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Nature’s real-life vampires

Count Dracula… Lestat de Lioncourt… Laszlo… all these vampires have got oodles of charisma, natty dress sense and an intriguing backstory. But the problem is, they’re fictional. We reckon the animal kingdom can do a lot better. Suck on this…

First contact

What happens if we ever detect a signal from extraterrestrial intelligence?

The Lonely Hearts Club man

Men are losing friends and struggling to make new ones – and missing out on powerful health benefits in the process. Buddy, what’s going on?

How do cats know when it’s about to rain?

How do cats know when it’s about to rain? ANNA ROHAN, HASTINGS In days gone by, sailors thought ships’ cats could predict the weather. Perkiness indicated fair conditions. Sneezing foretold light rain, while weird behaviours, like licking their fur in the wrong direction, were suggestive of storms. Some even thought that cats caused the storms […]

Do painkillers work differently for different people?

Do painkillers work differently for different people? GEOFF WINSTANLEY, BLANDFORD FORUM In short – yes, it is thought that there is some individual variation in the response to a particular painkiller. But pain is a complex perception. Sensation is influenced by so many factors, including variation in the type of pain, genetic factors, stress-related physiological […]

How much energy does a smart meter use?

How much energy does a smart meter use? KAY HUGHES, VIA EMAIL There are several parts of a smart meter that use electricity. They have little computers and communications circuits to let them talk to each other and the energy company, which use minimal energy. Your gas meter circuits are powered by a battery, which […]