New Scientist - News https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436514-stunning-jwst-image-proves-we-were-right-about-how-young-stars-form/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:59:38 +0100 It has long been thought that young stars forming near each other will be aligned in terms of their rotation, and observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have offered confirmation 2436514-stunning-jwst-image-proves-we-were-right-about-how-young-stars-form|2436514 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435647-sick-chimpanzees-seek-out-range-of-plants-with-medicinal-properties/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 20:00:52 +0100 Chimpanzees with wounds or gut infections seem to add unusual plants to their diet, and tests show that many of these plants have antibacterial or anti-inflammatory effects 2435647-sick-chimpanzees-seek-out-range-of-plants-with-medicinal-properties|2435647 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436152-overheated-trees-are-contributing-to-urban-air-pollution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 20:00:05 +0100 An aerial survey of Los Angeles reveals that high temperatures cause plants to emit more compounds that can contribute to harmful ozone and PM2.5 air pollution 2436152-overheated-trees-are-contributing-to-urban-air-pollution|2436152 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436470-microphone-made-of-atom-thick-graphene-could-be-used-in-smartphones/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:00:52 +0100 Reducing the size of the microphone in electronic devices would allow manufacturers to include more of them, increasing the capability for noise cancellation 2436470-microphone-made-of-atom-thick-graphene-could-be-used-in-smartphones|2436470 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436064-watch-leeches-jump-by-coiling-their-bodies-like-cobras/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:00:35 +0100 Researchers have confirmed a centuries-old rumour that leeches can jump, which they may do to land their next blood meal 2436064-watch-leeches-jump-by-coiling-their-bodies-like-cobras|2436064 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234960-200-could-we-merge-biologically-with-the-fungal-network-and-live-forever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 In this week's Future Chronicles column, which explores an imagined history of future inventions, we visit a cult in 2080s Japan that engineered a way of becoming chimeric with fungal biology. Rowan Hooper reveals their history mg26234960-200-could-we-merge-biologically-with-the-fungal-network-and-live-forever|2435731 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436255-triceratops-relative-had-the-weirdest-horns-ever-seen-on-a-dinosaur/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 14:00:29 +0100 A new species of dinosaur discovered in Montana and related to Triceratops had one of the strangest, most asymmetrical skulls that scientists have ever studied 2436255-triceratops-relative-had-the-weirdest-horns-ever-seen-on-a-dinosaur|2436255 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436182-we-finally-know-why-some-people-seem-immune-to-catching-covid-19/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 17:00:49 +0100 Unique cell responses mean some people may be immune to catching the coronavirus, even if they are unvaccinated 2436182-we-finally-know-why-some-people-seem-immune-to-catching-covid-19|2436182 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436308-walking-helps-keep-people-free-of-lower-back-pain-for-longer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:30:34 +0100 People who regularly have lower back pain go longer without the discomfort if they incorporate walks into their weekly routines 2436308-walking-helps-keep-people-free-of-lower-back-pain-for-longer|2436308 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436305-saturns-moon-titan-is-experiencing-coastal-erosion-from-methane-seas/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 20:00:56 +0100 Saturn’s moon Titan has coastlines matching ones on Earth that have been carved by waves, hinting that Titan’s hydrocarbon seas and lakes also has them 2436305-saturns-moon-titan-is-experiencing-coastal-erosion-from-methane-seas|2436305 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234962-900-phased-introductions-to-smartphones-will-help-kids-more-than-bans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Creating "walled gardens", much like TV channels do, would provide children better tools to navigate a lifetime of social media than banning smartphones altogether mg26234962-900-phased-introductions-to-smartphones-will-help-kids-more-than-bans|2436167 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436102-glassy-gel-is-hard-as-plastic-and-stretches-7-times-its-length/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 17:00:43 +0100 A material made of liquid salt mixed with polymers is extremely stretchy but still as strong as the plastics used to make water bottles 2436102-glassy-gel-is-hard-as-plastic-and-stretches-7-times-its-length|2436102 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436259-rare-corpse-flower-that-stinks-of-rotting-flesh-blooms-at-kew-gardens/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:09:41 +0100 A giant flower, one of the smelliest in the world, is currently blooming