Phantom codes could help quantum computers avoid errors 03. March 2026 (19:00) A method for making quantum computers less error-prone could let them run complex programs such as simulations of materials more efficiently, thus making them more useful(New Scientist)
Selfish Y chromosome may explain why some families mostly have sons 03. March 2026 (18:13) A family in Utah with a disproportionate number of boys has been traced back over hundreds of years, revealing that its lack of female members is probably due to a selfish Y chromosome(New Scientist)
Rare family has had many more sons than daughters for generations 03. March 2026 (18:13) Analysing the births of a Utah family over seven generations has revealed that their disproportionate number of boys could be caused by a selfish Y chromosome(New Scientist)
The real reasons birth rates are declining worldwide 03. March 2026 (17:00) From the cost of childcare to the housing crisis, there’s no shortage of explanations for the dramatic global fall in the number of babies being born. These analyses, though, are all missing something, says cognitive and evolutionary anthropologist Paula Sheppard(New Scientist)
Your microbiome may determine your risk of a severe allergic reaction 03. March 2026 (17:00) The microbes that live in our mouth and gut may influence whether an allergic reaction to peanuts is mild or life-threatening, and could be harnessed to ward off a severe attack(New Scientist)
Why the US is using a cheap Iranian drone against the country itself 03. March 2026 (13:36) The US and Iran are trading blows in the Gulf with a simple drone that costs as little as $50,000 to make. But why is a slow, cheap and relatively primitive drone seeing use in 2026 alongside hypersonic missiles and stealth jets?(New Scientist)
Would aliens do physics, or is science a human invention? 03. March 2026 (10:00) Shaped by a different biology or culture, other intelligent civilisations – if they’re out there – might understand the universe in a completely different way than we do. Physicist Daniel Whiteson explores what that could tell us about physics and ourselves(New Scientist)
First drone passengers may be combat casualties and criminals 03. March 2026 (09:00) Drones aren't yet licensed to carry passengers, but some may already be airlifting wounded personnel off the battlefield and could be employed for smuggling people(New Scientist)
A crisis in cosmology may mean hidden dimensions really exist 02. March 2026 (17:00) Physicists are scrambling to understand why dark energy is weakening. In a surprising twist, we must now reconsider the possibility that our reality contains extra dimensions(New Scientist)
