Colours of time smeared in mountain-sized tectonic rip
A spectacular satellite view of China's Piqiang fault shows 50 million years of Earth's history torn asunder
Mini robot space surgeon to climb inside astronauts
The fist-sized robot would slide into your abdomen to perform emergency surgery in deep space. Its first zero-gravity test is slated for later this year
Joined-up research will star in Wellcome's new project
Wellcome Trust puts faith – and cash – in interdisciplinary research as it unveils a £17.5 million London development called The Hub
Stuff: A few of your favourite things
We asked New Scientist readers what item you had purchased in the past decade that brought you the most happiness – here are the results
Rare exoplanet alignment set for April Fool's Day 2026
A distant solar system will be the arena for an unusual celestial arrangement, one sure to please Scrabble players as well as astronomers
Stuff: Goodbye to the disposable age
From self-repairing phones to a weightless collection of digital possessions, the future promises to let us enjoy our belongings without today's drawbacks
Five a day is not enough fruit and veg for best health
Seven a day seems to be better than five according to a large study, although the finding might be due to other effects like a healthier lifestyle overall
Stop Nicaragua's canal and save thousands of species
A massive canal bisecting Nicaragua would be an ecological disaster, says Jorge Huete-Pérez, who wants the world to intervene before it's too late
How climate pain is being spun into corporate gain
The wolves of Wall Street have got climate change, but at a terrifying cost, reveals Windfall: The booming business of global warming by McKenzie Funk
Yum, Lego… Human babies born to move hands to mouth
Our brains seem to have a circuit dedicated to grabbing stuff and putting it in our mouths, and it probably develops in the womb
Face map of mixed feelings could help AIs understand us
The facial muscles we use to express complex emotions – such as happily surprised or angrily disgusted – have been identified
Born to chat: Humans may have innate language instinct
People organise a new language according to a logical hierarchy, not by learning which words go together – adding support to the idea of 'universal grammar'
Stuff: The psychological power of possessions
We invest emotion and memories in our possessions, giving them deep meaning, but that doesn't necessarily make us happy – it may drive us slightly mad
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