The one diet that’s good for everything: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Time and time again, scientists have found that one diet beats all others when it comes to our health. Fortunately, it's delicious – and also good for the planet(New Scientist)
The immense interconnectivity of the brain: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) How discovering that different parts of the brain work together as networks has transformed our understanding of everything from daydreaming and emotions to planning and memory(New Scientist)
The hidden power of epigenetics: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Following the surprising discovery that our genetic blueprint is much simpler than expected, we’ve rapidly learned that we have epigenetics to thank for our extraordinary complexity(New Scientist)
End-to-end encryption: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) How end-to-end encryption is the wall that keeps our digital secrets safe – and why modern life would be unimaginable without it(New Scientist)
Revealing the epic story of ancient humans: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Since the turn of the millennium, our understanding of our ancestors and extended cousins has shifted dramatically, thanks to a swathe of surprising archaeological discoveries(New Scientist)
The totemic 1.5°C climate target: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Although we’re on course to cross 1.5°C of warming, the alliance of small island nations that revised our goal down from the 2°C threshold transformed global climate policy(New Scientist)
How fear drastically shapes ecosystems: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Understanding the “landscape of fear” that predators create in their environments has helped us uncover just how drastically humans have upended the natural world(New Scientist)
We can block the spread of HIV: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) The “enormous revelation” that drugs can be used to prevent catching HIV has benefitted millions and helped slash transmission rates(New Scientist)
The electrification of everything: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable power is crucial. The opening of Tesla's first "gigafactory", which used economies of scale to electrify our transport and energy systems, marked a turning point in this endeavour(New Scientist)
