Physicists Update 18th-Century Cavendish Experiment in Bid to Detect Dark Matter

An update to an experiment first run by Henry Cavendish in 1773 could become the world's best dark matter detector. The revised setup may be 10,000 times more sensitive than current methods, according to New Scientist reported. The development features prominently in the New Scientist magazine issue dated 16 May 2026, which is Issue 3595.

That edition follows the previous week's Issue 3594 dated 9 May 2026. Pressure from individual particles was measured for the first time in related physics work. Quantum computers simulated their biggest molecule yet, expanding the frontier of what is computationally feasible.

A tiny frozen world unexpectedly appears to have an atmosphere, astronomers found. Stars in massive clusters are born faster than those in smaller ones, according to fresh observations. A Neanderthal 'kneeprint' was found next to a mysterious stalagmite circle.

The discovery adds texture to debates over Neanderthal behavior and symbolic thought. An extinct relative of koalas was discovered in Western Australia. Bronze Age Britons fashioned copper-mining tools out of old bones, revealing resourceful reuse of materials.

A huge study of ancient British DNA reveals only minor Roman influence on the population. Doubling their genomes may have helped plants survive mass extinctions, providing a genetic buffer during catastrophic events. PCOS postpones perimenopause and allows pregnancies at older ages, a large health study determined.

The finding reframes understanding of reproductive timelines for millions of women. A huge landslide in Alaska caused a 481m-high tsunami. There has been a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise, separate measurements show.

Deforestation could trigger an Amazon tipping point in the 2030s. Fire is spreading in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after a drone crash, authorities confirmed. Cosmologist João Magueijo has a bold new proposal on the origin of the laws of physics.

"Where did the laws of physics come from? I think I've found the answer," he writes in the issue. Autism pioneer Uta Frith wants to dismantle the spectrum. She argues in the magazine that the current diagnostic framework requires fundamental revision.

Suzanne Simard discussed the wood wide web, connectedness, and Avatar. The ecologist explores how forest networks challenge traditional views of trees as isolated organisms. New Scientist reported that scientific disciplines often shy away from asking fundamental "what if" questions.

The magazine's leaders column states that philosophy, if unencumbered by dogma or ideology, has much to offer evidence-based enquiry. The 16 May 2026 issue also examines whether cloud seeding can save regions from water bankruptcy and explores slow breathing techniques that can calm the mind without any need for mindfulness.

Additional coverage addresses honey's historical use as medicine and the mathematician who doesn’t exist.