The mathematician who doesn’t exist 08. May 2026 (11:00) A secret society of French mathematicians has been revolutionising the field of mathematics under a pseudonym for nearly a century. Columnist Jacob Aron finds that this mythic collective provided maths a rigorous and useful foundation, and did some real harm along the way(New Scientist)
Hantavirus outbreak will not cause a covid-style pandemic, says WHO 07. May 2026 (18:40) The World Health Organization sought to quell worldwide fears over the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius and reassure the public that the risk of widespread transmission is low(New Scientist)
Coffee's mood-boosting effects aren't just down to caffeine 07. May 2026 (17:00) A comprehensive study exploring coffee’s physiological effects finds that some of its benefits are down to polyphenols and their influence on gut bacteria(New Scientist)
The best new popular science books of May 2026 07. May 2026 (13:00) A guide to walking, a look at the world’s Google searches and a deep dive into the secrets of our DNA are some of the topics tackled by the popular science books out this month(New Scientist)
Bronze Age Britons fashioned copper-mining tools out of old bones 06. May 2026 (20:00) An analysis of 150 artefacts from a site in Wales shows that the ancient practice of making tools out of bone persisted even after the advent of metal-working(New Scientist)
