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This week's magazine

29 March 2025

Issue 3536

New Scientist issue 3536 cover
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On the cover

Features
How a surprising twist on rewilding could help settle our carbon debt
What do GLP-1 drugs really tell us about the brain's reward system?
Microdosing weight-loss drugs is on the rise – but does it work?
Why exercise is more important than ever when taking weight-loss drugs
The unexpected impacts of a society transformed by weight-loss drugs
GLP-1 drugs are only the start – the powerful drugs to expect next
News
Weird meteorite may be relic of lost planet that no longer exists
New evidence microbes played a role in mysterious markings on Mars
Have we vastly underestimated the total number of people on Earth?
Relics in Tutankhamun’s tomb hint he invented elaborate burial rites
Monkeys choose babysitters based on who has more parenting experience
Regulars
What the research says about the benefits of low-intensity cardio
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Editor's picks

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ute Grabowsky/imageBROKER/Shutterstock (13880334oy) Pack of Ozempic, antidiabetic drug for weight control, taken in a pharmacy in Niesky, 13.04.2023., Niesky, Germany Various 23aecabfaa

Health

The Ozempic era is only just beginning

Comment
Microdosing weight-loss drugs is on the rise – but does it work?

Health

Microdosing weight-loss drugs is on the rise – but does it work?

Features
The unexpected impacts of a society transformed by weight-loss drugs

Health

The unexpected impacts of a society transformed by weight-loss drugs

Features
What do GLP-1 drugs really tell us about the brain's reward system?

Health

What do GLP-1 drugs really tell us about the brain's reward system?

Features
GLP-1 drugs are only the start – the powerful drugs to expect next

Health

GLP-1 drugs are only the start – the powerful drugs to expect next

Features
Why exercise is more important than ever when taking weight-loss drugs

Health

Why exercise is more important than ever when taking weight-loss drugs

Features
Rewilded Bison - Romania?s Tarcu mountains Daniel M?rlea Fee agreed

Environment

How a surprising twist on rewilding could help settle our carbon debt

Features

Table of contents

Leaders

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ute Grabowsky/imageBROKER/Shutterstock (13880334oy) Pack of Ozempic, antidiabetic drug for weight control, taken in a pharmacy in Niesky, 13.04.2023., Niesky, Germany Various 23aecabfaa

Health

The Ozempic era is only just beginning

In the past year, treatments such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound have become household names. But there are many questions left to answer, not least what the future holds for weight-loss medications and society at large

Comment

News

Space

Giant Milky Way-like galaxy formed unusually soon after the big bang

The Big Wheel, discovered using the James Webb Space Telescope, formed just 2 billion years after the big bang - surprisingly early for a spiral galaxy of a similar size to our Milky Way

News

Space

Weird meteorite may be relic of lost planet that no longer exists

News

Space

New evidence microbes played a role in mysterious markings on Mars

News

Humans

Have we vastly underestimated the total number of people on Earth?

News

Technology

AI can forecast the weather in seconds without needing supercomputers

News

Technology

Quantum satellite sets globe-spanning distance record

News

Health

Microdosing LSD is not an effective ADHD treatment

News

Life

Budgie brains have a map of vocal sounds just like humans

News

Life

Two-fingered dinosaur used its enormous claws to eat leaves

News

Chemistry

Nuclear fusion fuel could be made greener with new chemical process

News

Health

Classrooms decorated like woodlands seem to slow myopia progression

News

Humans

Relics in Tutankhamun’s tomb hint he invented elaborate burial rites

News

Life

Monkeys choose babysitters based on who has more parenting experience

News

Humans

A radical new idea for how our ancestors invented stone tools

News

Space

NASA has made the first radio telescope observations on the moon

News

Life

Bizarre fossil may have been an entirely new type of life

News

Chemistry

Water can turn into a superacid that makes diamonds

News

Environment

Greenland has gained over 1600 km of new coastline as glaciers retreat

News

Space

Dolphins greet astronauts after SpaceX Dragon capsule splashdown

News

Analysis

Technology

Will we soon be able to charge electric cars in minutes?

Speedy new chargers from Chinese automaker BYD take just 5 minutes to restore 400 kilometres of an electric car’s range, but will they be widely used?

News

Health

Tattoos are being linked to some cancers. Are they really a risk?

News

Aperture

Will Burrard-Lucas Forest elephant

Life

Camera trap spots endangered elephant mother and calf on the move

A weatherproof box and motion-trigger camera help photographer Will Burrard-Lucas capture images of rarely seen African elephants

Regulars

Features

Rewilded Bison - Romania?s Tarcu mountains Daniel M?rlea Fee agreed

Environment

How a surprising twist on rewilding could help settle our carbon debt

We’ve pumped huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that needs to be paid back. Large animals like wolves, bison and whales may already be tackling the problem

Features

Health

What do GLP-1 drugs really tell us about the brain's reward system?

Features

Health

Microdosing weight-loss drugs is on the rise – but does it work?

Features

Health

Why exercise is more important than ever when taking weight-loss drugs

Features

Health

The unexpected impacts of a society transformed by weight-loss drugs

Features

Health

GLP-1 drugs are only the start – the powerful drugs to expect next

Features

Culture

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera) Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of Team United States crosses the finish line to win the gold medal with new World Record after competing in the Women's 400m Hurdles Final on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Humans

A controversial book about human diversity shows how biology unites us

From race and IQ to sex and gender, Herman Pontzer's new book Adaptable is an ambitious and enjoyable exploration of how understanding ourselves better can help us bridge divides

Culture

Environment

Mike Berners-Lee's solution for the polycrisis may be just too hard

Culture

Technology

New Scientist recommends DeepMind documentary The Thinking Game

Culture

Life

Stunning new animated series tells the story of a cure-all mushroom

Culture

More

2CBM20E Humorous blue public toilet sign, Koh Samui, Thailand

Environment

How toilet waste is being rebranded as a valuable resource

From useful nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to cellulose for construction, there is treasure to be mined in our sewage, says Graham Lawton

Comment

Health

What the research says about the benefits of low-intensity cardio

Regulars

BrainTwister #66: Easy times?

Regulars

Environment

In the city, anyone can be a naturalist-explorer

Comment

Tom Gauld on Young MacDonald's plans for his farm

Regulars

Twisteddoodles: interesting fact discovered!

Regulars

Regulars

Rats come one step closer to becoming snobby and pretentious

Comment

Rats come one step closer to becoming snobby and pretentious

Feedback is pleased to discover the latest research into the wine-identifying abilities of rats, but feels the rodents still have a long way to go before they are truly obnoxious to be around

Regulars

Regulars

Letters

Regulars

The last word

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