The Great Train Robbery of 1963
How was a notoriously bold and skilful heist foiled by a game of Monopoly? After emerging from prison in 1962, Bruce Reynolds, along with a few of his close accomplices, began to devise a...
Author: Ailsa Harvey
The importance of phytoplankton
Forget whales, sharks and the giant squid: it’s the smallest living organisms in the briny blue that keep life on our planet working as it should (image credit: NEON) Phytoplankton are the definition of...
Cosmetic chemistry: the science behind your lotions and potions
Cosmetic products are packed with chemical science, but do they live up to the hype? Anti-wrinkle creams Proteins are the major building blocks of the human body and collagen and elastin are two critical...
How do dogs help the police?
Despite being adorable, police dogs have some of the toughest occupations in the canine world. Dogs have been an important part of the fight against crime for centuries. There are a number of crucial...
Are any other animals monogamous?
Question from Helen Cross There are examples of monogamy throughout the animal kingdom. Gibbons, swans and black vultures are all known to pair up with a single partner, although infidelities do occasionally happen. Wandering...
Seaweed superpowers: How can eating seaweed improve your diet?
We know that humans have eaten algae since prehistoric times. Edible seaweed is still a common ingredient in many countries, such as the nori that surrounds many Japanese sushi dishes. Algae are far less...
The dangers of loud music
How can high-volume sound cause hearing loss? The way we hear sound involves an intricate series of physical, chemical and electrical activity within our ears. An integral part of our ability to hear lies...
Motor racing suits: How are they designed?
Find out how these hi-tech overalls help to keep drivers safe When your job involves speeding around racetracks at over 200 kilometres per hour, safety is paramount. In Formula series races an accident can...
Diving Bell Spider
Check out the ingenious adaptations of these sub-surface arachnids Just when you thought that the depths of ponds and lakes might be safe from these eight-legged critters, the diving bell spider is here to...
