned-for-energy-leaks-to-help-reach-net-zero|2436921 Britain saw centuries of economic growth under Roman rule https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438604-britain-saw-centuries-of-economic-growth-under-roman-rule/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 05 Jul 2024 20:00:58 +0100 The technologies introduced by the Romans after they conquered Britain led to the kind of economic growth seen in the industrial age 2438604-britain-saw-centuries-of-economic-growth-under-roman-rule|2438604 AI beats top racers at Gran Turismo – without cheating https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438564-ai-beats-top-racers-at-gran-turismo-without-cheating/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:00:00 +0100 An AI driver achieved faster lap times than the best humans in the video game Gran Turismo 7, and unlike previous versions, it only used information available to players 2438564-ai-beats-top-racers-at-gran-turismo-without-cheating|2438564 Is the universe a game? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2437655-is-the-universe-a-game/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:00:39 +0100 Generations of scientists have compared the universe to a giant, complex game, raising questions about who is doing the playing – and what it would mean to win 2437655-is-the-universe-a-game|2437655 Weird form of 'dangling' ice spotted in space for the first time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2438583-weird-form-of-dangling-ice-spotted-in-space-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:00:39 +0100 A type of ice that has only ever been seen in the lab has now been found in space by the James Webb Space Telescope, and understanding it could tell us more about the chemistry that led to life on Earth 2438583-weird-form-of-dangling-ice-spotted-in-space-for-the-first-time|2438583