Stephen Hawking’s 50-year-old theorem on how black holes merge together has been rigorously tested thanks to huge advances in gravitational wave astronomy, which helped astronomers catch the waves caused by an unusually powerful collision.

It’s not just diet and exercise that governs how well you age. Your mindset, social connections and sense of purpose make a big difference, and it’s never too late to start working on them

For the first time, researchers have mathematically proven that a quantum computer can solve a particular task faster than an ordinary computer, in a way that can never be beaten

Most human populations evolved to cope with low or high local levels of micronutrients such as zinc, but these localised adaptations might now be problematic

It has long been claimed that only one mammal – the golden mole – has fur that shimmers with rainbow colours, but it now turns out that at least a dozen more mammals have iridescent fur too

Flamingoes, a kingfisher and two red-crowned cranes are shown in all their glory in these images from the new book Aviary: The bird in contemporary photography

When it was first published in 1984, William Gibson's Neuromancer transformed sci-fi and instantly birthed the cyberpunk genre. Ahead of an upcoming TV adaptation, Emily H. Wilson revisits the prophetic novel to see if it stands the test of time

The rate that our heart or liver ages may differ from that of our immune or hormonal systems, and now it seems that a single blood test could break that down

Mosquitoes seem to "have a taste for the hedonists among us", favouring those who drink beer.

Steven Pinker’s new book When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows makes a compelling case for common knowledge. Shame the politics muddies the waters

Two fossils found in Germany show very young pterodactyls with arm bones thought to have been broken in flight, probably because of severe tropical cyclones

As drones have become vital to modern warfare, so too has the ability to jam or disguise radio signals. Now a new stealth radio can completely hide in background noise, keeping drone pilots safe.

Data from more than 18,000 people suggests that where excess fat is stored in the body influences its effects on brain structure, activity and health

Wild chimpanzees scoffing fermented fruit consume the equivalent of two glasses of wine per day, factoring in their body size compared to humans.

Next to the flashy realm of AI, materials may seem quaint. But new quantum research could yield revolutionary breakthroughs, with the power to transform our world

By combining the information storage capabilities of DNA with a design inspired by a cassette tape, researchers have created a storage medium that can hold 36 petabytes of data

To be truly fit in older age, you need to work on specific aspects of your fitness – and research shows that it’s never too late to reap the benefits

A fossil from about 108 million years ago reveals an early member of the pachycephalosaurs, a group of dinosaurs with bizarre protrusions on their skulls that may have been used in combat

Cleaning up air pollution has saved millions of lives, but it has also given us an inadvertent taste of a nightmare climate scenario. The race is on to understand how bad it could be – and how to swerve the worst effects

There is growing opposition to environmental policies around the world, but could researchers have found a way around this, asks Graham Lawton

For at least 10,000 years, humans across South-East Asia were being carefully preserved after death by being smoke-dried – a tradition that continues to this day in some cultures

Attempting to deflect an asteroid before it hits Earth is a dangerous business, because a wrong move could send the space rock swinging back to hit us - but now there is a solution.

Using the quantum states of particles of light as currency could make for unforgeable transactions, and a new experiment has added a way to save some of that quantum money for future use, too

Rejigging the meal choices on offer in a canteen can prompt people to make healthier, climate-friendlier decisions

A structure in your brain that is around the size of sunflower seed could be driving how much you eat.

Tech millionaire turned longevity pioneer Bryan Johnson devotes more than 6 hours a day to trialling different methods to turn back the clock. Can the rest of us learn anything from his radical approach?

Taking vitamin D2 supplements seems to reduce levels of vitamin D3 in our body

A hidden world of quantum metrologists ensure that everyday devices perform safely and correctly, but their work is never done

Taking care of your body’s nutritional needs after training doesn't have to be a headache. Grace Wade sums up three key pillars she uses to refuel with confidence

An asteroid called 2023 CX1 underwent a single explosion, hinting that it had an unusual structure that might be more damaging on the ground

Evidence shows that eating a longevity diet can dramatically lengthen your lifespan – and the sooner you start, the more of a difference it makes

An estimate that as many as 1.3 million wildebeest move across the Serengeti Mara landscape each year has been cut down to size using AI

A set of 29 stone tools, including blades and points for hunting, butchering and cutting wood, were found neatly arranged as if carried in a leather pouch that decayed

Experiments on Earth indicate some common species of bacteria and fungi could survive for several days on the moon's surface, suggesting missions must take stronger precautions to avoid contamination

We know fermented foods do us good, but the ZOE founder's new book still surprises with fascinating facts - and avoids feeling like an ad for his gut supplements, says Helen Thomson

It can be tricky to objectively diagnose anxiety and depression, but your nose could help doctors understand when you’re feeling the strain, says Gillian Forrester.

Britain's economy thrived after the withdrawal of the Roman Empire. We had thought industries collapsed when the Romans left Britain, but archaeological evidence tells a different story.

While Mars today only has a wispy remnant of an atmosphere, it may once have had one hundreds of times thicker with a pressure three times that on Earth

Our friendly – and not so friendly – gut bacteria lie at the core of healthy ageing. Research is now revealing what it takes to maintain a youthful microbiome

There are more centenarians now than ever before. But more must be done to address inequalities that prevent people from having a realistic chance of hitting this milestone.

It’s not just diet and exercise that governs how well you age. Your mindset, social connections and sense of purpose make a big difference, and it’s never too late to start working on them

Needle-free vaccines could be made possible by stretching the skin to stimulate immune cells and increase its permeability, then applying a lotion that contains the vaccine dose.

For the first time, researchers have mathematically proven that a quantum computer can solve a particular task faster than an ordinary computer, in a way that can never be beaten

Feeling anxious? Wake up drenched in sweat? Welcome to the overlooked and often maddening world of the perimenopause – and the evidence-backed strategies to deal with the symptoms.

While most countries have seen a steady decline in suicide rates, the United States has witnessed the opposite, with suicides jumping almost 30 per cent since 2000

Hormone replacement therapy used within five years of the onset of menopause is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, while starting it later in life is associated with an increased risk

A sand quarry in Ecuador has yielded South America’s first amber with bio-inclusions, including a spider's web and a collection of mosquitoes, beetles, flies, wasps and biting midges that lived 112 million years ago

Mosquitoes seem to "have a taste for the hedonists among us", favouring those who drink beer.

Steven Pinker’s new book When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows makes a compelling case for common knowledge. Shame the politics muddies the waters

As drones have become vital to modern warfare, so too has the ability to jam or disguise radio signals. Now a new stealth radio can completely hide in background noise, keeping drone pilots safe.