Revealing the epic story of ancient humans: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Since the turn of the millennium, our understanding of our ancestors and extended cousins has shifted dramatically, thanks to a swathe of surprising archaeological discoveries(New Scientist)
The totemic 1.5°C climate target: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Although we’re on course to cross 1.5°C of warming, the alliance of small island nations that revised our goal down from the 2°C threshold transformed global climate policy(New Scientist)
How fear drastically shapes ecosystems: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Understanding the “landscape of fear” that predators create in their environments has helped us uncover just how drastically humans have upended the natural world(New Scientist)
We can block the spread of HIV: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) The “enormous revelation” that drugs can be used to prevent catching HIV has benefitted millions and helped slash transmission rates(New Scientist)
The electrification of everything: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable power is crucial. The opening of Tesla's first "gigafactory", which used economies of scale to electrify our transport and energy systems, marked a turning point in this endeavour(New Scientist)
Crowdsourcing Wikipedia’s encyclopedia: Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) The internet is typically defined by conflict. Yet a crowdsourced encyclopedia, open for anyone to edit, has transformed into one of the world's most essential knowledge hubs(New Scientist)
Smartphones (yes, really): Best ideas of the century 19. January 2026 (17:00) Some might say smartphones have caused more harm than good. Here’s why putting a powerful computer into every pocket was a good idea(New Scientist)
