Turtle tagging project is helping protect leatherback migratory routes
23 March 2024
Conservationists in Panama's Pearl Islands are fitting leatherback turtles with satellite tags, helping scientists understand and protect their migratory routes
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Tasmania's flora, fauna and geology: Australia
22 March 2024
1 April 2025 - 12 days for £5,795
Tasmania is a nature lover’s wonderland, offering a bounty of natural wonders, like Bruny Island and boasting some of Australia’s finest beaches, mistiest mountaintops, loneliest patches of wilderness and most elusive animals.
Join our highly immersive expedition around the reserves, coasts, wetlands, rain forests, national parks and alpine landscapes of Tasmania in search of its diverse wildlife, amazing flora and ancient geological features. Discover the islands rich Aboriginal culture dating back more than 35,000 years.
You can expect to see everything from Tasmanian devils, platypus, little penguins and the eastern quoll along with numerous birds and endemic species. You will have a deeply personal experience, in an intimate atmosphere designed to be low impact on the places visited.
You will be accompanied by biologist and passionate conservationist, Dr Martin Cohen who will engage and educate you on the beauty and ecological wonder of Australia's hidden gem. You will travel throughout by expedition vehicle, on foot and by boat staying in a range of accommodation from 4-star luxury to farm stays and log-built cottages within the rainforest. Visiting the capital Hobart, Mount Field National Park, Cradle Mountain, Maria Island and Bruny Island.
The tour is ideal for those with all levels of expertise, as it acts as a fantastic introduction to Tasmania’s amazing flora, fauna and geology and how it is being protected whilst allowing those with a deeper understanding to observe a great many species on land, in the skies and at sea.
In partnership with Intrepid Travel.
NASA's mission to Europa isn't meant to find alien life - but it could
22 March 2024
Later this year, NASA is launching its Europa Clipper spacecraft to the icy moon of Jupiter. Its mission is only to investigate whether the moon is habitable, but now researchers have found that one of its instruments could look for direct signs of life
Medieval horses buried in London had far-flung origins
22 March 2024
Isotopic analysis of horse teeth from a medieval burial site suggest that the animals were imported to England from Scandinavia or the Alps, perhaps for use in battle or jousting
Wildlife and conservation of Sri Lanka
22 March 2024
17 March 2025 - 12 days for £3,799 per person
Embark on a wildlife expedition like no other, that takes you to the wild corners of this extraordinary island in search of leopard, elephant and whales and the more unusual species like sloth bear, pangolin and loris.
Sri Lanka boasts an impressively high rate of endemic species, offering some of the finest wildlife watching experiences in South Asia. Explore some of its best known national parks, including Yala and Gal Oya, where days will consist of game drives around the park in the mornings and early evenings. You can expect to encounter elephant herds under open skies, sunsets with the promise of prowling cats, daybreak with monkeys, storks, ibis and crocodiles, as well as deer, sloth bears, jackals and wild buffalo.
During your exploration of the southern coastline, visit Rekawa Turtle Conservation Centre, a treasured location for all wildlife enthusiasts owing to its frequent habitation of nesting turtles. Explore Kaneliya Rainforest, identified as one of the most biodiverse areas in South East Asia. Take to the ocean with an expert marine biologist in search of the largest creature on earth, the blue whale. With time to rest and relax on some of the most perfect beaches on the planet.
Travel by 4X4, on foot and by boat staying in a range of accommodation from 4-star luxury to tented camps in the Sri Lankan jungles. Visiting the capital Colombo, Knuckles mountain range, Cradle Mountain, Gal Oya National Park, Yala National Park, Kaneliya Rainforest and the southern coastal towns of Tangalle and Galle.
The tour is ideal for those with all levels of expertise, as it acts as a fantastic introduction to Sri Lanka's amazing flora, fauna and geology and how it is being protected whilst allowing those with a deeper understanding to observe a great many species on land, in the skies and at sea.
In partnership with Intrepid Travel.
