After the 2015 reburial of King Richard III, experts are suggesting the remains of William the Conqueror’s son, who died in 1135, lie in Reading Continue reading...

The Eurovision final raises many questions, but here’s a scientific one: why, when we’re all capable of song, are some of us are Abba whilst others are Scooch?The Eurovision Song Contest, the continent’s annual carnival of the wacky and the weird, celebrates its 60th birthday in Vienna on Saturday night. Without it we would never have seen Russia in uproar over an Austrian drag queen, been introduced to Finnish death metal in its purest form, or witnessed the Irish attempt to win with an act called Dustin the Turkey.It’s sometimes easy to forget that beneath the costumes, the theatrics and the tactical voting, lies a talent contest. All of the Eurovision entrants intend to make an impact through the power of song, with varying degrees of success. So why is it that some carry a tune better than others? Continue reading...

Recent revelations show that Theresa May hoped to censor TV shows using anti-extremism laws, and the government seem keen to pursue this strategy. But the actual evidence presents a few [made up by lefties] problemsA leaked memo reveals that the home secretary, Theresa May, planned to introduce powers to screen and censor TV shows under the guise of combatting extremism. This was not well received by other [stupid] members of the government, in an exclusive story by the [traitorous, commie-loving] Guardian. But with a new Conservative majority in charge seemingly determined to clamp down on “objectionable” speech that doesn’t conform to certain “values”, we can expect to see more attempts to pre-emptively screen and edit material that doesn’t conform to the view of the establishment [which is brilliant news].Does this approach actually work though? It’s a common tactic used by less tolerant [but far superior] governments and authorities, but many people object to censorship [although they’re probably terrorists and sex offenders]. And given our modern, interconnected society, is it even possible any more? Continue reading...

Forget charcoal and gas grills – there's a new way to fire up the barbecue ... using molten lava. The Syracuse University Lava Project is a collaboration between sculptor Bob Wysocki and geologist Jeff Karson, who have utilised the heat of molten lava to grill foods. Most ovens don't go above 400C (750F), but the volcano-style grill can reach 1,100C Continue reading...

Rachel Swaby, author of a book highlighting women’s contributions to science, chooses her favourite female scientists, from the greatest dinosaur hunter to the inventor of Kevlar

In the run-up to the referendum on marriage equality, there has been a considerable abuse of research to bolster argumentsThe Irish marriage equality referendum on 22 May is a truly historic moment. For an island once considered the last vanguard of the Vatican, this is a seminal moment. Polls indicate high levels of support , and every political party bar none is advocating a vote for marriage equality. This is an incredible shift for a country that only decriminalised homosexuality as recently as 1993 . Yet the last remnants of Catholic Ireland die hard, and a predictable war of words has erupted, with some considerable abuse of research used to bolster bad arguments.Catholic think-tank the Iona Institute are amongst the loudest voices on the no side. Along with other no campaigners, their main argument has been a rather cynical attempt to reframe the referendum as about children rather than marriage equality, a misconception the referendum commissioner has taken pains to dismantle. This hasn’t discouraged Iona and their fellow no campaigners from attempting to emotively and dishonestly reframe the discussion, however. Continue reading...

Is de-extinction scientifically viable? Continue reading...

Genetic study could provide hope for men with advanced forms of the disease with findings that could lead to personalised treatmentsA genetic study described by researchers as the Rosetta stone of prostate cancer could provide hope for men with advanced forms of the disease.British and US scientists who drew up the first comprehensive map of genetic mutations linked to different strains of prostate cancer found that almost 90% of the men whose DNA they studied carried potentially treatable defects. Continue reading...

Mystery surrounds the fourth unmanned mission of the X-37B, which took off from Cape Canaveral on 20 May Continue reading...

New fossil evidence suggests dogs emerged as a separate species from wolves far earlier than scientists previously believed Continue reading...

Breakthrough as neuro-prosthetic device implanted in “higher” brain region, allows paralysed man to control robotic arm just by thinking about itErik Sorto, a 34-year old American, has been unable to move his arms or legs for more than a decade, since a gunshot wound left him paralysed from the neck down. Even now, he misses the little things.“I want to be able to drink my own beer - to be able to take a drink at my own pace, when I want to take a sip out of my beer and to not have to ask somebody to give it to me,” he said. “I really miss that independence.” Continue reading...

Gates and Wellcome do splendid work for the health of the world. They can no longer allow their unhealthy fossil fuel investments to undo it Continue reading...

The actor has said comic fans are ignoring serious issues by immersing themselves in the imaginary. But escapism in a world as mad as ours has a political – and practical – intent Continue reading...

When it comes to psychiatric treatments, it’s not just mood-altering drugs that can have side-effects Continue reading...

With over 19,000 carcasses buried and more deaths expected officials are no closer to determining the cause of the catastrophe. RFE/RL report

Craft financed by crowd-funding piggy-backs on the launch of an Atlas 5 rocketA tiny spacecraft designed to sail on sunbeams has been launched in a test flight that could transform long-distance space exploration.The probe, called LightSail, is equipped with a huge silver sail that will unfurl in the coming weeks and use the momentum of sunlight to propel it smoothly through space. Continue reading...

