Chemistry6 days agoAre seed oils really bad for you?Seed oils like canola and sunflower oil have attracted controversial claims about harmful effects in recent times. Is there any truth to them?6 days agoFuture28 May 2025Bovril's strange link to a work of science fictionInvented to make beef last long journeys to market, Bovril became a famous British kitchen staple. Less well-known is its link to an odd, pioneering science fiction novel.28 May 2025Future25 May 2025What does space smell like?Scientists are analysing the smells of space – from the aroma onboard space stations to planets hundreds of light years away – to learn about the makeup of the Universe.25 May 2025Future1 Apr 2025Why the world keeps running out of heliumOur lives are surprisingly dependent upon this extremely light and unreactive gas, yet supplies of it are remarkably fragile.1 Apr 2025Future17 Mar 2025The explosive potential of custard powderCustard powder makes a delicious dessert but also has a rather less savoury potential – in certain conditions, it can be a powerful explosive.17 Mar 2025Future13 Mar 2025The global challenge of iron deficiencyA lack of this vital nutrient is one of the world's leading causes of disability – but exactly when it becomes a problem, and the best way to treat it, remains unclear.13 Mar 2025Future29 Jan 2025Asteroid contains building blocks of life, say scientistsBennu contains minerals and thousands of organic molecules, including the chemical components that make up DNA. 29 Jan 2025US & Canada20 Jan 2025How venomous caterpillars could help humanitySome species of caterpillar come armed with powerful venoms. Harnessing them could help us design new drugs.20 Jan 2025Future2 Jan 2025Tributes paid after death of Nobel Prize winnerSir James Fraser Stoddart, a former University of Sheffield lecturer, has died at the age of 82.2 Jan 2025South Yorkshire...