Weekly: How declining birth rates could shake up society; Humanoid robots; Top prize in mathematics
22 March 2024
#242
Human population growth is coming to an end. The global population is expected to peak between 2060 and 2080, then start falling. Many countries will have much lower birth rates than would be needed to support ageing populations. These demographic projections have major implications for the way our societies function, including immigration and transportation, and what kinds of policies and systems we need.
Remember Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons? Humanoid robots capable of many different tasks may be one step closer after two big announcements from chip-making giant NVIDIA. The company revealed what it calls its most powerful AI chip yet, as well as a new computer for humanoid robots called Jetson Thor.
A group of California orcas known as transient killer whales have been observed using a never-before seen way of hunting down prey in the deep waters of the open ocean. Until now, their distance from the coast had kept this group’s hunting methods mysterious. It turns out these orcas have ingenious and brutal methods for hunting whale calves and other mammals.
Two big maths stories this week. The Abel prize has gone to mathematician Michel Talagrand for his groundbreaking work in understanding randomness. His work has been integral in everything from weather forecasts to large language models and quantum computers. Plus, a group of mathematicians plans to direct a computer to prove the famously complex final theorem of the long-dead Pierre de Fermat – which could advance the field of mathematics research immensely if successful.
Plus: Archaeologists uncover a perfectly preserved ancient settlement in Britain; bad news for life in the universe as one in twelve stars may be gobbling up their orbiting planets; why teenagers’ sweat is particularly smelly.
Hosts Christie Taylor and Timothy Revell discuss with guests Clare Wilson, Jeremy Hsu, Chen Ly and Alex Wilkins. To read more about these stories, visit newscientist.com.
Dogs really do understand that words stand for objects
22 March 2024
Pet dogs have different patterns of brain activity when they are shown an object that doesn’t match the word they hear, suggesting they have a mental representation of what words mean
Whale watching and marine ecosystems in the Azores Islands: Portugal
22 March 2024
7 May 2024 - 7 days for £3,399
13 May 2025 - 7 days for £3,399
Experience the hidden paradise of the richly biodiverse Azores islands, their lush flora and fauna, volcanic craters, lagoons and picturesque towns. This is a rare opportunity to actively take part in whale research and get an opportunity to watch the social interactions of whales as they descend into the water.
The Azores is an archipelago of nine volcanic islands 1400 kilometres west of Lisbon in the Atlantic Ocean. Spend your days exploring and learning about marine life, current conservation efforts, animal intelligence and ecosystems.
May is one of the best times to see marine wildlife in the Azores and our group that visited in 2023 saw an extraordinary number of species plus some highly unusual species interactions (see the sighting list in the gallery above).
Accompanied by a team of marine experts, including marine biologist and oceanographer Russell Arnott, spend time both at sea and on land surrounded by a host of different animals. During your days at sea, search for blue whales – the world’s largest mammals – and sperm whales, which boast the largest brain. Other species you may see include baleen, pilot and fin whales, plus bottlenose, Risso's, spotted and striped dolphins.
On land, visit a seabird colony and discover the charming towns and villages of these islands, which is like stepping back in time. Plus, inspect the islands' fascinating volcanic geology and learn how it supports unique viniculture.
This tour is great for those with an interest in marine biology, oceanology, ocean conservation and ornithology plus exploring beautiful islands and being at sea.
In partnership with Intrepid Travel.
Largest recorded solar storm was even bigger than we thought
22 March 2024
Rediscovered magnetic recordings reveal just how extreme the largest recorded solar storm in history, the Carrington event in 1859, really was, highlighting the danger such storms could present to us nowadays
In search of Madagascar’s magical wildlife
22 March 2024
September 2025 - 16 days
Register now at tours@newscientist.com and we will contact you soon with full tour details.
Immerse yourself in Madagascar’s richly diverse and unique ecosystems, seeing animals including lemurs and fossas not found in the wild anywhere else in the world.
Explore Andasibe Forest, which is packed with lemurs, and discover the fossas of Kirindy Reserve, Amber Mountain National Park and Tsingy. Sunset hill walks and night-time exploration make this a unique experience in a stunning country with landscapes like nowhere else.