New Scientist - May 28, 2022

62 Pages·2022·32.4 MB·English

This week’s issue
On the 8 Monkeypox: What 48 Features
you need to know
cover
“ A spectre of
18 How to tackle the
the distant
38 The nuclear option global food crisis
Do we need nuclear power past, plague
to beat climate change? 9 Australia’s ‘greenslide’
election could well
16 Has DeepMind finally become a
cracked human-level
disease of
intelligence?

today”
44 A new way to think
about cause and effect
Vol 254 No 3388
Cover image: Irena Gajic
News Features
10 War strikes seed bank 38 Our energy future
Priceless samples from News What role, if any, should nuclear
Ukraine’s national collection power have in the push for
destroyed by bomb attack net-zero carbon emissions?
14 Black hole photo 44 Higher causes
Astronomers question A new way to measure
accuracy of landmark image causation could change our
understanding of biology
15 Losing sleep
Climate change is affecting 48 Return of bubonic plague
how well we rest Why the disease could resurface
in a dangerous new guise
Views
The back pages
27 Comment
We must give dogs more legal 52 Science of gardening
protections, says Jules Howard Put your soil to the acid test
28 The columnist 53 Puzzles
Annalee Newitz takes on Try our crossword, quick
the paradox of free speech quiz and logic puzzle
30 Aperture 54 Almost the last word
Polar bears gorge themselves CK Do our beliefs give us an
O
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on a whale meat feast RS evolutionary advantage?
E
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U
H
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32 Letters O/ 56 Feedback
T
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Perhaps we can still be PH Elon Musk and Twitter
R
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optimistic about our future? N bots: the week in weird
A/
HIJ
K
A
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34 Culture K 56 Twisteddoodles
N
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We have hit peak bee, now AY for New Scientist
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wasps need time in the sun 18 Food crisis Heatwaves in India have contributed to rocketing prices Picturing the lighter side of life
28 May 2022 | New Scientist | 1
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Weekly
This week, the team look at
solutions to the global food crisis, Video Newsletter
which has been brought on by a
Wait in line Health Check
mix of the coronavirus pandemic,
intensifying climate change Have you ever seen a pod of Reporter Clare Wilson
and the war in Ukraine. They dolphins queuing? These intelligent has been looking into new
also discuss a new field of study aquatic mammals have recently covid-19 vaccine roll-outs Essential guide
called “ecoacoustics”, which is been spotted waiting patiently for young children. A jab for
being used to assess biodiversity, for their turn to rub themselves under-5s may become available Consciousness is the ghost in our
sharing sounds of an “animal against corals and sea sponges, in the US later this year, but machine – our feeling of being and
orchestra” recorded in the which contain a number of it is unclear when it will reach our relationship with the world. But
Brazilian rainforest. Plus, find compounds with antibacterial the UK and the rest of Europe. what does it consist of and why do
out why some word pairings and antioxidative properties. What impact will it have, and we have it? Delve into the ultimate
are funnier than others – It is thought they could be treating will people actually want it? mystery of being with the latest
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2 | New Scientist | 28 May 2022

The leader
The nuclear question
Nuclear power’s promise remains elusive, and a massive issue remains: who pays?
ON PAPER, nuclear power is a brilliant way rhetoric, including his pledge to build a reactors at a serious rate. For that to
to tackle climate change. Yet the reality of new nuclear plant every year, will be hard happen, though, societies need to have
this technology, which promises a steady to deliver on. It also brings up the question an honest conversation about whether
supply of low-carbon power to cope with that always bedevils nuclear: who pays? they are willing to pay for its benefits.
wind-free days, frequently disappoints, Hinkley’s cost overrun will be borne by They also need to weigh up what is lost
as Michael Brooks reports on page 38. EDF, the downside to its upside of lucrative by supporting nuclear. Last month’s UK
Take the news that the UK’s first new government subsidies when the reactor energy strategy offered nothing new on
nuclear power station in a generation may starts generating power. Yet a new model solar power or energy efficiency: low-cost,
be two years late and cost up to £8 billion low-carbon options that can be deployed
“ Societies need to have an honest
extra. This is the third time since the plant now, not years in the future. What’s more,
conversation about paying for
was first approved in 2016 that the budget wind farms have the UK on course to
the benefits of nuclear power”
and schedule for Hinkley Point C have become a net electricity exporter by 2030,
been revised by EDF Energy, the French as we report on page 12. Nuclear money
state-owned firm leading its construction. for funding nuclear plants, set to be agreed could be spent on even more wind.
The delay doesn’t mean that lights imminently by the UK and EDF, would see Nuclear power advocates have been
will go out, nor missed carbon targets. consumers paying more via their energy overpromising for almost seven decades,
But it does hold consequences for future bills if construction budgets balloon. ever since the 1950s claim that it would
nuclear projects, in the UK and around the Nuclear power could yet play a big role be “too cheap to meter”. Nuclear can be
world. It shows that UK prime minister in decarbonising electricity grids outside part of our race to net zero, but cool heads
Boris Johnson’s recent nuclear power China, the only country building new are needed to assess its true costs.  ❚
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28 May 2022 | New Scientist | 5

