New Scientist
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The best place to find out what’s new in science – and why it matters.
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In this week’s issue: The universe's hidden beauty – a strange principle from the quantum realm finally reveals why the cosmos is so elegant.
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3578/
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3578/
Some of the world’s biggest megacities are located in river deltas threatened by subsidence due to excessive groundwater extraction and urban expansion, compounding the threat they face from sea-level rise.
Sinking river deltas put millions at risk of flooding
Some of the world’s biggest megacities are located in river deltas threatened by subsidence due to excessive groundwater extraction and urban expansion, compounding the threat they face from sea-level rise
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Some of the world’s biggest megacities are located in river deltas threatened by subsidence due to excessive groundwater extraction and urban expansion, compounding the threat they face from sea-level rise.
Reposted by New Scientist
I really enjoyed reading and reviewing Off the Scales, a powerful book that shines a light on an issue I have been banging on about for years: obesity is a medical condition and needs to be treated as such www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
As Ozempic goes global, a powerful book reframes how we see obesity
With the market for anti-obesity drugs already worth billions, Aimee Donnellan’s Off the Scales is a timely exploration of the controversial and life-changing GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I really enjoyed reading and reviewing Off the Scales, a powerful book that shines a light on an issue I have been banging on about for years: obesity is a medical condition and needs to be treated as such www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...
The US government is approving the drug leucovorin to address rising rates of autism, despite limited evidence that it works. This year, results from the largest trial yet should give more insight into its potential
2026 will shed light on whether a little-known drug helps with autism
The US government is approving the drug leucovorin to address rising rates of autism, despite limited evidence that it works. This year, results from the largest trial yet should give more insight into its potential
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:08 PM
The US government is approving the drug leucovorin to address rising rates of autism, despite limited evidence that it works. This year, results from the largest trial yet should give more insight into its potential
Construction generates between 10 and 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but cities can slash their climate impact by designing buildings in a more efficient way
We must completely change the way we build homes to stay below 2°C
Construction generates between 10 and 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but cities can slash their climate impact by designing buildings in a more efficient way
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Construction generates between 10 and 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but cities can slash their climate impact by designing buildings in a more efficient way
A woman's body has been found to consist of varying proportions of male and female cells because of an extremely rare form of chimerism
Murder victim discovered to have two sets of DNA due to rare condition
A woman's body has been found to consist of varying proportions of male and female cells because of an extremely rare form of chimerism
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:26 PM
A woman's body has been found to consist of varying proportions of male and female cells because of an extremely rare form of chimerism
Reposted by New Scientist
Cities have to slash emissions from the construction of buildings for the world to avoid zooming past 2C, but most cities don't even know what their construction emissions are 🧪
@shoshannasaxe.bsky.social and colleagues are trying to change this
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
@shoshannasaxe.bsky.social and colleagues are trying to change this
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
We must completely change the way we build homes to stay below 2°C
Construction generates between 10 and 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but cities can slash their climate impact by designing buildings in a more efficient way
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Cities have to slash emissions from the construction of buildings for the world to avoid zooming past 2C, but most cities don't even know what their construction emissions are 🧪
@shoshannasaxe.bsky.social and colleagues are trying to change this
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
@shoshannasaxe.bsky.social and colleagues are trying to change this
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Reposted by New Scientist
Why is same-sex sexual behaviour turning out to be so common among animals? It's often assumed to be a disadvantage in evolutionary terms, but it's looking more and more as if that assumption is entirely wrong 🧪
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Is there an evolutionary reason for same-sex sexual behaviour?
Sexual behaviour among same-sex pairs is common in apes and monkeys, and a wide-ranging analysis suggests it does boost survival
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Why is same-sex sexual behaviour turning out to be so common among animals? It's often assumed to be a disadvantage in evolutionary terms, but it's looking more and more as if that assumption is entirely wrong 🧪
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Our growing understanding of how other animals also share skills and knowledge will help us chip away at the folly of human exceptionalism, say Philippa Brakes and Marc Bekoff.
