Subscribe now
We just found nineteen new species of gecko in one tiny area

We just found nineteen new species of gecko in one tiny area

5 October 2017

The discovery of so many closely-related vertebrate species within such a small area is unprecedented


Chemistry Nobel for ice microscopes that show molecules of life

Chemistry Nobel for ice microscopes that show molecules of life

4 October 2017

The award has gone to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for developing cryo-electron microscopy, which brings down substances to liquid nitrogen temperatures.


Secrets of butterfly wing patterns revealed by gene hacking

Secrets of butterfly wing patterns revealed by gene hacking

18 September 2017

Butterflies' wings have extraordinary patterns and colours, and it turns out they are controlled by a single "master gene" that performs many roles


New Scientist Default Image

Liquid cats and arousing crocs bag Ig Nobel prizes

15 September 2017

The Ig Nobels honor the most hilarious of serious scientific work. This year prizes went to cats that flow, clueless twins, and emotionally manipulative crocodiles


Christmas Island’s only echolocating bat has gone extinct

Christmas Island’s only echolocating bat has gone extinct

14 September 2017

The Christmas Island pipistrelle is no more, and the world's largest antelope is at risk, according to the latest update to the Red List of Threatened Species


Wiping out a population of animals might help the species

Wiping out a population of animals might help the species

22 August 2017

Mass deaths might not be all bad, because local die-offs could help to ensure the survival of the species as a whole


Patagotitan mayorum replica

Largest ever dinosaur may have been as long as 7 elephants

8 August 2017

Analysis of fossils from six Patagotitan mayorum dinosaurs suggests the animals may have weighed 62 tonnes and measured more than 35 metres from nose to tail


bee

Maths explains how bees can stay airborne with such tiny wings

25 July 2017

The tiny wings on bees shouldn’t be able to lift their big bodies. How they fly has eluded mathematicians since the 1930s, but the mystery is now solved


UK and Irish seabirds search area size of Spain for food

UK and Irish seabirds search area size of Spain for food

6 July 2017

Seas off Scotland have been identified as especially important habitats for seabirds and important to conserve    


Demise of dinosaurs opened the doors to the age of tree frogs

Demise of dinosaurs opened the doors to the age of tree frogs

3 July 2017

Frogs leaped to take advantage of the global catastrophe that killed off the dinosaurs 66 million years ago


Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop