Satellite data confirms ‘calving’ of trillion-tonne, 5,800 sq km iceberg from the Larsen C ice shelf, dramatically altering the landscapeA giant iceberg twice the size of Luxembourg has broken off an ice shelf on the Antarctic peninsula and is now adrift in the Weddell Sea.Reported to be “hanging by a thread†last month, the trillion-tonne iceberg was found to have split off from the Larsen C segment of the Larsen ice shelf on Wednesday morning after scientists examined the latest satellite data from the area. Continue reading...
A giant section of the Larsen C ice shelf in the Antarctic peninsula has broken off, unleashing a 5,000 sq km iceberg – about a quarter of the size of WalesOne of largest icebergs ever recorded breaks off Antarctic ice shelf
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#2W8A5)
Research into sleep patterns of Tanzanian hunter-gatherers sheds new light on phenomenon often attributed to smartphones and modern-day lifestylesPoor sleep is often regarded as a modern affliction linked to our sedentary lifestyles, electric lighting and smartphones on the bedside table.However, new research suggests that fitful sleep could be an ancient survival mechanism designed to guard against nocturnal threats. The study, which tracked the sleep patterns of a modern-day hunter-gatherer tribe in northern Tanzania, found that frequent night-time waking and differing sleep schedules between the young and old ensured that there was nearly always at least one tribe member awake. Continue reading...
US army efforts in 1947 to put ‘wiretapping’ balloons in the mesosphere led to flying saucer tales but ultimately to scientists finding natural channels of communicationSeventy years ago a rancher near Roswell, New Mexico, found some peculiar wreckage of silver foil and sticks. An official US army statement claimed it was a “flying discâ€, leading to headlines that an alien flying saucer had been captured.A second statement said the debris was just a weather balloon. The media accepted this version, although UFO enthusiasts still believe the Pentagon has a crashed extra-terrestrial spacecraft. Continue reading...
Breastfeeding our babies may be ‘natural’ but it’s not always viable, and many women lack support. In fact, the process is far trickier for humans than other species – and it’s all because of our oversized brains …Have you recently had a baby? Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to go about your new role as a mother.1. Do what you think is best for you and your baby.
Research has found that drinking three or more cups of coffee a day can cut the risk of dying early by between 8% and 18%. Scientists suggest drinking coffee lowers the risk of dying from a host of causes, including heart disease, stroke and liver disease. However, experts say it is unclear whether the health boost is down to the brew itself.
by Presented by Claire Armitstead and Richard Lea. Pr on (#2W5NT)
Subscribe and review: iTunes, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud and Acast. Join the discussion on Facebook and TwitterThis week we’re talking science and culture, and how to bridge the divide between the two, with Richard Dawkins and Carlo Rovelli. Continue reading...
Bacteria causing two different illnesses belong to the same family and share much of the same genetic code providing unexpected cross protectionHopes to fight untreatable strains of gonorrhoea have risen after it emerged that a new vaccine against meningitis unexpectedly reduced the risk of people getting the sexually transmitted infection.Some strains of gonorrhoea are resistant to all available drugs, making vaccine development an urgent global health priority. But according to a study in The Lancet, a vaccine has offered protection against the sexually transmitted disease for the first time. Continue reading...
Coffee a day keeps the doctor away? Perhaps, but benefits may be down to lifestyles rather than the brew itself, researchers sayPeople who drink coffee have a lower risk of dying from a host of causes, including heart disease, stroke and liver disease, research suggests – but experts say it’s unclear whether the health boost is down to the brew itself.The connection, revealed in two large studies, was found to hold regardless of whether the coffee was caffeinated or not, with the effect higher among those who drank more cups of coffee a day. Continue reading...
Findings raise possibility repeated disruption of slow wave sleep could lead to a buildup of proteins linked to diseaseProlonged periods of poor sleep increase levels of proteins involved in Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests, although quality, not quantity, of sleep is at the root of the issue.While previous research has revealed that bad sleep can increase levels of these proteins, known as beta-amyloid and tau, it was unclear which aspect of shut-eye was behind the uptick. Continue reading...
Research shows that defensive chemicals emitted by plants cause armyworms to turn on each otherCaterpillars turn into cannibals and eat each other when plants deploy defensive chemicals to make their foliage less appetising, research has revealed.While it was already known that caterpillars of many species munch on each other, and that plants have a range of defence mechanisms, it was not clear whether the two were linked. Continue reading...
