Does tapping a beer can prevent it foaming over? Scientists found out
11 December 2019
A rigorous randomised trial has put to bed the idea that tapping or flicking a can of beer makes bubbles come to the top and prevents the liquid fizzing out
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Premium
What is MRP and can it predict the result of the UK general election?
27 November 2019
A statistical technique called multi-level regression and post-stratification (MRP) correctly predicted the last UK election when other polls failed. This is how it works
Bill Gates’s pancake problem – and three more pancakes in science
4 March 2019
Sorting a stack of pancakes by size is a vexing challenge for mathematicians, but Microsoft's Bill Gates came up with an enduring solution.
Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, the godfather of caffeine
8 February 2019
Today's Google doodle celebrates Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, who was the first to isolate caffeine and quinine but his contributions to chemistry are often overlooked
Economics Nobel prize given for putting a price tag on climate change
8 October 2018
The 2018 Sveriges Riksbank prize in economic sciences has gone to Paul Romer and William Nordhaus for integrating climate change and technology into macroeconomics
Chemistry Nobel Prize awarded for harnessing evolution to help humans
3 October 2018
The chemistry Nobel Prize goes to Frances Arnold, George Smith, and Gregory Winter for controlling evolution to create proteins that solve chemical problems.
A simple mathematical rule shapes the behaviour of Arctic ponds
6 April 2018
Understanding Arctic ponds can help us predict how fast the ice is melting. Their formation is governed by the simple maths of drawing overlapping circles
Festive flames: How to light a Christmas pudding
23 December 2017
Watch our video to discover how best to flambé that cherished festive sweet
Porpoises twist laws of physics to aim their focused sonar beams
15 November 2017
Porpoises scrunch up their heads to direct their sonar beams and keep prey within "sight". Understanding how they point sound could help us design better sonar
