Subscribe now
Protons can be used to kill cancer cells

Plastic wedge makes it much easier to make protons for cancer therapy

3 July 2023

A plastic, wedge-shaped device could medical particle accelerators 100 times more efficient at generating the protons that can be used for cancer treatment


Plumbing service. steel of a heating system in boiler room

Tentacle robot can bend through pipes and unscrew bolts

23 June 2023

A soft, tubular robot can bend, twist, expand and contract when exposed to different intensities of light


City in Sierra Leone covers buildings in mirrors to fight extreme heat

City in Sierra Leone covers buildings in mirrors to fight extreme heat

3 June 2023

People in Freetown, Sierra Leone, are increasingly exposed to extreme heat due to climate change and the urban heat island effect, but covering homes in a reflective film significantly cut indoor temperatures


Underwater pendulums could calm waves and reduce coastal erosion

9 April 2023

A device made of cylinders tethered to the ocean floor could lessen the ferocity of waves, preventing them from eroding the shore


Transporting explosives can be dangerous

3D-printed explosive can't detonate unless filled with fluid

31 March 2023

An explosive filled with gaps can only detonate after a liquid is poured into it, which could make it unusually safe for transportation and storage


Astonishing 3D footage of ants recorded using 54-camera set-up

20 March 2023

An imaging technique has allowed researchers to record detailed three-dimensional video of small creatures, including ants, flies and zebrafish larvae


Flickering flames

Flames that don't flicker could make engines more efficient

25 January 2023

Producing flickerless flames usually requires artificially low pressure or gravity. Researchers have now come up with a method that works in standard conditions and could help make engines more efficient


Sections of a timber wind turbine tower under construction

Should we build wind turbines from wood?

1 December 2022

Most wind turbines are made from a mix of materials, making them hard to recycle – but wood could offer a more sustainable alternative


An image of microscopic disks that were transferred onto various grains of pollen.

Candy-like mixture can print patterns on microscopic objects

24 November 2022

Patterns of microscopic discs, rings or letters can be added to microrobots or stretchy electronics with a dissolved sugar mixture


The Golden Gate Bridge

Smartphones can reveal whether bridges are about to fall down

3 November 2022

The accelerometers in our smartphones collect information as we travel over bridges, and this can reveal if the structure is weakening and help us know when to fix it to extend its life


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