New Scientist
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The best place to find out what’s new in science – and why it matters.
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In this week’s issue: Your BMI can't tell you much about your health – here's what can, teaching molecules to think is revealing what a 'mind' is, and the weird rules of temperature in the quantum realm.
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3582/
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3582/
About 4600 years ago, the population of Britain was replaced by a people who brought Bell Beaker pottery with them. Now, ancient DNA has uncovered the murky story of where these people came from
The surprising origins of Britain's Bronze Age immigrants revealed
About 4600 years ago, the population of Britain was replaced by a people who brought Bell Beaker pottery with them. Now, ancient DNA has uncovered the murky story of where these people came from
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:48 PM
About 4600 years ago, the population of Britain was replaced by a people who brought Bell Beaker pottery with them. Now, ancient DNA has uncovered the murky story of where these people came from
As Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth talk about wanting to make Star Trek real, long-time fan Chanda Prescod-Weinstein says they've misconstrued the heart of the story
Why Elon Musk has misunderstood the point of Star Trek
As Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth talk about wanting to make Star Trek real, long-time fan Chanda Prescod-Weinstein says they've misconstrued the heart of the story
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:59 PM
As Elon Musk and Pete Hegseth talk about wanting to make Star Trek real, long-time fan Chanda Prescod-Weinstein says they've misconstrued the heart of the story
An antibody that has the power to neutralise any influenza strain could be widely administered in the form of a nasal spray if a flu pandemic emerges
Nasal spray could prevent infections from any flu strain
An antibody that has the power to neutralise any influenza strain could be widely administered in the form of a nasal spray if a flu pandemic emerges
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
An antibody that has the power to neutralise any influenza strain could be widely administered in the form of a nasal spray if a flu pandemic emerges
Columnist Michael Le Page delves into a catalogue of hundreds of potentially beneficial gene mutations and variants that is popular with transhumanists
Can we genetically improve humans using George Church’s famous list?
Columnist Michael Le Page delves into a catalogue of hundreds of potentially beneficial gene mutations and variants that is popular with transhumanists
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Columnist Michael Le Page delves into a catalogue of hundreds of potentially beneficial gene mutations and variants that is popular with transhumanists
It's a truism that weeds love poor soil, but is there anything to it? And what is a weed, anyway? James Wong investigates
Do weeds really love poor soil? Not if you look at the science
It's a truism that weeds love poor soil, but is there anything to it? And what is a weed, anyway? James Wong investigates
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
It's a truism that weeds love poor soil, but is there anything to it? And what is a weed, anyway? James Wong investigates
Where is physics headed? No one knows for sure, but Beyond the Quantum by Antony Valentini is a striking new book that reminds us what a big idea really looks like, finds Jon Cartwright
A remarkable book on quantum mechanics reveals a really big idea
Where is physics headed? No one knows for sure, but Beyond the Quantum by Antony Valentini is a striking new book that reminds us what a big idea really looks like, finds Jon Cartwright
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Where is physics headed? No one knows for sure, but Beyond the Quantum by Antony Valentini is a striking new book that reminds us what a big idea really looks like, finds Jon Cartwright
The idea of self-amplifying gene editing is to get cells to pass on packages of CRISPR machinery to their neighbours, boosting the effect
Gene editing that spreads within the body could cure more diseases
The idea of self-amplifying gene editing is to get cells to pass on packages of CRISPR machinery to their neighbours, boosting the effect
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
The idea of self-amplifying gene editing is to get cells to pass on packages of CRISPR machinery to their neighbours, boosting the effect
Reposted by New Scientist
A big challenge for CRISPR gene editing 🧬 is altering a high enough proportion of target cells in the body 🧪
So @doudna-lab.bsky.social have developed editors that can amplify themselves by spreading from cell to cell
Comment from @gaetanburgio.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
So @doudna-lab.bsky.social have developed editors that can amplify themselves by spreading from cell to cell
Comment from @gaetanburgio.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
Gene editing that spreads within the body could cure more diseases
The idea of self-amplifying gene editing is to get cells to pass on packages of CRISPR machinery to their neighbours, boosting the effect
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
A big challenge for CRISPR gene editing 🧬 is altering a high enough proportion of target cells in the body 🧪
So @doudna-lab.bsky.social have developed editors that can amplify themselves by spreading from cell to cell
Comment from @gaetanburgio.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
So @doudna-lab.bsky.social have developed editors that can amplify themselves by spreading from cell to cell
Comment from @gaetanburgio.bsky.social
www.newscientist.com/article/2514...
