Emily Smith

The UK has seen extreme flooding in recent yearsChristopher Furlong/Getty Images By Adam VaughanThe UK is going backwards on preparing for the impacts of global warming and is failing to deliver adequate action to meet old climate targets, let alone its new ‘net zero’ one, government advisers have warned. In one of a pair of…

Some types of bacteria help keep you healthyGetty Images/iStockphoto By Chelsea WhyteWomen who have a mutation in their BRCA1 gene – and are therefore at high risk for ovarian cancer – have been found to have lower levels of a type of vaginal bacteria, similar to the levels seen in women who have been diagnosed…

Health 9 July 2019 Women have a higher risk of bone fracture after menopauseGetty/SbytovaMN By Chelsea WhyteSocial stress may release hormones that affect bone loss, a finding that might be linked to the higher incidence of bone fractures after the menopause. In a study of more than 8000 women aged 50 to 79, researchers found…

Expressive bleatsBrian Squibb By Clare Wilson“Maaah.” Goat calls might all sound the same to us, but goats themselves seem to recognise when one of their herd-mates is happy or sad from their bleats alone. When goats hear a series of calls that change in emotional tone, they look towards the source of the sound –…

Awkward, but no less energy efficientDescription:Everst / Alamy By Sam WongHave you ever tried running with your arms straight? Most people find it quite a challenge, so it comes as a surprise to learn that it doesn’t require more energy than running with bent arms. Running with bent arms and walking with straight arms are…

Butterfly numbers in the US are decliningRob Liptak, Ohio Lepidopterists By Ruby Prosser ScullyButterfly numbers have dropped by one third in the last two decades in the US, echoing declines seen in Europe. These figures raise alarm bells for the health of other insect populations, because butterflies face similar environmental changes and are used as…

Space 9 July 2019 Virgin GalacticBy New Scientist Staff and Press Association Virgin Galactic is to become the first publicly traded company for human space travel after it announced a merger with a major investment group. The company is owned by Richard Branson and plans to offer multi-day trips to space. It has announced a…

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Technology 9 July 2019 Yui Mok/PA WireBy New Scientist Staff and Press Association Instagram will ask users to think again if they are about to post something that could be considered offensive. The social media site has started rolling out the new feature and early tests have found it can encourage some people to undo their…

Environment 9 July 2019 David Attenborough giving evidence to the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy CommitteePA Wire/PA Images By Adam VaughanThe UK must take radical action to meet its climate change targets, David Attenborough told a UK parliamentary committee today. But he warned ministers must carry the public with them because of…