Subscribe now

This week's magazine

23 March 2024

Issue 3483

New Scientist issue 3483 cover
Previous issue Next issue
arrow
Subscribe
Access our magazine content direct via our website, app or print magazine
arrow
View in the app
Check out this magazine in our easy-to-navigate mobile app
arrow
Buy this issue in print
You can purchase our magazines on back-issue from the last 4 months
arrow
Find a previous edition online
Search through our digital archive of over 30 years of magazines

Editor's picks

Hole in the cosmos, abstract eye of a gas nebula or sci-fi portal. Neon orb of light, glowing ring in motion, swirl. Halo in space. perfect for logo or text placement. 3D rendering; Shutterstock ID 2048955872; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Physics

Why we need to invoke philosophy to judge bizarre concepts in science

News
How to wrap your head around the most mind-bending theories of reality

Physics

How to wrap your head around the most mind-bending theories of reality

Features
armand sarlangue **ONE-TIME USE ONLY** for Diamond Volcanoes feature armand sarlangue

Earth

Why supersonic, diamond-spewing volcanoes might be coming back to life

Features
Nobel-winning biologist on the most promising ways to stop ageing

Health

Nobel-winning biologist on the most promising ways to stop ageing

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

Hole in the cosmos, abstract eye of a gas nebula or sci-fi portal. Neon orb of light, glowing ring in motion, swirl. Halo in space. perfect for logo or text placement. 3D rendering; Shutterstock ID 2048955872; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Physics

Why we need to invoke philosophy to judge bizarre concepts in science

Theories of mind and cosmos are inevitably preposterous - knowing how to weigh competing implausibilities can help us decide which we should back

News

News

Environment

There are growing fears of an alarming shift in Antarctic sea ice

Antarctic sea ice cover remains far below average levels for the third year in a row, but researchers are uncertain whether this is a permanent shift driven by climate change or part of natural fluctuations

News

Space

Sleeping black hole is way more massive than it should be

News

Life

Plant-killing genetic technology could wipe out superweeds

News

Health

Anti-inflammatory nasal spray may ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis

News

Space

Europa’s seafloor may be impenetrable and inhospitable to life

News

Life

City moths may have evolved smaller wings due to light pollution

News

Space

A single meteorite smashed into Mars and created 2 billion craters

News

Environment

Extreme heat could trigger the worst global financial crisis ever seen

News

Physics

Rethinking space and time could let us do away with dark matter

News

Environment

One in eight ski resorts worldwide could have no snow by 2100

News

Health

Alzheimer’s may be caused by a build-up of fat in brain cells

News

Environment

Methane leaks from US oil and gas are triple government estimates

News

Health

Mental health conditions may accelerate ageing by damaging RNA

News

Space

Starship launch: Third flight reaches space but is lost on re-entry

News

Life

Chimp mothers play with their youngsters even when times are tough

News

Chemistry

Gold flecks make super-transparent glass fully opaque from one side

News

Technology

Miniature furniture 3D printed using ink made from recycled wood

News

Health

Intermittent fasting linked to a higher risk of heart disease death

News

Mathematics

Mathematicians plan computer proof of Fermat's last theorem

News

Humans

Mammoth carcass was scavenged by ancient humans and sabre-toothed cats

News

Technology

Nvidia's Blackwell AI 'superchip' is the most powerful yet

News

Analysis

Environment

Should everyone start eating snakes to save the planet?

Pythons convert food into meat more efficiently than other livestock, and they can be fed on waste meat, but this doesn't mean snake meat is inherently more sustainable

News

Health

What do home faecal test kits really reveal about our gut microbiome?

News

Space

Is the truth out there? Yes, but it doesn't involve aliens

Comment

Health

Why our genetic code should remain off-limits to life insurers

News

Aperture

Astonishing photograph of last year's annular solar eclipse in Utah

Space

Astonishing photograph of last year's annular solar eclipse in Utah

Pieced together digitally from thousands of images, this shot of last October's annular eclipse, from Andrew McCarthy and Daniel Stein, is a curtain-raiser for next month's total solar eclipse in North America

Regulars

Features

armand sarlangue **ONE-TIME USE ONLY** for Diamond Volcanoes feature armand sarlangue

Earth

Why supersonic, diamond-spewing volcanoes might be coming back to life

Strange volcanoes called kimberlites bring diamonds up from Earth's depths. Scientists have always struggled to understand why they switched off millions of years ago – but perhaps they didn't

Features

Health

Nobel-winning biologist on the most promising ways to stop ageing

Features

Physics

How to wrap your head around the most mind-bending theories of reality

Features

Culture

TEWKESBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 05: Flood water surrounds Tewkesbury Abbey and surrounding streets because of widespread flooding after the Rivers Swilgate and Avon burst their banks on January 5, 2024 in Gloucestershire, England. Storm Henk brought strong winds and heavy rain across much of the country this week which lashed large parts of the country, hitting travel and cutting power. While across the UK numerous flood warnings were still in place after weeks of heavy rainfall, the UK's Environment Agency has warned people to expect flooding to become more frequent because of climate change. (Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images)

Comment

Sunken Lands review: Heeding the flood warnings of history

From a fabled drowned kingdom in Wales to echoes of Noah's ark in the Mahabharata, warnings of hubris in abusing nature resonate in Gareth E. Rees's world tour of flood myths

Culture

Comment

Unlocked review: Why we don't need to panic about our phones

Culture

Comment

New Scientist recommends Castle of Joy, a harrowing, moving play

Culture

Comment

3 Body Problem review: Cixin Liu's masterpiece arrives on Netflix

Culture

More

Try these mathematical magic tricks that are guaranteed to work

Mathematics

Try these mathematical magic tricks that are guaranteed to work

There are no rabbits pulled out of hats here – these tricks rely on mathematical principles and will never fail you, says Peter Rowlett

Regulars

Brain Twister #12: Factorial factory

Regulars

Tom Gauld on the Masked Botanist

Regulars

Twisteddoodles on the best way to remember a person's name

Regulars

Regulars

People watch sports, have sex, make children, study finds

Humans

People watch sports, have sex, make children, study finds

Feedback is intrigued by new research into how major sports tournaments "were associated with increases in the number of babies born" nine months later - but only for supporters of the winning teams

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

The last word

Browse past issues

View all
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop