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

The 10 Strangest Ideas In Science

As Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” So with that in mind, here are some of the most radical theories in science, from anti-ageing humans to the Earth’s second sun.

Does The Music We Listen To Affect Our Behaviour?

What we choose to listen to can have a profound effect on our emotions and behaviour.

Putting Fear On Ice

Extreme swimmer Ryan Stramrood uses his own experiences to encourage others to excel.

Crazy In Love

How many sexes are there? Two, right? Not if you’re a clam shrimp – then there are three, while other organisms have hundreds or even thousands of ‘mating types’. Such weird mating strategies evolve by chance, but can result in better odds of finding a match.

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?

Footballing Bees Shed New Light On Insect Intelligence

We bet these guys are good on the wing: bumblebees have been taught to play football by a team at Queen Mary University of London.

Is Anything Good For You Any More?

The world of food is full of conflicting advice. Drinking coffee is good for you; it will give you cancer. Eggs are part of nature s natural bounty; they raise your cholesterol. So many claims, so little agreement.Yet despite the headlines there is a fairly consistent body of research that points at the health benefits, or otherwise, of most popular foods. We re here to sort the facts from the fads. Enjoy!

The Heat Is On For Vulnerable Species

Climate change is driving animals out of their natural ranges. Prof John Wiens has been studying just how bad these ‘local extinctions’ are becoming

Lifted By Cranes

New book delves into the lives of South Africa’s stateliest bird species

When The Chips Are Down

For the last few decades, we’ve been enjoying faster and faster computer speeds, but we’ve now squeezed as much as we can from silicon chips. We take a look at the tech that could take their place

Mooving On From Milk?

Cutting out cow juice might be a bad idea