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This week's magazine

20 November 2021

Issue 3361

New Scientist issue 3361 cover
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On the cover

Features
Why is there something not nothing? The big bang isn’t the only answer
Why does evolution happen? The rules on Earth may well be universal
Why is the universe intelligible? Things aren’t as clear as we think
Why haven't we heard from aliens? There is a reason for the silence
Why are we irrational? How a logical flaw stops us solving problems
Why is quantum theory so strange? The weirdness could be in our heads
Why is there a cosmic speed limit? It could even be why we're here
Why does time only move forwards? Possibly just because we’re ignorant
Why is the universe just right for life? Blame the multiverse
Why are we good and evil? A single quality may be at the root of it
Why do we exist? The meaning of life isn’t to be found in the stars
Why are we conscious? The answer lies in other animals’ heads
Why do we grieve? The surprising origin of the feeling of loss
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Editor's picks

2A2CJ55 Montreal, CA - 27 September 2019: More than 500 000 people take part in the Montreal Climate March.

51¶¯Âþ is 65 years old and our mission remains the same as ever

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PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. SQUID GAMES, NETFLIX Season 1. Episode 4. Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo

Life

Why does evolution happen? The rules on Earth may well be universal

Features
WHY is the universe intelligible? X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/R. DiStefano, et al.; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI/Grendler

Physics

Why is the universe intelligible? Things aren’t as clear as we think

Features
WHY is there a cosmic speed limit?

Physics

Why is there a cosmic speed limit? It could even be why we're here

Features
WHY do we act irrationally?

Humans

Why are we irrational? How a logical flaw stops us solving problems

Features
WHY haven't we heard from aliens? Nestled amongst the vast clouds of star-forming regions like this one lie potential clues about the formation of our own Solar System

Life

Why haven't we heard from aliens? There is a reason for the silence

Features
WHY is the universe just right? Spiral Galaxy in deep spcae, 3D illustration

Life

Why is the universe just right for life? Blame the multiverse

Features
WHY do we grieve? A floral tribute fastened to a lamp post at the scene of a fatal road accident in Birmingam city centre, UK. The flowers were placed there by family and friends of the victim.

Humans

Why do we grieve? The surprising origin of the feeling of loss

Features
WHY is quantum theory so strange? Out of Your Mind Science series. Design made of spiral of human silhouette face line and abstract elements on the subject of consciousness, the mind, artificial intelligence and technology

Physics

Why is quantum theory so strange? The weirdness could be in our heads

Features
WHY are we both good and evil? 3d render illustration of light grey and black colored female faces on black background, relationship, psychology or good and evil concept.

Humans

Why are we good and evil? A single quality may be at the root of it

Features
WHY does time only move forward?

Physics

Why does time only move forwards? Possibly just because we’re ignorant

Features
WHY do we exist?

Life

Why do we exist? The meaning of life isn’t to be found in the stars

Features
WHY is there something rather than nothing?

Physics

Why is there something not nothing? The big bang isn’t the only answer

Features
WHY are we conscious?

Humans

Why are we conscious? The answer lies in other animals’ heads

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

2A2CJ55 Montreal, CA - 27 September 2019: More than 500 000 people take part in the Montreal Climate March.

51¶¯Âþ is 65 years old and our mission remains the same as ever

"THE world has entered a phase of spectacular technological advances." So The 51¶¯Âþ wrote on 22 November 1956 when introducing its mission . Nuclear bombs had fallen on Hiroshima and Nagasaki a little over a decade before, the digital computer was in its infancy and the space race was just beginning. The desire to …

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‘Ghosting’ in casual relationships linked to some personality types

Mind

‘Ghosting’ in casual relationships linked to some personality types

Ceasing contact with a partner abruptly is considered more acceptable by people with the personality traits of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy, at least in short-term relationships

