The chips at the heart of our digital devices are manufactured by a few large companies, but an open-source approach to design could end their dominance – with implications for everyone Technology 8 September 2021 By Matthew Sparkes Chris Malbon ON THE one hand was a perfect storm of problems hampering supplies: a global pandemic, […]
By James Wong MirageC/Getty Images ONE thing that has always fascinated me is the concept of food taboos. While those of other cultures can seem quirky and colourful to our minds, we can often forget that we have several of our own. These don’t stay still as cultures evolve either, and the introduction of novel […]
By Leah Crane An artist’s impression of a black hole Shutterstock / Vadim Sadovski Black holes may have their own exotic version of pressure that is different from the sort found everywhere else in the universe. Calculations of how quantum mechanics affects gravity at the edge of black holes indicate that those regions may have […]
By Krista Charles An artist’s impression of an Eosimias primate, which lived between 45 and 40 million years ago CLAUS LUNAU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY We are likely to develop dental cavities over time because sugars in our carbohydrate-rich diet support oral bacteria that release demineralising acids. Now there is evidence that the problem goes back to […]
By Clare Wilson Illustration of antibodies responding to the SARS-CoV-2 virus KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY A simple blood test could help predict which people with covid-19 are likely to get severely ill and need to go on a ventilator. The test measures levels of antibodies in the blood that are directed against molecules released by […]
Josie Ford Branson pickle The world was agog in July as two grown men squared off about who would be the first to reach space on their own rocket. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos looked set to win when he announced his Blue Origin take-off for 20 July – only to see Virgin Galactic founder Richard […]
By James Urquhart Chinese scorpion (Mesobuthus martensii) Eng Wah Teo / Alamy Newborn scorpions hitch a ride on their mother’s back for protection, and at this early stage in their lives cannot eat, excrete or sting. But scientists have found that they still accumulate venom, enabling them to catch prey and defend themselves as soon […]
By Michael Le Page , Clare Wilson , Jessica Hamzelou , Sam Wong , Graham Lawton , Adam Vaughan , Conrad Quilty-Harper and Layal Liverpool Illustration of a blood clot Science Photo Library/Alamy Latest coronavirus news as of 12pm on 9 September Platelets could be to blame for deadly covid-19 blood clots Tiny particles in […]
By Coline Monchanin and Mathieu Lihoreau Michelle D’urbano ACROSS the world, insects are in decline. Intensive pesticide use, new diseases, habitat destruction and climate change are all contributing. Sadly, we are increasingly discovering that there is another impact of our everyday activities that is just as important: heavy metal pollution. These substances are all around […]
By Tiffany O’Callaghan A herd of wild Asian elephants strolls through a village in China VCG via Getty Images Book Fuzz: When nature breaks the law Mary Roach WW Norton MARY ROACH has a knack for choosing subjects for her books that won’t have necessarily crossed your mind and convincing you that you must now […]