New Scientist

A tiny robot keeps on working no matter how hard researchers stamp on it. It weighs less than 0.01 grams but has the staying power of a cockroach

Humans are good at smelling cheese, sweat and sweet odours because we have more receptors for them than anything else, probably to help us choose which foods to eat

A DeepMind AI can predict whether someone will get acute kidney injury 48 hours before it occurs, but it's too soon to tell if the tech will actually make a difference

Recent evidence that the placenta has its own community of microbes is now uncertain as it seems the experiments were corrupted by contamination

Quantum physicist and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili talks footballing ambitions, dream chats with Einstein and the incredible connection between gravity and space-time

Understanding the workings of our minds is one of science's greatest challenges. With the help of flashing lights and materials used in diapers, we could find out what thoughts are made of

Empty Hearts is an exciting thriller with a disturbing way of dealing with people you disagree with politically, says Helen Marshall in her latest sci-fi column

Three new books reveal the same picture: the global economy is shattered. They suggest how a more people-focused approach than capitalism might alleviate poverty and encourage jobs

The global water supply is limited, and shortages will affect over 1.8 billion people by 2025. Fortunately, we've discovered a way to pull water from thin air - even in the desert

From tiny tyrannosaurs to species that soar on bat wings, new dinosaurs are unearthed every month. And the strangest discoveries may yet be lying in wait

Make a motion-controlled wildlife camera with an old smartphone and find out what birds, bees, butterflies and badgers are visiting your garden

A chip used to control an autonomous bicycle is inspired by the brain and could pave the way for AI with a broader range of abilities

Amid continued protests over the construction of the Thirty Metre Telescope on Mauna Kea, Haunani Kane suggests scientists can learn from Hawaiian culture

Reducing food miles seems a sensible and straightforward way to cut carbon emissions. But digging into the science shows it's not that simple, says James Wong

Russia has declared a state of emergency in five Siberian regions after a million people signed petitions demanding action on unprecedented wildfires

Governments are increasingly shutting down access to the internet in an effort to curb organised violence. But evidence shows it usually makes things worse

We assume our senses see reality as it is - but that could be just an evolved illusion obscuring the true workings of quantum theory and consciousness

Birds' feathers are so complicated that it was a mystery how they evolved. The answer might be a rare combination of natural and sexual selection

The vaquita, a small porpoise and the most endangered marine mammal, has long been threatened by fishing nets. A new study says there are just 19 animals left

An analysis of Lyme disease cases in the UK suggests that the infection may be three times more common than the current estimates