New Scientist Space - Space Headlines

An ambitious plan to test extreme physics close to a black hole would involve a space probe weighing only a few grams, travelling at a third of the speed of light

Structured interventions that encourage a good giggle, whether they are laughter yoga or clown visits, could have health benefits

People aged 16 to 24 appear to get less out of NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression than those aged 25 to 65

The US health secretary is cutting funding for mRNA vaccines because he claims they are less effective than other types – but that is not what the evidence shows

Mitochondrial mutations don't seem to build up in women's eggs as they age, which suggests they may have evolved a mechanism to avoid this

A proclivity for dancing seems to be found in at least 10 species of cockatoo, and the birds will even jive to white noise or a financial podcast

People with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, appear to have eight genetic signals that differ from those without the condition

Social media influencers are convinced that the number of lobes on the base of a bell pepper give us information about its sex and taste. James Wong debunks this myth with some science

In The Shrouds, Karsh, Myrna and Maury talk – a lot – about mysterious shrouds, improbable tech and ever-more-complex conspiracy theories. Nothing happens, just grief and, er, death, finds Simon Ings

From squat toadstools to web-like mushrooms, images from Funga Obscura celebrate some of the most striking fungi on our planet

In Neurodivergent, By Nature, Joe Harkness examines the promise and reality of working in the conservation sector for neurodivergent people, and tells us why the natural world could use their help

When it comes to cosmology, answering one question only leads to more. Just take light. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein dives into a reader's question

Feedback falls down a YouTube rabbit hole to discover the world of rug-cleaning videos. Some of these rugs even have maggots. Has carpet cleaning gone too far?

Fear of disease hasn't motivated us to exercise. Perhaps instead it is time to highlight the enjoyable aspects of movement, says Dawn Teh

Melissa Hogenboom's Breadwinners reveals the unseen gender-based power dynamics and cognitive biases that shape our everyday lives. It will make you angry – and rightly so

As the list of health benefits of semaglutide drugs grows, perhaps it is time to think about assessing their impact on people without medical conditions

Researchers analysed thousands of natural protein sequences and got assistance from AI in order to design a new hydrogel adhesive that can stay sticky underwater or even within a living body

People with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of lithium in their brains than those without cognitive impairment, and a deficiency of the metal appears to accelerate the accumulation of amyloid plaques and memory loss – but it could possibly be reversed with a small dose of lithium

Unexpected archaeological discoveries are rewriting the story of how the big, bad wolf became our first and most beloved pet

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi was a likely stepping stone for ancient hominins to reach nearby Flores, the home of the mysterious Homo floresiensis