Prof Donald Green ‘embarrassed’ over claims of errors by his co-author in study that found a conversation with a gay canvasser could soften attitudesThe senior author of a study claiming to find that a brief, face-to-face conversation with a gay political canvasser had the ability to soften the opinions of those opposed to same-sex marriage has retracted its findings, claiming there were errors in his co-author’s work.The study, which was published in Science in December and was widely covered in the media, found support for same-sex marriage climbed among voters who had a single conversation with a gay or lesbian canvasser. In addition, the authors found that the changed views not only lasted for at least a year, but also positively influenced the opinions of other members of the household.(1/2) I read "Irregularities in LaCour (2014)," posted at http://t.co/SJ3jE89XeD on May 19, 2015 by Broockman et al. I’m gathering evidence(2/2) and relevant information so I can provide a single comprehensive response. I will do so at my earliest opportunity. Continue reading...

Researchers investigating reproductive defects in baby boys identify possible link between low levels of testosterone and paracetamol intake Continue reading...

X-37B craft launched from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday, its fourth long orbital flight in five years – but many details of the trip are being kept secretA mysterious robotic space plane launched its secretive mission for the US air force on Wednesday, its fourth long orbital flight in five years.

IMF evidence about hidden costs such as pollution, traffic accidents and climate change makes it apparent just how heavily subsidised the coal, oil and gas industries are Continue reading...

World’s most invasive ladybird is consolidating its presence in the country and is responsible for the decline of seven native species, scientists say Continue reading...

You can extend your lifespan without living longer by changing the way you sleep, argues science writer Jessa Gamble

Up to a quarter of patients with three common types of cancer did not receive first treatment within required 62 days, official figures show Continue reading...

The Svalbard seed vault, which opened in 2008, has been entrusted by the world's governments with the safekeeping of the most prized varieties of crops on which human civilisation was raised. It contains the seeds of around 4,000 plant species – more than 720,000 individual samples. The site was built to be disaster-proof – it lies 130 metres up a mountain in Norway in case of sea-level rise and is earthquake-resistant Continue reading...

Technology-based sharing platforms are touching more and more people’s lives, but policy and regulation can struggle to cope with new technologies. We need to rethink our notion of the sharing economy in order to make better regulation

Set in an Arctic mountainside, the Svalbard seed bank contains the world’s most prized crops. But a row has erupted over whether this is the best hope of feeding the world after a catastrophe or just an overpriced deep freeze Continue reading...

Lovell telescope and Lincoln Cathedral among recipients of bumper handout to preserve Britain’s scientific and technological history Continue reading...

Unmanned X-37B flight, to depart from Cape Canaveral, is the fourth in a secretive programme and will carry Nasa and military experiments Continue reading...

Twin studies collated over the past 50 years reveal human traits and disease are almost equally determined by genetic and environmental factorsThe age-old question of whether human traits are determined by nature or nurture has been answered, a team of researchers say. Their conclusion? It’s a draw.By collating almost every twin study across the world from the past 50 years, researchers determined that the average variation for human traits and disease is 49% due to genetic factors and 51% due to environmental factors. Continue reading...

From granular microchips to voice analysis, health-tracking technology offers medical benefits but doubt persist about the quality and security of data gatheredFrom the instant he wakes up each morning, through his workday and into the night, the essence of Larry Smarr is captured by a series of numbers: a resting heart rate of 40 beats per minute, a blood pressure of 130/70, a stress level of 2%, weight of 87kg, 8,000 steps taken, 15 floors climbed, eight hours of sleep.Smarr, an astrophysicist and computer scientist, could be the world’s most self-measured man. For nearly 15 years, the professor at the University of California at San Diego has been obsessed with what he describes as the most complicated subject he has ever experimented on: his own body. Continue reading...

A study released last week presented evidence that prehistoric men and women lived in relative equality. But is the truth even further from the nuclear narrative?Last week, scientists from University College London released a paper presenting evidence that men and women in early society lived in relative equality. The paper challenges much of our understanding of human history, a fact not lost on the scientists. Mark Dyble, the study’s lead author, stated “sexual equality is one of the important changes that distinguishes humans. It hasn’t really been highlighted before.”Despite Dyble’s comments, however, this paper isn’t the first foray into the issue. In fact, it represents another shot fired in a debate between scientific and anthropological communities that has been raging for centuries. It’s a debate that asks some fundamental questions: who are we, and how did we become the society we are today?Related: Early men and women were equal, say scientistsRelated: Being polyamorous shows there's no 'traditional' way to live | Laurie Penny Continue reading...

Shopping around is the mantra of the modern era. But who really benefits from our befuddlement? Continue reading...

Researchers have managed to reproduce the way poppies create morphine in the wild, but warn that the technology needs urgent regulationHome-brewed heroin could become a reality, scientists have warned, following the creation of yeast strains designed to convert sugar into opiates.The advance marks the first time that scientists have artificially reproduced the entire chemical pathway that takes place in poppy plants to produce morphine in the wild. Continue reading...

Perfectionism’s bad reputation is unfair. We’re not procrastinators or obsessives, we just want to do the best that’s possible in the real world Continue reading...