James Webb Space Telescope launch delayed to Christmas Eve

The launch of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has been delayed yet again. NASA’s long-awaited space observatory is now scheduled to lift off from French Guiana no earlier than Dec. 24, two days later than previously planned.  “The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle … Read more

Covid-19 Christmas: World faces omicron infection wave this festive season

The festive season will be dominated by a large wave of covid-19 infections caused by the omicron variant, but few countries appear to have substantially changed their plans Health 13 December 2021 By Michael Le Page A shop window in Tehran, Iran Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images There now seems little doubt that the Christmas … Read more

The best books of 2021 – New Scientist’s Christmas gift guide

By Simon Ings Getty Images/iStockphoto The first rule of popular science is to reveal the wonder and mystery of the world. For that reason, Sentient (Picador), written by photographer and wildlife film-maker Jackie Higgins, is my personal pick of the year. It reveals how the 86 billion nerve cells in the human nervous system afford … Read more

Does the omicron variant mean you shouldn’t go to Christmas parties?

By Michael Le Page Omicron may spread much more easily at social functions than other variants Shutterstock Should you go to that festive party this year if you want to avoid being infected by the coronavirus? Probably not. In addition to the risk posed by the high levels of the delta variant in many countries, … Read more