science
Coffee's mood-boosting effects aren't just down to caffeine
A comprehensive study exploring coffee’s physiological effects finds that some of its benefits are down to polyphenols and their influence on gut bacteria Source link
Pressure from individual particles measured for the first time
A device made using a tiny bead floating in a beam of light can measure extremely small pressures and could help find a mysterious kind of neutrino Source link
Bronze Age Britons fashioned copper-mining tools out of old bones
An analysis of 150 artefacts from a site in Wales shows that the ancient practice of making tools out of bone persisted even after the advent of metal-working Source link
Red-light therapy does have health benefits but not the ones you think
Red-light therapy promises to treat everything from acne and hair loss to depression and chronic pain. Many of these claims are overhyped, but evidence suggests it can have healing powers Source link
Backlash builds over NHS plan to hide source code from AI hacking risk
NHS England is pulling its open-source software from the internet because of fears around computer-hacking AI models like Mythos. Opposition is growing among those who say the move is bad for transparency and efficiency, and will also do nothing to improve security Source link
Quantum computers simulated their biggest molecule yet – with help
Two quantum computers and two supercomputers teamed up to break the record on the biggest molecule yet to be simulated using quantum hardware Source link
Honey has been used as medicine for centuries – does it really work?
It is appealing to think something as simple as honey could cure a cold or prevent hay fever, but is there evidence to back up honey’s health benefits? Columnist Alice Klein finds that it has legitimate medicinal uses, depending on the type of honey you’ve got Source link
Prebiotic chewing gum could be helpful for gum disease
A small trial found that chewing gum containing nitrate can ease the symptoms of gum disease by favouring the growth of beneficial mouth bacteria Source link
Smart underwear detects lactose intolerance by tracking your farts
A device you attach to your underwear reveals how often you really break wind – and it’s probably more frequently than you think Source link
Oak trees use delaying tactics to thwart hungry caterpillars
An infestation of caterpillars can make an oak tree postpone when it opens its leaves next year by three days, wrong-footing the insects when they attack again Source link