Newsfeeds
New Scientist - Home
New Scientist - Home
-
Unpicking the genetics of fibromyalgia sheds new light on its causes
Fibromyalgia, which causes chronic pain all over the body, is poorly understood, but two studies – made up of millions of participants – are helping us get to the roots of the condition
-
Teenager builds advanced robot hand entirely from Lego pieces
A four-fingered robotic hand built from Lego Mindstorms pieces can push, pull and grip with almost as much force as a leading 3D-printed hand
-
We may finally know why birds sing at dawn
Birds all over the world break into a dawn chorus every morning – now experiments in zebra finches suggest both a mechanistic and a functional explanation for this phenomenon
-
Testosterone helps libido in menopause – can it treat other symptoms?
A growing body of research suggests testosterone replacement therapy can alleviate menopausal symptoms such as a decrease in libido, mood swings and brain fog. But some in the field are sceptical
-
Civet coffee: The real chemistry behind this bizarre luxury drink
Scientists are finding out how coffee beans are transformed when they pass through the guts of Asian palm civets in the hope of replicating the process without using animals
-
The Martian permafrost may be hiding veins of habitable liquid water
Buried underground near the surface, frozen regions of Mars could have tiny hidden channels full of liquid water, which could be a habitable environment for microscopic organisms
-
Cloud microbes' colours could help us detect life on other planets
Microbes high in Earth’s stratosphere produce pigments to protect them from UV light – so similar molecules could be biosignatures of life elsewhere in the galaxy
-
Solar energy is going to power the world much sooner than you think
Solar electricity is growing rapidly, but can it really dominate the global energy system? Here is what it will take for us to power the planet on sunshine
-
Common IVF test misses some genetic abnormalities in embryos
Human embryos formed with in vitro fertilisation can develop genetic abnormalities in the time between genetic testing and implantation – though this may not affect their viability
-
Tweaked lithium-ion battery can be pierced without catching fire
Lithium-ion batteries are prone to catching fire when damaged, but a simple change of electrolyte material can put a stop to the vicious chemical cycle that causes the problem