Science
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Seals, dolphins, porpoises thriving in Thames
Does nature always bounce back? The Thames was declared dead, without oxygen, in the 1950s. This summer, 138 seal pups were spotted basking on the banks, and swimming among new marine life.
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Loch Ness monster could be a giant eel
Do you believe in the Loch Ness monster? After running tests at the Scottish loch, scientists think that they might know the truth about the mysterious creature. And it’s very surprising.
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- Reading Band 5
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Scientists create human-monkey cross
Should animals ever be part-human? There are not enough organs for doctors to use in life-saving operations, so they are turning to animals with human DNA. Some say it is cruel and unnatural.
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Scientists find there is no gay gene
Are experiments like this harmful? Scientists believe lots of different things help to decide whether a person has relationships with the same gender. It is much more complex than we thought.
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50 years since man’s ‘greatest achievement’
Was the Moon landing the greatest scientific achievement of all time? Fifty years ago, humans walked on the Moon for the first time — using less computing power than the average smartphone.
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The bold plan to build a new home on the Moon
Would you want to live on the Moon? Fifty years since we first walked on the Moon, humanity is considering going back — this time to stay. What would life on a Moon base be like?
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- Reading Band 14+
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Methane discovery boosts hopes for life on Mars
Are we about to find life on Mars? NASA’s rover has detected clouds of methane on the red planet. The gas, usually produced by living things, could point to life beneath the planet’s surface.
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The Norwegian town that has abolished time
Should we get rid of clocks? The 350 residents of Sommarøy have declared their town the world’s first, time-free zone. They say that living by the clock is making us stressed and unhappy.
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- Reading Band 11
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Endangered black rhinos go home to Rwanda
Are zoos good for animals? This week, five black rhinos were sent to live in their natural habitat in Africa. They were all born in captivity in European zoos.
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Good boy! Puppy dog eyes evolved just for you
Is your dog really your best friend? A new study explains why they are so good at making “puppy dog” eyes at their owners. The expression is often irresistible to humans.
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Be nicer to wasps, say scientists
Are we too harsh on wasps? The stinging insects are probably the most unpopular species on Earth, but scientists say that they have lots of important jobs in the natural world.
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Tiny T-Rex is latest new dinosaur discovery
What can we learn from the discovery of a new dinosaur species? Scientists have found a “cousin” of the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. It was fast, fierce — and only one-metre tall.
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Trees can help predict famines and wars
Scientists are finding that tree ring patterns are a time-map of rainfall and drought, accurately going back thousands of years. These might help us predict future famine and conflict.
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The first-ever image of a black hole
In an historic moment for human discovery, scientists have released the first-ever picture of a black hole. It was created over the last two years using eight telescopes around the world.
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- Reading Band 11
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America to put first woman on the moon
Would you go to the Moon? The US has announced that the first woman and the next man on the Moon will be American, launching a new space race against China, Russia and India.
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- Reading Band 14+