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Plastic food packaging gets a bad rap, but does it always deserve it?

1 December 2021

When you look at the research evidence, it soon becomes clear that calls to ban all plastic wrap on fresh fruit and veg could do more harm than good

A maize meme shows why you shouldn't trust social media

6 October 2021

There is an image circulating on social media looking at genetically modified corn, but its origins are extremely dubious, writes James Wong

How many house plants do you need to clean the air in a small flat?

8 July 2020

There are lots of claims that house plants filter the air, but it turns out you need an awful lot of them to beat just opening the window, finds James Wong

Can higher CO2 levels boost plant life enough to dent global warming?

13 May 2020

Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere may be boosting vegetation for now, but climate change is set to more than wipe out any gains, says James Wong

Brexit ideas of UK food self-sufficiency are just pipe dreams

23 October 2019

In principle, it is a great idea for the UK to grow more of its food – but simple matters of geography, climate and population mean it is a no-go, says James Wong

Should we eat local to cut food miles, or does it make no difference?

31 July 2019

Reducing food miles seems a sensible and straightforward way to cut carbon emissions. But digging into the science shows it's not that simple, says James Wong