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This week's magazine

24 January 2026

Issue 3579

New Scientist issue 3579 cover
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Editor's picks

2WKKMAM Vivid image of a light bulb shattering with a dynamic multicolored glass fragment splash

Life

How – and why – we chose the best 21 ideas of the 21st century

Comment
Realising the importance of our microbiome: Best ideas of the century

Health

Realising the importance of our microbiome: Best ideas of the century

Features
Embracing quantum spookiness: Best ideas of the century

Physics

Embracing quantum spookiness: Best ideas of the century

Features
Crowdsourcing Wikipedia’s encyclopedia: Best ideas of the century

Technology

Crowdsourcing Wikipedia’s encyclopedia: Best ideas of the century

Features
The totemic 1.5°C climate target: Best ideas of the century

Environment

The totemic 1.5°C climate target: Best ideas of the century

Features
We can block the spread of HIV: Best ideas of the century

Health

We can block the spread of HIV: Best ideas of the century

Features
We can rewrite our genetic code: Best ideas of the century

Health

We can rewrite our genetic code: Best ideas of the century

Features
The one diet that’s good for everything: Best ideas of the century

Health

The one diet that’s good for everything: Best ideas of the century

Features
Our solar system is extremely weird: Best ideas of the century

Space

Our solar system is extremely weird: Best ideas of the century

Features
Smartphones (yes, really): Best ideas of the century

Technology

Smartphones (yes, really): Best ideas of the century

Features
The electrification of everything: Best ideas of the century

Technology

The electrification of everything: Best ideas of the century

Features
How fear drastically shapes ecosystems: Best ideas of the century

Environment

How fear drastically shapes ecosystems: Best ideas of the century

Features
End-to-end encryption: Best ideas of the century

Technology

End-to-end encryption: Best ideas of the century

Features
Revealing the epic story of ancient humans: Best ideas of the century

Humans

Revealing the epic story of ancient humans: Best ideas of the century

Features
The hidden power of epigenetics: Best ideas of the century

Health

The hidden power of epigenetics: Best ideas of the century

Features
The one innovation that supercharged AI: Best ideas of the century

Technology

The one innovation that supercharged AI: Best ideas of the century

Features
There’s no such thing as a normal brain: Best ideas of the century

Mind

There’s no such thing as a normal brain: Best ideas of the century

Features
Filming the universe’s biggest dramas: Best ideas of the century

Space

Filming the universe’s biggest dramas: Best ideas of the century

Features
A revolution in how we do chemistry: Best ideas of the century

Chemistry

A revolution in how we do chemistry: Best ideas of the century

Features
Pinning extreme weather on climate change: Best ideas of the century

Environment

Pinning extreme weather on climate change: Best ideas of the century

Features
The invention of net zero: Best ideas of the century

Environment

The invention of net zero: Best ideas of the century

Features
The immense interconnectivity of the brain: Best ideas of the century

Mind

The immense interconnectivity of the brain: Best ideas of the century

Features
The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong

Humans

The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

2WKKMAM Vivid image of a light bulb shattering with a dynamic multicolored glass fragment splash

Life

How – and why – we chose the best 21 ideas of the 21st century

From smartphones to net zero, there has been no shortage of innovative ideas in the past 25 years, which is why we have taken a look back to choose the best

Comment

51¶¯Âþ

Humans

Pompeii’s public baths were unhygienic until the Romans took over

Before the Romans captured Pompeii, the famous town was run by the Samnite people – and a dip in their public baths might have been an unpleasant experience

