The hidden history behind every rose blooming this summer
ilovephoto_KA/Shutterstock As roses fill gardens and hedgerows this season, there is a story, millions of years in the making, unfolding beneath their petals. Analysis of rose genomes and floral structure is revealing how...
Preparing to react to a maritime emergency. Romuald Robert, CC BY The coils of black hose, drum skimmers designed to collect oil from the oceans surface, and orangey-red containment booms all looked out of place on the...
BBC Verify largely factchecks international stories – what about UK politics?
In a world of fake news and disinformation, factchecking claims and the veracity of images has become an important part of impartial journalism. People invest their trust in information sources they believe are accurate....

A potted history of fermented foods – from pickles to kimchi
Are you a pro at pickling? How about baking sourdough bread or brewing your own kombucha? If the answer is yes, youve probably picked up on one of the recent trends promoting fermented foods, which promise to boost your...
Three types of drought – and why there’s no such thing as a global water crisis
Lithium fields in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Freedom_wanted/Shutterstock Hosepipe bans have been announced in parts of England this summer. Following the driest spring in over a century, the Environment Agency has issued a...

How a popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences – new study
Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the bodys most...

Filipino sailors dock in Mexico … and help invent tequila?
Bottles of tequila now command premium prices in trendy bars. On Instagram, celebrity-backed brands of the agave-based Mexican spirit jostle for attention. And debates over cultural appropriation and agave sustainability...