Adrian Tchaikovsky: 'I try and do interesting aliens' 24. March 2026 (12:00) As the science fiction author publishes the latest novel in his Children of Time series, Children of Strife, he talks to Alison Flood about mantis shrimp, the pleasures of sci-fi and why empathy is so important in his writing(New Scientist)
Are humans degenerating genetically and getting dumber as a result? 24. March 2026 (10:00) Are we evolving to be more stupid? Humans have a relatively high genetic mutation rate, which has been thought to be driving down our physical and mental fitness – but columnist Michael Le Page finds these mutations aren’t the health risk some make them out to be(New Scientist)
Genetic clues tell the story of Neanderthals' decline 23. March 2026 (20:00) The Neanderthal population shrank during a cold spell around 75,000 years ago, and the loss of genetic diversity may have contributed to their eventual extinction(New Scientist)
Warmer ocean is driving the Antarctic sea ice 'regime shift' 23. March 2026 (20:00) Since 2016, Antarctic sea ice extent has been declining sharply – now scientists are piecing together how strong winds and warm deep water have played a part in this abrupt transition(New Scientist)
The simple questions cracking the hard problem of consciousness 23. March 2026 (17:00) Do we all see the same red? Or feel joy and sadness alike? Mapping how our inner experiences relate to one another could finally reveal how physical processes in the brain give rise to consciousness(New Scientist)
Mysterious comet disintegration caught by telescope after lucky break 23. March 2026 (14:04) Catching a comet in the process of falling apart is difficult, but a coincidence let astronomers see one in more detail than ever before using the Hubble Space Telescope – and revealed a mystery(New Scientist)
'Zombie' cells created by transplanting genomes into dead bacteria 23. March 2026 (11:47) Researchers have created the first living synthetic bacterium made from non-living parts by killing a bacterial cell and then transplanting the genome of another species into it, blurring the boundary between life and death(New Scientist)
You can now buy a DIY quantum computer 21. March 2026 (13:00) Qilimanjaro is selling a relatively cheap kit with everything you need for a quantum computer – you just need to be able to put it together(New Scientist)