at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2436259-rare-corpse-flower-that-stinks-of-rotting-flesh-blooms-at-kew-gardens|2436259 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435255-farmland-near-chernobyl-nuclear-reactor-is-finally-safe-to-use-again/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:00:54 +0100 Radiation surveys suggest that it is now safe to grow food on farmland that has been unused since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, but changing its status would face local opposition in Ukraine 2435255-farmland-near-chernobyl-nuclear-reactor-is-finally-safe-to-use-again|2435255 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436112-why-herbs-evolved-to-smell-and-taste-so-delicious/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:18:23 +0100 Humans may have shaped the development of aromatic herbs like lavender and mint, but did herbs also shape our own evolution? 2436112-why-herbs-evolved-to-smell-and-taste-so-delicious|2436112 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436032-pluto-and-the-largest-moon-of-neptune-might-be-siblings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 18 Jun 2024 19:00:51 +0100 The chemical composition of Pluto and Triton suggests they originated in the same region of the outer solar system before the latter was pulled into Neptune’s orbit 2436032-pluto-and-the-largest-moon-of-neptune-might-be-siblings|2436032 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435896-driverless-cars-are-mostly-safer-than-humans-but-worse-at-turns/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 18 Jun 2024 17:00:11 +0100 Driverless cars seem to have fewer accidents than human drivers under routine conditions, but higher crash risks when turning or in dim light – although researchers say more accident data is necessary 2435896-driverless-cars-are-mostly-safer-than-humans-but-worse-at-turns|2435896 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435851-mathematicians-find-odd-shapes-that-roll-like-a-wheel-in-any-dimension/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:00:39 +0100 Not content with shapes in two or three dimensions, mathematicians like to explore objects in any number of spatial dimensions. Now they have discovered shapes of constant width in any dimension, which roll like a wheel despite not being round 2435851-mathematicians-find-odd-shapes-that-roll-like-a-wheel-in-any-dimension|2435851 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435994-chemists-invoke-bizarre-maxwells-demon-on-the-largest-scale-yet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:29:04 +0100 A 19th-century thought experiment that was once thought to defy the laws of thermodynamics has now been realised to make molecules accumulate on one side of a U-bend 2435994-chemists-invoke-bizarre-maxwells-demon-on-the-largest-scale-yet|2435994 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435673-time-crystals-may-make-quantum-computers-more-reliable/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:39:54 +0100 Extremely cold atoms that perpetually move in repeating patterns could be a promising building block for quantum computers 2435673-time-crystals-may-make-quantum-computers-more-reliable|2435673 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434990-ukraine-is-using-ai-to-manage-the-removal-of-russian-landmines/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:54:07 +0100 There are so many Russian landmines across Ukraine that removing them could take 700 years. To prioritise areas for de-mining, the Ukrainian government has turned to an artificial intelligence model that can identify the most important regions 2434990-ukraine-is-using-ai-to-manage-the-removal-of-russian-landmines|2434990 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435845-shipping-companies-are-testing-biofuel-made-from-cashew-nut-shells/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:31:18 +0100 Cashew nut shells are a source of low-emissions biofuel, which is being tested in several ships, but it is unlikely there will be enough to make much of a dent in the industry’s emissions 2435845-shipping-companies-are-testing-biofuel-made-from-cashew-nut-shells|2435845 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435826-watch-a-humanoid-robot-driving-a-car-extremely-slowly/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:55:14 +0100 A robot named Musashi with a human-like "skeleton" and "musculature" can perform basic driving tasks – but this isn’t the safest approach to autonomous transport 2435826-watch-a-humanoid-robot-driving-a-car-extremely-slowly|2435826 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435816-googles-new-quantum-computer-may-help-us-understand-how-magnets-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:46:58 +0100 By combining two approaches to quantum computing into one device, Google has been able to simulate the behaviour of magnets in detail - and found discrepancies with our current understanding of certain magnet systems 2435816-googles-new-quantum-computer-may-help-us-understand-how-magnets-work|2435816 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234952-600-stop-criticising-ozempic-it-could-be-a-solution-to-more-than-obesity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Weight-loss drugs are proving their worth against addiction, high blood pressure and even depression, so let’s stop criticising them as a quick fix and start exploring their true potential