Can a single particle have a temperature? It may seem impossible with our standard understanding of temperature, but columnist Jacklin Kwan finds that it’s not exactly ruled out in the quantum realm
The weird rules of temperature get even stranger in the quantum realm
Can a single particle have a temperature? It may seem impossible with our standard understanding of temperature, but columnist Jacklin Kwan finds that it’s not exactly ruled out in the quantum realm
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Can a single particle have a temperature? It may seem impossible with our standard understanding of temperature, but columnist Jacklin Kwan finds that it’s not exactly ruled out in the quantum realm
Kanzi, a bonobo with exceptional language skills, took part in a make-believe tea party that demonstrated cognitive abilities never seen before in non-human primates
Bonobo's pretend tea party shows capacity for imagination
Kanzi, a bonobo with exceptional language skills, took part in a make-believe tea party that demonstrated cognitive abilities never seen before in non-human primates
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Kanzi, a bonobo with exceptional language skills, took part in a make-believe tea party that demonstrated cognitive abilities never seen before in non-human primates
Two-year-olds raised in vegan or vegetarian households don't necessarily have restricted growth, according to a study of 1.2 million children
Vegan toddlers can grow at the same rate as omnivores
Two-year-olds raised in vegan or vegetarian households don't necessarily have restricted growth, according to a study of 1.2 million children
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Two-year-olds raised in vegan or vegetarian households don't necessarily have restricted growth, according to a study of 1.2 million children
An otherworldly coral, a very cute moth and an intricately beautiful mushroom are among the winners in the prize this year
Five stunning images from the Close-up Photographer of the Year awards
An otherworldly coral, a very cute moth and an intricately beautiful mushroom are among the winners in the prize this year
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:09 PM
An otherworldly coral, a very cute moth and an intricately beautiful mushroom are among the winners in the prize this year
Nearly 40 years after Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, Sarah Alam Malik's epic exploration of the cosmos reflects a changed landscape around science in the 21st century, finds Alison Flood
A new 'brief history' of the universe paints a wide picture
Nearly 40 years after Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, Sarah Alam Malik's epic exploration of the cosmos reflects a changed landscape around science in the 21st century, finds Alison Flood
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Nearly 40 years after Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time, Sarah Alam Malik's epic exploration of the cosmos reflects a changed landscape around science in the 21st century, finds Alison Flood
While snakes and ladders is purely a game of chance, there is a way to add some strategy, says mathematician Peter Rowlett
Bored of snakes and ladders? Some maths can help bring back the fun
While snakes and ladders is purely a game of chance, there is a way to add some strategy, says mathematician Peter Rowlett
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM
While snakes and ladders is purely a game of chance, there is a way to add some strategy, says mathematician Peter Rowlett
It's hard not to despair about the state of the world today, but here are five reasons to be a little bit hopeful, says Fred Pearce
Why I'm still an environmental optimist – despite it all
It's hard not to despair about the state of the world today, but here are five reasons to be a little bit hopeful, says Fred Pearce
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:42 PM
It's hard not to despair about the state of the world today, but here are five reasons to be a little bit hopeful, says Fred Pearce
An experiment with superconducting qubits opens the door to determining whether quantum devices could be less energetically costly if they are powered by quantum batteries
Fast-charging quantum battery built inside a quantum computer
An experiment with superconducting qubits opens the door to determining whether quantum devices could be less energetically costly if they are powered by quantum batteries
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:14 PM
An experiment with superconducting qubits opens the door to determining whether quantum devices could be less energetically costly if they are powered by quantum batteries
The first people to reach the Kitsissut Islands off the north-west coast of Greenland were Indigenous peoples, who crossed over 50 kilometres of treacherous water
Seafarers were visiting remote Arctic islands over 4000 years ago
