It would be a mistake to rush into an under-16 social media ban 28. January 2026 (19:00) Many countries are debating whether to follow Australia and ban social media for younger teenagers. But with more robust evidence on its harms coming, we shouldn't be too hasty(New Scientist)
This virus infects most of us – but why do only some get very ill? 28. January 2026 (17:00) The ubiquitous Epstein-Barr virus is increasingly being linked to conditions like multiple sclerosis and lupus. But why do only some people who catch it develop these complications? The answer may lie in our genetics(New Scientist)
Ancient humans were seafaring far earlier than we realised 28. January 2026 (17:00) Thousands of years before the invention of compasses or sails, prehistoric peoples crossed oceans to reach remote lands like Malta and Australia. Doing so meant striking out in unknowable conditions. What do such crossings tell us about ancient minds?(New Scientist)
Huge fossil bonanza preserves 512-million-year-old ecosystem 28. January 2026 (17:00) A treasure trove of Cambrian fossils has been discovered in southern China, providing a window on marine life shortly after Earth’s first mass extinction event(New Scientist)
We're getting closer to growing a brain in a lab dish 28. January 2026 (12:12) Clumps of cells known as organoids are helping us to understand the brain, and the latest version comes equipped with realistic blood vessels to help the organoids live longer(New Scientist)
Our brains play a surprising role in recovering from a heart attack 27. January 2026 (17:00) A newly discovered collection of neurons suggests the brain and heart communicate to trigger a neuroimmune response after a heart attack, which may pave the way for new therapies(New Scientist)
Nobel prizewinner Omar Yaghi says his invention will change the world 27. January 2026 (17:00) Chemist Omar Yaghi invented materials called MOFs, a few grams of which have the surface area of a football field. He explains why he thinks these super-sponges will define the next century(New Scientist)