A recent article by Deborah Orr regarding her experiences with antidepressants sparked a lot of debate as to their merits and drawbacks. The truth is, they’re not as simple or as understood as many might thinkAntidepressants; the go-to treatment for depression, or generalised anxiety. It’s incredible when you think about it, the fact that you can have a debilitating mood disorder, take a few pills, and feel better. It’s unbelievable that medical science has progressed so far that we now fully understand how the human brain produces moods and other emotions, so can manipulate them with designer drugs.That’s right, it is unbelievable. Because it isn’t the case. The fact that antidepressants are now so common is something of a mixed blessing. On one hand, anything that helps reduce stigma and lets those afflicted know they aren’t alone can only be helpful. Depression is incredibly common, so this awareness can literally save many lives. Continue reading...
Archaeologists excited about 25 tablets found at Vindolanda fort, site of 1992 discovery of hundreds of Roman documentsA cache of 25 Roman letters has been found at Vindolanda, the fort below Hadrian’s Wall where the most famous documents from the Roman world were discovered in 1992, first-person accounts of cold feet, beer running short, and jolly birthday parties at the northernmost edge of the empire.The tablets are still being conserved, before being scanned with infrared light which should make the faint marks in black ink legible, but the cursive script is invariably a cryptic crossword puzzle that will take experts many months to solve. Continue reading...
Sir Mark Walport’s vision for the UK’s new super-research council has a Europe-shaped hole. He needs to fill itLast Tuesday morning, the most powerful scientist in the UK set out his vision for the future of research and innovation in this country. In a plush Westminster conference room Sir Mark Walport, chief executive designate of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the new super-research council that will soon oversee all publicly-funded research and development in Britain, spoke at length about the guiding principles of his new organisation (video and slides available here). He linked fundamental research across all disciplines – the sciences and the humanities – to the industrial strategy with which this present government aims to tackle the societal and economic imperatives facing Britain in the 21st century.Walport’s vision was boldly global in its reach, recognising not only the importance of international collaboration in research, but also the worldwide nature of many of the challenges ahead, from energy and food supply, to environmental protection and the societal impact of artificial intelligence. Continue reading...
Mindfulness could help make you more resilient, regulate stress and increase emotional intelligence. Here are some practical tips for introducing it in the workplaceIf recent events in politics have confirmed anything, it is that we live in unpredictable times where old assumptions no longer hold true.Creative thinking is crucial for business success through a period of uncertainty. Upheaval presents a chance to embrace uncertainty and remain level-headed, focused and compassionate under pressure. That’s where mindfulness comes in. Research in contemplative neuroscience suggests that mindfulness - the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment - makes us more resilient, regulates our stress response, increases emotional intelligence and strengthens our ability to focus. Here’s how to bring practical mindfulness into your business. Continue reading...
People who felt they had a strong purpose in life suffer from less insomnia and sleep disturbance, says neurologistThe secret to a good night’s sleep later in life is having a good reason to get up in the morning, according to US researchers who surveyed people on their sleeping habits and sense of purpose.People who felt they had a strong purpose in life suffered from less insomnia and sleep disturbances than others and claimed to rest better at night as a result, the study found. Continue reading...
On 21 August the total eclipse makes landfall in Oregon at 10:17 PDT and speeds across the country to leave the coast of South Carolina at 14:48 EDTIf we have not made plans for the total eclipse of the Sun that crosses the USA on 21 August, our options are dwindling fast. Many rooms and campsites along the path of totality are already booked and it is only within that path, no more than 115km wide, that the full spectacle of totality is experienced.After touching down in the NE Pacific, the centre of the Moon’s shadow makes landfall in Oregon at 10:17 PDT (18:17 BST) and speeds across the country to leave the coast of South Carolina at 14:48 EDT (19:48 BST). Totality ends SW of Cape Verde in the E Atlantic. Continue reading...
Recent studies suggest traits often seen as negatives could actually signify high brain power. Truth or merely self-affirmation?I’m very intelligent. I’m also extremely creative and have a vocabulary that could be described as voluminous, venerable or very large. But don’t just take my word for it: science says so.You see, my desk is always messy, I swear like a sailor and I tend to sleep late in the morning – normally because I’ve stayed up into the early hours, watching trash on TV. And while all these things may seem like bad habits, you don’t need to look that hard to find evidence that they’re the opposite. Continue reading...
