New Scientist Space - Space Headlines
How fear drastically shapes ecosystems: Best ideas of the century
Understanding the “landscape of fear” that predators create in their environments has helped us uncover just how drastically humans have upended the natural world
Categories: Astronomy
We can block the spread of HIV: Best ideas of the century
The “enormous revelation” that drugs can be used to prevent catching HIV has benefitted millions and helped slash transmission rates
Categories: Astronomy
The electrification of everything: Best ideas of the century
Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable power is crucial. The opening of Tesla's first "gigafactory", which used economies of scale to electrify our transport and energy systems, marked a turning point in this endeavour
Categories: Astronomy
Our solar system is extremely weird: Best ideas of the century
Realising that our solar system isn’t like most others out there has helped astronomers rewrite the story of how it formed
Categories: Astronomy
Crowdsourcing Wikipedia’s encyclopedia: Best ideas of the century
The internet is typically defined by conflict. Yet a crowdsourced encyclopedia, open for anyone to edit, has transformed into one of the world's most essential knowledge hubs
Categories: Astronomy
New Scientist’s guide to the 21 best ideas of the 21st century
A quarter of a century in, this is our definitive pick of the ideas in science and technology that are already transforming the world
Categories: Astronomy
Smartphones (yes, really): Best ideas of the century
Some might say smartphones have caused more harm than good. Here’s why putting a powerful computer into every pocket was a good idea
Categories: Astronomy
The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong
They offered so much promise, but ultimately turned sour. These are the most disappointing ideas since the turn of the millennium
Categories: Astronomy
Realising the importance of our microbiome: Best ideas of the century
Humans have been inadvertently using microbes to influence our health for thousands of years. But only recently has the microbiome rocketed to the forefront of healthcare
Categories: Astronomy
We can rewrite our genetic code: Best ideas of the century
Our genomes are filled with errors that were once impossible to correct. But in CRISPR, we finally found an extraordinarily powerful tool for treating genetic disease – and perhaps making better versions of ourselves
Categories: Astronomy
Barnacle gloop could improve inflammatory bowel disease treatments
A "living glue" used by barnacles to attach to underwater surfaces could also seal gut wounds caused by inflammatory bowel disease
Categories: Astronomy
Should Europe boycott US tech over Greenland, and is it even possible?
As tensions over Greenland rise, some Europeans are asking whether it is time to disentangle themselves from US tech dominance – but from smartphones to cloud services, rejecting US tech is easier said than done
Categories: Astronomy
Star appears to have vanished in a failed supernova
It is theoretically possible for a particularly massive star to collapse in on itself to form a black hole rather than exploding in a supernova, and we might now have seen the process in action
Categories: Astronomy
The most important second in the entire history of the universe
In the 13.8 billion years that our universe has been around, some moments stand out over others – for the most exciting and impactful one, we have to go back to the very beginning, says cosmology columnist Leah Crane
Categories: Astronomy
Giving astronauts tardigrade toughness will be harder than we hoped
The protein that protects tardigrade DNA from radiation and mutagenic chemicals was thought to be harmless, but can in fact have major downsides
Categories: Astronomy
Volcanoes had lower greenhouse gas emissions in Earth's past
Eruptions from volcanic arcs, found where tectonic plates converge, are one of the major drivers of natural carbon emissions, but a model of Earth’s ancient carbon cycle suggests this is a relatively recent phenomenon
Categories: Astronomy
First treaty to protect the high seas comes into force
A United Nations agreement to protect the open oceans from unsustainable fishing practices has now taken effect, in a huge win for marine conservation
Categories: Astronomy
Meat may play an unexpected role in helping people reach 100
Longevity diets often focus on going plant-based, but a study in China has linked eating meat to a long lifespan, particularly among older people who are underweight
Categories: Astronomy
Amateur mathematicians solve long-standing maths problems with AI
Professional mathematicians have been stunned by the progress amateurs have made in solving long-standing problems with the assistance of AI tools, and say it could lead to a new way of doing mathematics
Categories: Astronomy
How to finally get a grasp on quantum computing
If your New Year’s resolution is to understand quantum computing this year, take a cue from a 9-year-old podcaster talking to some of the biggest minds in the field, says quantum columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan
Categories: Astronomy

