New Scientist Feed

People with blue eyes may have better sight in dim conditions than those with brown eyes, which could explain why the colour has persisted in certain populations

A Greek philosopher’s musings on pleasure, contained in ancient papyrus scrolls buried by Mount Vesuvius’s eruption 2000 years ago, have been rediscovered with the help of AI

For decades we thought the Irish elk’s body size alone explained why it had enormous antlers, but the truth may be more complicated

Lightning strikes during volcanic eruptions could have provided nitrogen in a form that was needed by early life forms

Five storms in the past decade had wind speeds that belong in a hypothetical category 6 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale

The US National Ignition Facility has achieved even higher energy yields since breaking even for the first time in 2022, but a practical fusion reactor is still a long way off

Earth’s air temperature passed the agreed 1.5°C warming limit around 2010, according to measurements from the skeletons of sea sponges in the Caribbean, but some climate scientists aren't convinced

DNA sampling is revealing fungi thriving throughout the oceans, from hydrothermal vents to the open seas. They might even help tackle antibiotic resistance and clear up plastic pollution

There were 69 unprovoked shark attacks on people and 10 fatalities in 2023 worldwide, with four of the deaths occurring in Australia

As the US military begins integrating AI technology, simulated wargames show how chatbots behave unpredictably and risk nuclear escalation

Some people may experience "brain fog" during certain parts of their menstrual cycle, but new research finds that hormonal changes throughout this cycle have no effect on verbal or spatial skills

Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle have previously been blamed for "brain fog", but new research finds they have no effect on verbal or spatial skills

Converting hundreds of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach into mathematical networks reveals that they store lots of information and convey it very effectively

Large proportions of users posting on Twitter – now X – about the Chinese balloon that drifted over the US and Canada in 2023 were bots attempting to shape the debate

Researchers studying fruit fly egg cells have discovered that they stir up the fluid inside them with a twister-like current

A nationwide electronic warfare system called Pokrova can disrupt satellite navigation – Ukraine may already be using it to prevent strikes by Russian drones and missiles, but doing so will also affect satnavs in the country

A game that prompts players to step on different arrows, like a dance mat, reduced falls among older people

Plastics from organic sources are touted as environmentally friendly, but they appear to make an appealing meal for some marine creatures

The rise of “floatovoltaics’ could reduce pressure to build large solar farms on land, but some researchers are concerned about the impact on aquatic ecosystems

Preparations are underway for a third attempted launch of the enormous Starship rocket after the first two test flights both ended in explosions