LATEST CHOICE
Knuckles and nails get invite to the touchscreen party
NEWS: 10:00 18 November 2012
Software that can discern the difference between fingertip, knuckle and fingernail could open up a new world of possibilities
Twitter shows language evolves in cities
NEWS: 02:00 17 November 2012
Charting new words in tweets shows they originate in cities with large African American populations before spreading to areas with similar demographics
Feedback: 'Treated' chocolate makes you happier
FEEDBACK: 10:00 17 November 2012
Chocolate imbued with good intentions, the all-new Poppleton University, and is your salary over 70,000k?
Computers identify what makes abstract art move us
NEWS: 15:00 16 November 2012
Analysing images to find what aspects evoke which feelings could allow computers to create art that packs an emotional punch
How metadata brought down CIA boss David Petraeus
13:59 16 November 2012
The story of the disgraced former CIA director shows how easy it is to piece together someone's online secrets
Supernova's purple haze illuminates stellar nursery
13:00 16 November 2012
Jimi Hendrix sang: "Excuse me while I kiss the sky." You might have the same urge when you look at the purple haze in this image of a supernova remnant
Space repair enters the robotic age
FEATURE: 12:50 16 November 2012 | 4 comments
Super-smart next-generation spacebots will fix or salvage spacecraft on the fly
'Ultrasonic' insect evolved tiny mammal-like ears
12:18 16 November 2012
Some South American katydids seem to have evolved super-sensitive ears on their legs which may help them tell potential mates from foes
Attack on US grid would be worse than hurricane Sandy
12:15 16 November 2012
Delayed by five years, a report warns of the huge damage that sabotage of the US power grid could cause. But much has changed since it was written
Cancer's recruitment drive of healthy cells targeted
THIS WEEK: 12:10 16 November 2012
New strategies could stop breast cancer roping in normal cells to help it spread
Harry Potter spell book makes augmented reality magic
11:50 16 November 2012
Sony's Wonderbook: Book of Spells for PlayStation 3 goes beyond gimmickry with augmented reality that is integral to an engrossing gameplay experience
Brain-zapping Kinect game boosts mathematical skills
11:03 16 November 2012
See how a brain stimulation cap can help you improve your mathematical ability while you play a video game
Mind-reading scan locates site of meaning in the brain
THIS WEEK: 10:00 16 November 2012 | 1 comment
For the first time, the patterns of brain activity that represent the meaning of specific words have been identified
Tunable light bulbs could help you sleep better
INSIGHT: 09:00 16 November 2012 | 4 comments
A new generation of colour-changing LED light bulbs may help you relax, concentrate, or even improve your sleep habits
Is schizophrenia more than one disease?
THE BIG IDEA: 08:00 16 November 2012 | 5 comments
Schizophrenia wrecks the lives of millions worldwide – and has defeated researchers looking for a single cause. Time for complex new thinking, says Aiden Corvin
First stone-tipped spear thrown earlier than thought
19:00 15 November 2012 | 1 comment
The quintessential Stone Age hunting spear – with a stone tip – was used by an ancestor of humans and Neanderthals
Pumpkin pie craters on Mercury are solar system first
18:21 15 November 2012
With wrinkled crust and cracked filling, the unusual formations are unlike anything seen on other rocky planets
Today on New Scientist: 15 November 2012
18:00 15 November 2012
All today's stories on newscientist.com, including: the evolution of good and evil, a lonely planet among stellar outcasts, abortion and conscience, and more
Abortion providers are motivated by conscience, too
17:19 15 November 2012 | 3 comments
The recent death of a woman in Ireland after allegedly being refused an abortion highlights the ethical case for the procedure, says a US obstetrician
Supercomputer portrait reveals Earth's swirling veil
16:38 15 November 2012
A worldwide weather simulation reveals a stunning high-resolution view of the aerosols that envelop our planet
Moderate drink during pregnancy can lower baby's IQ
16:11 15 November 2012
A study of genetic mutations which slow the body's breakdown of alcohol has teased out the true relationship between drinking and its effect on a fetus
Astrophile: Lonely planet roams with stellar outcasts
15:05 15 November 2012
An odd object drifting with a small caravan of stars may be the closest known orphan planet
Israel turns to Twitter to announce military hit
14:50 15 November 2012
The Israeli Defence Forces posted a picture of the dead Hamas leader Ahmed al-Jabari on its Twitter account – opening up a new era of military communication
Experimenting with drugs in the US
EDITORIAL: 13:12 15 November 2012
A bold move by two US states to legalise cannabis may mark the beginning of the end of a counterproductive war on drugs
Homo virtuous: The evolution of good and evil
FEATURE: 13:09 15 November 2012 | 12 comments
Might the same forces have driven the evolution of our best and worst natures, asks Kate Douglas
Neuroscience gets behind the mask of Greek theatre
13:00 15 November 2012
Applying cognitive science to the masks used in ancient Greek theatre sheds light on the classical mind
California genetic food vote is no victory for science
COMMENT AND ANALYSIS: 11:36 15 November 2012 | 5 comments
Researchers hailing the Californian vote against proposals for mandatory labelling of genetically modified food are missing the bigger picture, says Michael Le Page
If you want to be president, hire geeks not pundits
THIS WEEK: 10:25 15 November 2012 | 5 comments
A new breed of voting forecasters won't replace pundits but elections of the future could be won by the party with the best stats
Estimates for future global warming narrowed down
THIS WEEK: 08:00 15 November 2012
How much will Earth warm this century? A study has narrowed the range of likely temperatures
Hear the best music yet from a maestro brain
22:00 14 November 2012
Neuroscientists have mixed up music from two types of scan to create the brain's most human-sounding performance yet. Hear it here
Belly button samples reveal wonderland of fluffy fauna
18:13 14 November 2012
The blooming bacteria that makes its home in your navel is pictured by the Belly Button Biodiversity project
PSYCHOLOGY
Does your biology influence your vote?
The intricate connections between genetics, psychological make-up and whether you swing to the left or right at elections are starting to be unravelled
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THE BIG IDEA
Mind transfer: human brains in different materials
Could we emulate a specific brain or transfer a mind to another device? Pioneering research suggests that it is feasible, says key player Randal A. Koene
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