Science News

Many biologists suspect the first life on Earth was based on RNA, but a new study suggests DNA could have been in the mix right from the start

Waste heat is all around you. On a small scale, if your phone or laptop feels warm, that's because some of the energy powering the device is being transformed into unwanted heat.

(Wiley) A recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) such as alendronate, which are widely used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis, are lin...

10 percent of the global population suffers from some form of kidney disease. That includes 37 million people in the US, 100,000 of whom pass away each year awaiting a kidney transplant. Our kidneys are crucial for keepi...

Nobel prizewinner Jim Peebles introduced dark matter and dark energy into our standard model of the cosmos - but that is only an approximation to a deeper truth, he says.

Experts say we need larger studies and more data.

UC Santa Barbara researchers continue to push the boundaries of LED design a little further with a new method that could pave the way toward more efficient and versatile LED display and lighting technology.

We must take action to prevent future pandemics, she warned.

Watching videos of different tasks being completed is oddly satisfying and reminds us of pre-lockdown life, says Annalee Newitz

Ideas about natural capital and ecosystems services have altered how some governments value biodiversity - they could also help us build back better after lockdown

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic

Scientists from IFJ PAN in cooperation with researchers from the Nara Women's University (Japan) and the Jagiellonian University (Poland) took another important step towards building a functional quantum computer. Using ...

47% of differences in sensitivity between individuals are a result of genetics, while 53% of the differences are a result of environmental factors.

Double-sided solar panels that track the sun as it moves in the sky would produce 35 per cent more energy and reduce the average cost of electricity by 16 per cent

Protesting during a pandemic can be risky. Here are ways to lessen the risk and what to do after you've attended a protest against police brutality spurred by the death of George Floyd.

Just like a toddler, this dinosaur was a picky eater.

Certain personality traits could increase the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a new study reports. Openness was associated with a 6% reduced risk of developing a pre-dementia condition, while those who scor...

A new paper has shown how large structures in the distribution of galaxies in the Universe provide the most precise tests of dark energy and cosmic expansion yet.

How the UK's handling of testing, contact tracing, protective equipment and lockdown led to one of the highest covid-19 death tolls in the world

Ten experimental vaccines for covid-19 are already being trialled in people but we don't know yet if it's possible to induce long-lasting immunity with a vaccine

Glass is such a common material that you probably don't think about it much. It may surprise you to learn that researchers today still don't understand how glass forms. Figuring this out is important for glass industries...

Researchers have developed a new light-based method for identifying plastic particles in large volumes of water. The new system could help scientists better understand how tiny particles get distributed deep in the ocean...