We all harbour 9 secrets and they are eating us up inside 27. February 2026 (10:00) Secret-keeping evolved to maintain social harmony, but it can weigh heavily on us when we can’t stop thinking about them. So, what is the best way to deal with things that we don't want anyone else to know?(New Scientist)
Could a niche 80s technology be the key to better quantum computers? 27. February 2026 (10:00) Superconducting computing circuits were briefly heralded as the future of computing in the 1980s. Columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan visits a quantum chip foundry where one company is betting this technology’s second act will revolutionise quantum computers(New Scientist)
Stem cell patch reverses brain damage in fetuses with spina bifida 27. February 2026 (00:30) The congenital condition spina bifida is often treated surgically in the womb, but many children still go on to have mobility issues. The addition of a patch made up of stem cells from donated placentas could improve their long-term outcomes(New Scientist)
Banning children from VPNs and social media will erode adults' privacy 26. February 2026 (17:51) Legislation working its way through the UK parliament would ban children from using social media and virtual private networks – but the proposals would endanger online privacy and may not make children safer, say legal experts(New Scientist)
Is geothermal energy on the cusp of a worldwide renaissance? 26. February 2026 (11:00) The UK's first geothermal plant in Cornwall is part of a wave of projects aiming to meet growing electricity demand, some of them enabled by technology from oil and gas fracturing(New Scientist)
Why I have changed my mind about AI and you should too 26. February 2026 (10:00) Both boosters and sceptics have strongly held opinions on AI tools like ChatGPT, but after an experiment in vibe coding, I have realised that both camps are wrong, says Jacob Aron(New Scientist)
