New Scientist

New Scientist covers the latest developments in science and technology that will impact your world. New Scientist employs and commissions the best writers in their fields from all over the world. Our editorial team provide cutting-edge news, award-winning features and reports, written in concise and clear language that puts discoveries and advances in the context of everyday life today and in the future.

Elsewhere on New Scientist

Arabian insights • Stunning finds have thrust the region into the story of humanity’s rise

New Scientist

Australia’s delta wave • The country’s strict covid-19 measures haven’t been enough to stop the extremely contagious variant, reports Alice Klein

Will the IPCC report matter? • It is clear that we must move quickly to avoid the worst of climate change, but will the latest IPCC report finally push politicians to act, asks Adam Vaughan

1.5°C is possible • Don’t give up on climate action yet, Tamsin Edwards tells Adam Vaughan

VPN flaw could put users at risk • An attack on virtual private networks could see people sent to fraudulent websites

Huge stream of gas may be unknown arm of our galaxy

The ventilation problem • Maximising airflow in public spaces is crucial to cut covid-19 transmission, but questions remain about what technology to use and how effective it needs to be, says Graham Lawton

How well ventilated is my local area?

Stripped-back cell still evolves • A bacterial cell engineered to contain just 493 genes can adapt to its surroundings

Mercury has almost no boulders and we’re not sure why

Herd immunity to covid-19 may not be attainable in the UK • A high vaccination rate will save many lives, but it probably won’t be enough to stop covid-19 becoming a seasonal disease, finds Helen Thomson

Snake-like robot could explore Saturn’s icy moon

What is a metaverse? • An old idea is gaining new traction through online gaming and big tech’s bet on virtual reality, says Matthew Sparkes

A handheld railgun as powerful as an air rifle is driven by electromagnets

Insect-killing plant found by Australian road new to science

Monkeys navigate using mental maps just like us

Gut bacteria helped dogs go omnivore

New way to simplify quantum computers

Really brief

How the snake got its venomous fangs

Wildfires may have worsened impact of covid-19 in the US

Printed chain mail is flexible but strong

Recarbonise the planet • Regenerating natural systems will draw carbon out of the atmosphere and help tackle climate change. We must do it, says Jonathon Porritt

Our love of looking up • The night sky has wowed people since the dawn of time, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a good view, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Your letters

Nature’s range

Can we model the world? • We can forecast everything from traffic flow to human migration, shows a new book. But will the predictions ever win us over, wonders Simon Ings

Sick in Manaus • A film about a security guard who contracts a mystery fever is strangely compelling, says Gregory Wakeman

Don’t miss

Secrets and lies • A gripping new drama set in a wellness retreat offers an opportunity to unwind, but the science takes a back seat, says Gege Li

The other cradle of humanity • New evidence shows our ancestors didn’t just come out of Africa, they also came out of Arabia, as Michael Marshall discovers

Ancient art of Arabia

Into Arabia • Evidence unearthed in the past decade reveals that hominins were living in Arabia up to 500,000 years ago, and spent long periods there at times when the climate was wetter and the environment lusher

Possible Arabians...