"I have looked farther into space than ever a human being did before me."

— William Herschel

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Updated: 7 hours 28 min ago

Hybrid megapests evolving in Brazil are a threat to crops worldwide

Fri, 01/23/2026 - 8:00am
Two extremely damaging crop pests have interbred to create hybrids resistant to more than one pesticide that could cause serious problems in many countries
Categories: Astronomy

SpaceX’s Starlink dodged 300,000 satellite collisions in 2025

Fri, 01/23/2026 - 5:00am
The company’s mega-constellation is having to perform a huge number of manoeuvres to prevent a collision in Earth orbit
Categories: Astronomy

Why biological clocks get our 'true age' wrong – and how AI could help

Fri, 01/23/2026 - 5:00am
Your chronological age can’t always tell you the state of your health, which is why biological clocks have been developed to show our risk of developing diseases or dying – but they’re not all they are cracked up to be, says columnist Graham Lawton
Categories: Astronomy

Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer

Fri, 01/23/2026 - 3:00am
Many species of fungus across the world produce psilocybin, a chemical with psychedelic effects in humans, but its evolutionary purpose may be to deter mushroom-munching insects
Categories: Astronomy

Ancient bacterium discovery rewrites the origins of syphilis

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 2:00pm
A 5500-year-old genome recovered from human skeletal remains in Colombia may give insights into the early evolution of syphilis and its relatives
Categories: Astronomy

Our oral microbiome could hold the key to preventing obesity

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 11:00am
A distinct set of microbes has been identified in people with obesity, which might help spot and treat the condition early – but whether it is a cause or effect of the condition isn’t known
Categories: Astronomy

Ancient giant kangaroos could have hopped despite their huge size

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 11:00am
Long thought to have walked bipedally, like us, Australia’s extinct giant kangaroos have features that indicate they could also have bounced
Categories: Astronomy

Does limiting social media help teens? We'll finally get some evidence

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 7:05am
A trial will finally reveal whether limiting the time teens spend on social media really does affect their mental health
Categories: Astronomy

Strips of dried placenta help wounds heal with less scarring

Thu, 01/22/2026 - 5:00am
Donated placentas can be processed into thin, sterilised sheets that are packed with natural healing substances and reduce scarring when applied to wounds
Categories: Astronomy

Piercing crocodile close-up wins ecology photo competition

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 7:01pm
A striking shot of biting flies on the head of a crocodile is among the winning entries in the British Ecological Society’s annual Capturing Ecology photography competition
Categories: Astronomy

Natural ovulation the best option before an IVF frozen embryo transfer

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 6:30pm
Women using frozen embryos as part of their IVF treatment can either choose to use a medicated cycle or their natural one to prepare their uterus for a pregnancy. Now, scientists have found that the latter option seems to carry fewer risks
Categories: Astronomy

Stunning images reveal the rich biodiversity of remotest Tanzania

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
Photographer Frédéric Noy's shots give an insight into life around the rainforests of Udzungwa Mountains National Park – and efforts to protect it
Categories: Astronomy

How – and why – we chose the best 21 ideas of the 21st century

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
From smartphones to net zero, there has been no shortage of innovative ideas in the past 25 years, which is why we have taken a look back to choose the best
Categories: Astronomy

How to spot the lunar X and V

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
Time it right each month, and you can spot two fleeting tricks of light on the lunar surface. Abigail Beall is planning ahead
Categories: Astronomy

Let's nitpick about the physics of Stranger Things, not its ending

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
Feedback has seen all the fuss about the finale of Stranger Things, but would like to point out that if we're going to dissect the plot, we have bigger things to worry about
Categories: Astronomy

Peter F. Hamilton's latest is an epic slice of sci-fi – with one flaw

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
Peter F. Hamilton’s new book A Hole in the Sky is set on a troubled ark ship hundreds of years into its voyage, with fantastic plot twists and turns. I'm a big Hamilton fan, but one aspect of the novel proved alienating for me, says Emily H. Wilson
Categories: Astronomy

New Scientist recommends Avatar: Fire and Ash – especially the whale

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week
Categories: Astronomy

Can we battle the downsides of a rule-based world, asks a new book

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
Imposing order on the world is seductive, but it flattens out the diversity and rich messiness of human life. Oddly, playing by the rules may help us fight back, argues C. Thi Nguyen in The Score
Categories: Astronomy

The internet feels super lonely right now. Here's why

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
Almost 80 years ago, sociologists identified a new personality type that is particularly sensitive to loneliness. It's even more relevant today, says Annalee Newitz
Categories: Astronomy

We were wrong about being able to 'nudge' people to improve the world

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 1:00pm
We thought we could address big social problems by steering individual behaviour. But "nudging" people doesn't work, say behavioural scientists Nick Chater and George Loewenstein
Categories: Astronomy