Sushmita Pathak is a freelance journalist based in Dehli, India. Her work broadly focuses on politics, culture, and science.

A distinct set of microbes has been identified in people with obesity, which might help spot and treat the condition early – ...

Many species of fungus across the world produce psilocybin, a chemical with psychedelic effects in humans, but its evolutionary purpose may be to deter mushroom-munching insects ...

A 5500-year-old genome recovered from human skeletal remains in Colombia may give insights into the early evolution of ...

A new class of Alzheimer’s drugs has been shown to slow the condition’s progression by removing clumps of protein known as amyloid plaques from the brain. However, few countries have approved use of ...

A growing body of evidence suggests play is a deep-seated biological mechanism that allows young brains to practice curiosity, manage uncertainty and build critical thinking skills ...

In rural Kenya, elephants pose a threat to farmers because of their crop-raiding behaviour, leading to human-wildlife ...

New Scientist. In each episode, hosts Leah Crane and Chelsea Whyte explore what would happen if they were given cosmic powers ...

Donated placentas can be processed into thin, sterilised sheets that are packed with natural healing substances and reduce scarring when applied to wounds ...

Long thought to have walked bipedally, like us, Australia’s extinct giant kangaroos have features that indicate they could also have bounced ...

A trial will finally reveal whether limiting the time teens spend on social media really does affect their mental health ...

From flying taxis to a new row on the periodic table, look ahead to discover the biggest upcoming science and technology news stories with New Scientist’s 2025 preview Endangered skates and ...