A Vision For The Whole Planet

James Chen is the founder of Clearly, a new global initiative to solve the largest unaddressed disability in the world – poor eyesight

Do You Have To Be Mad To Be Funny?

The way a comedian’s brain works is subtly different to the rest of us

Complete Cocoa

Why is cocoa hard to dissolve, and what’s the best way to make the perfect hot chocolate?

In Search Of Wisdom

Professor Mike Bruton – prolific author, educator, ichthyologist, historian, imaginer (his term) and much more – is an unconventional academic. For one thing, he seems to place a premium on sharing his knowledge, rather than coddling it in a corner.

Are We Becoming More Violent?

With the conflict in Syria, terrorist attacks in France and racial tensions in the USA, it’s easy to think we’re becoming more violent. But do the stats paint a different picture?

Is The Dark Web Disappearing?

TECHNOLOGY

Turned On By Teaching

Dr Tyler DeWitt, educator, scientist and creator, shares some of his views on the importance of learning about science

Sleep Deprivation Could Help Fight Depression

Large study finds that ‘wake therapy’ is as effective as antidepressants

South Africa's 40 Top Inventions

In his book What a Great Idea! Awesome South African Inventions, Mike Bruton examines the immediate and long-term impact and disruptive effect of local ingenuity

Was 'Snowball Earth' Caused By A Perfect Storm Of Fire And Ice?

If you were to hop in a time machine and travel back about 717 million years, you’d be greeted with scenes reminiscent of the ice planet Hoth in Star Wars. But exactly how the Earth came to resemble a giant snowball has long been up for debate.

Like The Wind

Yes, that is someone cycling. Down the side of a mountain.

An Impudent Effort

Author Terence Tracey drove from Johannesburg to London in a 50-year-old Hillman Imp – in order to get to a birthday party

Tiny Treatment

Folding robots controlled by magnetic fields can be used to study microscopic objects such as cells. Prof Orlin Velev of North Carolina State University explains how they work 

The First Environmentalist

Climate change is a hot topic. Take a look at the trailblazing scientist who first predicted it more than 200 years ago.

​Nanochip Could Heal Injuries With “One Touch”

Researchers at the Ohio State University have designed a tiny device that genetically re-programmes skin cells. It’s hoped it could be used to repair injured tissue, including organs, blood vessels and nerve cells. 

are you a genetic superhero?

recent research has revealed a handful of ‘superheroes’ walking among us, whose dna gifts them with resistance against serious diseases. now we just have to find them … 

are cities affecting our mental health?

according to the un, almost two-thirds of us will live in cities by 2050. the growth of cities cannot be stopped. nor, it seems, do we want to halt their expansion. but should we?

the future of food

the world population is currently 7.4 billion. with more mouths to feed, could synthetic meat help meet the growing demand for food?

Alternative Angling

Fishing Impossible is a 10-part television series following three fishing fanatics – marine-turned-social-worker Jay Lewis, Easy Jet pilot Charlie Butcher and marine biologist Tom Hurd (better known as The Blowfish) – who indulge elaborate hypotheses in their mission to catch interesting fish in new and creative ways while travelling the world.

View From A Zoo

Charlotte Corney is director of the Isle of Wight Zoo. The attraction has a strong focus on providing homes to rescued big cats, and is currently being converted into a charity. She argues that zoos have a vital role to play in conservation

Mosquito Discovery Sheds Light On How Malaria Is Spread In South Africa

The two most successful initiatives to control mosquitoes are indoor house spraying and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets.

Experiment With Your Food!

Want to cook up a delicious meal? It’s not just about the food. We chat to psychologist Prof Charles Spence about the strange science of gastrophysics

The Genetic Hunt For Nessie

For centuries, many have claimed that a creature lurks in Loch Ness. Now, by seeking out monster DNA from the loch’s waters, scientists are going to find out what’s down there.

It's Time For Change

Girls are not picking as many STEM subjects as boys, while professional female scientists are dropping out of the field. Does science have a problem with women?

Social Media Kills Self-Esteem

Our online image is now often more important than what our partners think of us.

How to Save the World

Sir David Attenborough Has Reunited With the Creators of Planet Earth for New Netflix Series Our Planet. Here, They Reveal How the Show Will Inspire People to Save Our Beautiful Home…

Master Of Disaster

Scientists Are Recreating Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters Inside Labs Around the World. Their Aim: to Prepare for the Next Big Catastrophes.

Monster Movers

Think Moving House is Difficult? Take a Look at the Gargantuan Machines That Are Needed to Move Rockets, Wind Turbines, Antarctic Bases and Even Entire Buildings.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Planet

Comedians May Hold the Key to Getting Humans Safely to Mars

Am I Addicted to Something?

Video Games, Tv Series and Social Media. It Seems That Many of Us Are Hooked on Something. But Are Things as Bad as They Appear?