Multipurpose anti-viral pill may treat colds, norovirus, flu and covid 03. April 2026 (11:00) AI predicted that a forgotten breast cancer drug could be repurposed to treat many respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, and subsequent animal tests suggests it may be right(New Scientist)
How a DIY worm farm can compost food scraps, paper or a whole kangaroo 03. April 2026 (11:00) For those who want a little help composting, take a cue from James Woodford’s experience raising worms – both the small colony of wrigglers he keeps in a sensible bin in his city garden and the dumpster-sized worm farm he has that can turn even animal carcasses into nutrient-dense soil(New Scientist)
Surprise fossil discoveries push back the evolution of complex animals 02. April 2026 (21:00) A fossil bed in China containing animals up to 554 million years old suggests that we may have to reconsider the idea that life suddenly diversified during the Cambrian explosion(New Scientist)
Bumblebees surprise scientists by showing a sense of rhythm 02. April 2026 (21:00) Recognising rhythmic patterns was thought to require a big brain, but a series of experiments has shown that buff-tailed bumblebees have this ability, too(New Scientist)
Unprecedented insight into memory champion's brain reveals his tricks 02. April 2026 (16:00) Nelson Dellis credits techniques like the method of loci for his extraordinary memory. Now, brain scans have revealed the parts of his brain that this approach taps into, and how we can use it to improve our own recall(New Scientist)
We may have just glimpsed the universe's first stars 02. April 2026 (15:25) A galaxy spotted by the James Webb Space Telescope, known as Hebe, that existed just 400 million years after the big bang appears to contain extremely pure and young stars(New Scientist)
I have been bitten by more than 200 snakes – on purpose 02. April 2026 (14:00) If you are unlucky enough to have been bitten by a snake, you are unlikely to want to repeat the experience. Not so for Tim Friede, who intentionally exposes himself to deadly bites in the hope of developing a treatment for the 5 million people who are bitten each year(New Scientist)
Tobacco plant altered to produce five psychedelic drugs 01. April 2026 (21:00) Genetically engineering tobacco plants could enable a more sustainable production method for psychedelic drugs, which are increasingly in demand for research and medical uses(New Scientist)
Stark photos show quest for profit cutting swathes through the Amazon 01. April 2026 (20:00) Photographer Lalo de Almeida has been documenting the industrialisation taking place in the Amazon rainforest after the Brazilian government relaxed environmental controls(New Scientist)
