The Future of EV Charging is Bidirectional, If You Can Afford It
Idle electric vehicles could act as massive batteries for homes and the energy grid. But the technology to pull this off is tricky.Continue Reading
2022-04-22
Here’s how we proved that tropical birds are more colourful – and why colour helps them survive
Green headed tanager in Ubatuba, Brazil Lars Falkdalen Lindahl, CC BY-SA 3.0., CC BY For many of us, the tropics conjure up thoughts of lush vegetation teaming with vibrant and strikingly colourful birds, insects and other creatures. It’s been a widespread belief that the tropical regions of the world areContinue Reading
2022-04-22
Developing countries are being left behind in the AI race – and that’s a problem for all of us
sdecoret/Shutterstock Artificial Intelligence (AI) is much more than just a buzzword nowadays. It powers facial recognition in smartphones and computers, translation between foreign languages, systems which filter spam emails and identify toxic content on social media, and can even detect cancerous tumours. These examples, along with countless other existing andContinue Reading
2022-04-20
Four top tips to help your pets stay lean and healthy
Monika Wisniewska/shutterstock Do you love giving your cat or dog an extra treat to nibble on? As much as they seem to enjoy it, it isn’t always the healthiest move. Just like humans, pets can suffer from weight issues. And it’s becoming a growing problem, with more chubby companion animalsContinue Reading
2022-04-19
Cannabis: how it affects our cognition and psychology – new research
Agave Photo Studio Agave Photo Studio/Shutterstock Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years and is one of the most popular drugs today. With effects such as feelings of joy and relaxation, it is also legal to prescribe or take in several countries. But how does using theContinue Reading
2022-04-17
Esports: how the struggling hospitality industry could capitalise on this massive business
The League of Legends world championship at the Staples Center Los Angeles in 2016. Patrick Knight/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA During the pandemic, the sporting world ground to a halt. Global events such as the Olympics, Formula 1 racing, the UEFA Champions League and American basketball were all postponed. As an alternative,Continue Reading
2022-04-16
Why birds migrate vast distances – and how you can help during their breeding season
Ospreys spend summer in the UK Vlad G/shutterstock Now that spring is in the air, the UK is starting to see its summer visitors arriving. Ospreys are already back in their nests, chiffchaffs are singing their song to re-establish their territories, and puffins have arrived at their breeding sites aroundContinue Reading
2022-04-14
Biofuels Are Getting a Second Look—and Some Tough Questions
Bioethanol has been touted as a green way to cut reliance on Russian oil. But new modeling suggests it isn’t the climate solution we’d hoped for.Continue Reading
2022-04-13
Could lead makeup really kill you? A scientist recreated centuries-old skin whitening recipes to find out – podcast
The Countess of Coventry, Maria Gunning, was rumoured to have died of lead poisoning from her makeup. Jean-Étienne Liotard via Wikimedia Can makeup really kill you? That’s the myth attached to Maria Gunning, the Countess of Coventry, an 18th-century socialite who reportedly died from her lead-based makeup in 1760, agedContinue Reading
2022-04-13
She Was Missing a Chunk of Her Brain. It Didn’t Matter
A woman grew up without her left temporal lobe, which highlights how amazingly plastic the brain is.Continue Reading
2022-04-12