‘Tsunami-like’ starquakes among the discoveries in the most detailed survey of the Milky Way ever
The European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft’s latest data release has revealed a treasure trove of insights about our home galaxy
What is vertical farming?
What is vertical farming? RICH FRENCH, LONDON It’s a way of taking the controlled environment of a modern commercial greenhouse to the literal next level. By stacking plants vertically on shelves or tall pillars, vertical farming allows 10 times the yield for a given land area. Plants are grown in completely enclosed conditions, with LED […]
Life as we know it
When the asteroid smashed into Earth 66 million years ago, it wiped out the fiercest, strongest creatures on Earth: the dinosaurs. So how exactly did our tiny, furtive ancestors thrive in the aftermath of an apocalypse?
‘Walking’ robotic arm powered up on International Space Station
Russian cosmonauts activated the European Space Agency-designed bot during historic event that marked the 250th spacewalk carried out on the ISS
A whole new whorl
Many of us have seen seashells on the beach and marvelled at their colours, and patterns of curves and ridges. But seashells are far more than just pretty objects…
New perspective of black hole confirms 30-year-old prediction
Observations by Europe’s Very Large Telescope could help us to shed light on the history of the Milky Way
The Explainer: Tornados
What is a tornado and how does it form?
As the crow dies
Corvids, such as crows, rooks and ravens, are some of the smartest animals out there. They can learn to make new sounds, they can cooperate and even use tools.
A most violent year
With Italy’s iconic Etna volcano erupting at the beginning of the year, followed by the lava flows of La Palma making headlines for weeks in autumn, then activity starting at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in late December, it felt like 2021 was a particularly big year for the planet’s volcanoes.
Transformers… activate!
Shape-shifting tech inspired by kirigami allows robot to change shape and function