Babies born from the 1 August will be offered new ‘hexavalent’ jab in effort to clamp down on infections that cause cirrhosis and liver cancerAll babies born in the UK will receive the hepatitis B jab as part of their routine immunisations from the autumn in an effort to drive down viral infections that cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.The hepatitis B vaccine is to be added to the 5-in-1 jab that is already given to babies across the UK to protect them from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and bacterial infections known as Hib, or haemophilus influenzae type b, health officials said.
The neuroscience behind whether we run or stand our ground when faced with threatLondoners will always use humour as the ultimate response to terror attacks. Nowhere was this more apparent than with the Millwall supporter, knifed eight times after tackling the London Bridge terrorists, pictured recovering in hospital with a copy of Learn to Run. A gift from friends, the joke being he would have been safer sprinting away.Neuroscientists would say the choice to run or stay put isn’t that simple. A ‘fight or flight’ response kicks in when our threat-detection systems prepare the body for action with neuronal and hormonal changes. We’re all familiar with these symptoms; a flood of adrenaline, heart pounding and pupils dilating. These will prepare you to stand your ground or beat a hasty retreat, depending on the threat. Continue reading...
Investigation will give clues about where to look for habitable planetsA tiny world that is battered by intense radiation and incredible heat, Mercury is one of the most inhospitable places in our solar system. Zinc would melt on its surface. Yet this scorched planet is set to play a crucial role in one of science’s most important quests: the search to find life on other worlds in our galaxy.Astronomers believe that Mercury’s proximity to the Sun could provide them with crucial insights about the prospects of finding worlds that can support living organisms. And they hope these insights will be revealed by BepiColombo, a European-Japanese probe that was unveiled to the public last week at the European Space Agency’s research and technology centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Continue reading...
by Robin McKie Observer science editor on (#2W0J7)
Transgenic flock brought to UK for research into incurable brain condition, which affects more than 6,700 people in the countryScientists at Cambridge University have co-opted an unusual ally in their battle to find treatments for an incurable degenerative ailment that affects thousands of people in the UK. They have taken charge of a flock of merino sheep that have been genetically modified to carry the gene for Huntington’s disease.The research, led by neuroscientist Professor Jenny Morton, aims to understand how to pinpoint early symptoms of the brain condition, which affects more than 6,700 people in the UK. Continue reading...
During a visit to Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida the US vice-president, Mike Pence, says President Trump will return Americans to the moon and put a human presence on the face of Mars, branding space the ‘next great American frontier’. Pence says that frontier will be settled by Americans in order to protect the country’s security
Food scientists are battling to overcome dairy and carbs’ image problem – but will mealworms and 3D-printed pasta really win consumers back?A man in skinny jeans and a bow tie is standing by a whiteboard with various buzzwords written on it: empathy, respect, create. He is leading a corporate bonding day for about 20 workers in an airy atrium, and moves over to start playing Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer on a keyboard, imploring staff to dance. “Come on, don’t be shy! We need to get the energy going! Grab your partner’s hand.â€I am just outside Aarhus in Denmark, in the new innovation centre of one of Denmark’s oldest food companies: Arla, a dairy cooperative, which started life in the 1880s. The centre, which opened in May this year, aims to have more in common with Legoland – just an hour away in Billund – than with a traditional office. A stream runs through the building, which is almost entirely glass-walled, allowing you to peer into various meeting rooms, laboratories and a dairy-processing plant to one side of the building. Here, close to 5km of pipe runs along the walls above men wearing hairnets, who are sticking a probe into a large block of cheese. A large sign painted on to the wall in English reads: “Arla’s Innovative Playground.†Continue reading...
US vice-president pictured with his left hand resting on ‘critical space flight hardware’ for the Orion programmeMike Pence has jokingly defended himself after being photographed putting his hand on a piece of Nasa space equipment in contradiction of a “do not touch†sign.Pence was pictured with his left hand resting on part of a spacecraft-in-the-making called the Orion, inches away from a notice with red lettering telling people not to touch the “critical space flight hardwareâ€. Continue reading...
