New Scientist Space - Cosmology
Ozempic and Wegovy linked to a lower risk of cannabis use disorder
An analysis of almost 700,000 people with type 2 diabetes or obesity found that those prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy were about half as likely to develop cannabis use disorder as those taking other medications
Categories: Astronomy
These four common medicines could help prolong your life
Viagra, HRT, a statin and a painkiller slightly lowered people’s chances of dying over a 12-year study, suggesting they may have life-extending properties
Categories: Astronomy
Blue tits shared a tree hollow with bird-eating bats – and survived
A pair of blue tits were seen nesting in a tree cavity that was also inhabited by about 25 greater noctule bats, which commonly eat blue tits, but the birds lived to tell the tale
Categories: Astronomy
Why falling birth rates will be a bigger problem than overpopulation
Birthrates are projected to have fallen below the replacement level, of 2.1 per woman, in more than three quarters of countries by 2050
Categories: Astronomy
Extinct freshwater dolphin from the Amazon was largest of all time
A dolphin that lived in the Amazon 16 million years ago grew to a length of 3.5 metres – larger than any other freshwater dolphin
Categories: Astronomy
Ancient canoes hint at bustling trade in Mediterranean 7000 years ago
Italian canoes capable of transporting people and goods have been dated to the Neolithic period, suggesting there was a bustling trade across the Mediterranean Sea
Categories: Astronomy
Why we need to invoke philosophy to judge bizarre concepts in science
Theories of mind and cosmos are inevitably preposterous - knowing how to weigh competing implausibilities can help us decide which we should back
Categories: Astronomy
Try these mathematical magic tricks that are guaranteed to work
There are no rabbits pulled out of hats here – these tricks rely on mathematical principles and will never fail you, says Peter Rowlett
Categories: Astronomy
3 Body Problem review: Cixin Liu's masterpiece arrives on Netflix
Cixin Liu's novel The Three-Body Problem has been turned into an eight-part series for Netflix by the Game of Thrones team. There is much to admire so far, but will the adaptation stay on track, wonders Bethan Ackerley
Categories: Astronomy
Astonishing photograph of last year's annular solar eclipse in Utah
Pieced together digitally from thousands of images, this shot of last October's annular eclipse, from Andrew McCarthy and Daniel Stein, is a curtain-raiser for next month's total solar eclipse in North America
Categories: Astronomy
Unlocked review: Why we don't need to panic about our phones
What is all our screen use really doing to us? Pete Etchells's new book counters the scare stories by sticking to the science, says Chris Stokel-Walker
Categories: Astronomy
Is the truth out there? Yes, but it doesn't involve aliens
A recent paper packed with delightful acronyms digs into where people report having seen UFOs, but finds no evidence of alien visitors, says Annalee Newitz
Categories: Astronomy
People watch sports, have sex, make children, study finds
Feedback is intrigued by new research into how major sports tournaments "were associated with increases in the number of babies born" nine months later - but only for supporters of the winning teams
Categories: Astronomy
Why our genetic code should remain off-limits to life insurers
As DNA testing becomes routine, will life insurance companies start using our genetic code to inform their decisions, asks Jenny Kleeman
Categories: Astronomy
Sunken Lands review: Heeding the flood warnings of history
From a fabled drowned kingdom in Wales to echoes of Noah's ark in the Mahabharata, warnings of hubris in abusing nature resonate in Gareth E. Rees's world tour of flood myths
Categories: Astronomy
Billions of stars have swallowed up a planet
Twin stars that were born together should have the same composition, and the fact that many don’t suggests they have changed their chemistry by devouring planets
Categories: Astronomy
Ancient campsite may show how humans survived volcanic super-eruption
Evidence from an archaeological site in Ethiopia suggests ancient humans adapted their diet during a dry spell after the Toba volcano eruption 74,000 years ago
Categories: Astronomy
How to wrap your head around the most mind-bending theories of reality
From the many worlds interpretation to panpsychism, theories of reality often sound absurd. Here’s how you can figure out which ones to take seriously
Categories: Astronomy
Flying drone can roll on the ground to save energy over long distances
Researchers claim to have combined the benefits of rolling robots with those of flying drones by creating a device that rotates along the ground but hops over obstacles
Categories: Astronomy
Mathematician wins 2024 Abel prize for making sense of randomness
Michel Talagrand has won the 2024 Abel prize for his work researching probability theory and the extremes of randomness
Categories: Astronomy