News
Starliner launch Vitamin D Net Zero Strategy Taste of friendship Tree mixtures
Boeing’s new Gene-edited tomato The UK expects to Bottlenose dolphins Plantations with
spacecraft docks offers new plant- be a net electricity recognise each diverse species
with the ISS p10 based source p12 exporter by 2030 p12 other’s urine p15 grow better p16
A meeting of world health
representatives in
Geneva on 22 May
identified that would otherwise
have slipped under the radar.
Nevertheless, monkeypox cases
are expected to rise, at least in
Europe, over the coming months.
“As we enter the summer season
in the European region, with mass
gatherings, festivals and parties,
I am concerned that transmission
could accelerate, as the cases
currently being detected are
among those engaging in sexual
activity, and the symptoms are
unfamiliar to many,” the WHO’s
regional director for Europe,
Hans Kluge, said in a statement.
E
S
U
O Early symptoms include fever,
B
LI
BA headache and muscle aches,
S
ENI sometimes followed by a chicken-
D
RS/ pox-like rash that causes scabs.
E
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EU Monkeypox isn’t considered
R
a sexually transmitted infection,
Diseases but can spread via skin-to-skin
Monkeypox on the rise contact or sharing bedding with
an infected person.
“We would recommend to
anyone who is having changes in
Reported cases are growing rapidly in the largest known outbreak sex partners regularly, or having
close contact with individuals that
outside of Central and West Africa, reports Jason Arunn Murugesu
they don’t know, to come forward
if they develop a rash,” Susan
AS New Scientist went to press, In the past, outbreaks outside with men. This is the first time Hopkins, the UKHSA’s chief
172 monkeypox cases had been of Central and West Africa have cases with no travel history have medical adviser, told the BBC.
confirmed in North and South usually been linked with travel to been reported in Europe, according In the UK, close contacts of those
America, Australia, the Middle East, those regions, where the virus is to the European Centre for Disease infected with monkeypox are
North Africa and across Europe, endemic. A small 2021 outbreak Prevention and Control (ECDC). being advised to isolate for 21 days
according to a list of reports in the UK occurred after someone Monkeypox is usually mild, with by the UKHSA and are being
compiled by Moritz Kraemer at travelled from Nigeria to most cases resolving within a few offered a smallpox vaccine, which
the University of Oxford, John Manchester. In 2003, monkeypox weeks without treatment. Bulletins is 85 per cent effective at preventing
Brownstein at Boston Children’s entered the US after exotic pets a monkeypox infection. According
“ Early monkeypox
Hospital in Massachusetts and including mice and squirrels were to Politico, 1000 doses of the vaccine
symptoms include
their colleagues. imported from Ghana. have already been administered in
fever, headache
These same regions also The current outbreak is the UK, with 3500 doses left.
and muscle aches”
have a total of 87 suspected cases unusual in that infections seem In the US, the CDC is advising
of monkeypox and 27 people to be mostly spreading between people with monkeypox to
hospitalised with the infection. As people with no recent travel from organisations like the WHO, isolate, while the ECDC has urged
of 23 May, the UK had recorded 57 links to affected regions of Africa, the US Centers for Disease Control European countries to prepare
cases of the virus, and it appears to suggesting the virus is being and Prevention (CDC) and the UK infection-control strategies,
be one of the hardest-hit countries transmitted undetected in the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) such as increasing contact
so far. No related deaths have been community. In the UK, early cases mean countries are actively tracing and readying vaccines.  ❚
reported anywhere, according to the were largely seen in gay men, looking for infections, which has
World Health Organization (WHO). bisexual men or men who have sex probably caused instances to be Turn to page 8 for more on monkeypox.
28 May 2022 | New Scientist | 7
News
Viruses
Monkeypox: Key questions answered
Cases are rising worldwide, leaving some people anxious that the virus could evolve
into a pandemic alongside covid-19. Michael Le Page addresses monkeypox’s risks
WITH monkeypox cases undetected, meaning the infection
appearing globally (see page 7), fatality ratio – the proportion of
some with no obvious source deaths among all those infected –
