Civet coffee: The real chemistry behind this bizarre luxury drink 23. October 2025 (18:00) Scientists are finding out how coffee beans are transformed when they pass through the guts of Asian palm civets in the hope of replicating the process without using animals(New Scientist)
The Martian permafrost may be hiding veins of habitable liquid water 23. October 2025 (17:00) Buried underground near the surface, frozen regions of Mars could have tiny hidden channels full of liquid water, which could be a habitable environment for microscopic organisms(New Scientist)
Cloud microbes' colours could help us detect life on other planets 23. October 2025 (15:00) Microbes high in Earth’s stratosphere produce pigments to protect them from UV light – so similar molecules could be biosignatures of life elsewhere in the galaxy(New Scientist)
Common IVF test misses some genetic abnormalities in embryos 23. October 2025 (12:00) Human embryos formed with in vitro fertilisation can develop genetic abnormalities in the time between genetic testing and implantation – though this may not affect their viability(New Scientist)
Tweaked lithium-ion battery can be pierced without catching fire 23. October 2025 (10:00) Lithium-ion batteries are prone to catching fire when damaged, but a simple change of electrolyte material can put a stop to the vicious chemical cycle that causes the problem(New Scientist)
'Weaponised' CAR T-cell therapy shows promise against solid tumours 23. October 2025 (03:00) So far, immune cells that have been engineered to kill cancers, known as CAR T-cells, haven’t worked well against solid cancers - but a study in mice suggests that could soon change(New Scientist)
Wegovy has heart health benefits even if weight loss is minimal 23. October 2025 (01:30) Studies have suggested that Wegovy directly boosts heart health, beyond just the benefits of losing weight, and now that has been demonstrated in a robust trial in people(New Scientist)
An excellent guide to the labyrinthine world of COP summits 22. October 2025 (20:00) In the run-up to this year's COP in Brazil, Madeleine Cuff explores The Climate Diplomat, a poignant account by the late Peter Betts, a negotiator who showed what diplomacy can achieve(New Scientist)
