Single-celled predator extends its 'neck' with the help of origami

6 June 2024

The mystery of how a single-celled predator extends its "neck" by more than 30 times its overall length has finally been solved

Origins of modern horses traced to breeding revolution 4200 years ago

6 June 2024

A genetic analysis of ancient horses reveals that breeding techniques developed by people in the Pontic-Caspian steppes enabled the rapid spread of horse-powered travel

UK ban on quantum computer exports is pointless, say researchers

6 June 2024

The UK government has set limits on the capabilities of quantum computers that can be exported from the country and has declined to explain these limits on the grounds of national security. Experts say this make no sense

Starship launch: Fourth test succeeds as both stages splash into sea

6 June 2024

SpaceX's Starship has been to orbit and back in its fourth flight test, with both rocket stages soft landing in the ocean, though parts of the spacecraft appeared to be damaged during descent

Starship launch livestream: Watch SpaceX’s fourth launch here

6 June 2024

SpaceX is getting ready to launch its massive Starship rocket today - watch the livestream of the event here

Churchill polar bear expedition: Canada

6 June 2024

21 October 2025 – 6 days for $7,795* USD (*based on 2024 prices, subject to increase.)

Travel to Churchill, situated in northern Canada, to see the world’s greatest concentration of polar bears. Learn more about their evolutionary history and learn about the role ecotourism plays in the protection of polar bears and Arctic biodiversity.

Begin in Winnipeg, the capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba, before heading north to Churchill, located on the shores of Hudson Bay. You will spend the week exploring the area in search of a variety of wildlife species, including the most well-known local resident, the polar bear.

A unique part of this tour is the exploration of Churchill's tundra area using a Polar Rover vehicle, a tundra buggy aimed to have minimal impact on the wildlife’s natural surroundings. With huge windows and a see-through steel outdoor viewing deck, it allows closer access to the bears and other wildlife. 

You will be accompanied by experts who will take a deep dive into the life and natural history of the polar bear through a series of talks, walking seminars and fireside chats, covering the following topics:

• The geology of the Canadian Arctic landscape
• The role of epontic communities and the role sea ice plays in the Arctic
• A deep dive into the life and natural history of Ursus maritimus – the polar bear
• Adaptations of flora and fauna to arid, Arctic ecosystems
• The evolutionary history of polar bears, including the many unique adaptations that distinguish them from their grizzly bear cousins
• The role of protected areas and ecotourism in the protection of polar bears and Arctic biodiversity
• Understanding landscape-level phenomena, including arctic mirages, “sun dogs” and the northern lights

In partnership with Natural Habitat Adventures.

Explore the science of botany and horticulture on this deep-dive weekend break

6 June 2024

Explore the science of botany and horticulture on this deep-dive weekend break unravelling the secrets of our gardens and natural landscapes. With insights from leading biologists, horticulturalists and academics. Immerse yourself in a broad spectrum of botanical subjects from the subtleties of soil science, identifying the plant pathogens and diseases that are impacting biodiversity and discovering how plant genetics are adapting to our rapidly changing environment.

Sweetener xylitol linked to higher risk of heart attacks and strokes

6 June 2024

People who had higher levels of xylitol in their blood were more likely to have a heart attack or stroke within the next three years, with lab experiments suggesting the sweetener promotes blood clotting

Yellowstone wolf & wildlife winter safari: USA

6 June 2024

8 February 2025 – 7 days for $8,095 USD

Enjoy a wonderful wildlife odyssey through Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, with extended wolf-watching time in Yellowstone’s Lamar valley. Accompanied throughout by New Scientist wildlife reporter Corryn Wetzel, you will take a deeper look at the science of Yellowstone's geology, wildlife and extreme thermophiles.

During this tour, you will spend time exploring Yellowstone National Park, the oldest national park in the US, during the winter months. Its far-reaching grasslands are dotted with bison and bighorn sheep, and its forests echo with wolf howls at night. This tour capitalises on the quiet season, when wildlife viewing is best because crowds are non-existent, animals stand out against winter’s snow and Yellowstone’s hidden pockets feel like yours alone. The landscape holds magic, too, with steaming geysers, bubbling mud pots and trees covered in glittering ice crystals beneath an immaculate blue sky. 

Throughout this tour, you will be accompanied by New Scientist reporter Corryn Wetzel, who will delve into the science of this beautiful wilderness region. She will explore Yellowstone's geology and discuss how wildlife thrives in the harsh winter, as well as unearth the heat-loving bacteria responsible for Yellowstone's splendour of colour. There will also be a focus on the positive conservation stories in the park, such as the reintroduction of wolves that were once hunted to extinction in this area. 

In addition to Corryn, you will be accompanied by a tour leader who will further reveal the natural history and geology of yellowstone through a series of talks, walking seminars and fireside chats covering the following topics:

• Geology of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
• Geothermal features and their volcanic origins.
• The life and natural history of the grey wolf.
• Predator and prey interactions between wolves, bison and elk.
• The scientific process of wolf conservation and reintroduction into Yellowstone.
• Keystone species ecology and how wolves restored Yellowstone’s balance.
• History of national parks in the US and connections with local research.

In partnership with Natural Habitat Adventures.

The great monarch butterfly migration: Mexico

6 June 2024

14 January 2025 – 6 days for $5,195 USD

Witness one of the world's most astounding wildlife events, the monarch butterfly migration, which occurs each year in the forested Central Highlands of Mexico and features the most delicate of creatures. This all-encompassing itinerary offers extensive time among the butterflies, as well as a chance to enjoy authentic cultural encounters.

Every autumn, tens of millions of monarchs set flight on a remarkable 4000-kilometre journey from the north-eastern US and Canada to their ancestral wintering grounds in the volcanic mountains of central Mexico. The location of their breeding grounds remained a mystery until 1977, and how an infant generation of butterflies finds it anew each year is still unknown.

Experience this magnificent natural wonder for yourself. After an overnight stay in Mexico City, you will transfer to the small town of Angangueo where you will be mesmerised by the millions of monarch butterflies, filling the sky with clouds of orange as they come to rest on the oyamel fir trees at the end of their epic migration to a warmer breeding climate in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. Afterwards, you will return to Mexico City via Jungapeo and Toluca to enjoy some of the cultural aspects of this region of Mexico.

You will be accompanied by experts throughout, who will be on hand to explain the origins of the migration through a series of talks, walking seminars and fireside chats, covering the following topics:

• Migration biology, including advanced navigation and orientation mechanisms
• Complete natural history of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
• The effects of, and adaptations to, climate change in the monarchs’ winter home
• The origins of their migration in connection with the last glacial period during the Pleistocene Epoch
• Ecosystem characteristics that allow for quasi-hibernation in monarchs
• The role of conservation travel in protecting sensitive environments
• Novel conservation strategies to protect summer breeding grounds for monarchs in North America

As Mexican butterfly conservationist Carlos Gottfried said: "When you stand in a monarch sanctuary, your soul is shaken, and your life is changed."

In partnership with Natural Habitat Adventures.