How long can Schrödinger's cat survive?

It is time once again for New Scientist’s weekly run down of the best stories in science and technology. Today, we’ve got strange quantum cats, the long-lasting impact of antibiotics, and a special report on what you should be eating. Tuck in!

Quantum 'Schrödinger's cat' survives for a stunning 23 minutes

This story is about what is probably one of the most famous thought experiments in physics – namely, what happens if you put a cat in a box, and link its survival to the unpredictable decay of a radioactive atom? Erwin Schrödinger, who came up with the slightly tongue-in-cheek idea, said that it would be in a state of quantum superposition, both dead and alive. The experiment has never been done with a real cat, but physicists have created “cat states” with other objects, and the latest is the longest lasting one yet.

One course of antibiotics can change your gut microbiome for years

It is probably unsurprising that antibiotics, which are intended to kill bacteria, can have an effect on the microbes within your gut, but it seems even a short dose can be long-lasting. In fact, people who took a course of antibiotics lasting less than two weeks still showed reduced gut bacteria diversity up to eight years later.

Stone Age network reveals ancient Paris was an artisanal trading hub

If you were living in Stone Age France, the best goods to be had came from what is now Paris. That is the conclusion of researchers who have combined archaeological evidence with geographical data to map how stone goods passed through trading networks that were centred in the Paris basin.

More from New Scientist

• This story about Michelangelo’s possible depiction of breast cancer in his painting The Flood is a nice art/science combo
• Our magazine cover story this week is a special issue all about nutrition and the ways you can eat better
• Want to brush up on your quantum physics? Sign up for our event in London next week

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Jacob Aron, News Editor