New Scientist

New Scientist covers the latest developments in science and technology that will impact your world. New Scientist employs and commissions the best writers in their fields from all over the world. Our editorial team provide cutting-edge news, award-winning features and reports, written in concise and clear language that puts discoveries and advances in the context of everyday life today and in the future.

Elsewhere on New Scientist

Brain boost • A “grand unifying theory” of brain disease deserves our cautious respect

New Scientist

Golden state snowed under

Swimming in murky waters • More rivers in England could soon be designated as bathing waters, but granting this status does little to identify or clean up pollution, finds Jason Arunn Murugesu

Missing matter found, but now there’s too much

Deal struck to conserve oceans • Nations have agreed on a framework for protecting marine life in international waters for the first time, reports Madeleine Cuff

AI learns video game far faster by reading the instruction book

“I’m making brain cells play games” • Brett Kagan hopes brains in a dish will help us understand how human memories form and lead to a new kind of artificial intelligence, finds Clare Wilson

Server heat may cut hot water bills • Waste heat from computer servers is being repurposed to heat hot water in homes

Deforestation seems to reduce rainfall across the tropics

Norovirus cases surge in England • This winter has seen an unusually large number of norovirus infections and the outbreaks aren’t over yet. Jason Arunn Murugesu investigates what is going on

Mediterranean diet may ease cognitive issues related to MS

Stray dogs of Chernobyl are genetically distinct from others

ChatGPT tells robots what to do • People with no programming experience could use AI to command robots for them

Influenza viruses may have originated in ancient fish

Satellite streaks threaten Hubble telescope images

Insect thought extinct found in a Walmart

What we learned from NASA’s asteroid-smashing DART mission

Insects shoot drops of urine using an anal catapult

Adding wild fungi to soil could make trees store more carbon

Self-driving car could be ordered to repossess itself

Just 500 extra steps boosts heart health

Climate and health talk cuts meat eating

Dusky tetraka found again after vanishing for decades

Really brief

Whose child is it anyway? • A reform of surrogacy laws in England, Scotland and Wales could have major ramifications as reproductive tech advances, says Teresa Baron

No planet B • Gathering storms Compound and cascading disasters, like back-to-back hurricanes, are becoming more common. Have we crossed the first climate tipping point, asks Graham Lawton

Sunken treasure

Your letters

Up in the air • Claims about birds’ migratory feats were often dismissed, until technology revealed the truth about their incredible journeys, finds Corryn Wetzel

Who created science? • Physicist Carlo Rovelli argues that science owes its origins to ancient philosopher Anaximander. Simon Ings investigates

Don’t miss

Teeming with life • Cities are amazingly biodiverse, but can we help them exist in harmony with nature before it bites back? Richard Lea explores what we need to know

Recharging the brain • A “grand unified theory” of neurodegenerative conditions suggests we may be able to reverse the ravages of brain ageing by retuning or replacing mitochondria, finds David Robson

How to have a younger brain

The unlikely rise of liquid sponges • Creating absorbent liquids seemed impossible. But now they are here and they could be surprisingly useful, says...