New Scientist - Weekly October 24-30, 2026 No3618

Oct 23, 2026

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Weekly issue covering science and technology across news, features, views, and letters. Highlights include debates over autism theories, the identity of the first Americans, whether AI is disrupting physics, and research on giant bacteria in the gut, dark matter detection, and the neutrino mass mystery. The leader addresses climate warming near 1.5°C, focusing on overshoot impacts and reversibility. Includes puzzles, a crossword and quiz, cartoons, and feedback sections.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

On the rise

No more stitch in time

Ancient open-air gallery

Dark matter detection

Sniffle-free season

Aperture

Culture

Letters

Ice loss warning

Features

The riddle of the neutrino

Simon Baron-Cohen profile

The first Americans

Puzzles

Almost the last word

Feedback

Twisteddoodles

THE CONTROVERSIAL LEGACY OF A ‘MALE’THEORY OF AUTISM FRESH DEBATE OVER THE IDENTITY OF THE FIRST AMERICANS IS PHYSICS NEXT TO GET TORN APART BY AI? WEEKLY October 24-30, 2026 No3618 US $9.99 Canada CAN$11.99 THE NEXT BIG THING A tiny particle, a massive breakthrough, and a whole new understanding of reality PLUS GIANT BACTERIA IN YOUR GUT RETURN OF THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE WORLD’S OLDEST SHIPWRECK Science and technology news [www.newscientist.com](www.newscientist.com) This week’s issue On the cover 32 The next big (small) thing A tiny particle, a massive breakthrough, and a whole new understanding of reality News 4 On the rise El Niño has already caused some sea levels to increase 11 No more stitch in time Scientists vote to abolish the leap second 14 Ancient open-air gallery Unique rock art site showshow people lived alongside art 26,000 years ago Views 19 Dark matter detection Chanda Prescod-Weinstein on whether dark matter acts like a particle or a wave 20 Sniffle-free season A positive mindset may help us avoid colds, finds David Robson 22 Aperture Seabirds get a helping hand 24 Culture Why we should find empowerment in numbers 31 Letters There is plenty of reason to worry about how AI is used Vol 272 No 3618 Cover image: Simon Bailly 36 The controversial legacy of a ‘male’theory of autism 40 Fresh debate over the identity of the first Americans 6 Is physics next to get torn apart by AI? 10 Giant bacteria in your gut 26 Return of The Time Traveler’s Wife 11 World’s oldest shipwreck News 8 Ice loss warning Even if oceans cool, Thwaites glacier may still melt ALEX MAZUR/ BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY 32 Features “In the standard model, neutrinos don’t have mass–but we know they do” Features 32 The riddle of the neutrino New Scientist visits the latest detector attempting to solve the mystery of the neutrino’s mass 36 Simon Baron-Cohen profile The controversial legacy of a ‘male’theory of autism 40 The first Americans Debate reignites over the identity of the original settlers in the Americas The back pages 45 Puzzles Try our crossword, puzzle and quick quiz 46 Almost the last word How different would Earth be if only anaerobic life existed? 47 Tom Gauld for New Scientist A cartoonist’stake on the world 48 Feedback Following up on how active – or not – our feline friends are 48 Twisteddoodles for New Scientist Picturing the lighter side of life 24 October 2026 |New Scientist|1 The leader Can we fix it? We can exceed 1.5°Cof warming and comeback down, but the overshoot years will hurt THERMOMETERS, at least traditionally, don’t remember. Mercury expandsin response to heat energy, and the red line rises. The temperature falls, the mercury contracts, the line descends. Yesterday’s measurement has no bearing on today’s. But even if thermometers can’t measure it, rising temperatures leave a lasting mark. Forests die, ice sheets melt and species go extinct. Now that the world is within touching distance of 1.5°C of warming, we are getting hints of the climate chaos we can expect over the coming century. So how bad will it be, and is the damage reversible? This isn’t just an abstract question. Last month, the United Nations finally acknowledged that holding warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels would PUBLISHING & COMMERCIAL Display advertising Tel +44 (0)203 615 6456 [Email](Email displayads@newscientist.com)[ displayads@newscientist.com](Email displayads@newscientist.com)[ ](Email displayads@newscientist.com)Sales director Claudia Nicoletti Partnership growth lead Joe Teal Agency partner Daniel Sinclair New Scientist Events Tel +44 (0)[203 615 6554](203 615 6554 Email live@newscientist.com)[ Email](203 615 6554 Email live@newscientist.com)[ live@newscientist.com](203 615 6554 Email live@newscientist.com)[ ](203 615 6554 Email live@newscientist.com)Sales director Jacqui McCarron S

FAQs

What are the main news debates in this issue?

The issue features fresh debate over the identity of the first Americans and a controversial legacy discussion of a “male” theory of autism. It also asks whether physics is next to get torn apart by AI.

Which scientific topics are explored in the features?

Key features include the riddle of the neutrino and a profile of Simon Baron-Cohen, along with coverage connected to the neutrino detector work and related mass questions.

What does the leader section focus on regarding climate change?

The leader discusses potential exceedance of 1.5°C warming, the “overshoot, peak, decline” framing for decision-makers, and the risks and lasting marks from overshoot years, including impacts on sea levels, forests, ice sheets, and species.

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by Franzy