Chips off the old block: most potatoes suffer depression
A large proportion of the world’s potato crops are suffering from severe depression, according to researchers.
Rice is a major source of arsenic exposure
Researchers have verified that rice – grown and cooked in water – is a key food source of inorganic arsenic.
Barbecued meat: avoid char and limit drips to reduce cancer risk
Barbecue-cooked meat represents a significant cancer risk, according to Danish researchers.
Robots to the rescue
For people with autism, a chat in a cafe could be a confusing and overwhelming experience. You might be distracted by the multiple conversations taking place and the loud sounds of the coffee machine. You might not understand the non-verbal cues of the waitress or the expression on her face.
Harnessing the power of video games to teach children empathy
Violent video games have long been blamed for increased aggression and decreased empathy in the teenagers who play them – but thankfully the news is not all bad.
Innovators look to “accidental crops” as a nutritious, environmentally friendly and free food source
Philip Stark was on a long run in the hills above Berkeley, California, when he started thinking differently about the wild green plants around him.
Researchers listen to their guts and go for glory
Inspired by acoustic sensing technology devised to pick up the munching sounds of termites, scientists have created a belt to record the internal gut rumblings that would normally cause embarrassment at dinner parties.
Secrets to staying young
Much like enjoying a vintage wine – something soft and rounded on the palette, warm, rich in flavour and mellow – our ideal of ageing is that it should be full of opportunities to relax, reflect and reap the rewards after a lifetime of hard work and family commitments.
The Serengeti isn’t wilderness. It’s the product of livestock farming
Thousands of years of livestock dung have stimulated fertile and ecologically diverse wildlife hotspots in Africa
When it comes to collective effort, laziness pays off
Humans have much to learn from ants, it seems. Researchers have now discovered from their behaviour how a busy work flow can be optimised – and surprisingly it’s not by everyone working harder.
How your outlook can affect exam performance
High school can be stressful as school work and expectations mount – particularly when exams are looming. But students who believe intelligence can be developed may weather anxiety better than those who think it is a fixed trait, according to US research.