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Life

Asian honeybees scream in alarm when giant hornets attack the hive

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Earth

New mineral davemaoite discovered inside a diamond from Earth's mantle

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Humans

Origins of Japanese and Turkish language family traced back 9000 years

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Health

Covid-resistant people point way to universal coronavirus vaccine

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Life

Cats can mentally map their owner’s location from voice alone

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Space

A fragment of our moon may be orbiting the sun with Earth

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Mind

Using tools helps you understand language and vice versa

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Life

Deep-sea rockfish that live to be 200 hint at genes for longevity

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Health

Paralysed mice walk again after gel is injected into spinal cord

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Humans

Having impostor syndrome may actually make you better at your job

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Space

Enigmatic Planet Nine may have been seen by telescope in the 1980s

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Life

Birds in the Amazon are adapting to climate change by getting smaller

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Environment

Trees are dying at increasing rates in forests across Europe

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Space

The biggest moons of Uranus may have oceans beneath their icy shells

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Technology

IBM creates largest ever superconducting quantum computer

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Technology

AI can quickly identify structure of drugs designed for ‘legal highs’

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Life

Pale barn owls in UK and Ireland hint at ancient land bridge

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Environment

The many twists and turns that led to a new climate pact at COP26

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Environment

An emotionally gruelling fortnight for those pushing for change

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Analysis

A psilocybin therapy trial therapy room.

Health

Psilocybin therapy steps closer to credibility with largest trial yet

Promising results from a psilocybin trial suggest that psychedelic therapies for depression could help some – but not all – people who don't respond to conventional antidepressants

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Environment

Our AI is exposing climate misinformation throughout COP26

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Health

How worried should we be about covid-19 spreading among wild animals?

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Environment

COP26 could never be a true success without delivering climate justice

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Environment

What difference will the COP26 climate summit make?

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Aperture

Lion?s Mane Jellyfish, Bonne Bay Fjord, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada, 2012.

Life

A beautiful reminder of where Earth's two worlds meet

Dazzling photos of the world above and below the ocean waterline, showcased in David Doubilet's book Two Worlds: Above and below the sea, reveal Earth’s rich duality

Regulars

Features

WHY is there something rather than nothing?

Physics

Why is there something not nothing? The big bang isn’t the only answer

The idea that the universe started in the big bang revolutionised 20th-century cosmology. But it seems increasingly unlikely it was a case of something from nothing

Features

Life

Why does evolution happen? The rules on Earth may well be universal

Features

Physics

Why is the universe intelligible? Things aren’t as clear as we think

Features

Life

Why haven't we heard from aliens? There is a reason for the silence

Features

Humans

Why are we irrational? How a logical flaw stops us solving problems

Features

Physics

Why is quantum theory so strange? The weirdness could be in our heads

Features

Physics

Why is there a cosmic speed limit? It could even be why we're here

Features

Physics

Why does time only move forwards? Possibly just because we’re ignorant

Features

Life

Why is the universe just right for life? Blame the multiverse

Features

Humans

Why are we good and evil? A single quality may be at the root of it

Features

Life

Why do we exist? The meaning of life isn’t to be found in the stars

Features

Humans

Why are we conscious? The answer lies in other animals’ heads

Features

Humans

Why do we grieve? The surprising origin of the feeling of loss

Features

Culture

dolphin family underwater on reef background looking at you; Shutterstock ID 649542721; purchase_order: PHOTO; job: 20th Nov; client: NS; other:

Mind

What intoxicated animals can teach us about our vices

Is there a chemical explanation for those chilled-out smiles? Book Drunk Flies and Stoned Dolphins: A trip through the world of animal intoxication Oné R. Pagán IF YOU have ever woken up with an apocalyptic hangover and vowed to live a more wholesome life , don't look to nature for inspiration. In particular, don't copy …

Culture

Humans

Finch review: Even Tom Hanks can’t save this tame dystopian sci-fi

Culture

Humans

Don’t miss: Star trek returns with the Discovery crew

Culture

Humans

The Riftbreaker review: Interplanetary mining with an alien twist

Culture

More

Puzzle #140: How far will Mr Bodger walk to dodge dirt?

Puzzle #140: How far will Mr Bodger walk to dodge dirt?

#140 Drum roll Aiming to mix the contents of a rusty drum without getting dirty, Mr Bodger has an idea. The drum is lying on its side, so he wants to place one end of an old plank, which is 5 metres long, on the side of the drum, then walk towards the drum while …

Regulars

An inside look at oysters – and how to enjoy them safely

Regulars

Twisteddoodles: The fateful switch that cursed Frankenstein

Regulars

Tom Gauld reveals that for science jokes, audience is everything

Regulars

Regulars

Fair COP? A hodgepodge of strange goings-on at the big climate summit

Fair COP? A hodgepodge of strange goings-on at the big climate summit

Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

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