A species of leaf chameleon newly named Brookesia nofy was discovered in a patch of coastal rainforest, a highly threatened habitat in Madagascar

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

A fossil of a tadpole from Argentina is 161 million years old - and isn't that different from some modern species

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Research has found the universe is remarkably similar in structure to the human brain. But does this mean the cosmos has a consciousness of its own?

There are several evidence-backed ways of calming an anxious mind – from eating specific foods to adding certain exercises to your routine

New research is revealing that common sense is a lot more idiosyncratic than we thought, with important implications for tackling political polarisation and the future of AI

The latest research on caffeine reveals why coffee and decaf can be so good for your health, but energy drinks can be lethal

A better understanding of what happens to our bodies when we get fitter can unlock ways to speed up the journey – and it might be simpler than you think

A super-stretchy hydrogel can stretch to 15 times its original length and return to its initial shape, and could be used to make soft inflatable robots

Research has found the universe is remarkably similar in structure to the human brain. But does this mean the cosmos has a consciousness of its own?

An ordinary-looking valley has a secret – each of its neighbours is 20 years removed in time. Scott Alexander Howard's debut is heartfelt and deeply enjoyable, says Emily H. Wilson

Marie Curie redefined the role of women in science by training a generation of “lab daughters” to have stellar careers, shows Dava Sobel's detailed and intimate new biography, The Elements of Marie Curie

Some 550 years ago, a Venetian monk named Fra Mauro set out to create a world map. Rather than myth and religion, it was based on solid evidence for the first time

A proposal to define the Anthropocene, a geologic epoch defined by human activity, has been rejected – surprising even scientists who consulted the voting group

The networks of fibre optic cables that criss-cross the planet could be used to better understand what’s happening inside it

Taylor Roades's images of a river in north-west Alaska that has turned orange because of global warming have won the New Scientist Editors Award at the Earth Photo competition

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Forget Armageddon-sized rocks, just one of 25,000 smaller asteroids could destroy a city on Earth. How to Kill an Asteroid by Robin George Andrew shows how science plans to save the planet

A fossil of a tadpole from Argentina is 161 million years old - and isn't that different from some modern species

Forget Armageddon-sized rocks, just one of 25,000 smaller asteroids could destroy a city on Earth. How to Kill an Asteroid by Robin George Andrew shows how science plans to save the planet

From Harlan Ellison to Haruki Murakami, via an intergalactic cooking competition, this month has plenty of science fictional treats on offer

Running, swimming, HIIT or walking – what is the best way to work out? The answer is complicated, and depends on the person, finds Grace Wade

Most people are too risk-averse when it comes to life's biggest choices. Learning how to overcome the cognitive biases at play can help you make better decisions - with no looking back

Several psychological biases undermine our ability to make new friends. Understand them and you’ll know the secrets to building meaningful relationships that last

Babies cannot tell us what they are experiencing, so it is hard to know what they are conscious of. But new research suggesting they perceive the world consciously could change how we care for them, says Claudia Passos-Ferreira

A monument in southern Spain that dates to between 3600 and 3800 BC appears to have been built with an understanding of geology and physics

New research is revealing that common sense is a lot more idiosyncratic than we thought, with important implications for tackling political polarisation and the future of AI

Title: Scientists Create Fertile Ground for Growing Stem Cells
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2010 10:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Shock Spuds in Bid to Boost Antioxidants
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2010 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Dismayed by Stem Cell Research Ruling
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2010 2:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2010 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists ID 'Happy' Gene in Women
Category: Health News
Created: 8/29/2012 4:05:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Health Tip: Do You Have Plantar Fasciitis?
Category: Health News
Created: 8/31/2012 8:05:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Pinpoint Source of Mercury in Pacific Ocean Fish
Category: Health News
Created: 8/26/2013 9:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Grow 'Model Brain' From Stem Cells
Category: Health News
Created: 8/28/2013 2:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Spot Genetic Clues to Crohn's Disease
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2014 9:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/27/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists 'Rewrite' Bad Memories in Mice
Category: Health News
Created: 8/27/2014 2:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Find Differences in Brains of Those With Dyslexia
Category: Health News
Created: 8/29/2014 9:36:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/29/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Get Closer to Long-Lasting Flu Vaccine
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2015 12:00:00 AM