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Life

Greenland sharks survive for centuries with diseased hearts

51¶¯Âþ

Health

Meat may play an unexpected role in helping people reach 100

51¶¯Âþ

Health

These small lifestyle tweaks can add a year to your life

51¶¯Âþ

Environment

Sooner-than-expected climate impacts could cost the world trillions

51¶¯Âþ

Life

T. rex took 40 years to become fully grown

51¶¯Âþ

Environment

Sinking river deltas put millions at risk of flooding

51¶¯Âþ

Life

Woolly rhino genome recovered from meat in frozen wolf pup’s stomach

51¶¯Âþ

Space

Distant 'little red dot' galaxies may contain baby black holes

51¶¯Âþ

Life

Stunning images reveal the rich biodiversity of remotest Tanzania

51¶¯Âþ

Life

Giving astronauts tardigrade toughness will be harder than we hoped

51¶¯Âþ

Technology

A leading use for quantum computers might not need them after all

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Health

Body fat supports your health in surprisingly complex ways

51¶¯Âþ

Space

Earliest ever supernova sheds light on the first stars

51¶¯Âþ

Mathematics

Amateur mathematicians solve long-standing maths problems with AI

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Environment

World is entering an era of 'water bankruptcy'

51¶¯Âþ

Space

Star appears to have vanished in a failed supernova

51¶¯Âþ

Life

Bornean orangutan enjoys being back in the wild

51¶¯Âþ

Features

The one diet that’s good for everything: Best ideas of the century

Health

The one diet that’s good for everything: Best ideas of the century

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

Features

Mind

There’s no such thing as a normal brain: Best ideas of the century

Features

Mind

The immense interconnectivity of the brain: Best ideas of the century

Features

Environment

The totemic 1.5°C climate target: Best ideas of the century

Features

Chemistry

A revolution in how we do chemistry: Best ideas of the century

Features

Health

Realising the importance of our microbiome: Best ideas of the century

Features

Space

Our solar system is extremely weird: Best ideas of the century

Features

Space

Filming the universe’s biggest dramas: Best ideas of the century

Features

Environment

The invention of net zero: Best ideas of the century

Features

Environment

Pinning extreme weather on climate change: Best ideas of the century

Features

Physics

Embracing quantum spookiness: Best ideas of the century

Features

Humans

Revealing the epic story of ancient humans: Best ideas of the century

Features

Health

The hidden power of epigenetics: Best ideas of the century

Features

Environment

How fear drastically shapes ecosystems: Best ideas of the century

Features

Health

We can block the spread of HIV: Best ideas of the century

Features

Health

We can rewrite our genetic code: Best ideas of the century

Features

Technology

The one innovation that supercharged AI: Best ideas of the century

Features

Technology

The electrification of everything: Best ideas of the century

Features

Technology

Smartphones (yes, really): Best ideas of the century

Features

Technology

Crowdsourcing Wikipedia’s encyclopedia: Best ideas of the century

Features

Technology

End-to-end encryption: Best ideas of the century

Features

Humans

The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong

Features

Culture

Jockeys compete in a race for purebred Arabian horses at the Liwa International Festival 2023, some 250 kilometres west of the Gulf Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on December 23, 2022. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Life

A fascinating book reveals the ancient story of horses and humans

Ludovic Orlando's Horses is an enthralling account by one of the main players, detailing how genetics has rewritten what we know about the intertwined story of horses and humans, now spanning over 4000 years

Culture

Society

Can we battle the downsides of a rule-based world, asks a new book

Culture

Space

51¶¯Âþ recommends Avatar: Fire and Ash – especially the whale

Culture

Space

Peter F. Hamilton's latest is an epic slice of sci-fi – with one flaw

Culture

More

We were wrong about being able to 'nudge' people to improve the world

Society

We were wrong about being able to 'nudge' people to improve the world

We thought we could address big social problems by steering individual behaviour. But "nudging" people doesn't work, say behavioural scientists Nick Chater and George Loewenstein

Comment

Technology

The internet feels super lonely right now. Here's why

Comment

Space

How to spot the lunar X and V

Regulars

Tom Gauld: Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Professor Horatio...

Regulars

Twisteddoodles: If AI had the skills (and the emotions) of an artist

Regulars

Regulars

Let's nitpick about the physics of Stranger Things, not its ending

Physics

Let's nitpick about the physics of Stranger Things, not its ending

Feedback has seen all the fuss about the finale of Stranger Things, but would like to point out that if we're going to dissect the plot, we have bigger things to worry about

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

The last word

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