Search | New Scientist

Exploring the deep ocean and the surprising creatures that live there

12 December 2019

The oceans are teeming with weird and wonderful life forms. Helen Scales takes an underwater journey to reveal some surprises

Cocaine in the water makes eels hyperactive and damages muscles

20 June 2018

There are low levels of cocaine and other drugs in many rivers, and lab studies suggest that European eels are suffering muscle damage as a result

Sperm whales are tracking fishing boats and stealing their fish

8 June 2018

Fishing boats in the Gulf of Alaska are being stalked by enormous sperm whales, which charge in and rip huge volumes of fish from the lines

In big cities even the fish are always rushing around the place

25 May 2018

Two common US fish have evolved different body shapes to help them survive in the fast-moving streams in built-up areas

Asteroid that killed the dinosaurs caused massive global warming

24 May 2018

The asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago caused dramatic climate change, which could mean we are underestimating how much the planet will warm in the coming centuries

A soldierfish with its lachrymal sabre ready for combat

These fish hide fluorescent switchblades in their faces

13 April 2018

We've only just discovered that many stonefish can flip out a spiny bone in their faces when predators attack, in addition to having highly venomous spines

Shrimp and lobster are as bad for the climate as eating beef

2 April 2018

Fish and seafood are normally fairly environmentally friendly, but it takes so much fuel to catch some species that their carbon footprint is as big as that of red meat

Much of nature is near collapse and that means society is too

23 March 2018

An assessment of Earth’s biodiversity predicts catastrophic losses within decades, with severe knock-on effects for human civilisation like shortages of food