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Fresh water can pull stains out of fabric with an electric field

22 March 2018

Rinsing fabrics with lots of fresh water after soaping them up creates a small electric field that pulls dirt particles lodged deep between fabric fibres

Sea urchins can drill holes in solid rock with just their teeth

21 February 2018

If a sea urchin can't find a suitable pit to live in, it makes one – even if it has to spend months gnawing away at hard granite

Aerial view of a road cutting through a forest

A third of animals are vanishing as roads spread through forests

1 November 2017

The world’s forests are being criss-crossed by roads and clearings, and as a result many backboned animals are becoming less abundant

Cold climate may have driven ancient humans’ move out of Africa

9 October 2017

East Africa became colder and drier around 75,000 years ago, just when modern humans were apparently migrating out of Africa

Lightning storms triggered by exhaust from cargo ships

19 September 2017

The world's busiest shipping lanes have twice as many bolts of lightning as nearby areas, and ships pumping soot into the air seem to be responsible

Lizard-bot spins its coiled tail to move easily through sand

31 August 2017

Moving through sand or snow can be tricky for robots. A new one inspired by both bacteria and seeds can wiggle straight through without trouble

Bacterial optical fibre helps shine lasers through murky waters

22 August 2017

Normally lasers cannot penetrate very far through murky liquids. Bacteria can act as a lens to boost their range, which could be used to aid medical diagnoses

A water droplet against a background of flames

Self-propelling droplets creep towards heat to cool microchips

7 August 2017

For the first time, scientists have simulated the reverse of the common effect where cold water runs away from heat, and the result could keep electronics cool

Space cucumbers may help plants grow better water-seeking roots

3 August 2017

Away from Earth’s gravity, cucumber roots head towards water. Mimicking that moisture-seeking behaviour on our planet could help plants adapt to drought