Quantum internet signals beamed between drones a kilometre apart

Entangled photons have been beamed between drones and to a ground station, creating technology that could form part of an unhackable quantum internet

The superconductor breakthrough that could mean an energy revolution

We’ve finally made a room-temperature superconductor, so materials that transport electricity without wasting any of it are within our grasp

Embryos set to be implanted in the last two northern white rhinos

Fertilised eggs are set to be implanted in the two remaining northern white rhinos this year, with the hope of producing offspring

The superconductor breakthrough that could mean an energy revolution

We’ve finally made a room-temperature superconductor, so materials that transport electricity without wasting any of it are within our grasp

We may have found hints of gravitational waves permeating the universe

When supermassive black holes merge, they create a low thrum of gravitational waves that permeates the universe, and we may have just spotted it for the first time

Stunning photo shows Virgo upgrade ready to hunt gravitational waves

This dazzling image shows the upgraded and more sensitive Advanced Virgo+ detector, which hunts for clues about the universe that are contained in gravitational waves

Tropical rainforests may begin pumping out carbon dioxide by 2050

Rising temperatures over the next 30 years could cause Earth’s tropical and temperate forests to switch from being carbon sinks to carbon sources that release greenhouse gases

White dwarfs seen eating the remnants of destroyed planets

Signs of the metals that make up Earth’s crust have been seen in the light coming from four dead stars known as white dwarfs, which may have consumed distant planets similar to ours

Chemical that makes chilli peppers spicy boosts solar panel cells

Solar cells treated with capsaicin, the compound that makes chilli peppers taste spicy, are more efficient at converting solar energy

NASA gives up trying to burrow under Mars surface with 'mole' probe

For nearly two years, a heat probe attached to NASA’s InSight lander, nicknamed the mole, has been trying to burrow into the Martian surface – but now researchers have thrown in the towel

Lush meadows of underwater seagrass are removing plastic from the sea

A seagrass that forms lush underwater meadows can naturally trap plastic items in ball-shaped tangles and remove them from the seawater

Tom Gauld

Tom Gauld is a cartoonist and illustrator. He makes weekly cartoons for New Scientist and The Guardian and occasional covers for The New Yorker. He has created a number of comic books including Baking with Kafka, Goliath and Mooncop. He lives and works in London. His next book is called Department of Mind-Blowing Theories.

CRISPR gene editing used to store data in DNA inside living cells

Biologists have used CRISPR gene editing to store information inside DNA in living bacterial cells, which could become a storage medium of the future

Megalodon sharks grew 2 metres long in the uterus by eating eggs

Ancient megalodon sharks may have been at least 2 metres long at birth – and they might have grown so large by eating unhatched eggs in the uterus

A Perfect Planet review: Attenborough's new show is one of his best

David Attenborough documentary A Perfect Planet blends earth science with dazzling images of flamingos, finches and frogs to reveal how natural forces have nurtured life