How – and why – we chose the best 21 ideas of the 21st century 21. January 2026 (19:00) 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(New Scientist)
Our earliest vertebrate ancestors may have had four eyes 21. January 2026 (17:00) Extraordinary fossils of 518-million-year-old jawless fish, among the earliest known vertebrates, appear to show that these animals had two pairs of eyes(New Scientist)
Oldest known rock art is a 68,000-year-old hand stencil with claws 21. January 2026 (17:00) Newly discovered rock art sites in Sulawesi, Indonesia, that date to nearly 68,000 years ago are thought to be the oldest rock art in the world, pre-dating Neanderthal hand stencils in Spain by 1100 years(New Scientist)
Ape-like hominin Paranthropus was more adaptable than we thought 21. January 2026 (17:00) A fossil discovery in northern Ethiopia expands the known range of Paranthropus, a genus of strong-jawed hominins that lived around 2 million years ago, and suggests they lived in a range of habitats(New Scientist)
Bird retinas work without oxygen, and now scientists know how 21. January 2026 (17:00) The light-sensitive tissue of birds’ eyes is not supplied with oxygen by blood vessels – instead, it powers itself with a flood of sugar, and this may have evolutionary benefits(New Scientist)
Octopuses prompt rethink of why animals evolve big brains 21. January 2026 (11:00) A popular idea suggests a link between big brains and a rich social life, but octopuses don't fit the pattern, which suggests something else is going on(New Scientist)
Bubble feeding trick spreads through humpback whale social groups 21. January 2026 (01:01) Humpback whales off the west coast of Canada have learned a cooperative hunting technique from whales migrating into the area, and this cultural knowledge may help the population cope as food becomes scarce(New Scientist)
Cross-training may be the key to a long life 21. January 2026 (00:30) People who combine different types of exercise - such as running, cycling and swimming - seem to live longer than those with less varied workouts(New Scientist)
Scientists investigate ‘dark oxygen’ in deep-sea mining zone 20. January 2026 (20:00) Startling findings in 2024 suggested that metallic nodules on the sea floor produce oxygen and might support life. Now researchers are planning an expedition to learn more and refute criticism from mining companies(New Scientist)
