1+ hour, 7+ min ago  (563+ words) A proposed technique to counter global warming by spraying sun-reflecting particles near the poles would cause commercial flights to pass through clouds of sulphuric acid, posing a danger to passengers and crew Commercial airliners could pass through clouds of sulphuric…...

1+ hour, 12+ min ago  (251+ words) From friendship in a world of chatbots to what it means to be alive, this month's new popular science books are asking some big questions. Liz Else rounds up the ones she's most looking forward to Australia's tiger quoll " as…...

6+ hour, 40+ min ago  (337+ words) A prototype cell partly capable of replicating itself has been created using 36 existing bacterial genes, but it's not really a living organism " yet Spud Cell is the first synthetic cell system built from non-living components to complete a full cell…...

22+ hour, 12+ min ago  (98+ words) Published 1 July 2026 From J. Lewis, London, UK The United Nations has urged users of AI chatbots to avoid niceties to save water and energy. To me, this advice is futile on two levels (13 June, p 11). Firstly, asking users to act against…...

22+ hour, 13+ min ago  (212+ words) The vibrant colours and delicate details of New Zealand's fungi and slime moulds are documented in these images, taken from Jay Lichter's new book The Secret Life of Fungi A ruby bonnet fungus The ruby bonnet fungus (Cruentomycena viscidocruenta), pictured…...

19+ hour, 4+ min ago  (343+ words) A prototype cell partly capable of replicating itself has been created using 36 existing bacterial genes, but it's not really a living organism " yet Spud Cell is the first synthetic cell system built from non-living components to complete a full cell…...

22+ hour, 13+ min ago  (216+ words) What is an itch, and why are most so easily calmed with a simple touch? And if my family tree doubles at every past ancestor generation, at what point does it decrease to reflect the size of the population? What…...

22+ hour, 12+ min ago  (112+ words) New Scientist A whistleblower discovers proof of alien life in Disclosure Day A former physician living in the ruins of northern England treats a violent patient. A whistleblower steals evidence of intelligent alien life and tries to share it with…...

1+ day, 1+ hour ago  (484+ words) A form of fibre that boosts the release of the hunger-reducing hormone GLP-1 has been approved as safe by a European regulator, and could be added to foods within a year Products like breads and smoothies that are fortified with…...

1+ day, 1+ hour ago  (449+ words) A philosopher has put forward an argument for rethinking how particles are defined within the standard model of particle physics The Super-Kamiokande neutrino detector facility in Japan The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images The standard model of particle physics may…...