Resisting childhood vaccinations for bad reasons should not be tolerated. We must not play with people’s livesIt takes a long time for social movements to show up in conventional politics. The personal becomes political only with a time lag of decades. The increased toleration and the respect for the individual and the marginalised that appeared in western societies in the 60s and 70s did not make their political breakthrough until the earlier years of this century. This wasn’t an unmixed good. We tend to think of this rejection of outmoded convention as a wholly progressive development, but the loss of respect for authority has a shadow side as well. The belief that people should be free to believe what they like has led to the rise of fake news, and of infantile fantasies of the triumph of the will. These burst into electoral politics last year, nourishing both the Trump campaign and the Brexit referendum. But such thoughts had been incubating quietly for years inside the anti-vaccine movement.To refuse to have your children vaccinated is an attack on society in much the same way as tax evasion is. If a refusal to vaccinate only endangered the children whose parents deliberately put them in harm’s way, it would still be wrong because parents do not have an unlimited right to be irresponsible. It can be argued that so long as very few people do it, there is very little irresponsibility in refusing to vaccinate a child against a risk that remains distant if everyone else acts for the good of society. Similar arguments are used to justify all sorts of fraud. But when children who might be vaccinated are not, their parents are both exploiting herd immunity and contributing to its breakdown. This is plainly wrong and should not be tolerated. The French government has just announced that children there must be vaccinated against 18 common childhood diseases. This follows the Italian decision to make vaccinations against 16 diseases a condition of entry to school at six. These measures may feel disturbing to society’s liberal instincts, but they are entirely justified as measures of collective solidarity against disease. Continue reading...
Remember Matt Damon growing potatoes from his own waste in Ridley Scott’s spectacular man-on-Mars space epic The Martian? Of course you do. Damon’s botanist astronaut Mark Watney devises an ingenious way of surviving four years till his only chance of being rescued when another mission flies by Mars. So he grows spuds and lives to tell the tale – in the film, that is. In reality, Mr Watney wouldn’t have stood a chance as Martian soil, as experiments revealed this week, contains a cocktail of toxic chemicals potent enough to smother anything remotely living. The planet gets cooked in ultra violet light that renders it’s surface toxic and sterile, so search for alien life – microbes, at best – have to dig deep underground.From Mars we move to Mercury – its strange orbit played a key role in overthrowing of Newtonian physics by Einstein’s theory of general relativity that correctly predicted a slightly rosette-like orbit instead of perfectly elliptical. But it isn’t just about the orbit – almost sun-kissed, the solar system’s smallest and innermost planet also appears to be shrinking. That and its other mysterious properties will be probed by the European Space Agency’s third mission to Mercury as it prepares to launch BepiColombo spacecraft – a joint venture with Japan’s space agency Jaxa – in October 2018. To understand why the task is extra complicated and how the ESA plans to overcome the incredibly difficult engineering problems of manoeuvring the spacecraft under scorching temperatures read Stuart Clark’s insightful piece from mission HQ in Noordwijk, near Amsterdam. Continue reading...
by Written by Stephen Buranyi, read by Christopher Ra on (#2VX2H)
It is an industry like no other, with profit margins to rival Google – and it was created by one of Britain’s most notorious tycoons: Robert Maxwell• Read the text version hereSubscribe via Audioboom, iTunes, Soundcloud, Mixcloud, Acast & Sticher and join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter Continue reading...
Geologist Andrew Snelling sued US Department of the Interior when it initially turned down his plan to prove the Bible’s great flood story is trueAn Australian geologist who is trying to prove the existence of the biblical great flood will be allowed to collect rock samples from the Grand Canyon.Andrew Snelling was awarded a PhD by the University of Sydney in 1982 and is the director of research at Answers in Genesis, a Christian science group that believes in the literal interpretation of the Bible. Continue reading...
Dearth of ‘mentors’ is leaving many mothers without the help they need but social attitude towards breastfeeding is also having an impact, says researchersMillions of mothers are missing out on valuable peer support that encourages breastfeeding, according to a UK-wide survey.The World Health Organisation recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, and continued alongside complementary foods until at least two years of age.
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#2VV4X)
BepiColombo spacecraft will also attempt to explain why the solar system’s smallest planet appears to be shrinkingThe BepiColombo spacecraft, which will become the third probe to visit Mercury, has been unveiled ahead of a mission that will tackle some of the deepest mysteries of our solar system.The spacecraft, scheduled to launch in October 2018, will investigate the existence of water ice at Mercury’s poles and its volcanoes, and attempt to explain the surprising discovery that the solar system’s smallest planet appears to be shrinking. Mercury remains the most elusive of the solar system’s inner planets, partly due to the challenges involved in building a spacecraft robust enough to withstand the “pizza oven†conditions at the planet. Continue reading...
The European Space Agency unveils its ambitious €1.3bn Bepi Colombo mission to inner planet MercuryI raised a sceptical eyebrow when Alvaro Gimenez, ESA director of science, said that BepiColombo mission to Mercury is the most complicated science mission ever performed by the agency.What could be more difficult than ESA’s Rosetta and Philae mission, I thought, which navigated around a comet and sent a lander to the icy surface. An hour later after listening to the science and especially the engineering talks, I was convinced. Continue reading...
My father, Stephen Morley, who has died of cancer aged 67, was a highly respected academic who made it his life’s work to understand and treat chronic pain.His research involved providing the evidence to support psychological treatments for chronic pain. He created novel methods now used worldwide for helping people live with pain. He was passionate about science being relevant to individuals, and pioneered the study of how personal identity is affected by constant pain. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample and Produced by Max Sander on (#2VTNS)
Ian Sample delves into our evolutionary past to explore the role creativity and collaboration may have played in early human societiesSubscribe & Review on iTunes, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud & Acast, and join the discussion on Facebook and TwitterIt is held up as a trait that sets us apart from the rest of the animals: the ability to think creatively and to use our powerful imaginations to shape the world around us. But how our creative imagination became so crucial to our existence remains a mystery with plenty of competing theories put forward. What ideas have scientists come up with? And with something as complex as creativity, how do we even define it, let alone study it in the lab? Continue reading...
Discovery has major implications for hunt for alien life on the red planet as it means any evidence is likely to be buried deep undergroundThe chances of anything coming from Mars have taken a downward turn with the finding that the surface of the red planet contains a “toxic cocktail†of chemicals that can wipe out living organisms.Experiments with compounds found in the Martian soil show that they are turned into potent bactericides by the ultraviolet light that bathes the planet, effectively sterilising the upper layers of the dusty landscape. Continue reading...
Experts from 15 countries say regulation needed to prevent vulnerable patients pursuing unproven and potentially deadly treatmentsMedical and legal experts from around the world have united to call for more stringent regulation of stem cell therapies to prevent people pursuing unproven and potentially deadly treatments overseas.In a perspective piece for the US journal Science Translational Medicine, 15 experts from countries including the UK, the US, Canada, Belgium, Italy and Japan wrote that national efforts alone would not be enough to counter an industry offering unproven treatments to vulnerable patients. Continue reading...
Venus flytraps, socks with mouths and giant heads … as the artist’s new show Mamma Mia! opens, she tells us about putting therapy into clayAt Emma Hart’s studio, two assistants are helping the artist with last-minute touches to graphic patterns inside a group of outsized ceramic heads. The heads appear to be consuming them as they lean deep inside, torches strapped to their foreheads, delicate paintbrushes in hand. In a little over a week, the finished works will be moved to London’s Whitechapel Gallery where they’ll be strung from the ceiling like lamps: the centrepiece of Mamma Mia!, Hart’s show as laureate of the biennial Max Mara art prize for women.Formed, fired and glazed in Italy, during Hart’s six-month residency for the prize, the heads show the influence of time spent both in professional ceramics studios, and as an observer in a centre for family therapy. “Both are driven by patterns,†Hart explains. “The psychiatrist is trying to unravel human behavioural patterns, and the studio to generate a visual pattern.â€
Predicted rise of disease down to people living longer, but research unravelling biomarkers of Alzheimer’s give hope of finding a cureMore than 1.2 million people are expected to be living with dementia in England and Wales by 2040, up from almost 800,000 today, research suggests.Researchers say the predicted rise in the prevalence of dementia is largely down to people living longer, but add that the figures also show that the risk of developing dementia for each age group is falling – a finding they say suggests that preventive strategies are having an impact.
