Issue 3259 | Magazine cover date: 7 December 2019

This week's magazine

7 December 2019

Issue 3259

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On the cover

Features

The universe tends towards disorder. But how come nobody knows why?

We constantly eat microplastics. What does that mean for our health?

Altruism 2.0: How to use science to make charitable acts go further

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Nightingales practise new songs in winter to impress mates in spring

We've discovered a strange twist in the story of how crystals form

Ancient puppy found in permafrost still has its fur and whiskers

NASA has found the remnants of India’s Vikram moon lander

Amazon enters quantum computing race with cloud quantum processors

Cholesterol levels predict if under-45s will ever have heart disease

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Environment

General election 2019: Who is strongest on climate change action?

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Health

We need to wake up to the potential threat from microplastics

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Humans

Altruism 2.0: How to use science to make charitable acts go further

Features

Health

We constantly eat microplastics. What does that mean for our health?

Features

Physics

The universe tends towards disorder. But how come nobody knows why?

Features

Leaders

Health

We need to wake up to the potential threat from microplastics

"CAN'T be seen, can't be smelled, can't be heard, but can be stopped." That warning, issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services, is about carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heaters. It could equally apply to a newly recognised threat, except for the last part. Microplastics can't be seen, can't be smelled, can't …

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Technology

Turn any object into a robot using this program and a 3D printer

It is now possible to turn a pedal bin into a robot Robots will soon be everywhere – especially if ordinary objects can be turned into them. A computer program can now use 3D printing to convert household objects into hand-activated robots . These can be used to turn on bathroom taps with the wave …

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Life

Nightingales practise new songs in winter to impress mates in spring

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Technology

Tinder may not actually be very good for finding a partner

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Earth

Underwater internet cables can detect offshore earthquakes

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Environment

CO2-guzzling bacteria made in the lab could help tackle climate change

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Health

Gut microbes may predict whether exercising will prevent diabetes

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Technology

Russian disinformation campaigns on Twitter may not actually work

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Humans

Neanderthals may have died out due to sheer bad luck

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Health

Treating babies for HIV rapidly after birth reduces signs of the virus

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Health

New rules for gay and bisexual male blood donors found to be safe

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Environment

What is the UN's COP25 climate summit, and why does it matter?

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Technology

Companies could be fined if they fail to explain decisions made by AI

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Humans

Roman shipwreck full of 2000-year-old jugs found on Greek sea floor

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Physics

We've discovered a strange twist in the story of how crystals form

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Mind

Two brain networks behave differently in people who are suicidal

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Life

Ancient puppy found in permafrost still has its fur and whiskers

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Environment

The race to find wild relatives of food plants before it's too late

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Technology

Revealed: Mental health websites are selling your data to advertisers

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Space

NASA has found the remnants of India’s Vikram moon lander

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Physics

Amazon enters quantum computing race with cloud quantum processors

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Life

Female brown bears hang out near humans to keep cubs safe from males

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Health

Cholesterol levels predict if under-45s will ever have heart disease

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Analysis

Environment

General election 2019: Who is strongest on climate change action?

Channel 4's climate debate Two ice sculptures melting under the glare of TV studio lights last night became one of the UK election's iconic images. Channel 4 News used the pair to represent the absence of Conservative and Brexit party leaders during the country's first TV election debate dedicated to climate change. The heads of …

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Technology

Teens aren't addicted to their phones - but we like to think they are

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Environment

Why you should worry about your pet’s ecological footprint

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Humans

Science's fake news problem: How funding pressures drive bad research

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Aperture

Environment

Bali's stunning rice terraces offer clues to sustainable water use

Photographer David Lazar NESTLED in the shadow of Bali's Mount Agung, these serene terraces in Karangasem have produced rice for centuries using a sustainable irrigation system called subak. As climate change drives water scarcity globally, subak is inspiring sustainable design. This stunning image appears in Lo-TEK: Design by radical indigenism , a book by Julia …

Regulars

Features

Physics

The universe tends towards disorder. But how come nobody knows why?

Entropy is the physicist’s magic word, invoked to answer to some of the biggest questions in cosmology. Yet a quantum rethink may be needed to tell us what it actually is

Features

Health

We constantly eat microplastics. What does that mean for our health?

Features

Humans

Altruism 2.0: How to use science to make charitable acts go further

Features

Culture

Humans

Seasonal gift ideas for lovers of terrific science reads and top films

Stuck for ideas on what to get the science lover in your life? From great sci-fi to books on how to build a pond or see the stars, these are the cultural gems that staff at ��è��Ƶ recommend

Culture

Environment

Don't miss: Rights for the planet, art for tomorrow and oceanic beauty

Culture

Humans

How HBO's Silicon Valley excuses the tech industry's moral failings

Culture

Space

See the northern lights or aurora borealis: Follow this easy guide

Winter is the best time to see the amazing phenomenon of the polar lights, when solar particles stream into Earth's atmosphere

Regulars

��è��Ƶ puzzle #33: The mountain pass

Regulars

Life

Heroism and slapstick humour: Wolf behaviour can be amazingly human

Regulars

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Greta Thunberg's gold mining doppelgänger found in 1898 photo

Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more

Regulars

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This week's magazine

7 December 2019

On the cover

Environment

General election 2019: Who is strongest on climate change action?

Health

We need to wake up to the potential threat from microplastics

Humans

Altruism 2.0: How to use science to make charitable acts go further

Health

We constantly eat microplastics. What does that mean for our health?

Physics

The universe tends towards disorder. But how come nobody knows why?

Table of contents

Leaders

Health

We need to wake up to the potential threat from microplastics

��è����Ƶ

Technology

Turn any object into a robot using this program and a 3D printer

Life

Nightingales practise new songs in winter to impress mates in spring

Technology

Tinder may not actually be very good for finding a partner

Earth

Underwater internet cables can detect offshore earthquakes

Environment

CO2-guzzling bacteria made in the lab could help tackle climate change

Health

Gut microbes may predict whether exercising will prevent diabetes

Technology

Russian disinformation campaigns on Twitter may not actually work

Humans

Neanderthals may have died out due to sheer bad luck

Health

Treating babies for HIV rapidly after birth reduces signs of the virus

Health

New rules for gay and bisexual male blood donors found to be safe

Environment

What is the UN's COP25 climate summit, and why does it matter?

Technology

Companies could be fined if they fail to explain decisions made by AI

Humans

Roman shipwreck full of 2000-year-old jugs found on Greek sea floor

Physics

We've discovered a strange twist in the story of how crystals form

Mind

Two brain networks behave differently in people who are suicidal

Life

Ancient puppy found in permafrost still has its fur and whiskers

Environment

The race to find wild relatives of food plants before it's too late

Technology

Revealed: Mental health websites are selling your data to advertisers

Space

NASA has found the remnants of India’s Vikram moon lander

Physics

Amazon enters quantum computing race with cloud quantum processors

Life

Female brown bears hang out near humans to keep cubs safe from males

Health

Cholesterol levels predict if under-45s will ever have heart disease

Analysis

Environment

General election 2019: Who is strongest on climate change action?

Technology

Teens aren't addicted to their phones - but we like to think they are

Environment

Why you should worry about your pet’s ecological footprint

Humans

Science's fake news problem: How funding pressures drive bad research

Aperture

Environment

Bali's stunning rice terraces offer clues to sustainable water use

Features

Physics

The universe tends towards disorder. But how come nobody knows why?

Health

We constantly eat microplastics. What does that mean for our health?

��è��Ƶ

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��è��Ƶ puzzle #33: The mountain pass