The way we train AIs makes them more likely to spout bull 01. August 2025 (19:00) The tendency for AIs to give misleading answers may be in part down to certain training techniques, which encourage models to prioritise perceived helpfulness over accuracy(New Scientist)
DNA analysis reveals what really killed Napoleon's army in 1812 01. August 2025 (18:00) At least 300,000 men died during Napoleon’s retreat from Russia - now the latest genetic techniques have identified two pathogens that may have contributed to some of the deaths(New Scientist)
Cameras that work like our eyes could give boost to astronomers 01. August 2025 (13:00) Neuromorphic cameras, which only record data when a pixel's brightness changes, may be advantageous for capturing extremely bright and dim objects in the same image and tracking fast-moving objects(New Scientist)
Our verdict on Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts: A mixed bag 01. August 2025 (11:30) The New Scientist Book Club has just finished reading Adam Roberts's novel Lake of Darkness. Some of us loved it – but some of us weren't so sure about this far-future set slice of hard science fiction(New Scientist)
Read an extract from Alex Foster’s sci-fi novel Circular Motion 01. August 2025 (11:10) In this passage from the opening of Circular Motion, the latest read for the New Scientist Book Club, our protagonist boards a vessel which can circle the world in a matter of hours – with dangerous consequences for the Earth’s rotation(New Scientist)
Kamchatka earthquake response shows tsunami warnings are improving 31. July 2025 (23:26) After an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, early tsunami warning systems kicked in and helped millions of people safely evacuate(New Scientist)
Vagus nerve stimulation receives US approval to treat arthritis 31. July 2025 (22:48) The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a pill-sized device for treating rheumatoid arthritis, marking the first time the therapy has been approved for an autoimmune condition(New Scientist)
