Today on New Scientist


Renewable energy poised to overtake nuclear in the UK

Surge in wind power sees share of electricity from renewable sources double between 2010 and 2013, driving down carbon emissions


Tiny bat makes home in a carnivorous plant

No bat cave for the Hardwicke's woolly bat – a pitcher plant in the swamps of Borneo is a perfect roost for this tiny animal


Actual race on moon could decide Lunar XPrize winner

Three rovers may travel to the moon together, meaning the prize would be determined by a sprint finish on lunar soil


Chilling reminders of climate change in the Arctic

We must not look away from the effects that global warming is having on the unique and fascinating Arctic ecosystems



Need for speed: Why computers stopped getting faster

Dizzily increasing PC power used to be a given. No longer – speeds stalled a decade ago and only a radical reboot of computing will accelerate things


Gerbils and Silk Road to blame for plague

It wasn't the rats after all – gerbils, trade and climate fluctuations in central Asia were responsible for repeated outbreaks of plague across Europe


Were early seas transformed by sponge microbiome?

Symbiotic bacteria living inside sponges hoard precious phosphorus, a step that may have been key to animal proliferation over 500 million years ago


Rats can't get drunk after a dose of oxytocin hormone Movie Camera

The so-called "cuddle-chemical" seems to block the action of alcohol in the brain, preventing the tell-tale signs of drunkenness in rats


Dragonfly eyes see the world in ultra-multicolour

The acrobatic aerial insect has up to 30 different vision pigments, putting our humble red, green and blue detectors to shame


We need to escape the whip of corporate wellness

Urging people to optimise well-being in many aspects of life can be counterproductive, say André Spicer and Carl Cederström


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