MORE FROM NEW SCIENTIST
Smart cladding could control whether buildings retain or emit heat
A new material changes its infrared colour when a small electric current is applied, raising the possibility of buildings that store or release heat depending on outside temperatures
Entirely new type of ice made using extremely cold steel balls
A new type of ice called medium-density amorphous ice has the same density as liquid water, so studying it could help us understand water’s strange behaviour at low temperatures
Sunquakes may be caused by weird beams of electrons from solar flares
Mysterious ripples in the sun’s plasma have gone unexplained for decades, but they may be caused by strange beams of high-energy electrons fired inward by solar flares
US military plan to create huge autonomous drone swarms sparks concern
The AMASS project would involve thousands of drones, on the ground, in the air and in the water, working together in a "swarm of swarms" to overwhelm enemy defences