New Scientist Space - Cosmology
How counting the true cost of cheap food could make a better world
What we pay for food and other goods doesn’t reflect the environmental and social damage they cause. But a radical new approach to economics could change that
Categories: Astronomy
The ancient origins of cannabis and our changing attitudes towards it
Cannabis attitudes are undergoing a seismic shift but what do really know about the drug? Our three-part special podcast series is uncovering the science of marijuana
Categories: Astronomy
Why some medical conditions are due to evolutionary design flaws
Rather than assuming medical conditions happen because something in the body has “gone wrong”, considering evolutionary explanations for illnesses and symptoms may help us better understand how to treat them
Categories: Astronomy
Extreme rainfall is increasing even more than expected as world warms
A study comparing weather records with climate model projections suggests that the latest models are underestimating how often future rainfall extremes will occur
Categories: Astronomy
Could the world finally agree to ditch fossil fuels at COP28?
Some countries are pushing for an agreement to phase out fossil fuels at the COP28 summit in Dubai, but others argue that such a deal wouldn't be fair
Categories: Astronomy
A new way to estimate our maximum lifespan could help us extend it
The maximum lifespan of mammalian species such as humans can be estimated from so-called epigenetic markers - and altering those might extend our longevity
Categories: Astronomy
Majestic photo shows China's Tiangong space station in all its glory
The Tiangong space station, China’s orbiting laboratory, was completed last year – now it has been photographed in full for the first time
Categories: Astronomy
Physicists find ultimate limit for how accurate clocks can be
A fundamental trade-off between the resolution of a clock and its accuracy could have important implications for quantum computers, which must measure short timescales accurately
Categories: Astronomy
Glimpse of the earliest supernovae could reveal our cosmic origins
Almost every element in the universe, including those that make up our bodies, was created by a process that began when the earliest stars exploded - and now the James Webb Space Telescope may have seen signs of those supernovae
Categories: Astronomy
Robots with squidgy paws could navigate uneven terrain
A robot paw made from half a silicone ball could help robots keep their footing, thanks to an internal camera that monitors how its shape deforms
Categories: Astronomy
Where is the iceberg that broke off Antarctica and is it a threat?
An iceberg more than four times the size of New York City began drifting again after being stuck on the seafloor for nearly 40 years
Categories: Astronomy
Why it's healthy for older people to be slightly overweight
UK dietitians say people over 65 need more fat reserves, but why are they going against most other healthy weight guidelines?
Categories: Astronomy
H1N2 swine flu: UK's first human case recovers after mild illness
Infected person has made full recovery but officials are investigating where they caught the virus and whether they may have passed it to other people
Categories: Astronomy
‘Insect-eye’ compass can navigate by the sun even on a cloudy day
By mimicking how some insects use polarised light to navigate, a light-detecting compass can tell where magnetic north is even if clouds are covering the sun
Categories: Astronomy
Long covid: What we now know about its causes and possible treatments
Almost four years after the first cases emerged, we are accumulating evidence about the physiology behind this complex condition – from microclots to viral persistence
Categories: Astronomy
The Future of Language review: Powerful tech will change everything
AI and a raft of revolutionary technologies are poised to transform how we communicate, says a new book by Philip Seargeant. Vijaysree Venkatraman explores the implications
Categories: Astronomy
AI can figure out sewing patterns from a single photo of clothing
Creating a sewing pattern from an existing garment can be a time-consuming task, but now an artificial intelligence model can do the job from a photo
Categories: Astronomy
It is easier to chat at parties if you don't know the music playing
Background music is less distracting at parties if you are unfamiliar with the songs being played, according to brain activity data
Categories: Astronomy
It's easier to chat at parties if you don't know the music playing
Background music is less distracting at parties if you're unfamiliar with the songs being played, according to brain activity data
Categories: Astronomy
AIs can trick each other into doing things they aren't supposed to
Many artificial intelligence models available to the public are designed to refuse harmful or illegal requests, but it turns out that AIs are very good at convincing each other to break the rules
Categories: Astronomy