Human meddling will spur the evolution of new species
By wrecking ecosystems and changing climate, we're causing a mass extinction – and preparing an evolutionary explosion, says ecologist Chris Thomas
Shimmering colour in a fruit fly's eye
An award-winning photo reveals the beauty in the ranks of structures that make up a fruit fly's compound eye
Cheap DNA: What the $1000-genome means for you
The long-awaited price breakthrough could help decode the causes of diabetes and schizophrenia, but don't rush out for a spit test yet
Diet can explain half of racial blood pressure puzzle
African Americans have higher blood pressure than their white counterparts. Analysis of metabolites shows diet can explain part of this difference
Feedback: The future of the past
The future of the past, Armageddon postponed, another apocalypse predicted, the answer is still "no", and more
Fruit and veg, fresh from the skyscraper
Vertical farming is starting to look efficient and green – but persuading shoppers of that may prove a challenge
Smartphone EEG to diagnose epilepsy in poor nations
A cheap and light version of EEG, run using software on a smartphone, could diagnose epilepsy in places where the disease often goes dangerously untreated
Natural ball lightning probed for the first time
A thunderstorm in China has delivered the first evidence from nature that ball lightning forms thanks to vaporised dirt
Insect minions banned from breeding by same signal
Queen insects, from ants to wasps, all use the same chemical messengers to stop their workers reproducing
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