World is entering an era of 'water bankruptcy' 20. January 2026 (19:00) Countries have spent beyond their sustainable water budgets for so long that critical assets are depleted and the world faces huge economic, social and environmental costs(New Scientist)
Chernobyl cooling systems have lost power but meltdown risk is low 20. January 2026 (17:25) An electrical outage at Chernobyl nuclear power plant risks dangerous fuel overheating, but experts say that the chances are extremely slim due to the age of the reactors, which were shut down over two decades ago(New Scientist)
Satellites could use magnetic fields to avoid collisions 20. January 2026 (17:00) Two or more satellites could communicate and manoeuvre around one another using magnetic fields, although getting the technique to work at scale in space might be tricky(New Scientist)
The 3 best ways to tackle anxiety, according to a leading expert 20. January 2026 (16:00) It is impossible to get rid of anxiety because it exists to help us, says cognitive psychotherapist Owen O'Kane. Instead, he suggests three ways to reframe your relationship with anxiety in order to take back control(New Scientist)
Mars once had a vast sea the size of the Arctic Ocean 20. January 2026 (13:00) Spacecraft orbiting the Red Planet have helped researchers map out an ancient coastline that surrounded a large ocean billions of years ago(New Scientist)
Sunscreens made from ground-up wood reach an SPF of over 180 20. January 2026 (11:00) Concerns around common sunscreen chemicals have prompted the search for natural alternatives, with lignin from wood being one of the most promising candidates(New Scientist)
Embracing quantum spookiness: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) The strange principle of quantum entanglement baffled Albert Einstein. Yet finally putting quantum weirdness to the ultimate test, and embracing the results, turned out to be a revolutionary idea(New Scientist)
Pinning extreme weather on climate change: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) It never used to be possible to attribute individual weather events to climate change and map their full consequences. Thanks to the work of two pioneering climate scientists, it is now(New Scientist)
Filming the universe’s biggest dramas: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Astronomers used to rely on chance to catch a glimpse of fleeting explosions in space. A fresh approach to watching these flashes has completely transformed astronomy(New Scientist)
The invention of net zero: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Net zero wasn’t always the target – the consensus used to be that we could continue releasing greenhouse gases and maintain global temperatures. How did that change?(New Scientist)
