15 December 2021
Instead of absorbing light, iridescent surfaces scatter it away. Many animals take advantage of this to stay cool – and we could copy the trick to make paints that keep our buildings cool
6 November 2019
Reflected light gets everywhere and even shady spots are full of images we can’t see – not least what’s happening around corners. But new technology is beginning to expose these hidden scenes
29 May 2019
Spending less time outside and more time in dim artificial light is disrupting our body clocks and undermining our health. The good news? A little daylight goes a long way
20 February 2019
A lone observatory at the South Pole has a rare chance to glimpse a secret written in the sky. Spot it, and we will know how time and space were born
