Rare system of five stars discovered
Astronomers have discovered a very rare system of five connected stars. The quintuplet consists of a pair of closely linked stars – binaries – one of which has a lone companion; it is...
Can you prescribe nature?
“Here’s your prescription, walk in the forest five times a week for an hour.” According to experts, it is not inconceivable that doctors will be giving health advice like this in...
‘More hot summers’ for parts of UK
Scorching summers such as the one in 2003 look set to become more common in England and Wales, a study suggests. And devastating rains such as in Britain’s worst winter in 2013-14 may be less...
New Horizons: Pluto probe ‘on course’ for flyby
New Horizons lost very little science data when it went into “safe mode” at the weekend, the mission team says. Nasa’s Pluto probe experienced a fault on Saturday that put it...
Ageing rates vary widely, says study
A study of people born within a year of each other has uncovered a huge gulf in the speed at which their bodies age. The report, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tracked traits...
Heritage title for Japan industry sites draws mixed reaction
Japanese officials have expressed elation over the approval by the U.N. cultural body of world heritage status for 23 historic sites reflecting the country’s transformation into an industrial...
Heaven on earth: The multiverse made of rock and grass
IN A disused open-cast coal mine deep within Scotland’s Lowther Hills, an architect and a duke have built a whole new universe. In fact, it’s even bigger than that: they’ve...
dogs avoid people who are mean to their owners
Most dog owners will tell you that their pets are loyal, socially intelligent animals. And last month scientists in Japan showed domestic dogs avoid people they have seen behave unhelpfully to their...
