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Titan arum - Amorphophallus titanum - Kew Gardens

Life

51�� recommends visiting the blooming corpse flower at Kew

The books, TV, games and more that 51�� staff have enjoyed this week

Culture

Lascaux Cave is a Palaeolithic cave situated in southwestern France, near the village of Montignac in the Dordogne region, which houses some of the most famous examples of prehistoric cave paintings. Close to 600 paintings ??? mostly of animals - dot the interior walls of the cave in impressive compositions. Horses are the most numerous, but deer, aurochs, ibex, bison, and even some felines can also be found. Besides these paintings, which represent most of the major images, there are also around 1400 engravings of a similar order. The art, dated to c. 17,000 ??? c. 15,000 BCE, falls within the Upper Palaeolithic period and was created by the clearly skilled hands of humans living in the area at that time. The region seems to be a hotspot; many beautifully decorated caves have been discovered there. The exact meaning of the paintings at Lascaux or any of the other sites is still subject to discussion, but the prevailing view attaches a ritualistic or even spiritual component to them, hinting at the sophistication of their creators. Lascaux was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1979, along with other prehistoric sites in its proximity. Valley, France.

Life

51�� recommends a smart new account of human exceptionalism

Culture

Society

What to read this week: the excellent Beyond Belief by Helen Pearson

Culture

New Scientist recommends Attenborough documentary Making Life on Earth

Life

51�� recommends Attenborough documentary Making Life on Earth

Culture

Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass is still an essential read

Environment

Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass is still an essential read

Culture

The greatest David Attenborough documentaries you really need to watch

Life

The greatest David Attenborough documentaries you really need to watch

Culture

Space

Ann Leckie continues to shine with new sci-fi novel Radiant Star

Culture

CUBA. Santa Clara. 2017.

Mind

What to read this week: The 21st Century Brain by Hannah Critchlow

Culture

Our verdict on Red Mars: Mostly great, with a few quibbles

Comment

Our verdict on Red Mars: Mostly great, with a few quibbles

Culture

New Scientist recommends New York's Bone Museum and Gecko Gallery

Comment

51�� recommends New York's Bone Museum and Gecko Gallery

The books, TV, games and more that 51�� staff have enjoyed this week

Culture

Health

Can you slow ageing with your diet? A new book gives it a go

Culture

Physics

This mesmerising Cornish time-travel film is not to be missed

Culture

Comment

51�� recommends Jeff Beal’s New York Études, Vol. II

Culture

Mathematics

Fermat's Last Theorem: still a must-read about a 350-year maths secret

Culture