First twin astronauts take on space microbiome
For the first time, identical twin astronauts will be used to study health in space – and the projects include some of the hottest topics in biomedicine
Malaysian plane sent out engine data before vanishing
At least two bursts of technical data from the missing Malaysian Airlines jet were broadcast and could hold valuable clues, New Scientist has learned
Space diaries reveal 6 things on an astronaut's mind
Little-seen diaries by NASA astronauts are telling glimpses of life in space, from the ridiculousness of urination to the sublime sense of solitude
Zoologger: Female spider kills male to attract a mate
The scent of a dead rival seems to be exactly what male Pennsylvania grass spiders look for when they approach a potential mate
We need philosophers to tackle the big cosmic puzzles
What can we do when cosmologists delve into the multiverse and raise questions they cannot answer? Call in the philosophers, says physicist Joseph Silk
How to be human: The laws that governed your growth
From egg to adult body, Life Unfolding by Jamie Davies is a demanding but wonder-filled account of the simple interactions that create complex structures
Invisible Saturn-sized planet given away by comet army
A strange cloud of carbon monoxide, probably from icy objects crashing together, may owe its existence to an invisible exoplanet
Crystals and lice: Best of the Wellcome Image Awards
Our five favourite images from the 2014 competition, from vitamin C crystals to the parental nightmare of a head-louse egg clinging to a hair
Peering through the ice at a key Antarctic species
Silverfish – a key part of the ecosystem of the Antarctic seas – have been declining, perhaps due to climate change. An Italian team is aiming to find out
Europe faces up to big pharma over clinical data
Is 2014 the year that Europe gets drug companies to publish all their data on the safety and effectiveness of medicines, asks health researcher Barbara Mintzes
A burst of orange light wakes up our 'circadian eye'
Orange light triggers more activity in brain areas linked to alertness than blue light – bolstering the idea that cells in the eye help reset our body clocks
Search for missing Malaysian plane goes high tech
Technology comes to the fore in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
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