science
Author of Red Mars calls 'bullshit' on emigrating to the planet
Kim Stanley Robinson opens his classic science fiction novel Red Mars in 2026. As the New Scientist Book Club embarks on reading it in April, he looks back on its origins – and how the idea of moving to Mars holds up today Source link
Temperature gets a new definition using a quantum device
A device that relies on quantum effects and oversized atoms may be a more reliable way to measure temperature that doesn’t require calibration Source link
Rare Andean bear captured in stunning photograph
Shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, this image by photographer Sebastian Di Domenico was taken in Columbia Source link
Cancer-causing chemical found to be leaking from gas cookers
One in 10 homes tested in the UK, Italy and the Netherlands have dangerous levels of benzene because of slow leaks from gas hobs and ovens Source link
Cystitis or tooth decay could trigger dementia just a few years later
Infections are increasingly being linked to a higher risk of dementia. In the latest research, scientists have found that being treated in hospital for a severe infection seems to raise the risk of developing the condition over the next five to six years Source link
Mysterious comet disintegration caught by telescope after lucky break
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 Source link
Private company to land on asteroid Apophis as it flies close to Earth
Apophis will be visited by multiple spacecraft – including landers – when it skims past Earth in three years Source link
Probiotic cream that ramps up heat production could prevent frostbite
Tweaking our skin’s microbiome via a probiotic cream could prevent frostbite and hypothermia in extreme environments Source link
Physicists create formula for how many times you can fold a crêpe
When you fold a flexible material such as a pancake or a tortilla, its behaviour depends on a competition between gravity and elasticity Source link
Boosting the blood-brain barrier could avert brain damage in athletes
The neurodegenerative condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy appears to be driven by damage to the blood-brain barrier due to repetitive head injuries, like those that occur in boxing. This suggests that drugs that strengthen this barrier could prevent or slow the condition Source link