Single-celled organism with no brain is capable of Pavlovian learning 13. March 2026 (15:00) A trumpet-shaped, single-celled organism seems able to predict one thing will follow another, hinting that such associative learning emerged long before multicellular nervous systems(New Scientist)
Why are we so suspicious of do-gooders? 13. March 2026 (10:00) A growing body of research shows that we tend to discount a person’s good deeds if they stand to benefit from them. Columnist David Robson explores where this instinct comes from – and whether we should resist it(New Scientist)
The race to solve the biggest problem in quantum computing 13. March 2026 (08:00) The errors that quantum computers make are holding the technology back. But recent progress in quantum error correction has excited many researchers(New Scientist)
We don’t know if AI-powered toys are safe, but they’re here anyway 13. March 2026 (01:01) Toys powered by AI show a worrying lack of emotional understanding. But we need to understand the risks and benefits of the technology so the industry can be regulated, not outright banned(New Scientist)
How worried should you be about your BMI? 12. March 2026 (19:00) Body mass index (BMI) is used as a global standard for measuring health, but does it actually tell you anything about how healthy you are on an individual level? Carissa Wong explains the problems with this flawed tool(New Scientist)
Can species evolve fast enough to survive as the planet heats up? 12. March 2026 (19:00) The story of a wildflower that adapted to a severe drought in California raises hopes that evolution will come to the rescue of species hit by climate change, but there are limits(New Scientist)
Why drug overdose deaths have suddenly plummeted in the US 12. March 2026 (17:00) Fentanyl-related overdose deaths fell by nearly 30 per cent in the space of a year in the US, which could represent a significant turning point in the country's opioid addiction crisis(New Scientist)
Rumours of a Firefly reboot abound, but should the Serenity fly again? 12. March 2026 (12:15) Star Nathan Fillion is stoking rumours that cult western-in-space television series Firefly could be rebooted. Emily H. Wilson realises she is being toyed with – but is still praying for its return(New Scientist)
Undisclosed ads on TikTok skirt ban on profiling minors 12. March 2026 (11:15) Teenagers are being bombarded with highly targeted commercial content on TikTok, despite an EU law that prohibits profiling minors for advertising(New Scientist)
