AI speeds UK cyberattacks, but also bolsters defenses
AI is making cyberattacks on UK infrastructure faster and more relentless, while also becoming a key tool for defenders.
Science
Space, physics, materials, and general research.
Magnetofossil shapes reveal past deep-ocean oxygen levels
Bacterial magnetic fossils in seafloor sediments provide a new way to calculate absolute oxygen concentrations in ancient oceans.
Four biotech moments that shaped modern science
A veteran New Scientist reporter picks the breakthroughs that most surprised him over a long career.
Silk Road Trade Flourished During Drought Thanks to Mountain Meltwater
Sediment cores from Jili Lake suggest that meltwater, not rainfall, sustained Central Asia’s oasis hubs during the Tang Dynasty, with implications for trade in a warming world.
Brain under anesthesia still analyzes language, study finds
Baylor researchers report that the anesthetized brain can recognize word types and anticipate story continuations, raising questions about the nature of consciousness.
Engineered Immune Receptors Could Shield Crops From Devastating Fungus
Researchers have engineered plant immune receptors that can recognize multiple fungal threats at once, offering a potential new defense for rice, wheat, and barley.
Skyview High School to Receive Quantum Computer for Hands-On Learning
Starting in January, students at Skyview High School in Virginia will work directly with a quantum computer to learn its underlying principles.
People Still See AI as Less Conscious Than Humans, Study Finds
A new study shows that even when AI behaves identically to humans, people consistently rate it as less conscious—but not less aware.
AI expands CO2-to-fuel reaction network, revealing hidden hydrogen pathway
Machine learning and quantum simulations uncovered thousands of overlooked reactions in CO2 hydrogenation, improving predictions and exposing a direct molecular-hydrogen transfer mechanism.
Ancient shipwreck off Turkey may be world’s oldest
A Early Bronze Age ship found near Turkey was likely carrying olive oil and may have been bound for Troy.
Soundscapes take center stage in new nature book 'Wilderness Songs'
A new book pairs written accounts of wild places with QR codes that let readers hear the sounds of ice, monkeys, and other natural phenomena.
Twisteddoodles Cartoon Pokes Fun at Life Before a Study
New Scientist's weekly cartoon by Twisteddoodles uses humour to frame what everyday life looked like before a research project began.
Patchier Permafrost Tied to Stronger Hillslope Erosion
Lake sediment records show that hillslope erosion is two to three times more intense where permafrost is discontinuous, suggesting warming could accelerate Arctic landscape change.
Mars Terraforming Plan Could Destroy Its Climate Archive
A proposed nanoparticle warming scheme could erase billions of years of Martian climate and possible life evidence before scientists can read it.
Giant prehistoric snake Vasuki indicus may have rivaled Titanoboa
Fossils from western India suggest a 47-million-year-old snake reached up to 50 feet, placing it among the largest known serpents.
Cancer Cells Spread from Fetus to Twin Sister in Utero
A rare case documents a fetus developing cancer and passing tumor cells to her twin sister before birth.
Reviving a Collapsed AMOC Is Possible, but Requires Deep CO2 Removal
A weakened Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could be restored by cooling the planet, yet the required carbon removal technology does not yet exist.
‘Co-Existence’ offers a practical guide to working with AI
A New Scientist review praises Ethan Mollick’s book as an excellent practical guide to collaborating with AI while preserving human cognitive strengths.