Children need to be taught health literacy in school so they can analyse, interpret and question pseudoscienceParents of infants could be forgiven for panicking if they read reports about “needle-likeâ€, “potentially dangerous†and “toxic†nanoparticles in Australian infant formula products. Sounds pretty horrifying. There were calls to pull infant formula from shelves this week after the eco-activist group Friends of the Earth issued a media release saying it had ordered independent testing of formula products and had found the nanoparticles, which it said could cause kidney and liver damage. Many major Australian media outlets ran the story.Here’s the thing. Nanoparticles are simply microscopic particles less than 100 nanometres in size. The nanoparticles being demonised by Friends of the Earth were calcium phosphate crystals, a normal and natural component of human tissue, teeth and bones. A look at the study Friends of the Earth based its scare campaign on reveals rats were injected with the nanoparticles through their abdominal cavity at extremely high concentrations, far greater than those found in baby formula, which is obviously ingested by babies, not injected into them. There is no way conclusions could be drawn between the rat study and the nanoparticles in the infant formula – which dissolve in digestive acids anyway – on supermarket shelves. Continue reading...
Carolyn Rogers on fertility problems, Cliff O’Gorman on whole-gene screening and Martyn Cornell on the effects of alcoholIt was interesting to read the latest research from Edinburgh University revealing that women who have survived cancer in the past 30 years are a third less likely to become pregnant (Report, July 4). It shines a light on the urgent need for a conversation between women and their treatment team about fertility preservation following a diagnosis of breast cancer. At Breast Cancer Care we speak to women all the time who are frustrated by the lack of information on fertility. Our survey last year found over half (53%) of younger women diagnosed with breast cancer have no discussions with healthcare professionals about fertility preservation options, contrary to Nice guidance.This missed opportunity can be devastating for women who want a chance to have a child or extend their family after breast cancer. It is crucial that women feel empowered and are able to make informed decisions that are right for them. The NHS must make sure oncologists and fertility specialists work together to make this a reality.
by Damian Carrington Environment editor on (#2VR2B)
Planet could heat up far more than hoped as new work shows temperature rises measured over recent decades don’t fully reflect global warming already in the pipelineHopes that the world’s huge carbon emissions might not drive temperatures up to dangerous levels have been dashed by new research.The work shows that temperature rises measured over recent decades do not fully reflect the global warming already in the pipeline and that the ultimate heating of the planet could be even worse than feared.
The motivational phrases beloved of sportspeople might seem trite, but for players from Katie Boulter and Andy Murray to Arthur Ashe, they’re surprisingly importantKatie Boulter can console herself that, while she could not beat a player 178 places further up the rankings, her Wimbledon dream did not end because she lacked motivation. There it was, in bold words, underlined for good measure, on a folded piece of paper.“YOU DESERVE THIS – Focus,†the 20-year-old read quietly during breaks in her grand slam debut on Tuesday. “Trust yourself and trust your game ... Play the match like it’s the last match of your life – show how much you want it.†Continue reading...
An exhibition including iconic – and infamous – feathered dinosaur specimens comes to Europe for the first timeFeathered dinosaurs are rarely out of the news and are a regular topic for our blog. For those in the UK, there’s a rare opportunity to see some of the original feathered dinosaur specimens this summer in Nottingham.The exhibition – Dinosaurs of China: Ground Shakers to Feathered Flyers – opened on 1 July at Wollaton Hall, home of the Nottingham Natural History Museum. The ground-shaking sauropod Mamenchisaurus, mounted 13.5m tall in a rearing pose, is a spectacular centrepiece. But, from a scientific perspective, it’s the much smaller dinosaur specimens, from the 125-million-year-old Jehol biota, that are the real stars of the show. Continue reading...
Disasters like Grenfell offend our sense of control over the world, and challenge the unconscious faith we have in a ‘system’ that cares about usWalk into the street, right now. Keep walking past the first hundred or so properties that you see. Look at them. Count the doors and the windows. Note the number of cars parked on driveways, in garages, or on the road. Look for cracks of light or flickers of movement or wisps of steam from chimneys. Listen for the unmistakeable sounds of habitation; a footstep, a sigh, a voice on a telephone.Think of the people inside. Think of the owners or the tenants. Think of their friends, families and lovers. Think of the older child who may be home from university, or may have chosen to travel this summer. Think of the sublets; some legal, some less so. Think of the undocumented migrants and refugees who can haunt London estates like administrative ghosts, invisible to and uncounted by the state.