The first people to reach the Kitsissut Islands off the north-west coast of Greenland were Indigenous peoples, who crossed over 50 kilometres of treacherous water
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:35 AM
The first people to reach the Kitsissut Islands off the north-west coast of Greenland were Indigenous peoples, who crossed over 50 kilometres of treacherous water
When we exercise more, our bodies may compensate by using less energy for other things – especially if we eat less too
Why exercise isn't much help if you are trying to lose weight
When we exercise more, our bodies may compensate by using less energy for other things – especially if we eat less too
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:06 AM
When we exercise more, our bodies may compensate by using less energy for other things – especially if we eat less too
A fleet of wind-propelled robot boats could act as a sensor network covering a wide area and relay acoustic signals to a submarine
Royal Navy returns to wind power with trial of robotic sailboats
A fleet of wind-propelled robot boats could act as a sensor network covering a wide area and relay acoustic signals to a submarine
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:43 AM
A fleet of wind-propelled robot boats could act as a sensor network covering a wide area and relay acoustic signals to a submarine
The late photographer's work depicting some of the world's coldest places is collected in his new book Genesis
Sebastião Salgado's stunning shots of the world's icy regions
The late photographer's work depicting some of the world's coldest places is collected in his new book Genesis
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:05 AM
The late photographer's work depicting some of the world's coldest places is collected in his new book Genesis
People classed as “overweight” according to BMI can be perfectly healthy. But there are better measures of fat, and physicians are finally using them
Your BMI can't tell you much about your health – here's what can
People classed as “overweight” according to BMI can be perfectly healthy. But there are better measures of fat, and physicians are finally using them
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:40 AM
People classed as “overweight” according to BMI can be perfectly healthy. But there are better measures of fat, and physicians are finally using them
In this week’s issue: Your BMI can't tell you much about your health – here's what can, teaching molecules to think is revealing what a 'mind' is, and the weird rules of temperature in the quantum realm.
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3582/
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3582/
February 12, 2026 at 9:34 AM
In this week’s issue: Your BMI can't tell you much about your health – here's what can, teaching molecules to think is revealing what a 'mind' is, and the weird rules of temperature in the quantum realm.
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3582/
Grab a copy in shops now or download our app for digital editions. newscientist.com/issue/3582/
Feedback is always on the lookout for better ways to measure things, and was delighted to learn how the weight of ice is quantified in Austin, Texas
'Roughly 109.5 golden retrievers': a new way to measure ice
Feedback is always on the lookout for better ways to measure things, and was delighted to learn how the weight of ice is quantified in Austin, Texas
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Feedback is always on the lookout for better ways to measure things, and was delighted to learn how the weight of ice is quantified in Austin, Texas
Your organs are constantly talking to each other in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Tapping into these communication networks is opening up radical new ways to boost health
The secret signals our organs send to repair tissues and slow ageing
Your organs are constantly talking to each other in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Tapping into these communication networks is opening up radical new ways to boost health
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Your organs are constantly talking to each other in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Tapping into these communication networks is opening up radical new ways to boost health
We are told we need cynical strategies to "play" the dating game, but the science says this is totally wrong. David Robson enjoys an evidence-based takedown from psychologist Paul Eastwick
What to read this week: Bonded by Evolution by Paul Eastwick
We are told we need cynical strategies to "play" the dating game, but the science says this is totally wrong. David Robson enjoys an evidence-based takedown from psychologist Paul Eastwick
www.newscientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:08 AM
We are told we need cynical strategies to "play" the dating game, but the science says this is totally wrong. David Robson enjoys an evidence-based takedown from psychologist Paul Eastwick