New Scientist Space - Cosmology
Einstein's theory was wrong about black holes made out of light
The theory of relativity predicts black holes should be able to form from light alone, but incorporating quantum effects makes it impossible
Categories: Astronomy
Hybrid design could make nuclear fusion reactors more efficient
Two types of fusion reactor called tokamaks and stellarators both have drawbacks – but a new design combining parts from both could offer the best of both worlds
Categories: Astronomy
Did rock art spread from one place or was it invented many times?
Rock art is a truly global phenomenon, with discoveries of cave paintings and etchings on every continent that ancient humans inhabited – but how many times was it invented over human history?
Categories: Astronomy
UK election: How can the next government get climate goals on track?
The UK’s journey to net zero has stalled – whoever wins the 4 July election will need to get it moving again, but many climate scientists are frustrated with what the main parties are offering
Categories: Astronomy
UK election: How can next government get climate goals back on track?
The UK’s journey to net zero has stalled – whoever wins the 4 July election will need to get it moving again, but many climate scientists are frustrated with what the main parties are offering
Categories: Astronomy
JWST spotted an incredible number of supernovae in the early universe
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have increased the number of known supernovae in the early universe by a factor of 10 and found the most distant one ever confirmed
Categories: Astronomy
Polycystic ovary syndrome could be treated with a malaria drug
The malaria treatment artemisinin improved hormone levels and regulated menstrual cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Categories: Astronomy
Cooling fabric blocks heat from pavement and buildings in hot cities
A three-layered textile made from fabric, plastic and silver nanowires can keep a person several degrees cooler than silk or other cooling materials
Categories: Astronomy
Lung-targeted CRISPR therapy offers hope for cystic fibrosis
Gene therapies for cystic fibrosis have previously struggled to reach the faulty lung cells, but a new approach has succeeded in achieving long-lasting modifications in mice
Categories: Astronomy
Odd black holes smaller than protons may have once littered the cosmos
Minuscule black holes that formed right after the big bang could have had a strange property called colour charge, and spotting them could help unravel the mystery of dark matter
Categories: Astronomy
Walking with irregular strides may help you burn more calories
Taking a combination of short and long strides as you walk increases the amount of energy used by the body
Categories: Astronomy
Mathematicians discover impossible problem in Super Mario games
Using the tools of computational complexity, researchers have discovered it is impossible to figure out whether certain Super Mario Bros levels can be beaten without playing them, even if you use the world's most powerful supercomputer
Categories: Astronomy
Russia faces $32 billion bill for carbon emissions from Ukraine war
The estimated greenhouse gas emissions caused by the war in Ukraine are equivalent to around 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and Ukraine plans to include the associated climate damage in its compensation claim against Russia
Categories: Astronomy
Martin Rees: Why challenge prizes can solve our most pressing issues
As the winner of the Longitude prize on antimicrobial resistance is announced, chair of the prize committee Martin Rees, the UK's Astronomer Royal, explains why it pays to reward ideas
Categories: Astronomy
Stop criticising Ozempic - it could be a solution to more than obesity
Weight-loss drugs are proving their worth against addiction, high blood pressure and even depression, so let’s stop criticising them as a quick fix and start exploring their true potential
Categories: Astronomy
The science behind making perfect puff pastry
After a lifetime of avoidance, avid baker Catherine de Lange discovers that puff pastry isn't hard to make –you just need a bit of time
Categories: Astronomy
It's a decade old, but The Leftovers is still painfully resonant today
The Leftovers follows those left behind after 140 million people vanish, unaccountably, in The Departure. The parallels with the covid-19 pandemic are obvious in this jewel of a TV show, says Bethan Ackerley
Categories: Astronomy
Spellbinding shots capture the Milky Way in all its glory
These stunning photographs are some of the winners of this year’s Milky Way Photographer of the Year competition
Categories: Astronomy
Documentary explores a geneticist's motivation to understand the past
Hunt for the Oldest DNA, the story of Eske Willerslev, a Danish evolutionary geneticist reconstructing ecosystems from ancient DNA, is as compelling as his scientific discoveries
Categories: Astronomy
What everyone gets wrong about the 2015 Ashley Madison scandal
Nine years after hackers targeted Ashley Madison, the dating site for wannabe adulterers, many people still don't grasp what was truly chilling about the scandal, says Annalee Newitz
Categories: Astronomy