51¶¯Âþ

books and art

Why have orcas been damaging and sinking so many boats?

Life

Why have orcas been damaging and sinking so many boats?

Orcas have been documented damaging or sinking boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal, but these altercations may simply be the whales scratching their backs on boats or playing terrifying games

51¶¯Âþ

Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring

Video

Scans of Girl with a Pearl Earring reveal painting's hidden secrets

Video

Humans

Artistic artefacts are rewriting the timeline of ancient South America

51¶¯Âþ

Health

Exposing C-section babies to vaginal fluid boosts their development

51¶¯Âþ

A brown plaque formed in a human brain produced by the virus-like prion that causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Health

Experimental treatment could work against prion diseases like CJD

51¶¯Âþ

Fire Weather review: Why Canada’s wildfires will only get worse

Comment

Fire Weather review: Why Canada’s wildfires will only get worse

Culture

Sir Maurice Youge, Internationally renowned marine zoologist (1899-1986). His hybrid form is based on the local murex shell

Comment

These beautiful sculptures are watching over the Great Barrier Reef

Regulars

A group of Bonobos

Life

Male masturbation in primates evolved to cut chance of catching STIs

51¶¯Âþ

Earth

Why is China drilling a hole more than 10,000 metres deep?

51¶¯Âþ

Emily Wilson headshot

Comment

51¶¯Âþ recommends: Curtis Sittenfeld's new pandemic romcom

The books, TV, games and more that 51¶¯Âþ staff have enjoyed this week

Culture

Health

Does covid-19 affect pregnancies and do the vaccines reduce any risks?

51¶¯Âþ

Comment

Read an extract from The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Comment

Comment

Justin Cronin on the books, films and TV that inspired The Ferryman

Comment

Mind

How listening to audiobooks may be making us more gullible

Regulars

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop