In Short

Brian Clegg paints a picture of a compound found in ancient cave paintings and top-of-the-range electronics: Manganese...

Michael Freemantle examines the explosive history and chemistry of mercury fulminate

It has been shown for the first time that environmental sounds can convey emotions.

Do you remember when you went through puberty and when is the healthiest time for it?

New research shows that DNA mutations may be less random than previously thought.

We've all heard of Novak Djokovic's tennis racket but what else can graphene be used for?

Generally, things get bigger as they get hotter. Neil Withers examines one of the exceptions – zirconium tungstate

Prevention is better than cure. We know the causes, now how do we stop breast cancer?

Long awaited vaccine for life threatening respiratory virus could be around the corner.

E-Cigarettes seem to be everywhere but are they healthy or harmful and what's in them?

Cataracts take years to form, but new research shows that this could be reversed in weeks.

There's more to toluene than TNT, as Brian Clegg reveals

Childbirth happens rather a lot - but we still don't know a huge amount about it.

A new material has been created to delay the development of ice.

From an apron aflame to a popular propellant, Michael Freemantle tracks the history of guncotton

A new coating for steel that reduces contaminants, such as bacteria, sticking to it has be

Your birth order will not necessarily determine your personality in later life.

Brian Clegg introduces an essential nutrient, and the first to hold the name 'vitamin': Thiamine or vitamin B

Seven major engineering projects in the UK have been given 21 million in funding.

A story which starts knee-deep in sewage and ends with the spread of drug resistant infections like MRSA

Going for a long run gave mice the same high as if they were smoking cannabis.

As people move around more and more should we be worrying about the diseases they carry?

How much of what we say and do is reflected in the physical structure of our brains?

Pigments detected in fossils, revealing previously unknown colours of extinct animals.