New Scientist

Cooling rubidium atoms and slowing them down makes them behave like a mirror that could one day be used to explore the quantum world

Less than a third of Antarctica is still entirely pristine and free from direct human influence, according to an analysis that scientists say shows the need for greater environmental protections in the remote region

Different ways of measuring how fast the expansion of the universe is accelerating disagree with one another, and new measurements are not fixing the issue

A survey of families in the UK finds that during lockdown some children are more emotional or disobedient, while others have lower anxiety without the pressures of school

A protein linked to brain damage in people with Alzheimer’s disease may come from the gut, which could lead to new therapies to prevent the condition

Our bodies evolved to take rest breaks, but sitting on chairs and couches can cause long-term damage. Here’s how to change the way you sit and boost your health

Extinction Rebellion activists who occupied London twice last year were largely white, middle class and highly educated - but many were first-time or inexperienced protesters, a new analysis has found

Face masks or coverings will soon become compulsory in shops in England, as they are in many other countries. What has changed that led to this new policy?

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic

Hurricanes may be common on exoplanets that orbit small, red stars over the course of about 10 days, and they are most likely to form on planets that are tidally locked, and so have one side with perpetual daytime

A smaller proportion of people seem to be dying from covid-19 in the US and in hospitals in England, but that doesn’t mean the coronavirus is becoming less deadly

Microscopic filaments added to the end of optical fibres act as tiny pliers that can pick up objects just tens of microns in size

National lockdowns and a lack of chemicals due to the covid-19 pandemic have affected the illegal drug trade – but cartels have found workarounds

The UK has three months to avoid a potential second wave of infections in the winter that could lead to 120,000 hospital deaths, finds a report requested by the government’s chief scientific adviser

The coronavirus pandemic’s knock-on impact on healthcare for tuberculosis, malaria and HIV could lead to deaths on a similar level to those from covid-19 itself in some parts of the world, a new analysis finds

Mesh-like pencil sketches on paper can be used as sensors that detect heart rate, skin temperature and compounds in sweat

The first reliable way of isolating and growing sperm stem cells could lead to new fertility treatments, including correcting mutations that block sperm production

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic

Comet Neowise is currently putting on an impressive show for observers in the northern hemisphere, and you should be able to see it without binoculars or a telescope

A black panel of aluminium created by lasers can purify water containing human waste and heavy metals to drinkable standards, using just sunlight