New Scientist Space - Cosmology
'Bone collector' caterpillar wears dead insect body parts as disguise
A carnivorous caterpillar species camouflages itself with dead insects so it can live safely alongside spiders, stalking their webs and stealing their prey
Categories: Astronomy
Signs of alien life on exoplanet K2-18b may just be statistical noise
Last week astronomers reported hints of biological activity on a distant planet, but a re-analysis of their data suggests the claimed molecules may not be there at all
Categories: Astronomy
Oldest ant fossil ever found shows how ants took over the world
A fossilised 113-million-year-old hell ant from Brazil adds to the evidence that the first ants evolved in the southern hemisphere before moving north – and beyond
Categories: Astronomy
Reading for pleasure has plummeted over the past 20 years
People in the US are reading for pleasure less and less, despite it being linked to better sleep, improved mental health and even a longer life
Categories: Astronomy
Colossal ancient icebergs left grooves on the bottom of the North Sea
Scientists have found scour marks on the seabed made by giant icebergs about 18,000 years ago, and they could offer clues to the fate of Antarctica’s ice
Categories: Astronomy
The supplement that really can improve your brain health
Most supplements that claim to help your brain have never been thoroughly tested, but one has convinced even the most discerning scientists of its worth, finds columnist Helen Thomson
Categories: Astronomy
Daily doses of peanuts could desensitise adults with the allergy
Exposing children with peanut allergy to proteins from the legume is an approved treatment to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, and now we have evidence it also works in adults
Categories: Astronomy
First evidence of gladiator fight with lion seen in Roman-era skeleton
A man who lived in Roman-occupied Britain was bitten by a big cat, probably in a gladiator arena, an analysis of his remains has revealed
Categories: Astronomy
Can climate science attribute economic damage to major polluters?
Climate researchers argue their science has advanced enough to directly link emissions from particular companies to damages from specific extreme weather events
Categories: Astronomy
Lyme disease treated with antibiotic that doesn't harm gut microbiome
Mice overcame a Lyme disease infection after being given an antibiotic that is often used for pneumonia, and its effect on their gut microbiomes was negligible
Categories: Astronomy
Are ordinary people fighting a losing battle to go green?
Corporations and governments are playing fast and loose with environmental protections. Are there still ways we can make a difference as individuals, and live a climate-friendly life, asks Graham Lawton
Categories: Astronomy
Is there such a thing as a 'vegetative electron microscope'? Doubtful
Feedback notes the flurry of new papers mentioning the mysterious "vegetative electron microscope", and ponders the emergence of this tortured phrase
Categories: Astronomy
Where is the TV drama to move the dial on climate change?
UK show Adolescence is sparking debate about the harm of social media. We need a series to do the same for the most pressing crisis of our times, says Bethan Ackerley
Categories: Astronomy
An elegant account of how one ancient language went global
Hunting the origin of 40 per cent of the languages spoken today is a huge feat, but Laura Spinney's new book makes an excellent job of it
Categories: Astronomy
Mining the Arctic's precious resources is a fool's errand
With ice and permafrost thawing fast, nations are racing to exploit the Arctic's newly accessible treasures. Yet there are plenty of reasons why this may not be a great idea – and why we should treat the region as a scientific wonder instead
Categories: Astronomy
Dire wolf 'de-extinction' criticised by conservation group
The attempted creation of dire wolves could undermine conservation efforts by making people think extinct species can be revived, says the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Categories: Astronomy
Ultra-secure quantum data sent over existing internet cables
Two commercial telecommunications facilities have been connected by a secure quantum network that used existing fibre optic cables at room temperature – a key step towards a feasible quantum internet
Categories: Astronomy
How astonishing observatories could do big physics from the moon
As humanity prepares to return to the moon, scientists also have ideas for huge lunar experiments that could revolutionise astrophysics
Categories: Astronomy
Bats that walk backwards have developed unusual navigation strategy
Greater mouse-tailed bats crawl backwards over cave walls, and it seems they use their long tails to help feel their way
Categories: Astronomy
Powerful blasts of X-rays could reveal a black hole waking from sleep
Unusual signals called quasi periodic eruptions appear to come from black holes, but we don't know what creates them. Now astronomers have seen the most powerful one of these signals ever, and have a new idea about their cause
Categories: Astronomy