Soft plastic recycling laws have been delayed. An expert explains why

Mandatory curbside collection of soft plastic (chip bags, bread bags, plastic wrap) has just been pushed back from 2027 to 2030.

Last Word: How do fish recognise others of their own species? Part 2 | New Scientist

Another expert reader explores this thorny topic, including reference to the behaviour of their own archerfish

22 July 2026

Sunshine can help with some serious health problems, argues a new book | New Scientist

How 'super' enzymes can transform recycling

From microplastics clogging up our oceans to landfills leaching dangerous chemicals, plastic waste is a serious and growing problem for human health and the environment. We need to recycle more and, crucially, recycle better.

Microscale roughness breakthrough defies 80 years of fluid dynamics

Logically, you would think a sleek surface has optimal aerodynamics—but recent research at Tohoku University turns this fundamental principle on its head. Applying an irregular microscale surface texture reduced the aerodynamic drag of a test model. The innovation has potential applications in the design of fuel-efficient vehicles. The study is published in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics.

Ordinary moss generates surprisingly complex electrical activity

Moss may well be something that most of us barely give a second thought, but there is far more to this small nonvascular plant than meets the eye. A new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science reports that it displays a surprising amount of electrical activity.

It's not just business: Why emotions are central to workplace management

"It's not personal, it's strictly business." This line, which echoes throughout Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 gangster film "The Godfather," epitomizes the classic view of management: Doing business is, above all, about making money, even if it means sacrificing all the personal and social aspects of work.

Children become 'climate detectives' to help cool overheating schools

Elementary school children equipped with thermal cameras are helping redesign their schools to cope with hotter summers, thanks to a University of Surrey program that gives pupils the tools to spot dangerous heat hotspots and develop their own cooling solutions.

Understudied dogs may reshape what science knows about canine behavior

Dogs are humans' best friends in many places across the globe. But does a dog in New York City respond in the same way as a dog in Kyoto or Buenos Aires?

Researchers call for a shift in crop development to tackle hunger, malnutrition, and climate change

Feeding a growing global population is no longer enough. Scientists say the next generation of crops must also deliver better nutrition while withstanding the increasing impacts of climate change.