Science News

Hey presto, embryonic stem cells but without the embryos

Two groups of scientists have independently stumbled on a way to create tailor-made embryonic stem cells (ES cells), but without the aid of an embryo.  The discovery, made by ...

Trees taught us to walk

Have you ever wondered why humans walk on two legs, while pretty much all other animals prefer four?  Most human evolution researchers think we started to walk upright through...

Cigs spoil sperm

We’ve known for a long time that tobacco smoking can cause a range of cancers – in fact, it’s believed to be responsible for more than a quarter of all cancer deaths in the UK.&nbs...

Does a hot mint still taste cold?

US scientists have unlocked the secret of how the nervous system senses low temperatures, discovering in the process why sucking a mint makes your mouth feel cold....

Gotta Lotta Bottle

Diet-conscious New Zealanders may soon be able to tuck into naturally "skimmed" milk thanks to a programme set up to breed a herd of cows that produce milk containing les...

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, and may even save your life

US researchers have found that canny moths impersonate the sounds made by their bad-tasting relatives to ward of bat-attacks....

Virgin Shark Gives Birth

Back in 2001, a rather far-fetched story hit the headlines declaring that a baby shark had been born in an aquarium tank to a virgin female shark. And it turns out, the immaculate ...

Ants use their own bodies for rapid road repairs

This week we heard some bizarre news from the world of the ants.  It seems that some types of ants are prepared to get walked all over to let their fellow ants bring home the ...

It's all in the wrist, or should that be index finger?

A study of 75 school children has shown that a photocopy of their hands is all that's needed to predict their literacy and mathematical skills....

What’s the matter?

Physicists at the University of Pittsburgh have created a new form of matter, which they published in the journal Science this week.  Unfortunately it’s not a form of chocolat...