Why non-human culture should change how we see nature
Our growing understanding of how other animals also share skills and knowledge will help us chip away at the folly of human exceptionalism, say Philippa Brakes and Marc Bekoff
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Our growing understanding of how other animals also share skills and knowledge will help us chip away at the folly of human exceptionalism, say Philippa Brakes and Marc Bekoff.
In this week’s issue: The universe's hidden beauty – a strange principle from the quantum realm finally reveals why the cosmos is so elegant.
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3578/
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3578/
January 15, 2026 at 1:04 PM
In this week’s issue: The universe's hidden beauty – a strange principle from the quantum realm finally reveals why the cosmos is so elegant.
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3578/
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3578/
Reposted by New Scientist
Why does President Trump want Greenland? Analysis from @ruthmottram.bsky.social, @martinstendel.bsky.social and Greenlander Anne Merrild. 🎧: open.spotify.com/episode/66gW...
January 15, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Why does President Trump want Greenland? Analysis from @ruthmottram.bsky.social, @martinstendel.bsky.social and Greenlander Anne Merrild. 🎧: open.spotify.com/episode/66gW...
These are the best tactics to win the game of backstabbing and treachery, according to forensic psychology, game theory and evolutionary biology.
The surprising science that reveals what it takes to win The Traitors
As the finale of the UK series approaches this evening, these are the best tactics to win the game of backstabbing and treachery, according to forensic psychology, game theory and evolutionary biology
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:30 PM
These are the best tactics to win the game of backstabbing and treachery, according to forensic psychology, game theory and evolutionary biology.
Reposted by New Scientist
Wikipedia is 25 years old today! I support them with a monthly contribution, and you should too if you can afford it. Or get some fun anniversary merch
store.wikimedia.org/collections/...
store.wikimedia.org/collections/...
25th Birthday Collection 🎈
Celebrate Wikipedia’s 25th birthday with limited-edition merchandise made for party throwing, cake baking, and editing knowledge on the internet.
store.wikimedia.org
January 15, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Wikipedia is 25 years old today! I support them with a monthly contribution, and you should too if you can afford it. Or get some fun anniversary merch
store.wikimedia.org/collections/...
store.wikimedia.org/collections/...
When asked to safely assist in laboratory experiments and flag hazardous issues, 19 leading AI models all made potentially deadly mistakes.
All major AI models risk encouraging dangerous science experiments
Researchers risk fire, explosion or poisoning by allowing AI to design experiments, warn scientists. Some 19 different AI models were tested on hundreds of questions to assess their ability to spot and avoid hazards and none recognised all issues – with some doing little better than random guessing
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:43 AM
When asked to safely assist in laboratory experiments and flag hazardous issues, 19 leading AI models all made potentially deadly mistakes.
A decades-long push to identify clear biomarkers for anxiety and depression is at last achieving results.
Psychiatry has finally found an objective way to spot mental illness
A decades-long push to identify clear biomarkers for anxiety and depression is at last achieving results
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:58 AM
A decades-long push to identify clear biomarkers for anxiety and depression is at last achieving results.
Reposted by New Scientist
Scientists are using AI to design new experiments, but research shows that all major models fail to spot serious safety problems that risk causing fires, explosions or poisonings.
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
All major AI models risk encouraging dangerous science experiments
Researchers risk fire, explosion or poisoning by allowing AI to design experiments, warn scientists. Some 19 different AI models were tested on hundreds of questions to assess their ability to spot an...
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Scientists are using AI to design new experiments, but research shows that all major models fail to spot serious safety problems that risk causing fires, explosions or poisonings.
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
www.newscientist.com/article/2511...
Some of climate change's sharpest realities are being felt on small island nations, where extreme weather is claiming homes and triggering displacement. Those able to stay are spearheading inventive adaptation techniques in a bid to secure their future.
The Pacific Islanders fighting to save their homes from catastrophe
Some of climate change's sharpest realities are being felt on small island nations, where extreme weather is claiming homes and triggering displacement. Those able to stay are spearheading inventive adaptation techniques in a bid to secure their future
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Some of climate change's sharpest realities are being felt on small island nations, where extreme weather is claiming homes and triggering displacement. Those able to stay are spearheading inventive adaptation techniques in a bid to secure their future.
