Feedback provides the latest science and technology news from New Scientist, highlighting interesting items. You can reach out to Feedback@newscientist.com with stories that might intrigue readers.

Curious Connections

Earlier this year, feedback sought an example of “No kidding, Sherlock.” Reader Roger Eldem requested evidence supporting the claim that inadequate rest increases the risk of injury during prolonged tasks.

Roger hasn’t yet finished his research but continues to share examples of self-evident truths. Here are two more while we await further contributions. First, a paper published in June in Demographics presented findings concerning political preferences in relationships: Couples with opposing political views are more likely to separate. Phys.org has summarized this effectively: Research shows couples with conflicting political views face higher separation risks.

Feedback acknowledges that political differences can create tension in relationships. When did we start selecting partners solely by looks and style?

On the theme of problematic relationships, Roger shares another notable discovery from the 2016 Journal PLOS 1 titled Sexually cannibalistic behavior in colonial spider species. It discusses the dynamics of these spiders, where females often consume males post-mating. Research highlights that males may be choosy about their partners, preferring younger, more robust females.

As Phys.org aptly noted: Male orb-weaving spiders are often cannibalized by females.

No apologies here; feedback maintains its critical stance. The complexities are not as straightforward as they seem. Researchers indicate that males in solitary species may not be selected for, as they rarely encounter females, thus opting not to risk decapitation during mating. This contrasts with social species that carefully select males before sacrificing them for reproduction.

Clearly, many instances of “No kidding, Sherlock” exist. Can others find more examples? New insights are always welcome.

Disproven Fiction

As a long-time science fiction reader, Feedback enjoys revisiting stories that are now outdated. These narratives often held plausible premises that have since become unlikely or completely impossible.

Sometimes, what was once considered a “prediction” has been surpassed by time. For instance, Blade Runner was released in 1982 and set in 2019. Now, well over six years have passed since that date, with flying cars still absent. However, the film accurately portrayed the pitfalls of tech billionaires. Depending on your perspective, whether you subscribe to Star Trek or Terminator, the late 1990s were supposed to be defined by either superhumans born from eugenics or nuclear devastation.

We would like to highlight another phenomenon: groundbreaking scientific findings that undermine significant story premises. For example, World War discoveries previously attributed to the apparent absence of life on Mars.

A similar scenario unfolds in Revelation Space, a book by Alastair Reynolds. Feedback still cherishes these novels, and anyone who hasn’t delved into them should stop reading now.

The narrative revolves around the eventual clash between our galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy billions of years from now. Consequently, humanity is perceived to be limited by Inhibitors that restrict intellectual life until the crisis resolves.

However, on June 2nd, Natural Astronomy published a paper under an unexciting title: Uncertainty in Milky Way and Andromeda Collision. Researchers simulated the movements of galaxies within the local cluster and concluded that the current positioning and mass of galaxies leave room for dramatically different potential outcomes. They assert that “the fate of our galaxy remains completely open.”

Readers are encouraged to share other recent discoveries that have subverted plausible science fiction narratives.

More from GS

In the London Centric Newsletter, readers will uncover “The Real 5G Conspiracy: How Londoners Misrepresent Their Phone Signals“. The article addresses how, despite high mobile coverage signals, functional data download capabilities are absent. Londoners may claim to be connected to modern 5G networks, yet they lead lives devoid of 4G awareness.

The article was inspired by an app creator named SignalTracker, who tests various networks while roaming around London “with five different mobile phones.”

Capitalism continues to evolve. Reader Brian Darvel has drawn our attention to this mobile detective, Martin Sims.

Have you shared your feedback?

You can send your stories to feedback@newscientist.com, including your home address. Previous and current feedback can be found on our website.