New Scientist - Home

1. Why is it so hard to change your mind?
   Changing your opinion can be difficult, and it’s sometimes even seen as a flaw. But research shows being open-minded has a host of benefits. Columnist David Robson finds there are a few simple ways to encourage yourself to withstand the discomfort that gets in the way of mental flexibility
2. The rise, the fall and the rebound of cyclic cosmology
   Cyclic cosmology, or the big bounce, is the idea that the universe will eventually crunch back together and then go through another big bang. Columnist Leah Crane finds that, appropriately, it’s coming back
3. Our dreams become more emotive and symbolic as we approach death
   People who are terminally ill are commonly reunited with lost loved ones in their dreams and have visions of doors, stairways and light, which are said to help them accept the dying process
4. How to spot the Lyrid meteor shower tonight
   The Lyrid meteor shower will soon hit its peak. Here's how to spot it, including by using the New Scientist stargazing companion
5. People are refusing transfusions from donors vaccinated against covid
   Patients are requesting that blood transfusions come from people who they know have not been vaccinated against covid-19, which can cause dangerous delays
6. Monkeys walk around a virtual world using only their thoughts
   Monkeys with around 300 electrodes implanted in their brain were able to steer avatars around different virtual environments
7. What to read this week: Emma Chapman's mind-expanding Radio Universe
   An imaginative and compelling book reveals how radio waves help us tune in to our universe – and even search for alien civilisations, says Karmela Padavic-Callaghan
8. New Scientist recommends Jamie Bartlett's insightful How to Talk to AI
   The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week
9. Why cloning anyone – even Jim Carrey – isn't the best plan ever
   Feedback discovers that a conspiracy theory has formed that various celebrities have been replaced by clones, and sees just a few small problems with the idea
10. Startling images show how fake news isn't just a 21st century issue
    From huge geese to flying cars, these photographs from a new exhibition at the Rijksmuseum reveal how we have been manipulating images for over a century