Title: Science Weighs in On How Fat Raises Cancer Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: Coronavirus' Weird Trip Inside Cells Might Be Its Undoing, Scientists Say
Category: Health News
Created: 8/24/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Challenge Key Survival Stat Cited by U.S. Officials in Plasma Approval
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Unravel Secrets of People Who Naturally Suppress HIV
Category: Health News
Created: 8/26/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/27/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Create Synthetic Mouse Embryo With Brain, Beating Heart
Category: Health News
Created: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/26/2022 12:00:00 AM

Title: Scientists Design Skin Patch That Takes Ultrasound Images
Category: Health News
Created: 7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM

Title: Your Brain Gets Tired, and Scientists Now Know Why
Category: Health News
Created: 8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/15/2022 12:00:00 AM

The study of biological mechanisms, while crucial, cannot fully explain complex phenomena like the instinct to eat. The mind–body connection, as exemplified by the concept of "voodoo death," highlights the profound influence of belief and cultural context on physiology. Indigenous knowledge systems further emphasize the interconnectedness of humans with their environment. Recent discoveries in gut–brain communication reveal the intricate neural circuits that drive our visceral desires, but a holistic approach that integrates both physiological mechanisms and the subjective experience of life, informed by diverse cultural perspectives, will be essential to truly understand what it means to be alive.

Our approaches toward understanding cancer have evolved beyond cell-intrinsic and local microenvironmental changes within the tumor to encompass how the cancer interfaces with the entire host organism. The nervous system is uniquely situated at the interface between the brain and body, constantly receiving and sending signals back and forth to maintain homeostasis and respond to salient stimuli. It is becoming clear that various cancers disrupt this dialog between the brain and body via both neuronal and humoral routes, leading to aberrant brain activity and accelerated disease. In this outlook, I discuss this view of cancer as a homeostatic challenge, emphasize cutting-edge work, and provide outstanding questions that need to be answered to move the field forward.

The management of chylothorax remains challenging given the limited evidence and significant heterogeneity in practice. In addition, there are no practical guidelines on the optimal approach to manage this complex condition. We convened an international group of 27 experts from 20 institutions across five countries and four specialties (pulmonary, interventional radiology, thoracic surgery and nutrition) with experience and expertise in managing adult patients with chylothorax. We performed a literature and internet search for reports addressing seven clinically relevant PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome) questions pertaining to the management of adult patients with chylothorax. This consensus statement, consisting of best practice statements based on expert consensus addressing these seven PICO questions, was formulated by a systematic and rigorous process involving the evaluation of published evidence, augmented with provider experience. Panel members participated in the development of the final best practice statements using the modified Delphi technique. Our consensus statement aims to offer guidance in clinical decision making when managing patients with chylothorax while also identifying gaps in knowledge and informing future research.

Comprehensive maps of neuronal connectivity provide a foundation for understanding the structure of neural circuits. In a circuit, neurons are diverse in morphology, electrophysiology, gene expression, activity, and other neuronal properties. Thus, constructing a comprehensive connectivity map requires associating various properties of neurons, including their connectivity, at cellular resolution. A commonly used approach is to use the gene expression profiles as an anchor to which all other neuronal properties are associated. Recent advances in genomics and anatomical techniques dramatically improved the ability to determine and associate the long-range projections of neurons with their gene expression profiles. These studies revealed unprecedented details of the gene–projection relationship, but also highlighted conceptual challenges in understanding this relationship. In this article, I delve into the findings and the challenges revealed by recent studies using state-of-the-art neuroanatomical and transcriptomic techniques. Building upon these insights, I propose an approach that focuses on understanding the gene–projection relationship through basic features in gene expression profiles and projections, respectively, that associate with underlying cellular processes. I then discuss how the developmental trajectories of projections and gene expression profiles create additional challenges and necessitate interrogating the gene–projection relationship across time. Finally, I explore complementary strategies that, together, can provide a comprehensive view of the gene–projection relationship.