Health Fighting superbugs with milk A NEWBORN wallaby is a tiny, bean-shaped creature, barely more than a fetus. It lacks a developed immune system, relying on compounds in its mother's milk to protect it against pathogens. Now a unique antimicrobial has been discovered in wallaby milk that could be used in hospitals to fight deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When born, with … 51¶¯Âþ
Life Editorial: Rise of the urban jungle THE discovery of a new ecosystem, a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, say, is a rare and exciting event, and tends to be big news. But one of the biggest "discoveries" of recent years is going on quietly, right under our noses. It turns out that cities – those noisy, smelly, garbage-strewn expanses of asphalt and concrete … Opinion
Life Histories: Rolling down the river The mail must get through In January 1871, the Prussian troops encamped near the upper reaches of the river Seine took little notice as Emile Robert trundled past on his horse and cart. The Frenchman in his smock and otter-skin hat was obviously an itinerant egg seller, and the occupying Prussians had more pressing things … Features
Life What's in a name? Meaning behind "ugly monkey" uacari lost to history HOW do animals and birds get their common names? Why is a robin a robin? Why is a cat not a dog? Like their scientific counterparts, common names are part of a classification system – of sorts. You could call it folk taxonomy. Yet these names are much more than mere labels to ensure that … Regulars
Feedback Transformational shopping A MONTH ago we reported, with perhaps a tiny hint of scepticism, on a construction company called Snibor that claims to "build in every dimension" (4 March). How could we be so out of touch as to doubt, even implicitly, its ability to "exceed the conventional three" dimensions? Keith Simpson chides us for … Regulars