Science
The 3 things you need to know about passwords, from a security expert
There are a few simple things you can do to make your digital life much more secure, says cybersecurity expert...
A unicellular organism with no brain is capable of Pavlovian learning
A trumpet-shaped, single-celled organism seems able to predict one thing will follow another, hinting that suc...
The race to solve the biggest problem in quantum computing
The errors that quantum computers make are holding the technology back. But recent progress in quantum error c...
A glimpse into the rare earth riches of Greenland
Photographer Jonas Kako travelled to Greenland to explore how mining for the rare earth elements and minerals...
New Scientist recommends sci-fi novel Under the Eye of the Big Bird
The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week
Why are we so suspicious of do-gooders?
A growing body of research shows that we tend to discount a person’s good deeds if they stand to benefit from...
We don’t know if AI-powered toys are safe, but they’re here anyway
Toys powered by AI show a worrying lack of emotional understanding. But we need to understand the risks and be...
Can species evolve fast enough to survive as the planet heats up?
The story of a wildflower that adapted to a severe drought in California raises hopes that evolution will come...
Why drug overdose deaths have suddenly plummeted in the US
Fentanyl-related overdose deaths fell by nearly 30 per cent in the space of a year in the US, which could repr...
How worried should you be about your BMI?
Body mass index (BMI) is used as a global standard for measuring health, but does it actually tell you anythin...
Chemistry may not be the 'killer app' for quantum computers after all
Two popular quantum computing algorithms for problems in chemistry may have very limited use even as quantum h...
Undisclosed ads on TikTok skirt ban on profiling minors
Teenagers are being bombarded with highly targeted commercial content on TikTok, despite an EU law that prohib...
Rumours of a Firefly reboot abound, but should the Serenity fly again?
Star Nathan Fillion is stoking rumours that cult western-in-space television series Firefly could be rebooted....
King penguins are thriving in a warmer climate, but it may not last
Longer summers are allowing more king penguin chicks to bulk up and survive the winter, but the penguins' main...
A miniature magnet rivals behemoths in strength for the first time
Strong magnets tend to be large and power-hungry, but a new design has produced a powerful magnet that fits in...
Why a Peruvian mountain is becoming an 'impossible' particle detector
Deep canyons in the Andes are the perfect location to catch the most energetic particles in the universe. Carl...
Why the world's militaries are scrambling to create their own Starlink
The reliable internet connections provided by Starlink offer a huge advantage on the battlefield. But as acces...
Parkinson's disease may reduce enjoyment of pleasant smells
The "world smells different" for people with Parkinson's disease, a discovery that could help doctors spot the...