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Quick crossword #100: Compound with two oxygen atoms (7)

27 January 2022

Challenge your brain by solving New Scientist's weekly crosswords on your mobile, tablet or desktop

This picture taken on January 16, 2022 shows a man watching smoke hanging over houses on a polluted day in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. (Photo by BYAMBASUREN BYAMBA-OCHIR / AFP) (Photo by BYAMBASUREN BYAMBA-OCHIR/AFP via Getty Images)

We can't afford to delay getting to grips with chemical pollution

26 January 2022

The waste problem we face today is many orders of magnitude greater than the one that led to the Great Stink of London. Political leaders may wish to hold their noses, but they will soon find there is nowhere to hide

2DC4CH7 Closeup of the double cluster of Perseus constellation, with many stars as background in the deep space, taken with my telescope.

How to spot the Double Cluster and the Carina Nebula this week

26 January 2022

There's something for everyone in this week's stargazing guide, as Abigail Beall picks out celestial treats tailored to both of Earth's hemispheres

Puzzle #152: At what time did a lightning strike change the clock?

26 January 2022

Can you solve this week’s shocking puzzle, Lightning strike? Plus the answer to puzzle #151

David Chalmers interview: Virtual reality is as real as real reality

26 January 2022

Philosopher David Chalmers explains how virtual worlds shed light on questions such as what is reality and are we living in a simulation, and explores what corporate metaverses mean for humanity

How our environment is making us sick – and what we can do about it

26 January 2022

From air pollutants to pesticides in food and cosmetic additives, modern life means constant exposure to environmental chemicals. Picking apart the effects will help us boost the health of humans and the planet

2BNF11C Garbage at the Ant Flat Landfill in Wallowa County, Oregon.

Pollution is the forgotten global crisis and we need to tackle it now

26 January 2022

The problem of pollution is on a par with climate change and biodiversity loss. We need an international body to help us deal with it, says Graham Lawton

We are finally beginning to understand migraines and how to treat them

26 January 2022

After 40 years of research, scientists have uncovered what happens in the brain during a migraine and developed promising new drugs to tackle the condition. Here’s what we now know – and what still remains unanswered

Crawford Lake, one of the few meromictic lakes around the world, highlight of the Crawford Lake Conservation Area, south of Milton, Ontario Canada; Shutterstock ID 145107226; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Geologists to pinpoint official birthplace of the Anthropocene in 2022

25 January 2022

Whether we are in a new geological epoch is still up for debate, but geologists have almost decided where on Earth should be the official birthplace of the Anthropocene

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 24: Two women are seen wearing face masks on December 24, 2021 in Perth, Australia. The Western Australian government has implemented new COVID-19 restrictions, following the detection of a new community COVID-19 case. From 6pm on Thursday, masks will be mandatory in all public indoor settings in the Perth and Peel regions until December 28th. Authorities are also recommending people wear masks outdoors when physical distance can't be maintained. Large public events like music festivals have been cancelled during this period. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)

Is it time for Western Australia to open up and let covid-19 in?

21 January 2022

Western Australia, which has remained largely covid-free, has cancelled its border reopening due to omicron fears, but there may be little to gain by holding out longer