Swarms of Satellites Are Tracking Illegal Fishing and Logging
In some of the world’s most inaccessible places, tiny satellites are watching—and listening—for signs of destruction.Continue Reading
2022-08-30
Deplatforming online extremists reduces their followers – but there’s a price
Alex Jones claimed being deplatformed hurt his income. Vic Hinterlang/Shutterstock Conspiracy theorist and US far-right media personality Alex Jones was recently ordered to pay US$45 million (£37 million) damages to the family of a child killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. Jones had claimed that being banned orContinue Reading
2022-08-29
Plagues of wasps? A scientist explains why you shouldn’t panic about rumours of rising populations
Thomas Hochreutener/Shutterstock Late summer is all about BBQs, ice creams and parents counting down the days until schools open. Then along comes a wasp. There’s some screaming and flapping (mostly by the parents). Usually, no one gets stung and the wasp disappears. And yet we treat the arrival of thisContinue Reading
2022-08-27
‘Are we nearly there yet?’: why long car journeys are so excruciating for your kids
It's never long before the maddening refrain from the back seats. Travel_Master/Shutterstock As we approach the end of the school holidays, parents across the country are saying the same thing: “If I had a pound for every time I heard ‘are we nearly there yet?’, I’d be rich.” Having threeContinue Reading
2022-08-26
YouTube: how a team of scientists worked to inoculate a million users against misinformation
The amount of information online is overwhelming. Shyntartanya From the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine, misinformation is rife worldwide. Many tools have been designed to help people spot misinformation. The problem with most of them is how hard they are to deliver at scale. But we may haveContinue Reading
2022-08-24
This Giant Sprinkler System Can Protect Cities From Wildfires
Two Spanish towns have built a network of towers that douse surrounding trees with recycled water—stopping fire in its tracks.Continue Reading
2022-08-24
Noise pollution is hurting animals – and we don’t even know how much
If you don't like noise, imagine how pets and other animals feel about it. Aleksey Boyko/Shutterstock From construction projects to busy roads, aeroplanes and railways, human noise is everywhere. It is an invisible cause of stress, posing serious risks to human health and wellbeing. However, noise also harms animals livingContinue Reading
2022-08-23
Filthy habits: medieval monks were more likely to have worms than ordinary people
It appears that tending to the friary gardens was not without its risks. Thomas Mucha/Shutterstock In the middle ages, monks, nuns, and friars had it relatively easy. They lived quiet lives within friaries and monastic complexes, reading manuscripts, praying, and tending to gardens in which they grew their own food.Continue Reading
2022-08-21
Why you should have more sympathy for seagulls – and how to stop them stealing your chips
LGieger/Shutterstock On a summer’s day at the beach, the sound of seagulls is part of the ambience. But what about when they’re in the middle of a city, or when they’ve just taken your lunch? Not a lot of people like seagulls. They’re loud, messy and quite partial to whateverContinue Reading
2022-08-20
How Long Droughts Make Flooding Worse
Parched ground is less likely to absorb water and increases the risk of dangerous flash floods. But there are ways to mitigate these conditions.Continue Reading
2022-08-19