mg26234952-600-stop-criticising-ozempic-it-could-be-a-solution-to-more-than-obesity|2435233 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435617-jwst-spotted-an-incredible-number-of-supernovae-in-the-early-universe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:00:08 +0100 Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have increased the number of known supernovae in the early universe by a factor of 10 and found the most distant one ever confirmed 2435617-jwst-spotted-an-incredible-number-of-supernovae-in-the-early-universe|2435617 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435695-light-activated-drugs-could-keep-sleep-deprived-military-pilots-alert/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 14 Jun 2024 23:15:44 +0100 A US military program led by DARPA is modifying the stimulant drug dextroamphetamine so it can be switched on or off in the brain using near-infrared light, avoiding risks like addiction 2435695-light-activated-drugs-could-keep-sleep-deprived-military-pilots-alert|2435695 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435613-einsteins-theory-was-wrong-about-black-holes-made-out-of-light/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:18:19 +0100 The theory of relativity predicts black holes should be able to form from light alone, but incorporating quantum effects makes it impossible 2435613-einsteins-theory-was-wrong-about-black-holes-made-out-of-light|2435613 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435679-hybrid-design-could-make-nuclear-fusion-reactors-more-efficient/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:19:26 +0100 Two types of fusion reactor called tokamaks and stellarators both have drawbacks – but a new design combining parts from both could offer the best of both worlds 2435679-hybrid-design-could-make-nuclear-fusion-reactors-more-efficient|2435679 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435467-did-rock-art-spread-from-one-place-or-was-it-invented-many-times/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:00:09 +0100 Rock art is a truly global phenomenon, with discoveries of cave paintings and etchings on every continent that ancient humans inhabited – but how many times was it invented over human history? 2435467-did-rock-art-spread-from-one-place-or-was-it-invented-many-times|2435467 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435579-uk-election-how-can-the-next-government-get-climate-goals-on-track/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:00:22 +0100 The UK’s journey to net zero has stalled – whoever wins the 4 July election will need to get it moving again, but many climate scientists are frustrated with what the main parties are offering 2435579-uk-election-how-can-the-next-government-get-climate-goals-on-track|2435579 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435532-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-could-be-treated-with-a-malaria-drug/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:00:45 +0100 The malaria treatment artemisinin improved hormone levels and regulated menstrual cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome 2435532-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-could-be-treated-with-a-malaria-drug|2435532 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435205-cooling-fabric-blocks-heat-from-pavement-and-buildings-in-hot-cities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:00:39 +0100 A three-layered textile made from fabric, plastic and silver nanowires can keep a person several degrees cooler than silk or other cooling materials 2435205-cooling-fabric-blocks-heat-from-pavement-and-buildings-in-hot-cities|2435205 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435568-lung-targeted-crispr-therapy-offers-hope-for-cystic-fibrosis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:00:14 +0100 Gene therapies for cystic fibrosis have previously struggled to reach the faulty lung cells, but a new approach has succeeded in achieving long-lasting modifications in mice 2435568-lung-targeted-crispr-therapy-offers-hope-for-cystic-fibrosis|2435568 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435472-odd-black-holes-smaller-than-protons-may-have-once-littered-the-cosmos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 19:56:29 +0100 Minuscule black holes that formed right after the big bang could have had a strange property called colour charge, and spotting them could help unravel the mystery of dark matter 2435472-odd-black-holes-smaller-than-protons-may-have-once-littered-the-cosmos|2435472 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435215-what-would-a-wormhole-look-like-if-we-ever-found-one/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:00:13 +0100 How could we tell the difference between an ordinary black hole and one connected to a tunnel through space-time? 2435215-what-would-a-wormhole-look-like-if-we-ever-found-one|2435215 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435109-walking-with-irregular-strides-may-help-you-burn-more-calories/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:00:42 +0100 Taking a combination of short and long strides as you walk increases the amount of energy used by the body 2435109-walking-with-irregular-strides-may-help-you-burn-more-calories|2435109 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434417-we-could-detect-a-malfunctioning-warp-drive-on-an-alien-starship/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:00:35 +0100 Faster-than-light