Weekly: The Best of New Scientist in 2024: From Volcanic Diamonds to Immortal Brains

In a special review episode, Rowan Hooper and the New Scientist features team—Josh Howgego, Linda Rodriguez-McRobbie, Thomas Lewton, and Alison George—reminisce about their favorite features from the past year. They discuss gold hydrogen as a potential clean fuel source, volcanic diamonds brought to the surface by extinct supersonic volcanoes, and a Neanderthal skeleton named Thorin, found in a French cave, that is providing insights into Neanderthal extinction. Other topics include a new understanding of tinnitus related to hidden hearing loss, the possibility of the universe vanishing due to the Higgs boson, the philosophical implications of quantum theory on the laws of physics, quantum consciousness experiments with brain organoids, the complexities of screen time's impact on children, and advancements in reversing death and preserving brain activity.