CATEGORIES

Smartphone Apps: Can They Improve Our Mental Health?

Mental health apps are everywhere. But do they actually help us? a

THE ANIMAL BLINGDOM

While many creatures adapt to blend into their environment, there are some who show no such regard for convention. Here are some of our favourite show-offs from the animal kingdom…

Slipping the noose

An international trip should be an opportunity for learning, growing and excitement, but an advancing virus completely alters the outlook

Don't duck the issue

Feeding wildlife: can it do more harm than good?

ABOUT-FACE

Police forces are coming under fire for their trials of live facial recognition technology

How To Eat Yourself Happy

Your body hosts a colony of creatures that build their lives around you. Now, scientists are beginning to see that not only do they influence your health, they can even change your mind, too. Welcome to the world of psychobiotics

Should You Upgrade Your Brain?

Mind-machine interfaces have the potential to upgrade our intelligence and supercharge our thinking. But at what cost?

THE PLIGHT OF THE HUMBLE BEE

Our way of life depends upon bees, but these insects are under threat. Samantha Alger is an environmental scientist and pollinator specialist, uncovering the secret lives of bees

THE TRANSPORT REVOLUTION

From hyper-fast trains to flying taxis, we look at the vehicles that are set to transform how we get around

HEADING AND DEMENTIA: ARE FOOTBALLERS PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK?

A new study has revealed that footballers are more likely to die of degenerative brain disease than non-players. Former pro footballers have called for a ban on heading, and the Scottish Football Association recently announced they were considering a ban for children under 12. But what does the research say?

LIFE ON MARS

The red planet is a pretty lively place. In the last 12 months, orbiters, rovers and landers, as well as the scientists operating them, have spotted the scars of ancient raging rivers, felt the shudders of a Marsquake and uncovered evidence of liquid water deep underground. As we discover more about the red planet’s tantalisingly Earth-like story, one question still persists: is there, or has there ever been, life on Mars? Here’s everything we know so far…

Testosterone may not be linked to empathy

Researchers have poured cold water on the idea that people with increased testosterone have reduced empathy.

EXPANDING HORIZONS

Astronaut Don Thomas unpacks a future that will include our current learners – the ‘Mars Generation’

HOW CHARISMATIC POLITICIANS FAIL UPWARDS

Despite blunder-filled careers, confident officials often rise above more capable colleagues. Why? And why is it happening now?

CELEBRATING SIESTAS

Daytime naps help the brain process information that’s hidden from conscious awareness

THE GREAT BRITISH BLAST-OFF

The site has been chosen and building will soon begin on what will become Britain’s first spaceport

BURN, IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE

Experts believe that with drier, hotter weather becoming the norm, even more wildfires could rage in the future. That’s why scientists are monitoring intentionally ignited fires, and using computer models, laser scanning and drones to predict the behaviour of the flames and help prevent widespread devastation…

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN?

In the past few years, traditional male stereotypes have come under increasing scrutiny. Psychologist Gary Barker explains why these stereotypes are harmful, and what a new, progressive form of masculinity could look like

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

As overpopulation and climate change take their toll on our cities, engineers and urban planners are adapting their designs to cope with an uncertain future

Prepare For Grolar Bears ...

We all know about rising temperatures and melting ice caps, but who ever heard of the grolar bear? Here are some of the lesser-known impacts of climate change

Fantastic Fish

Mike Bruton on the coelacanth – a fish of superlatives

Is There Life After Mars?

The Martian author Andy Weir talks about his new book Artemis, how he built an entire lunar base in his head before he wrote it, and how hard it is to make a decent cuppa on the moon …

It's Time To Embrace Artificial Intelligence

Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking may have issued stark warnings about the singularity, but perhaps we should stop worrying and learn to love the all-knowing machine brain

'Rainbow Dinosaur' May Have Had Glittery Feathers

Just call it the ‘disco dinosaur’. Caihong juji, a newly discovered duck-sized dinosaur that lived around 160 million years ago in what is now China, had a vibrant rainbow crest and iridescent hummingbird-like plumage, a team of international researchers say.

Teeth Shed New Light On Man's Earliest Origins

Two fossilised teeth found on Devon’s ‘Jurassic coast’ have been identified as belonging to some of man’s earliest ancestors.

The Science Of Pay Transparency

In many parts of the world, women are paid less than men. One solution might be total pay transparency. Can it fix the problem and are we ready to talk about how much we earn?

High-Flying Innovation

The Icarus Initiative is a series of projects that uses cutting-edge technology to track animal movements more efficiently than older systems.

A Fusion Of Fascinations

Plasma physicist Melanie Windridge talks about her twin passions of science and exploration.

Saved By Machines

Computer scientist Dr Sue Black talks about the transformative power of technology and saving Bletchley Park.

Should We Get Over GM Food?

Genetically modified food has been around for over 30 years, yet it still ignites heated debate. Is it safe, and should we allow it to grace our shelves?