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.

how safe is your plane?

this is a question you want answered before booking a trip. we look at the rigorous tests that planes undergo to ensure that flying remains one of the safest modes of transport.

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

Eyes Wide Shut

Narcolepsy includes much more than falling asleep at inappropriate times

To Boldly Go …

Selling STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – as a sector in which to work and invest is not a static occupation. Aerospace engineering expert and former NASA executive Jim Adams knows this, and has the experience to understand the way in which the goalposts have moved since, say, the Sixties, when the Space Race was a major driver and there were so many more ‘firsts’ to achieve.

Can We End Animal Testing?

We find out whether innovative techniques using stem cells, computer modelling and 3D-printing could reduce the number of animals used in medical research

The Nuclear Pioneer Who Escaped The Nazis

Meet Lise Meitner, the little-known Austrian physicist who kick-started the nuclear age

Can We Improve The Lives Of Captive Animals?

A trip to the zoo can be a fun and educational day out, but do these institutions do more harm than good? 

Anthropology And Ethics

Christa Kuljian’s latest book, Darwin’s Hunch, explores the important – and sometimes shocking – work South Africa’s famous palaeontologists, from Raymond Dart to Lee Berger, have contributed to our understanding of early man

This Man Could Save Your Life

Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin’s new book explores information overload

Professor Bruce Hood: Me, myself and I

You made the decision to read this interview, right? Wrong. Prof Hood explains why your sense of self is merely an illusion

Ultrasound Sensations

Dolphins echolocate with two-part acoustic beams – technology that could help us improve medical and navigational technology

The Power Of Sloth

Why nature’s laziest animal is an evolutionary success story

Doobie Do

What is cannabis oil and can it really be made into medicine?

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?