Mars once had a vast sea the size of the Arctic Ocean 20. January 2026 (13:00) Spacecraft orbiting the Red Planet have helped researchers map out an ancient coastline that surrounded a large ocean billions of years ago(New Scientist)
Sunscreens made from ground-up wood reach an SPF of over 180 20. January 2026 (11:00) Concerns around common sunscreen chemicals have prompted the search for natural alternatives, with lignin from wood being one of the most promising candidates(New Scientist)
Embracing quantum spookiness: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) The strange principle of quantum entanglement baffled Albert Einstein. Yet finally putting quantum weirdness to the ultimate test, and embracing the results, turned out to be a revolutionary idea(New Scientist)
Pinning extreme weather on climate change: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) It never used to be possible to attribute individual weather events to climate change and map their full consequences. Thanks to the work of two pioneering climate scientists, it is now(New Scientist)
Filming the universe’s biggest dramas: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Astronomers used to rely on chance to catch a glimpse of fleeting explosions in space. A fresh approach to watching these flashes has completely transformed astronomy(New Scientist)
The invention of net zero: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Net zero wasn’t always the target – the consensus used to be that we could continue releasing greenhouse gases and maintain global temperatures. How did that change?(New Scientist)
A revolution in how we do chemistry: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) From finding new antibiotic candidates to studying the insides of cells, snapping molecules together "like Lego" has completely overhauled chemistry, and biology too(New Scientist)
Why a tool-using cow could change how we see farm animals 19. January 2026 (17:00) A pet cow has learned to scratch herself with a broom, showing creative problem-solving skills that make it harder to ignore the fact that these animals have minds, says Marta Halina(New Scientist)
There’s no such thing as a normal brain: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Neurodiversity research has reshaped how we think about autism and ADHD, revealing that a “normal” brain doesn’t exist – and that unusual brains also come with unique strengths(New Scientist)
The one innovation that supercharged AI: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) The most powerful artificial intelligence tools all have one thing in common. Whether they are writing poetry or predicting protein structures, they rely on the "transformer" architecture(New Scientist)
