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)
The Iran war is exposing the huge risks in our food system 01. April 2026 (20:00) No matter where you get your food from, a good chunk of your diet is ultimately reliant on fossil fuels. We already need to change this to tackle climate change, but the Iran war and resulting oil shortage is showing the urgent need to rethink food(New Scientist)
What to read this week: Lixing Sun's ambitious On the Origin of Sex 01. April 2026 (20:00) Ducks with corkscrew penises, fish changing sex – what do we really know about sex and reproduction on Earth? Less than we think, reveals a mind-boggling new book. Elle Hunt explores(New Scientist)
Michael Pollan: 'Consciousness is really under siege' 01. April 2026 (20:00) A psychedelic experience set author Michael Pollan on a quest to understand consciousness in his new book A World Appears. He tells Olivia Goldhill what he learned – and how it changed him(New Scientist)