warp drives are theoretically possible to build, and if aliens are using them, we should be able to detect the gravitational waves produced when one goes wrong 2434417-we-could-detect-a-malfunctioning-warp-drive-on-an-alien-starship|2434417 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2430601-dozens-of-stars-show-signs-of-hosting-advanced-alien-civilisations/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 10 May 2024 15:43:28 +0100 Sufficiently advanced aliens would be able to capture vast quantities of energy from their star using a massive structure called a Dyson sphere. Such a device would give off an infrared heat signature - and astronomers have just spotted 60 stars that seem to match 2430601-dozens-of-stars-show-signs-of-hosting-advanced-alien-civilisations|2430601 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234952-100-what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-the-2015-ashley-madison-scandal/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Nine years after hackers targeted Ashley Madison, the dating site for wannabe adulterers, many people still don't grasp what was truly chilling about the scandal, says Annalee Newitz mg26234952-100-what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-the-2015-ashley-madison-scandal|2435047 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432195-mathematicians-discover-impossible-problem-in-super-mario-games/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 11:00:18 +0100 Using the tools of computational complexity, researchers have discovered it is impossible to figure out whether certain Super Mario Bros levels can be beaten without playing them, even if you use the world's most powerful supercomputer 2432195-mathematicians-discover-impossible-problem-in-super-mario-games|2432195 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234950-100-evidence-of-consciousness-in-newborns-has-implications-for-their-care/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Babies cannot tell us what they are experiencing, so it is hard to know what they are conscious of. But new research suggesting they perceive the world consciously could change how we care for them, says Claudia Passos-Ferreira mg26234950-100-evidence-of-consciousness-in-newborns-has-implications-for-their-care|2434836 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435389-russia-faces-32-billion-bill-for-carbon-emissions-from-ukraine-war/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:01:59 +0100 The estimated greenhouse gas emissions caused by the war in Ukraine are equivalent to around 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and Ukraine plans to include the associated climate damage in its compensation claim against Russia 2435389-russia-faces-32-billion-bill-for-carbon-emissions-from-ukraine-war|2435389 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435384-martin-rees-why-challenge-prizes-can-solve-our-most-pressing-issues/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:30:17 +0100 As the winner of the Longitude prize on antimicrobial resistance is announced, chair of the prize committee Martin Rees, the UK's Astronomer Royal, explains why it pays to reward ideas 2435384-martin-rees-why-challenge-prizes-can-solve-our-most-pressing-issues|2435384 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435010-liquid-crystals-could-improve-quantum-communication-devices/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 17:00:53 +0100 Quantum light is key to futuristic quantum technologies, but researchers have been creating it in the same way for 60 years – now liquid crystals offer an easier way to produce it 2435010-liquid-crystals-could-improve-quantum-communication-devices|2435010 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435140-quantum-sensor-gets-a-read-on-tiny-worm-implanted-with-nanodiamonds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:00:17 +0100 Tiny diamonds and quantum sensors can be used to measure conditions inside cells or living organisms, potentially offering a way to detect diseases or study biology in minute detail 2435140-quantum-sensor-gets-a-read-on-tiny-worm-implanted-with-nanodiamonds|2435140 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435229-australian-pterosaur-had-a-huge-tongue-to-help-gulp-down-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:55:25 +0100 Scientists have identified a new species of pterosaur from a 100-million-year-old fossil in Australia, which appears to have had a massive tongue to push prey down its throat 2435229-australian-pterosaur-had-a-huge-tongue-to-help-gulp-down-prey|2435229 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434065-muscle-zapping-during-exercise-helps-people-recover-after-a-stroke/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0100 A small trial has found that electrical stimulation of arm muscles while people do physiotherapy exercises leads to more improvement 2434065-muscle-zapping-during-exercise-helps-people-recover-after-a-stroke|2434065 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435133-astronaut-medical-records-reveal-the-health-toll-of-space-travel/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:00:05 +0100 The largest collection yet of detailed medical data and tissue samples from astronauts should help researchers better understand the impacts of space flight on health 2435133-astronaut-medical-records-reveal-the-health-toll-of-space-travel|2435133 