How to spot the lunar X and V 21. January 2026 (19:00) Time it right each month, and you can spot two fleeting tricks of light on the lunar surface. Abigail Beall is planning ahead(New Scientist)
How – and why – we chose the best 21 ideas of the 21st century 21. January 2026 (19:00) From smartphones to net zero, there has been no shortage of innovative ideas in the past 25 years, which is why we have taken a look back to choose the best(New Scientist)
Our earliest vertebrate ancestors may have had four eyes 21. January 2026 (17:00) Extraordinary fossils of 518-million-year-old jawless fish, among the earliest known vertebrates, appear to show that these animals had two pairs of eyes(New Scientist)
Oldest known rock art is a 68,000-year-old hand stencil with claws 21. January 2026 (17:00) Newly discovered rock art sites in Sulawesi, Indonesia, that date to nearly 68,000 years ago are thought to be the oldest rock art in the world, pre-dating Neanderthal hand stencils in Spain by 1100 years(New Scientist)
Ape-like hominin Paranthropus was more adaptable than we thought 21. January 2026 (17:00) A fossil discovery in northern Ethiopia expands the known range of Paranthropus, a genus of strong-jawed hominins that lived around 2 million years ago, and suggests they lived in a range of habitats(New Scientist)
Bird retinas work without oxygen, and now scientists know how 21. January 2026 (17:00) The light-sensitive tissue of birds’ eyes is not supplied with oxygen by blood vessels – instead, it powers itself with a flood of sugar, and this may have evolutionary benefits(New Scientist)
Octopuses prompt rethink of why animals evolve big brains 21. January 2026 (11:00) A popular idea suggests a link between big brains and a rich social life, but octopuses don't fit the pattern, which suggests something else is going on(New Scientist)
Bubble feeding trick spreads through humpback whale social groups 21. January 2026 (01:01) Humpback whales off the west coast of Canada have learned a cooperative hunting technique from whales migrating into the area, and this cultural knowledge may help the population cope as food becomes scarce(New Scientist)
Cross-training may be the key to a long life 21. January 2026 (00:30) People who combine different types of exercise - such as running, cycling and swimming - seem to live longer than those with less varied workouts(New Scientist)