Before the Romans captured Pompeii, the famous town was run by the Samnite people – and a dip in their public baths might have been an unpleasant experience.
Pompeii’s public baths were unhygienic until the Romans took over
Before the Romans captured Pompeii, the famous town was run by the Samnite people – and a dip in their public baths might have been an unpleasant experience
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Before the Romans captured Pompeii, the famous town was run by the Samnite people – and a dip in their public baths might have been an unpleasant experience.
A woolly rhino genome has been recovered from meat preserved in a frozen wolf pup’s stomach. The 14,400-year-old DNA is helping researchers understand why woolly rhinos went extinct.
Woolly rhino genome recovered from meat in frozen wolf pup’s stomach
A piece of woolly rhinoceros flesh hidden inside a wolf that died 14,400 years ago has yielded genetic information that improves our understanding of why one of the most iconic megafauna species of the last glacial period went extinct
www.newscientist.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:31 AM
A woolly rhino genome has been recovered from meat preserved in a frozen wolf pup’s stomach. The 14,400-year-old DNA is helping researchers understand why woolly rhinos went extinct.
Easing stress is one of the healthiest pursuits you can embark on this January. Here are some evidence-backed ways to ground yourself in 2026
Three ways to become calmer this New Year that you haven't tried (yet)
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Easing stress is one of the healthiest pursuits you can embark on this January. Here are some evidence-backed ways to ground yourself in 2026
The southern Darwin's frog has seen its population fall by 90 per cent in Chile's Parque Tantauco forests due to the spread of the chytrid fungus
Key finding could save endangered Darwin's frog from extinction
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:58 PM
The southern Darwin's frog has seen its population fall by 90 per cent in Chile's Parque Tantauco forests due to the spread of the chytrid fungus
The sooner-than-expected impacts of climate change could cost the world trillions of dollars. A report warns that we may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming, which could damage economic growth.
Sooner-than-expected climate impacts could cost the world trillions
A report warns that we may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming, which could damage economic growth
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The sooner-than-expected impacts of climate change could cost the world trillions of dollars. A report warns that we may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming, which could damage economic growth.
China filed proposals for two satellite mega constellations, with a total of almost 200,000 spacecraft planned. This is far more than the total number of satellites active today, so what will they be used for?
China has applied to launch 200,000 satellites, but what are they for?
A Chinese application to the International Telecommunications Union suggests plans for the largest satellite mega constellation ever built – but something else might be going on here
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:57 PM
China filed proposals for two satellite mega constellations, with a total of almost 200,000 spacecraft planned. This is far more than the total number of satellites active today, so what will they be used for?
The Greenland shark seems to survive for centuries with a "diseased" heart. The marine predator has massive accumulations of ageing markers including scarring in its heart, but apparently suffers no ill effects.
Greenland sharks survive for centuries with diseased hearts
A study of the hearts of Greenland sharks has found that the long-lived deep-sea predator has massive accumulations of ageing markers, such as severe scarring, but this doesn't appear to affect their health or longevity
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:09 PM
The Greenland shark seems to survive for centuries with a "diseased" heart. The marine predator has massive accumulations of ageing markers including scarring in its heart, but apparently suffers no ill effects.
The largest ever analysis of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils suggests the giant and fierce Cretaceous predator was a late bloomer, taking 35 to 40 years to reach maturity
T. rex took 40 years to become fully grown
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM
The largest ever analysis of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils suggests the giant and fierce Cretaceous predator was a late bloomer, taking 35 to 40 years to reach maturity
Small lifestyle tweaks may have a big impact on longevity. Just a few extra minutes of sleep per day or an extra half-serving of vegetables with dinner can add a year to our lives.
These small lifestyle tweaks can add a year to your life
A few extra minutes of sleep per day or an extra half-serving of vegetables with dinner can add a year to our lives, according to an analysis of data from 60,000 people
www.newscientist.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Small lifestyle tweaks may have a big impact on longevity. Just a few extra minutes of sleep per day or an extra half-serving of vegetables with dinner can add a year to our lives.