New Scientist - Features https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234870-800-a-new-understanding-of-tinnitus-and-deafness-could-help-reverse-both/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Investigations of the paradoxical link between tinnitus and hearing loss have revealed a hidden form of deafness, paving the way to possible new treatments mg26234870-800-a-new-understanding-of-tinnitus-and-deafness-could-help-reverse-both|2426860 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234870-200-the-man-reinventing-economics-with-chaos-theory-and-complexity-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Traditional economics makes ludicrous assumptions and poor predictions. Now an alternative approach using big data and psychological insights is proving far more accurate mg26234870-200-the-man-reinventing-economics-with-chaos-theory-and-complexity-science|2426699 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234870-100-we-live-in-a-cosmic-void-so-empty-that-it-breaks-the-laws-of-cosmology/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Mounting evidence suggests our galaxy sits at the centre of an expanse of nothingness 2 billion light years wide. If so, we may have to rethink our understanding of the universe mg26234870-100-we-live-in-a-cosmic-void-so-empty-that-it-breaks-the-laws-of-cosmology|2426698 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234861-000-why-you-may-have-a-stealth-liver-disease-and-what-to-do-about-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 One in three adults have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease – often without knowing. Now we understand what causes this stealthy condition and how to reverse it mg26234861-000-why-you-may-have-a-stealth-liver-disease-and-what-to-do-about-it|2425897 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 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 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234863-400-are-you-languishing-in-life-heres-how-to-find-your-purpose-again/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:00:00 +0100 If your life feels aimless and joyless, you may be languishing, says psychologist Corey Keyes — who reveals how it differs from depression and what you can do to flourish instead mg26234863-400-are-you-languishing-in-life-heres-how-to-find-your-purpose-again|2426114 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234863-300-how-ai-mathematicians-might-finally-deliver-human-level-reasoning/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Artificial intelligence is taking on some of the hardest problems in pure maths, arguably demonstrating sophisticated reasoning and creativity – and a big step forward for AI mg26234863-300-how-ai-mathematicians-might-finally-deliver-human-level-reasoning|2426113 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234852-300-five-scientific-ways-to-help-reduce-feelings-of-anxiety/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0100 There are several evidence-backed ways of calming an anxious mind – from eating specific foods to adding certain exercises to your routine mg26234852-300-five-scientific-ways-to-help-reduce-feelings-of-anxiety|2424808 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234852-400-how-the-infamous-pitcairn-island-became-a-model-of-ocean-conservation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Pitcairn Island, one of the remotest places on Earth, was once home to mutineers. Today it’s a trailblazer in biodiversity protection with lessons for us all mg26234852-400-how-the-infamous-pitcairn-island-became-a-model-of-ocean-conservation|2424809 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234852-100-what-is-eco-anxiety-and-how-can-we-overcome-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Eco-anxiety is common around the world, especially among young people, and while the symptoms are the same as anxiety, the way to reduce them is not mg26234852-100-what-is-eco-anxiety-and-how-can-we-overcome-it|2424806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234851-800-why-do-some-people-experience-anxiety-more-intensely-than-others/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0100 A new understanding of how our genes, environment, brain and gut interact is helping to explain differences in our disposition to anxiety mg26234851-800-why-do-some-people-experience-anxiety-more-intensely-than-others|2424803 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234851-700-the-new-evidence-that-explains-what-anxiety-really-is/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0100 What anxiety actually is has puzzled scientists for decades. Now we are starting to figure out how it may arise from miscommunication between the body and the brain mg26234851-700-the-new-evidence-that-explains-what-anxiety-really-is|2424802 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234851-900-anxiety-really-has-increased-over-the-past-10-years-but-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 The covid-19 pandemic saw a pronounced uptick in anxiety levels globally, but levels were rising in some countries before the pandemic began. The race is on to explain this trend mg26234851-900-anxiety-really-has-increased-over-the-past-10-years-but-why|2424804 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234852-000-is-anxiety-rising-in-children-and-if-so-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Evidence points to more children today feeling anxious than a few years ago, with a complicated picture emerging encompassing everything from the pandemic to social media mg26234852-000-is-anxiety-rising-in-children-and-if-so-why|2424805 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234852-200-the-surprising-benefits-of-anxiety-and-how-you-could-harness-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0100 There can be no doubt that extreme anxiety is highly debilitating, but at moderate levels, our nervous feelings can make us smarter problem solvers and fuel original thinking mg26234852-200-the-surprising-benefits-of-anxiety-and-how-you-could-harness-them|2424807 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934591-400-why-the-next-solar-eclipses-are-a-unique-chance-to-understand-the-sun/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:00:00 +0100 North America will see an annular solar eclipse on 14 October and a total eclipse in April 2024. Scientists are preparing to use these spectacles to study our star's mysterious corona mg25934591-400-why-the-next-solar-eclipses-are-a-unique-chance-to-understand-the-sun|2395283 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134840-500-the-unexpected-reasons-why-human-childhood-is-extraordinarily-long/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Why childhood is so protracted has long been mysterious, now a spate of archaeological discoveries suggest an intriguing explanation mg26134840-500-the-unexpected-reasons-why-human-childhood-is-extraordinarily-long|2423642 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134840-400-how-mastering-the-art-of-being-alone-can-boost-your-mental-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 We are finally getting to grips with why solitude is so important. Here's how to use your alone time to get the biggest boost to your health and relationships mg26134840-400-how-mastering-the-art-of-being-alone-can-boost-your-mental-health|2423641 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134843-500-the-physicist-searching-for-quantum-gravity-in-gravitational-rainbows/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Claudia de Rham thinks that gravitons, hypothetical particles thought to carry gravity, have mass. If she’s right, we can expect to see “rainbows” in ripples in space-time mg26134843-500-the-physicist-searching-for-quantum-gravity-in-gravitational-rainbows|2424008 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 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 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134833-100-how-to-wrap-your-head-around-the-most-mind-bending-theories-of-reality/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=features Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 From the many worlds interpretation to panpsychism, theories of reality often sound absurd. Here’s how you can figure out which ones to take seriously mg26134833-100-how-to-wrap-your-head-around-the-most-mind-bending-theories-of-reality|2422946 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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