Milky Way map swirls with 219 million stars
The most detailed map of our galaxy ever made reveals the incomprehensible majesty of our neighbourhood
Video chat in US jail shelved over concerns for inmates
Dallas County Jail lost its bid to install "video visitation" equipment after concerns were raised that in-person visits would be restricted
Scotland's scientists breathe easier after No vote
Scientists in Scotland are largely relieved by the outcome of the Scottish independence referendum, believing science to be safer in a united kingdom
Epilepsy gives woman compulsion to write poems
To whom shall I compare thee? A woman with epilepsy has a rare condition – the constant urge to write poetry, which may shed light on creativity
Stricter rules will thwart Japan's whaling attempts
From now on, Japan will have to work much harder to convince the world that its "scientific whaling" should be allowed to continue
Gaze-tracker lets you connect to devices with a glance
A headset computer that knows where you're looking can connect you to your devices or to other people with just a look and a nod
Zoologger: Ants fight dirty in turf war with spiders
In the forests of eastern Australia, a squadron of social spiders faces off against an army of the world's most dangerous ants in a pitched battle for survival
Apple's smart watch could have us all self-monitoring
With its finger on your pulse, the Apple Watch will spawn a new generation of apps to monitor health, fitness and perhaps even emotions
Some inmates should have the right to euthanasia
Should convicted prisoners facing life behind bars get the right to die on the grounds of their tortured existence? Sometimes, says physician Christian Brown
Feedback: Ig Nobel prize for watching dogs urinate
The prizewinning science of banana-skin slips, seeing Jesus in toast and dogs aligning themselves with magnetic fields lines when relieving themselves
Chances of first life improved by weighted dice
Adjusting the numbers of various types of molecule in the environment seem to improve the chances of self-replicating life generating spontaneously
US opens 'drone zones' for a year of pioneer testing
From farming to firefighting, drones will soon fly into everyday life in the US – the Federal Aviation Administration has six flight zones paving the way
Strangest star: 6 things we didn't know about the sun
With its fiery rains, speedy magnetic flips and an atmosphere that defies the laws of physics – our home star is as weird as it gets
Global population may boom well beyond the year 2050
The population was expected to peak at 9 billion by 2050, but high fertility rates in Africa may mean it surges as high as 12.3 billion by 2100
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