Could a new kind of carbon budget ensure top emitters pay their dues? 28. March 2025 (12:00) Some researchers propose that countries should start to rack up a carbon debt once they exceed their carbon budget, obliging them to do more to draw down carbon dioxide, but the idea is unlikely to form part of international climate agreements(New Scientist)
Distracted by your phone? Putting it out of reach may not help 28. March 2025 (06:00) When researchers asked people to work on a computer with their phones 1.5 metres away, the amount of time they spent on their phone went down – but they just scrolled social media on their laptop instead(New Scientist)
Flourishing microalgae could offset emissions as the planet heats up 27. March 2025 (16:00) Photosynthesising microbes in soil may increase their activity as temperatures rise, offsetting some of the carbon emissions expected to be released from peatland and permafrost(New Scientist)
We've spotted auroras on Neptune for the first time 27. March 2025 (14:40) After 34 years of searching, astronomers have finally confirmed Neptune has auroras, thanks to data from the James Webb Space Telescope(New Scientist)
Quantum computers are on track to solve knotty mathematical problems 27. March 2025 (12:30) A quantum algorithm for solving mathematical problems related to knots could give us the first example of a quantum computer tackling a genuinely useful problem that would otherwise be impossible for a classical computer(New Scientist)
What is vibe coding, should you be doing it, and does it matter? 27. March 2025 (11:55) The rise of large language models like ChatGPT that can churn out computer code has led to a new term - vibe coding - for people who create software by asking AI to do it for them(New Scientist)
Ancient wasp may have used its rear end to trap flies 27. March 2025 (02:00) Bizarre parasitic wasps preserved in amber about 99 million years ago had trap-like abdomens that they may have used to immobilise other insects(New Scientist)
The Ozempic era is only just beginning 26. March 2025 (19:00) In the past year, treatments such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound have become household names. But there are many questions left to answer, not least what the future holds for weight-loss medications and society at large(New Scientist)