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434998-how-many-moons-and-moonmoons-could-we-cram-into-earths-orbit/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:36:48 +0100 Earth is lagging behind other worlds with its single moon, so on this episode of Dead Planets Society we are giving it more – and giving those moons moonmoons to orbit them 2434998-how-many-moons-and-moonmoons-could-we-cram-into-earths-orbit|2434998 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435037-marine-fungus-can-break-down-floating-plastic-pollution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:00:07 +0100 The plastic-digesting capabilities of the fungus Parengyodontium album could be harnessed to degrade polyethylene, the most abundant type of plastic in the ocean 2435037-marine-fungus-can-break-down-floating-plastic-pollution|2435037 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434826-ozempic-and-wegovy-linked-to-lower-risk-of-alcoholism/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:00:20 +0100 People taking semaglutide, also called Ozempic and Wegovy, either for weight loss or type 2 diabetes, were less likely to become addicted to alcohol 2434826-ozempic-and-wegovy-linked-to-lower-risk-of-alcoholism|2434826 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434725-the-first-stars-in-the-universe-could-have-formed-surprisingly-early/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:00:29 +0100 Huge stars might have formed in the first million years of the universe if there was enough matter clumped together, according to a computer model 2434725-the-first-stars-in-the-universe-could-have-formed-surprisingly-early|2434725 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434896-elephants-seem-to-invent-names-for-each-other/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:00:50 +0100 An analysis of their vocalisations suggests that African savannah elephants invent names for each other, making them the only animals other than humans thought to do so 2434896-elephants-seem-to-invent-names-for-each-other|2434896 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434940-the-largest-volcanoes-on-mars-have-frosted-tips-during-winter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:00:45 +0100 We know that there is ice at the Martian poles and underground, but until now it wasn't clear it could exist on the surface of the Red Planet 2434940-the-largest-volcanoes-on-mars-have-frosted-tips-during-winter|2434940 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433852-a-surprisingly-quick-enzyme-could-shift-our-understanding-of-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:00:45 +0100 Biological processes such as DNA replication or cellular structure formation may become more accurate when done as quickly as possible, offering new hints into life's origins 2433852-a-surprisingly-quick-enzyme-could-shift-our-understanding-of-evolution|2433852 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434206-bacteria-evolve-to-get-better-at-evolving-in-lab-experiment/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:00:54 +0100 When bacteria were put in alternating environments, some became better at evolving to cope with the changes – evidence that “evolvability” can be gained through natural selection 2434206-bacteria-evolve-to-get-better-at-evolving-in-lab-experiment|2434206 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434831-cosmic-cloud-exposed-earth-to-interstellar-space-3-million-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 10 Jun 2024 12:56:05 +0100 The protective bubble around the sun retreated dramatically after colliding with a freezing interstellar cloud, leaving much of the solar system exposed to radiation that may have shaped our evolution, a study suggests 2434831-cosmic-cloud-exposed-earth-to-interstellar-space-3-million-years-ago|2434831 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434742-the-word-bot-is-increasingly-being-used-as-an-insult-on-social-media/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:00:53 +0100 The meaning of the word "bot" on Twitter/X seems to have shifted over time, with people originally using it to flag automated accounts, but now employing it to insult people they disagree with 2434742-the-word-bot-is-increasingly-being-used-as-an-insult-on-social-media|2434742 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434752-tiny-great-ape-fossils-identified-as-new-species-from-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:00:46 +0100 A kneecap and two teeth found in Germany have been identified as belonging to a new species of ape from 11.6 million years ago, thought to have weighed as little as 10 kilograms 2434752-tiny-great-ape-fossils-identified-as-new-species-from-europe|2434752 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434771-starliner-and-starship-launches-propel-space-industry-into-a-new-era/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:57:38 +0100 SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket the day after Boeing’s Starliner craft made its first crewed flight, a sign that the space industry is hotting up 2434771-starliner-and-starship-launches-propel-space-industry-into-a-new-era|2434771 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434744-what-is-a-heat-dome-and-are-they-getting-worse-with-climate-change/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:02:32 +0100 Mexico and the southern US have seen extreme temperatures due to a heat dome, a weather