Stories that are getting the most attention from our readers this month.
Amazon took a significant step forward in satellite-based internet, launching the initial batch of its “Project Kuiper” satellites into low-Earth orbit. The mission, facilitated by a partner-operated Falcon 9 rocket, marks the company’s bid to rival SpaceX’s Starlink service. FCC rules require Amazon to deploy half of its planned 3,000-plus satellites by 2026, meaning an accelerated launch schedule. If successful, Project Kuiper will offer broadband coverage in test markets by late 2025, potentially challenging Starlink’s head start. Amazon’s e-commerce and cloud assets could bolster the new service, making Kuiper a formidable player in global connectivity.
Scientists intrigued by anomalies like the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua and puzzling radio bursts wonder if advanced alien tech could be lurking near Earth’s cosmic neighborhood. While mainstream astronomy generally expects natural explanations for these phenomena, a small group posits that certain evidence—like unexplained accelerations—might hint at artificial origins. No definitive proof has emerged, yet new telescopes and advanced data mining accelerate the search. Critics caution that sensational claims often outrun facts. Still, the possibility of discovering signals or debris from an extraterrestrial civilization captivates both researchers and the broader public, fueling a rush to gather more data.
This issue of New Scientist knits together neurology, climate urgency and cosmic exploration to show how science is rewriting what we thought we knew. The cover feature “Rethinking Parkinson’s” argues the world’s fastest-growing neurological disorder may actually be two distinct diseases, each driven by separate cellular cascades. That insight reframes drug trials and could unlock tailored therapies for more than 10 million people worldwide—a population set to double by 2040.A five-part Polar Crisis special report delivers a sobering climate audit. Sea-ice extent in February hit its lowest point since satellite records began, dipping nearly 2 million square kilometres below the 1991–2020 average; models now link that loss to faltering global ocean currents. An economic deep dive warns that Arctic fossil deposits worth an estimated $90 billion face escalating cost overruns as thawing permafrost destabilises rigs and pipelines.In space news, “Strongest Evidence Yet of Alien Life” highlights James Webb Telescope data revealing dimethyl sulfide and phosphine—molecules produced almost exclusively by biology—around a Neptune-sized exoplanet. Researchers stress caution, noting a one-in-four chance of abiotic origins, but if confirmed it would mark the first remote biosignature ever detected.The philosophical essay “Solid, Liquid, Gas… Life?” proposes treating biology as a nonequilibrium phase of matter rather than a checklist of traits, a shift that could unify origins-of-life research with synthetic-cell engineering.Finally, the leader editorial “The Cold, Hard Truth” contends that chasing Arctic riches is a fool’s errand; spiralling insurance premiums and fragile logistics make a mockery of “new frontier” narratives. By spotlighting economic futility, it frames the climate section in moral as well as scientific terms. Together, these pieces paint a picture of science that is simultaneously humbling and empowering—forcing humanity to rethink its assumptions from the neuron to the North Pole.
Researchers unveiled an “artificial leaf” that converts carbon dioxide into carbon-carbon molecules using sunlight, a method that could transform fuel and plastic production. In another study, scientists mapped massive iceberg grooves on the North Sea floor, suggesting that giant icebergs once drifted far closer to the UK than previously believed. Each discovery highlights how understanding natural processes—past and present—could guide future climate strategies.
A 60-million-year evolutionary analysis shows wild chimpanzees deliberately drink fermented fruit juice, bolstering the “drunken monkey” hypothesis that early primates adapted to low-level alcohol. Researchers say the behavior may illuminate human alcohol-metabolism genes and social bonding.