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This week's magazine

22 April 2023

Issue 3435

New Scientist issue 3435 cover
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Editor's picks

AI, Artificial Intelligence concept,3d rendering,conceptual image.; Shutterstock ID 1638173785; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Technology

Regulating AI is going to be hard but big tech transparency is key

News
How smart is ChatGPT really – and how do we judge intelligence in AIs?

Technology

How smart is ChatGPT really – and how do we judge intelligence in AIs?

Features
We know how kids learn to read, so why are we failing to teach them?

Society

We know how kids learn to read, so why are we failing to teach them?

Features
How indoor air pollution affects your health and what to do about it

Health

How indoor air pollution affects your health and what to do about it

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

AI, Artificial Intelligence concept,3d rendering,conceptual image.; Shutterstock ID 1638173785; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Technology

Regulating AI is going to be hard but big tech transparency is key

Companies creating the new generation of chatbots and other generative AI are shy about sharing their code and data. That has to change

News

News

Some yellow anacondas can leap in an S-shape

Life

Some anacondas can perform a strange S-shaped leap and now we know why

A mathematical model based on observing yellow anacondas in the lab shows that if they are light and muscular enough, they can jump away from danger in an S-shape motion similar to sidewinding of much smaller snakes that live in the sand

News

Physics

Physics confirms the best way to make a playground swing go higher

News

Life

Tadpole embryos grow strong jaws if they sense shrimp in the water

News

Technology

An unhackable quantum internet is being built in New York City

News

Environment

Emissions from global electricity generation may have now peaked

News

Life

Seahorses have a super strong gulp thanks to two spring-like tendons

News

Technology

Soft robot hand learns how to avoid butter fingers

News

Space

The JUICE mission to explore Jupiter’s ocean moons is about to launch

News

Life

Zebra finches pick singing coaches based on songs they hear as embryos

News

Environment

Europe to become a hotspot for flash droughts caused by climate change

News

Life

Skates evolved their undulating wings thanks to genome origami

News

Physics

Graphene shows record-breaking magnetic properties at room temperature

News

Humans

Bone fragment reveals humans wore leather clothes 39,000 years ago

News

Life

Early break-up of eastern African forests shaped our ape ancestors

News

Environment

Great Pacific Garbage Patch hosts stable community of coastal animals

News

Technology

How this moment for AI will change society forever (and how it won't)

News

Technology

Artificial intelligence: 5 questions answered that you should know

News

Analysis

2F6N0XJ A shot of beautiful orchid garden in Thailand.

Life

What is so special about orchids and why are there so many?

Orchids seem unique in how they inspire such a devoted following, but why are these much-loved plants so diverse and widespread, wonders Penny Sarchet

Comment

Technology

Why do some AI researchers dismiss the potential risks to humanity?

News

Aperture

Searching for the stars near my hometown, Pollachi, led me to the forests of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. As I moved away from towns and their lights, the darker it got, the more I could see - fireflies, stars. I was fascinated when I saw hundreds of fireflies flashing at the edge of the forest and heard stories of trees laden with fireflies deep in the forest. Predicting the time of their peak activity, I set out to a remote area of the reserve along with forest officials. I waited for nightfall in anxiety. Flashes of green started appearing at twilight. As the place grew dark, millions of fireflies started synchronizing their flashes across several trees. Flashes started in one tree and continued across several trees in a mexican-wave like fashion. It lasted all night. I felt transported to another planet. Being under a sky full of stars, with fireflies flashing in the foreground, owls and other nocturnal creatures calling at a distance, Elephants and Leopards lurking around the corner, this was Nature as our ancestors experienced. The image, created by stacking several photographs, shows a 16 minute activity of the fireflies. ? Sriram Murali, India, 3rd Place, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, Sony World Photography Awards 2023

Comment

See our pick of the entries for the Sony World Photography Awards

From a firefly panorama to a howling coyote, these are some of the finalists and shortlisted photographs for the professional competition in the 2023 Sony awards

Regulars

Features

How indoor air pollution affects your health and what to do about it

Health

How indoor air pollution affects your health and what to do about it

The latest evidence suggests that indoor air quality can be as bad as a city street at rush hour. The good news is that making a few simple changes at home can help reduce the risks to your health

Features

Society

We know how kids learn to read, so why are we failing to teach them?

Features

Technology

How smart is ChatGPT really – and how do we judge intelligence in AIs?

Features

Culture

Sweet Tooth. Christian Convery as Gus in episode 201 of Sweet Tooth. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix ?? 2023

Comment

Don't Miss: Netflix dystopia Sweet Tooth returns, with Gus on the run

New Scientist's weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn't miss

Culture

Comment

Dead Ringers review: A triumphant reimagining of Cronenberg's classic

Culture

Comment

The Battle for Your Brain review: A guide to neuro nightmares ahead

Culture

Comment

The Seaweed Revolution review: How to save the world with seaweed

Culture

More

mugcake is microwaved. Homemade cupcake in a mug is on a plate. Chocolate brownie mug cake. Easy cooking concept, microwave baking. muffin chocolate. High quality photo; Shutterstock ID 2030585198; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Humans

What is really going on when we microwave our food?

Sam Wong digs into the science of microwaves, dispelling some common myths – and makes a tasty mug cake in just a few minutes

Regulars

Puzzle #218: Can you work out how many children are in each group?

Regulars

Tom Gauld: Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration

Regulars

Twisteddoodles: We need you to highlight your research on social media

Regulars

Regulars

Aerial view as she relaxes on mountain ridge, as the sun rises over arid desert landscape surrounding

Enumerating the trivial superpowers our readers possess

After putting out a call, Feedback reveals the latest crop of trivial superpowers claimed by readers – abilities that seem mundane to those who have them, but extraordinary to those less blessed

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

The last word

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