Science
Why is childbirth so hard for humans – and is it getting even harder?
Some think the rise of C-sections means that one day all births will require serious medical intervention. But...
A social network for AI looks disturbing, but it's not what you think
A social network where humans are banned and AI models talk openly of world domination has led to claims that...
How to live a meaningful life, according to science
The meaning of life has puzzled philosophers for millennia, but new research suggests it could be as simple as...
Dutch air force reads pilots' brainwaves to make training harder
While pilots are flying in a VR simulation, their brainwave patterns can be fed into an AI model that assesses...
Why did SpaceX just apply to launch 1 million satellites?
SpaceX says it wants to deploy an astronomical number of data centres in orbit to supply power for artificial...
Nobel laureate says he'll build world’s most powerful quantum computer
John Martinis has already revolutionised quantum computing twice. Now, he is working on another radical rethin...
Ants attack their nest-mates because pollution changes their smell
Ants rely on scent to recognise their comrades, and when they are exposed to common air pollutants, other memb...
Melatonin gummies as sleep aids for children: What are the risks?
To eliminate bedtime struggles, a growing number of parents have turned to melatonin gummies, but these hormon...
Bored of snakes and ladders? Some maths can help bring back the fun
While snakes and ladders is purely a game of chance, there is a way to add some strategy, says mathematician P...
Can we genetically improve humans using George Church’s famous list?
Columnist Michael Le Page delves into a catalogue of hundreds of potentially beneficial gene mutations and var...
Elon Musk is making a big bet on his future vision – will it work?
Reports suggest that Elon Musk is eyeing up a merger involving SpaceX, Tesla and xAI, but what does he hope to...
Yawning has an unexpected influence on the fluid inside your brain
Yawning and deep breathing each have different effects on the movement of fluids in the brain, and each of us...
The best new science fiction books of February 2026
We pick the sci-fi novels we’re most looking forward to reading this month, from a new Brandon Sanderson to th...
Our verdict on Annie Bot: This novel about a sex robot split opinions
Members of the New Scientist Book Club give their take on Sierra Greer's award-winning science-fiction novel A...
Faecal transplants could boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments
Adults with kidney cancer who received faecal microbiota transplants on top of their existing drugs did better...
Engaging look at friction shows how it keeps our world rubbing along
How much do you know about friction? Jennifer R. Vail's charming, if sometimes technical, "biography" of the f...
Think of a card, any card – but make it science
Feedback has been informed about a "global telepathy study" which is currently taking place, but isn't entirel...
Ancient humans were seafaring far earlier than we realised
Thousands of years before the invention of compasses or sails, prehistoric peoples crossed oceans to reach rem...