of infection, it seems the virus can be substantially lower.
may be spreading undetected. According to the WHO, children
While not as serious a disease with monkeypox are more likely
as covid-19, it is understandable than adults to become seriously
that some people feel a sense of ill. Becoming infected during
familiarity with the early days Y pregnancy can also lead to
R
A
of the coronavirus pandemic. BR complications, including stillbirth.
LI
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Here are the key facts you need T
O
H
to know as the outbreak unfolds. E P Are there any treatments
C
N
E or vaccines?
CI
S
What is monkeypox? CY/ Yes. The antiviral drug tecovirimat
N
E
Monkeypox is a disease caused by AG (also sold as Tpoxx) is approved
Y
T
a virus that, as the name suggests, RI in most of Europe for treating
U
C
usually spreads among monkeys SE monkeypox, smallpox and
H
T
in Central and West Africa, but L cowpox. It is only approved for
A
E
H
occasionally jumps to people. K smallpox in the US. In animal
U
It was first spotted in monkeys studies, tecovirimat significantly
in labs in 1958. The first human Monkeypox virus particles A rash can also develop, typically increased the survival rate of
case was identified in what is now captured via a coloured on the face first and then on other animals given very high doses
the Democratic Republic of the transmission electron parts of the body, including the of monkeypox.
Congo in 1970. micrograph genitals. The rash can look like There is also a vaccine called
chickenpox, before forming scabs. Jynneos (also known as Imvanex
How does it spread? used by an infected person. and Imvamune), which is approved
According to the World It isn’t regarded as a sexually How deadly is it? in the US and most of Europe
Health Organization (WHO), transmitted infection, but it can Monkeypox is usually mild, with
“ It’s important not
“monkeypox can be transmitted be passed on during sex via skin- most people recovering within
to put this on the
by droplet exposure via exhaled to-skin contact, says the UKHSA. a few weeks without treatment.
same levels as a 
large droplets and by contact In Africa, monkeypox can be
with infected skin lesions or What are the symptoms? deadly in as many as 1 in 10 people novel coronavirus”
contaminated materials”. Some The first symptoms of monkeypox who contract the disease, according
might interpret this as meaning include fever, headache, muscle to the CDC. However, there are two for preventing monkeypox and
the virus is airborne, but the aches, backache, swollen lymph main types of monkeypox: the smallpox in people aged over 18.
WHO doesn’t use this term. nodes, chills and exhaustion, says Congo strain and the West African In addition, those who are old
The US Centers for Disease the UKHSA. strain. The WHO states that the enough to have been vaccinated
Control and Prevention (CDC) 1 in 10 figure applies to the Congo against smallpox as babies should
states: “Human-to-human strain and the West African strain have some protection. Routine
1958
transmission is thought to  is deadly in around 1 in 100 smallpox vaccination ended in the
occur primarily through large reported cases. UK in 1971 and in the US in 1972.
respiratory droplets. Respiratory The year monkeypox was Amid the ongoing outbreak,
droplets generally cannot travel first identified in monkeys only the West African strain has Have there been outbreaks outside
more than a few feet, so prolonged been identified in the UK. This Central and West Africa before?
1 in 100
face-to-face contact is required.” information isn’t yet available for There have been several
But the virus doesn’t usually all of the other affected countries. monkeypox outbreaks outside
spread easily between people, The death rate of the West African What’s more, the WHO these regions, but usually
with the UK Health Security monkeypox strain in known cases says these figures refer to involving only a handful of cases
Agency (UKHSA) saying the risk the proportion of deaths in with very limited local spread.
170+
to the UK population amid the those confirmed to be infected, In 2018, a person arriving from
ongoing outbreak “remains low”. called the case fatality ratio. But Nigeria spread the virus to two
Monkeypox can also spread via The number of confirmed or with diseases whose symptoms people in the UK. In 2021, the
contact with clothing or bedding suspected cases worldwide so far can be mild, many cases go UK reported three cases in one
8 | New Scientist | 28 May 2022