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This week's magazine

23 October 2021

Issue 3357

New Scientist issue 3357 cover
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Editor's picks

WMXRC9 An Ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) boundary sign at the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street, London.

Environment

Will London's expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone cut air pollution?

News
Earth lake. An almost perfect circular lake shot straight down from the air resembles the earth surrounded by a pine forest; Shutterstock ID 1928690141; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Environment

COP26: A moment for the world to truly confront the climate emergency

News
The controversial new clinical trials that promise faster results

Health

The controversial new clinical trials that promise faster results

Features
Steve Chien interview: Why NASA is inventing curious AI for deep space

Space

Steve Chien interview: Why NASA is inventing curious AI for deep space

Features
COP26: Your essential guide to the crucial climate conference

Environment

COP26: Your essential guide to the crucial climate conference

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

Earth lake. An almost perfect circular lake shot straight down from the air resembles the earth surrounded by a pine forest; Shutterstock ID 1928690141; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Environment

COP26: A moment for the world to truly confront the climate emergency

IN JUST over a week, the doors will open in Glasgow, UK, on what is arguably one of the most consequential international summits in history. Yet for many people, it remains unclear why COP26, the 26th UN-sponsored "conference of the parties" on climate change, is so crucial. What would a good outcome even be? It …

News

News

Venus

Space

Venus’s surface may have never been cool enough for oceans or life

Cloud structure in the Venusian atmosphere Venus might never have had the conditions necessary for water to exist on its surface, meaning the planet wouldn't have been habitable as once thought. Today, Venus is a hellish world, with temperatures on its surface hot enough to melt lead. Yet the presence of water vapour in its …

News

Environment

Energy watchdog says net zero can protect against future price shocks

News

Life

Penguins have rare ability to recognise each other's faces and voices

News

Space

Weird shape-shifting clouds of dust seem to be orbiting a distant star

News

Humans

Ancient faeces show Iron Age miners ate blue cheese and drank beer

News

Space

Jupiter-like planet survived the death of its star without harm

News

Health

Women have been under-represented in stroke therapy trials for decades

News

Health

Can long covid clinics in England cope if cases rise this winter?

News

Life

Australia's unusual western swamp turtle is an oddity under threat

News

Space

NASA’s Lucy mission is launching to study asteroids near Jupiter

News

Health

Highly processed junk food consumption is rising among US adults

News

Health

Contraceptive pill may reduce polycystic ovary syndrome diabetes risk

News

Technology

US military may get a dog-like robot armed with a sniper rifle

News

Health

IVF embryos discarded as 'abnormal' can actually become healthy babies

News

Technology

Microsoft and Nvidia build largest ever AI to mimic human language

News

Space

Arid meteor shower makes new appearance in southern hemisphere skies

News

Environment

UK plans £5000 grants for heat pumps ahead of gas boiler ban in 2035

News

Life

Impaled turtle reveals new insight on the day the dinosaurs died

News

Health

Nearly every person in Iran seems to have had covid-19 at least once

News

Analysis

2GNCJ84 Heidelberg, Germany - 24th September 2021: Sign saying 'You make a difference' Global Climate Strike demonstration

Environment

Should everyone have their own personal carbon budget?

I WILL be spending a lot of time in northern climes over the next few weeks, and I am preparing myself for a roller coaster of climate emotions. As I write, I am getting ready for a trip to Finland to report on some of the world's most advanced sustainable industries . I am expecting …

News

Environment

Why hope and optimism are crucial for fighting climate change

News

Environment

Will London's expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone cut air pollution?

News

Aperture

FEATURE CROP

Life

Our web-slinging immune cells caught in action for photo contest

Photographer Chanchal Sur Chowdhury THIS microscopic image reveals some of the intricate defences employed by our immune system against infection . Titled Spiderman of Our Body and taken by Chanchal Sur Chowdhury, the shot was a shortlisted entry in the Royal Society of Biology's 2021 Photography Competition. When foreign particles or microorganisms enter the body …

Regulars

Features

COP26: Your essential guide to the crucial climate conference

Environment

COP26: Your essential guide to the crucial climate conference

The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow is the world's last chance to spur real action on global warming. But what issues are at stake – and what does a good outcome look like?

Features

Space

Steve Chien interview: Why NASA is inventing curious AI for deep space

Features

Health

The controversial new clinical trials that promise faster results

Features

Culture

Ron and Barney

Technology

Ron's Gone Wrong review: Robot friends and reasons to be offline

Ron and Barney Ron’s Gone Wrong isn’t the first Disney film to employ a white, rounded robot with circular black eyes to befriend a lonely kid. Big Hero 6 presented a similar human-android team-up to great acclaim in 2014. But while that film was designed with the themes of grief, hatred, forgiveness and, ultimately, the …

Culture

Humans

Becoming Cousteau review: A charming portrait of a conservation icon

Culture

Don’t Miss: The aliens are coming in Apple TV’s Invasion

Culture

Deathloop review: A puzzle-tastic thriller with too many loose ends

Culture

More

Puzzle #136: What colour of the rainbow is Lise’s favourite?

Puzzle #136: What colour of the rainbow is Lise’s favourite?

#136 Narrowing the spectrum Marie: "What's your favourite colour of the rainbow?" Lise: "That would be telling... its name is made up only of letters that occur in the names of the other six colours of the rainbow." Marie: "But there is more than one colour that rule works for!" Lise: "Ah, but if you …

Regulars

Twisteddoodles designs costumes to scare scientists

Regulars

Tom Gauld is on the hunt for a rare creature

Regulars

How to bake a soufflé according to science

Regulars

Regulars

Meet Mr Goxx, the crypto-trading hamster beating human investors

Meet Mr Goxx, the crypto-trading hamster beating human investors

Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

The last word

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