Life: modern physics can’t explain it – but our new theory, which says time is fundamental, might: Ryan Boedi/Shutterstock Over the short span of just 300 years, since the invention of modern physics, we have gained a deeper understanding of how our universe works on both small and large scales. Yet, physics is still very …
What Binance’s US lawsuit says about the future for cryptocurrency regulation: Primakov/Shutterstock The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has been hit with a lawsuit by US regulator the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This is not the first time a cryptocurrency exchange has been charged by a regulator. But this particular case involves a regulator …
Matcha tea: what the current evidence says about its health benefits: Matcha comes from green tea leaves, which are ground up into a powder. Ekaterina Markelova/ Shutterstock Although matcha tea has been around for centuries, it’s recently increased in popularity. This may be due to its favour with celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth …
ChatGPT struggles with Wordle puzzles, which says a lot about how it works: shutterstock Shutterstock / DVKi The AI chatbot known as ChatGPT, developed by the company OpenAI, has caught the public’s attention and imagination. Some applications of the technology are truly impressive, such as its ability to summarise complex topics or to engage in …
TikTok bans: what the evidence says about security and privacy concerns: The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, recently hinted that he may ban the social media application TikTok from devices used by government employees. His comments follow similar bans by the European Commission and US federal government. In the EU and US cases, security concerns …
The rise and rise of property guardianship and what it says about our broken housing system: A London pub protected by live-in guardians. Kake/Flickr, CC BY-SA With homeownership slipping out of reach for millions and soaring rents, the dearth of genuinely affordable homes is seeing property guardianship on the rise. Property guardians live in empty …
Why does music bring back memories? What the science says: Listening to certain songs can trigger some pretty intense memories. Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio You’re walking down a busy street on your way to work. You pass a busker playing a song you haven’t heard in years. Now suddenly, instead of noticing all the goings on in …
How to avoid falling victim to an online scam — research says slow down: It's easy to fall for an online scam if you're in a hurry Bits And Splits/Shutterstock Keeping up with the latest digital cons is exhausting. Fraudsters always seem to be one step ahead. But our study found there is one simple …
How queuing leads to city centre violence and what our research says about preventing night-time brawls: People go out at night because they want to socialise, drink and be entertained. Unfortunately, all too often that leads to violent behaviour in our towns and city centres. But the events that lead to such violence are poorly …
Do trees really stay in touch via a ‘wood-wide web’? Here’s what the evidence says: Anders Floor/Pixabay Trees in a forest might look solitary but they are connected underground by a complex network of thread-like strands of fungi, some of which may only be visible to us as mushrooms on the surface. Through these connections …
UK to perform worst of major economies in 2023, says IMF – here’s how to achieve long-term growth: Golden Dayz/Shutterstock The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has produced another dismal forecast for the UK economy. The IMF expects it to contract by 0.6% in 2023, whereas all other major economies are expected to grow – including …
Creatine supplements: what the research says about how they can help you get in shape: Creatine is one of the most popular nutritional supplements. PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/ Shutterstock Creatine is one of the most popular nutritional supplements currently on the market, widely used by bodybuilders and athletes alike. Many claim that they feel better …
Prince Harry says his military kills were like chess pieces – the problem of seeing war as a game: Amid the many salacious revelations in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, one of the most concerning was not about his family. Harry revealed that he killed 25 members of the Taliban while serving in Afghanistan, and that …
Are dogs left- or right-handed? What the science says: Understanding paw preference. Shutterstock/In Green The vast majority of people use one hand or the other for most things – and for nearly 90% of the human population this is the right hand. Some 10% to 13% of humans are left-handed, with men being three times …
Extinction Rebellion says ‘we quit’ – why radical eco-activism has a short shelf life: Margarita Young / shutterstock The protest group Extinction Rebellion (XR) has released a statement with the clickbait headline “We Quit”. Dashing the hopes of climate denialists everywhere, the group is not shutting up shop (yet), it is merely changing tactics. XR …
Why do people feel lonely at Christmas? Here’s what the research says: Shutterstock/Superstar Christmas is said to be a time for connecting with friends, family and having fun. But it can also be time of loneliness. Indeed, the results of a 2018 survey looking at loneliness during Christmas time in the UK revealed that 17% …
Insects may feel pain, says growing evidence – here’s what this means for animal welfare laws: Can this dragonfly feel pain? Stefan Csontos/Shutterstock At least a trillion insects are killed annually for food and animal feed. Routine slaughter methods include extreme heat and cold, often preceded by starvation. By comparison, “only” around 79 billion mammals …
Ukraine recap: prepare for a ‘long war’ says Putin – but most Russians beg to disagree: If nuclear weapons are used in Ukraine, it won’t be Russia that starts it, says Russian president Vladimir Putin – ostensibly seeking to reassure the world while also delivering an arch reminder that he does, after all, have the …