CATEGORIES

THE WORST IDEAS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

NOT ALL IDEAS CAN BE HITS. ALONGSIDE GROUND-BREAKING INNOVATIONS, 21ST-CENTURY SCIENTISTS HAVE HELMED THEIR SHARE OF WILD TECH FLOPS, DUBIOUS THEORIES AND OVERHYPED BREAKTHROUGHS. HERE ARE THE BIGGEST TO FORGET

10 IDEAS THAT WILL SHAPE YOUR NEXT 25 YEARS

Predicting the future is considered a fool's game. But it's one many of us like to play.

THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE CENTURY

We're a quarter of the way into the new century. To mark this milestone, we asked the UK's top minds to highlight some of the game-changing scientific breakthroughs shaping our world since the year 2000

DO THE SCIENCE COGNITIVE SHUFFLE

Trouble sleeping? A lot on your mind? Use this trick and sedate your synapses

WHAT DETERMINES HOW MANY ABS I CAN GET?

Assuming you're a human being, you have exactly the same number of abs as everybody else: two.

HOW CAN I IDENTIFY MY PSYCHOLOGICAL BLIND SPOT?

In the 1950s two American psychologists, Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, proposed a way of thinking about psychological blind spots - things you don't know about yourself - that they called the 'Johari Window' (the term is a combination of their first names).

How can I change my personality?

Want to become more confident, extroverted or assertive? Science shows that with a few simple changes, you can unlock your best self

Could your cosmetics be harming your health?

Cosmetic companies are phasing out microplastics and so-called 'forever chemicals' to help protect consumers.

extraterrestrial US Congress is talking about activity again. Is the truth really out there?

Despite several testimonies, the question remains frustratingly unanswered

Map of 100 million human body cells revealed

Over three dozen new studies mark significant milestone towards complete Human Cell Atlas

Star outside our galaxy imaged for first time

Scientists have captured a close-up of WOH G64

Key weight-loss mystery solved

New research suggests fat cells have a 'memory'

Poop and vomit reveals how dinosaurs got so big

It wasn't meat but plant-based diets that helped dinosaurs rise to the top

Human activity is changing Earth's tilt and rotation

Scientists have found that using underground water has more of an impact on Earth’s tilt than melting polar caps

IMAGES OF THE CENTURY

THE WORLD IS FULL OF WONDERS, AND HIGH-RESOLUTION CAMERAS LET US SEE THEM IN UNPRECEDENTED DETAIL.

COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?

The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.

IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?

A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.

WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?

The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.

WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?

The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.

HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?

Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.

THE LUNGFISH

In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.

ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?

The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.

Should we scrap daylight saving time?

Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health

THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS

SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS

MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION

The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?

GHOST DETECTOR

Currently under construction, the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is set to unlock the secrets of nature's most elusive subatomic particle: the neutrino. It may ultimately provide the missing pieces of the unified 'Theory of Everything'

ANALYSIS - Why you should never take health advice from a 100-year-old

Living longer is a goal for many of us. But should we be following the lifestyles of those that live past 100?

Mega-buildings are now slowing Earth's spin. Here's what that means for the planet

A huge dam in China is changing how long our days are

The real reasons women are losing more sleep than men

Menopause, pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations during the monthly cycle can all have a huge effect on women’s sleep

Here's how the Sun will end all life on Earth

The Sun isn't going to go supernova. But its demise will cause ripples of stellar devastation that'll be deadly to nearby planets