¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

This week's magazine

17 April 2021

Issue 3330

New Scientist issue 3330 cover
Previous issue Next issue
arrow
View in the app
Check out this magazine in our easy-to-navigate mobile app
arrow
Find a previous edition online
Search through our digital archive of over 30 years of magazines

Editor's picks

Limiting fossil fuel use isn’t enough – we must stop extraction too

Environment

Limiting fossil fuel use isn’t enough – we must stop extraction too

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ
Communication is key as covid-19 lockdowns ease and offices reopen

Communication is key as covid-19 lockdowns ease and offices reopen

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ
How to keep your brain healthy: The 7 things you should do every day

Health

How to keep your brain healthy: The 7 things you should do every day

Features
Exploring 'Aquaterra', the drowned continent walked by our ancestors

Humans

Exploring 'Aquaterra', the drowned continent walked by our ancestors

Features
Quantum computers are revealing an unexpected new theory of reality

Physics

Quantum computers are revealing an unexpected new theory of reality

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

Communication is key as covid-19 lockdowns ease and offices reopen

Communication is key as covid-19 lockdowns ease and offices reopen

IN COUNTRIES where covid-19 is coming under some degree of control, those who have spent the pandemic working from home are beginning to return to their workplaces. For many, this will come as a relief after months of virtual interaction with colleagues. Others will mourn the return of the commute. Some will feel anxious about …

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Mining bitcoin requires a lot of computer power

Technology

Bitcoin mining emissions in China will hit 130 million tonnes by 2024

Mining bitcoin requires a lot of computer power The carbon emissions associated with mining bitcoin have accelerated rapidly in China, and they will soon outstrip the total annual emissions of mid-sized European countries. Analysis by Guan Dabo at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and his colleagues suggests that the total carbon footprint of bitcoin mining …

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Life

Dead eagles found across the US had rat poison in their blood

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Physics

Strange muon behaviour hints at mysterious new particles and forces

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Technology

Redesign makes drones quieter and less annoying without losing thrust

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Environment

A third of Antarctic ice shelves risk collapsing due to climate change

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Humans

People are bad at spotting simple solutions to problems

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Health

Dementia risk doubles if people have both vision and hearing loss

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Technology

Regular headphones can detect a heart rate and hear your conversations

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Environment

Australian bushfires warmed the stratosphere by 1°C for six months

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Space

Mars swung between humid and arid conditions before it dried up

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Humans

People expect chocolate to taste bitter if it is in black packaging

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Technology

Artificial nervous system senses light and learns to catch like humans

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Life

Animals with weird neurons may rewrite the story of brain evolution

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Humans

Basic income trial is testing how money affects child development

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Life

The frequencies of a vibrating spider web have been made into music

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Space

The US plans to put a nuclear-powered rocket in orbit by 2025

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Health

India sees record surges in cases due to coronavirus variants

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Health

5 steps to make offices as coronavirus-proof as possible

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Health

How a return to offices after covid-19 lockdown affects mental health

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Analysis

Limiting fossil fuel use isn’t enough – we must stop extraction too

Environment

Limiting fossil fuel use isn’t enough – we must stop extraction too

Turbines off the coast of Denmark, the biggest wind farm producer FOSSIL fuels aren't mentioned in the world's landmark deal for tackling catastrophic climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement commits leaders to holding warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, or "well below" 2°C at the worst – but nowhere does it say how much oil, …

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Health

We have overlooked a crucial cause of the world's nutrition crisis

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Humans

Why I'm no longer writing a newsletter for Substack

¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

Aperture

Amazing images from International Space station battle for photo prize

Space

Amazing images from International Space station battle for photo prize

Stunning photos taken by astronauts on the International Space Station are competing for the public’s vote in NASA’s Tournament Earth contest

Regulars

Features

Quantum computers are revealing an unexpected new theory of reality

Physics

Quantum computers are revealing an unexpected new theory of reality

A powerful new idea about how the laws of physics work could bring breakthroughs on everything from quantum gravity to consciousness, says researcher Chiara Marletto

Features

Health

How to keep your brain healthy: The 7 things you should do every day

Features

Humans

Exploring 'Aquaterra', the drowned continent walked by our ancestors

Features

Culture

The Disordered Cosmos review: An insider take on physics and injustice

Humans

The Disordered Cosmos review: An insider take on physics and injustice

A bold new book by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein combines her love of physics with a strong analysis of the inequalities rife in science

Culture

Humans

Suffrage Science podcast salutes the achievements of female scientists

Culture

Humans

Don't Miss: Netflix teen superpower series Zero

Culture

Humans

Why do so many people love android killer Murderbot?

Culture

More

How to find Hydra, the biggest constellation in the sky

Space

How to find Hydra, the biggest constellation in the sky

Named after a water snake, Hydra is a large constellation, but it isn't very bright. Finding it will take really dark skies – and tapping into some of astronomy's top visualising tips, says Abigail Beall

Regulars

Puzzle #109: Can you solve this week’s teaser, Chocs-A-Weigh?

Regulars

Tom Gauld's absurd theory that matter is inherently conscious

Regulars

Twisteddoodles' virtual co-worker helps you work from home

Regulars

Regulars

The face mask that may be more organic than you bargained for

The face mask that may be more organic than you bargained for

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

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

The last word

Browse past issues

View all
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop