Viruses, like the coronavirus causing covid-19, can evolve rapidly. Knowing how and why they change should help us beat this pandemic and prevent future ones Health 20 May 2020 SEVERAL weeks before the novel coronavirus became a serious issue in the UK, I attended a friend’s birthday party. Already, much of the conversation centred on […] More
New Scientist’s weekly round-up of the best books, films, TV series, games and more that you shouldn’t miss Health 20 May 2020 Visit online Arctic: culture and climate is an exhibition at the British Museum covering everything from 28,000-year-old mammoth ivory jewellery to modern snow mobiles. Though it has been postponed, you can now view […] More
A man who lived in Siberia about 14,000 years ago is the earliest known person in the world to have the specific mix of genes seen in people with Native American ancestry, analysis of DNA from a fossilised tooth has revealed. This suggests the link between ancient Siberian and Native American people is much deeper […] More
The oldest disk-shaped galaxy ever spotted formed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang, a new study finds. That’s much earlier than astronomers thought that this type of galaxy could form. Previous observations show that disk-shaped galaxies — including sprawling, spiral systems like the Milky Way — didn’t show up in large numbers until […] More
Forget the idea of a single drive to eat – you have evolved distinct appetites for various foods. This makes it easier to eat exactly what you need, and helps explain the obesity epidemic Health 20 May 2020 STELLA lived on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. It was a beautiful, rural setting just […] More
During this spell of enforced confinement, many of us have found a renewed enthusiasm for cooking and baking. Recipes that normally seem too time-consuming now feel like a thoroughly relaxing way to pass the time, and making yourself delicious things to eat is an easy way to bring joy in a period when we are […] More
Online exhibitions, artificial island explorers and whether art and culture can thrive on the internet, all in this week’s guide to what’s worth checking out Humans 13 May 2020 Paul Calbar/Getty Images Visit FACT, a centre for art, film and new technology in Liverpool, UK, is putting together a year-long online programme of podcasts, live […] More
Hypertension affects one in four adults and is usually treated with medication, even though lifestyle changes can reduce blood pressure. Here’s what you need to know Health 13 May 2020 LAST year, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension. “Why me?” I asked. “I exercise regularly, I’m not overweight, I don’t […] More
