This sticky end is a clue to cancer’s causes

How do healthy cells turn cancerous? Their DNA gradually accumulates errors. Most of these errors aren’t important, but occasionally they stop the cell from working properly. They might cause a cell to grow out of control – and this can lead to cancer.

4 Sep 2017

Bedtime Science: Why do seeds travel?

To have a better chance at life this seed needs to get away from its parent. That’s why nature has come up with all sorts of different ways for seeds to travel.

5 Jun 2017

Majority of island flying foxes are on the brink

The majority of island flying foxes are threatened with extinction, while others are already extinct. Flying foxes are stigmatized just because they are bats, although they survive mostly only on fruits and never drink blood.

9 Apr 2017

The smallest orchid of Mauritius

In 2000, a new orchid was recorded in Mauritius. It is called Taeniophyllum coxii (Summerh.) Summerh.. Other orchids were added to the list later, but this one had something very special.

8 Mar 2017

What’s the point of prickles?

What good are prickles anyway? A prickle is attached to a seed which is catching a ride somewhere. The sharp (ouch) pointy bit attaches it to something, usually an animal.

30 Jan 2017

The importance of science: from an invasive to an endemic species

Science is about always about making new questions, cleverly doubting the status quo. This is what makes it moves forward and improves everyone’s knowledge. Most of the time it is done in small steps, rarely as major inventions or breakthroughs.

17 Jan 2017