New Scientist Space - Space Headlines
Women's pelvises are shrinking – how is that changing childbirth?
Over the past 150 years, the rise in Caesarean sections and changes in diet could have led to smaller pelvises among women – which may make vaginal birth more difficult but could also reduce common conditions associated with childbirth
Categories: Astronomy
Leonardo da Vinci's 'helicopter' design could make drones quieter
A simulation of the "aerial screw" designed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1480 suggests it would use less power than modern drone rotors to generate the same lift, and make less noise too
Categories: Astronomy
Weird line of galaxies may have been created by a cosmic bullet
A high-speed crash between two dwarf galaxies might explain a unique feature in space – and provide useful information on dark matter
Categories: Astronomy
Earth is more sensitive to greenhouse gases than we thought
Our climate seems to be more sensitive to greenhouse gas emissions than some researchers had hoped, meaning the world will have to up its decarbonisation efforts
Categories: Astronomy
Ancient people took wallabies to Indonesian islands in canoes
Humans established a wild population of brown forest wallabies in the Raja Ampat Islands thousands of years ago for their meat and fur in one of the earliest known species translocations
Categories: Astronomy
Mice with two fathers have their own offspring for the first time
We're a step closer to two men being able to have genetic children of their own after the creation of fertile mice by putting two sperm cells in an empty egg
Categories: Astronomy
Vera Rubin Observatory has already found thousands of new asteroids
In just 10 hours of observing the night sky, the powerful new telescope detected more than 2000 new asteroids, including a few that will pass near Earth
Categories: Astronomy
Orcas scrub each other clean with bits of kelp
Drone footage has captured killer whales breaking off stalks of kelp and rubbing the pieces on other orcas, a rare case of tool use in marine animals
Categories: Astronomy
How quantum superposition forces us to confront what is truly real
What are quantum particles doing before we measure them? Getting to grips with this century-old debate takes us to the heart of whether there is an objective reality
Categories: Astronomy
Stellar flares may hamper search for life in promising star system
Astronomers have been trying to detect atmospheres on planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, but bursts of radiation from the star make this challenging
Categories: Astronomy
The deep lessons quasiparticles teach us about the nature of reality
We have discovered legions of strange particles that seem to only have a ghostly existence inside materials. Even so, they are the basis of much modern technology - so are they actually real?
Categories: Astronomy
How symbiosis made Earth what it is – and why it’s key to our future
Two life forms living together helped spark the evolution of all complex life. By learning to appreciate this process more fully, we might be able to harness it to heal our planet too
Categories: Astronomy
Why physicists think geometry is the path to a theory of everything
From four-dimensional hexagons to the mind-bending amplituhedron, geometrical shapes are wilder than we learn at school - and they are a crucial tool for understanding reality
Categories: Astronomy
How the science of friendships can help make yours better
From acquaintances to besties, our relationships fall on a wide continuum. Research into the ingredients for meaningful and lasting connections can help you strengthen them
Categories: Astronomy
Why geoengineering is no longer a complete taboo for scientists
Geoengineering comes in many forms and the risks and potential benefits vary widely. But many researchers now feel it’s time to investigate this controversial idea
Categories: Astronomy
Ancient humans only evolved language once, but why?
There’s an argument rumbling about why our ancestors evolved language. And surprisingly, one of the possible explanations has nothing to do with communication
Categories: Astronomy
Why are the physical constants of the universe so perfect for life?
Conditions in our little pocket of the universe seem to be just right for life - and the much-debated anthropic principle forces us to wonder why
Categories: Astronomy
How metaphysics probes hidden assumptions to make sense of reality
All of us hold metaphysical beliefs, whether we realise it or not. Learning to question them is spurring progress on some of the hardest questions in physics
Categories: Astronomy
Why you should assume that even the simplest animals are conscious
There is mounting evidence that even surprisingly simple animals, like invertebrates, have a level of consciousness - but not in the way you might think
Categories: Astronomy
What is a mindset and can you cultivate a better one?
Concepts like the “growth mindset” are much misunderstood. But learn to cultivate certain beliefs about your future potential, and evidence suggests it really can foster success and bring health benefits
Categories: Astronomy