phenomenon that will become more intense with climate change 2434744-what-is-a-heat-dome-and-are-they-getting-worse-with-climate-change|2434744 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434307-writers-accept-lower-pay-when-they-use-ai-to-help-with-their-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:00:30 +0100 When writers are allowed to get help from ChatGPT, they accept lower pay, fuelling fears that AI will lower the value of skilled workers 2434307-writers-accept-lower-pay-when-they-use-ai-to-help-with-their-work|2434307 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434325-physicists-want-to-drill-a-5-kilometre-deep-hole-on-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:00:30 +0100 Going deep into lunar rock could give us an opportunity to see if protons can decay into something else – a finding that could help us unify conflicting physics theories 2434325-physicists-want-to-drill-a-5-kilometre-deep-hole-on-the-moon|2434325 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434625-how-to-wrap-your-mind-around-the-real-multiverse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:00:22 +0100 Fictional portrayals of parallel universes are fun to explore, but the scientific view of the multiverse looks very different 2434625-how-to-wrap-your-mind-around-the-real-multiverse|2434625 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434477-male-lemurs-grow-bigger-testicles-when-there-are-other-males-around/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:00:25 +0100 Dominant male Verreaux’s sifakas always have the largest testicles in their group to make the most sperm, and they can grow their gonads to make sure of it 2434477-male-lemurs-grow-bigger-testicles-when-there-are-other-males-around|2434477 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434069-atoms-at-temperatures-beyond-absolute-zero-may-be-a-new-form-of-matter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:00:10 +0100 Physicists have coaxed a cloud of atoms into having a temperature beyond absolute zero and placed them in a geometric structure that could produce an unknown form of matter 2434069-atoms-at-temperatures-beyond-absolute-zero-may-be-a-new-form-of-matter|2434069 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434100-would-an-ai-judge-be-able-to-efficiently-dispense-justice/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:00:49 +0100 Judges are only human and can make mistakes, so could an artificial intelligence make better and more efficient decisions? 2434100-would-an-ai-judge-be-able-to-efficiently-dispense-justice|2434100 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434620-single-celled-predator-extends-its-neck-with-the-help-of-origami/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:00:54 +0100 The mystery of how a single-celled predator extends its "neck" by more than 30 times its overall length has finally been solved 2434620-single-celled-predator-extends-its-neck-with-the-help-of-origami|2434620 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434640-origins-of-modern-horses-traced-to-breeding-revolution-4200-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:00:36 +0100 A genetic analysis of ancient horses reveals that breeding techniques developed by people in the Pontic-Caspian steppes enabled the rapid spread of horse-powered travel 2434640-origins-of-modern-horses-traced-to-breeding-revolution-4200-years-ago|2434640 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431853-uk-ban-on-quantum-computer-exports-is-pointless-say-researchers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:00:43 +0100 The UK government has set limits on the capabilities of quantum computers that can be exported from the country and has declined to explain these limits on the grounds of national security. Experts say this make no sense 2431853-uk-ban-on-quantum-computer-exports-is-pointless-say-researchers|2431853 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434565-starship-launch-fourth-test-succeeds-as-both-stages-splash-into-sea/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:59:36 +0100 SpaceX's Starship has been to orbit and back in its fourth flight test, with both rocket stages soft landing in the ocean, though parts of the spacecraft appeared to be damaged during descent 2434565-starship-launch-fourth-test-succeeds-as-both-stages-splash-into-sea|2434565 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434553-sweetener-xylitol-linked-to-higher-risk-of-heart-attacks-and-strokes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:00:36 +0100 People who had higher levels of xylitol in their blood were more likely to have a heart attack or stroke within the next three years, with lab experiments suggesting the sweetener promotes blood clotting 2434553-sweetener-xylitol-linked-to-higher-risk-of-heart-attacks-and-strokes|2434553 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433685-periods-are-starting-younger-and-were-struggling-to-pin-down-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:00:50 +0100 Menstruation is occurring earlier and earlier in life for younger generations in the Western world, but researchers are puzzled as to why 2433685-periods-are-starting-younger-and-were-struggling-to-pin-down-why|2433685 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433958-mathematicians-cant-agree-what-equals-means-and-thats-a-problem/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:00:07 +0100 What does "equals" mean? For mathematicians, this simple question has more than one answer, which is causing issues when it comes to using computers to check proofs. The solution might be to tear up the foundations of maths 2433958-mathematicians-cant-agree-what-equals-means-and-thats-a-problem|2433958 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234940-400-embrace-wooden-buildings-for-the-sake-of-your-health-and-the-planets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0100 The burgeoning use of wood as a building material is a path to more sustainable construction, and it may have psychological benefits too, finds Graham Lawton mg26234940-400-embrace-wooden-buildings-for-the-sake-of-your-health-and-the-planets|2433870 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432967-starship-launch-livestream-watch-spacexs-fourth-launch-here/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:13:15 +0100 SpaceX is getting ready to launch its massive Starship rocket today - watch the livestream of the event here 2432967-starship-launch-livestream-watch-spacexs-fourth-launch-here|2432967 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429013-dutch-police-trial-ai-powered-robot-dog-to-safely-inspect-drug-labs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:23 +0100 The Dutch police force is already using a remotely controlled Spot robot dog made by Boston Dynamics to examine drug labs in raids, and now it wants to make the robot fully autonomous 2429013-dutch-police-trial-ai-powered-robot-dog-to-safely-inspect-drug-labs|2429013 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234944-000-race-is-a-social-construct-but-racism-can-cause-real-biological-harm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Research exploring the effects of racism on the brain suggests there is reason to be concerned about potential long-term damage, finds Layal Liverpool mg26234944-000-race-is-a-social-construct-but-racism-can-cause-real-biological-harm|2434264 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434463-does-coming-off-antidepressants-really-cause-withdrawal-symptoms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:30:25 +0100 People who stop taking antidepressants may get mental and physical symptoms as their bodies adjust to the lack of medicines - now we know how common this is 2434463-does-coming-off-antidepressants-really-cause-withdrawal-symptoms|2434463 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234942-900-theres-a-simple-solution-to-our-salt-addiction-we-must-adopt-it-now/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Efforts to curb the amount of sodium we eat have mostly failed, so governments must now try a new strategy: adding potassium to table salt mg26234942-900-theres-a-simple-solution-to-our-salt-addiction-we-must-adopt-it-now|2434253 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434455-boeing-launches-first-crewed-starliner-mission-to-the-iss/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:35:50 +0100 The Starliner spacecraft is on its way, carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station, having finally launched on its third attempt 2434455-boeing-launches-first-crewed-starliner-mission-to-the-iss|2434455 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434129-forests-may-grow-more-slowly-than-expected-as-co2-levels-rise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:00:37 +0100 Rising CO2 levels will spur the growth of forests, which store carbon, but an experiment suggests this effect could be restricted by the availability of phosphorus in the soil 2434129-forests-may-grow-more-slowly-than-expected-as-co2-levels-rise|2434129 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434395-eczema-may-sometimes-be-caused-by-eating-too-much-salt/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:00:10 +0100 People with eczema have higher levels of sodium in their urine than those without the skin condition, with every additional 1 gram linked to an 11 per cent increase in the risk of a diagnosis 2434395-eczema-may-sometimes-be-caused-by-eating-too-much-salt|2434395 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433983-tiny-brain-sensor-implanted-without-surgery-dissolves-after-weeks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:00:04 +0100 In animal tests, a cube of hydrogel the length of a rice grain was implanted in the brain with a needle to monitor temperature or pressure, and then dissolved away after a few weeks 2433983-tiny-brain-sensor-implanted-without-surgery-dissolves-after-weeks|2433983 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434308-may-2024-is-the-twelfth-month-in-a-row-to-break-heat-records/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:30:07 +0100 The global average temperature during May was highest for any May on record, reaching 1.52°C above the 1850 to 1900 average 2434308-may-2024-is-the-twelfth-month-in-a-row-to-break-heat-records|2434308 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433595-ancient-snake-drawings-are-among-the-largest-known-rock-art-worldwide/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 04 Jun 2024 01:01:34 +0100 Rock art along the Orinoco river in South America is made up of some of the largest etchings we know of and could date back 2000 years 2433595-ancient-snake-drawings-are-among-the-largest-known-rock-art-worldwide|2433595 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434235-earths-atmosphere-is-trapping-twice-as-much-heat-as-it-did-in-1993/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:04:14 +0100 Earth’s energy imbalance, a key measure of global warming, has doubled in the past 20 years, raising concerns about how much heat the oceans are absorbing 2434235-earths-atmosphere-is-trapping-twice-as-much-heat-as-it-did-in-1993|2434235 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434222-an-already-dead-star-is-dying-for-a-second-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:20:15 +0100 A pulsar, the spinning remnants of a star that blew up in a supernova, has been spotted rotating at a comparatively slow rate of once every 54 minutes. That means it may be about to cross the "death-line" - the first time we have seen one of these stars die a second death 2434222-an-already-dead-star-is-dying-for-a-second-time|2434222 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434025-how-bats-pick-out-their-own-calls-when-flying-in-enormous-swarms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:00:50 +0100 Researchers trained a hawk outfitted with microphones to fly through a swarm of 600,000 bats, revealing how they can hear their own voice in a crowd 2434025-how-bats-pick-out-their-own-calls-when-flying-in-enormous-swarms|2434025 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434145-glasses-coated-in-lithium-could-let-us-see-in-the-dark/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:47:57 +0100 A film made of lithium niobate and gratings of silicon dioxide converts infrared light into visible light better than the other leading compound, potentially allowing nighttime vision 2434145-glasses-coated-in-lithium-could-let-us-see-in-the-dark|2434145 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434183-gene-therapy-enables-five-children-who-were-born-deaf-to-hear/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:00:08 +0100 Five children have had gene therapy to treat inherited deafness, this time in both ears, following the success of earlier treatments in just one ear 2434183-gene-therapy-enables-five-children-who-were-born-deaf-to-hear|2434183 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429701-people-are-less-likely-to-believe-an-ai-if-it-conveys-uncertainty/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:00:07 +0100 When a large language model expresses doubt about the information it supplies, people are less likely to accept it as fact and more likely to find accurate information elsewhere 2429701-people-are-less-likely-to-believe-an-ai-if-it-conveys-uncertainty|2429701 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433780-china-is-sending-giant-pandas-to-us-zoos-for-the-first-time-in-decades/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:00:59 +0100 In recent years, China recalled pandas from three out of four US zoos that had the bears, signalling diplomatic tensions between the two countries – but this year China has offered two new pairs of giant pandas 2433780-china-is-sending-giant-pandas-to-us-zoos-for-the-first-time-in-decades|2433780 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433690-glitching-radio-waves-from-dead-stars-explained-by-swirling-superfluid/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:00:07 +0100 Pulsars that emit radio waves “glitch” as they rotate – this seems to be caused by interruptions to swirling vortices inside these ultra-dense stars 2433690-glitching-radio-waves-from-dead-stars-explained-by-swirling-superfluid|2433690 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431572-diet-monitoring-ai-tracks-your-each-and-every-spoonful/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:35 +0100 An AI that watches you while you eat can estimate how much you’re consuming, and could help people track their calorie intake 2431572-diet-monitoring-ai-tracks-your-each-and-every-spoonful|2431572 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433833-morning-exercise-may-be-optimal-for-improving-bone-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:22:34 +0100 Mice that exercised soon after waking up had stronger and longer bones than those that exercised later in the day   2433833-morning-exercise-may-be-optimal-for-improving-bone-health|2433833 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433987-endangered-giant-pangolin-spotted-in-senegal-after-nearly-24-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:46:31 +0100 A rare sighting of a giant pangolin revives hopes for the species' survival in West Africa, despite threats from poaching and deforestation 2433987-endangered-giant-pangolin-spotted-in-senegal-after-nearly-24-years|2433987 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433704-ancient-geese-stood-3-metres-tall-and-weighed-as-much-as-a-cow/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:30:31 +0100 A rare fossil skull provides strong evidence that the Dromornithidae, an extinct group of Australian flightless birds, were related to geese and ducks 2433704-ancient-geese-stood-3-metres-tall-and-weighed-as-much-as-a-cow|2433704 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433866-chinas-change-6-spacecraft-begins-sampling-on-far-side-of-the-moon/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=news Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:38:46 +0100 The Chang’e 6 moon lander touched down on 2 June and began collecting lunar rock for China’s second sample-return mission 2433866-chinas-change-6-spacecraft-begins-sampling-on-far-side-of-the-moon|2433866