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Many emotive and inspiring photographs were taken when covid-19 turned our lives upside down – here are some of the best pictures from the past five years

Many of us experienced time differently in the pandemic. Learning why can help us, say Ruth Ogden and Patricia Kingori

Despite studying the SARS-CoV-2 virus for five years, scientists still have questions, from the extent to which it can survive and mutate in animals to the thorny argument over its origins

A little help from Lewis Carroll will enable you to impress friends and family by calculating which day of the week any date is, says Peter Rowlett

From M3gan 2 to 28 Years Later, this year is all about inventive sequels, series and remakes – plus some dazzling adaptations like Mikey 17, says Simon Ings

Science initially struggled to match the pace of the pandemic, leaving people unclear of the best ways to stay safe from the virus, but now we know so much more – which could be essential when the next pandemic hits

In the first two years of the covid-19 pandemic, numerous New Scientist covers were dedicated to the global emergency caused by the virus. Together, they tell a story of resilience and scientific achievement

Everyday household products are made almost entirely from newly extracted fossilised carbon. But 'defossilisation' is an exciting alternative, finds Graham Lawton

From Doctor Who and Severance to Apple Cider Vinegar, there are plenty of great sci-fi and science-inflected TV shows coming up this year, says Bethan Ackerley

It is tempting to lock memories of the height of covid-19 away but looking back is vital for preparing properly for the next pandemic

Some kinds of optimism get us into trouble, but others help us prosper. Luckily, a few tricks can help you become the right kind of positive thinker and reap the rewards

Foxes and cats weren’t just caught for their pelts, hint cut marks and burns on bones found at a site in Israel

When reading a book, we tend to blink over less familiar words, which suggests it may have a cognitive role

The surprise discovery that ancient human DNA can survive in sediments and soil is revolutionising the study of Paleolithic minds, behaviours and lifestyles

Entire atoms have been put through a classic quantum experiment for the first time and the breakthrough could lead to better detectors for picking up the gravitational waves that ripple across the universe

Several start-ups are preparing to launch new foods made without plants, animals or soil, claiming that their products have a lower environmental impact

Following successful early demonstrations of linking two quantum computing chips, IBM is aiming to break records for the largest quantum computer yet by combining many of them in parallel

Hartmut Neven, who leads Google's Quantum AI lab, wants to entangle our brains with quantum processors to test the idea that consciousness involves quantum phenomena

Textile fragments found in a 2800-year-old grave in the Netherlands were once part of a woven dress with a red and blue checked pattern, molecular analysis has revealed

The international community seems no closer to an agreement on a code for deep-sea mining in international waters and the impasse may lead to countries acting unilaterally