Here is the latest Science News from the BBC.
Time-lapse footage of Perseid meteor shower
Time-lapse footage has captured the Perseid meteor shower over Spain.
Chester Zoo breeds Montserrat tarantulas in world first
Keepers at Chester Zoo have become the first in the world to successfully breed Montserrat tarantulas in captivity.
Hundreds of tiny Montserrat tarantulas hatch in captivity
About 200 baby Montserrat tarantulas have hatched at Chester Zoo – the first time the rare Caribbean spider has been bred in captivity.
Growing call for grouse shooting ban as season opens
Thousands are calling for a ban on grouse shooting, arguing the sport increases the threat faced by an endangered species of raptors.
400-year-old Greenland shark ‘longest-living vertebrate’
Scientists say they have found a Greenland shark that is about 400 years old – making it the longest-living vertebrate known.
Jupiter gravity nudge sets up ‘meteor storm’ on Earth
Observers are looking forward to an annual astronomical event that could to turn into a spectacular “meteor storm” in the early hours of Friday.
Brain-robot training triggers improvement in paralysis
In a surprise result, eight paraplegic people regain partial movement after a one-year training program based on brain-controlled robotics.
Teeth in faeces suggest ancient shark ate its young
Scientists find a baby tooth in the fossilised faeces of an extinct shark, suggesting the animals practised filial cannibalism.
What can killer whales teach us about the menopause?
Scientists are studying killer whales in an effort to understand the mysterious biology behind the menopause – in both orcas and humans.
Piltdown review points decisive finger at forger Dawson
After an eight-year study, researchers conclude that history’s most infamous fake fossils were made by one man – the prime suspect, Charles Dawson.
Can killer whales help solve the mystery of menopause?
Why scientists are watching killer whales in an effort to understand the mysterious biology behind the menopause.
Wild New Caledonian crows possess tool-craft talent
Scientists confirm that wild crows from New Caledonia in the South Pacific can craft tools.
Britain’s tallest mountain is underwater
Scientists from Plymouth University have visited the UK’s tallest mountains – over 100 metres under the sea.
Life thriving on UK’s biggest underwater mountains
A deep-sea expedition discovers a remarkable array of life on the UK’s tallest underwater mountains.
Scientists develop dissolving battery
Researchers have developed a battery which self-destructs when dropped into water.
Action needed to ‘future-proof’ pollinators
International scientists are calling for action to “future proof” the insects, birds and mammals that pollinate crops and wild plants.
‘Stay away’ from beached oil rig
People are warned to stay away from the stricken Transocean Winner oil rig which ran aground during a storm.
Beware the walruses
Paddling from Greenland to Scotland in a canoe is risky business.
One drug is ‘new hope’ for three killer infections
A single drug can treat three deadly and neglected infections – Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness – animal studies show..
Decline of fishing in Lake Tanganyika ‘due to warming’
New research blames rising temperatures over the last century as the key cause of decline in one of the world’s most important fisheries.
DNA shows that horse’s ‘funny walk originated in York’
The speedy, almost comical horse step known as an ambling gait originated in England in the middle of the Ninth Century, scientists say.
Rare giant panda cub born at Vienna zoo – mother’s fourth
Another giant panda cub is born at Vienna’s Schoenbrunn Zoo – the fourth time that mother Yang Yang has conceived naturally.
China launches first mobile telecoms satellite from Beijing
China launched its first mobile telecommunications satellite, to establish a network serving large swathes of the world.
Disappointment for LHC physicists
A physicist speaks to BBC2’s Horizon programme as a tantalising discovery recedes into the background of data from the Large Hadron Collider.
New particle hopes fade as LHC data ‘bump’ disappears
Results from the Large Hadron Collider show that a “bump” in the machine’s data, previously rumoured to represent a new particle, has gone away.
Badgers may not spread TB to cattle through direct contact
New research suggests that badgers do not transmit TB to cattle by direct contact.
Men may have evolved better ‘making up’ skills
An analysis of sports events suggests men may be better at reconciliation after conflicts which could give them advantages in the workplace.
Rocks tell story of China’s great flood
Geologists have found evidence for an ancient megaflood which they say could be the mythical flood at the dawn of the first Chinese dynasty.
Hidden Degas portrait revealed
A hidden portrait by the French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas has been revealed using powerful x-rays, scientists report.
Vibrations bring still photos to life
Photographs in which still objects can be manipulated are developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
China farewells Jade Rabbit Moon rover
China’s Jade Rabbit says a final goodbye and shuts down forever, after 31 months exploring the Moon, far outliving its predicted lifespan.
Vibrations bring still photos to life
Photographs in which still objects can be manipulated are developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Brain’s thirst circuit ‘monitors the mouth’
Scientists observe activity in the mouse brain which can explain why we get thirsty when we eat, and why cool water quenches thirst more quickly.
Moon Express cleared for lunar landing
Moon Express becomes the first private firm to win US approval for an unmanned mission to the moon.
Why are crying babies so hard to ignore?
A neuroscientist explains why Donald Trump found a crying baby at his rally so distracting.
China’s elevated bus: Futuristic ‘straddling bus’ hits the road
The 2m-high Transit Elevated Bus took its inaugural test run in the streets of Hebei, much to the amazement of Chinese citizens.
‘Science gives us hope in a turbulent world’
Professor Brian Cox talks to the BBC about how why science can give us hope in a turbulent world.
The deadly trade around exotic fish
Emily Voigt devoted three years of her life and visited fifteen countries in search of the rare Asian arowana.
Two rare snow leopards born at Twycross Zoo
Two Amur snow leopards – believed to be the world’s rarest big cat – are born at Twycross Zoo.
Research head urges UK to seize Brexit opportunity
The man who has taken charge of UK research funding says Brexit presents scientists with an opportunity.
Crowd dynamics
The World Music Festival, Womad, hosted a science pavilion this year, but are such initiatives successful?
Slow-motion replays can distort criminal responsibility
Slow-motion replays of crimes in courtrooms may be distorting the outcomes of trials, according to US research.
‘Lack of water’ killed last woolly mammoths
One of the last known populations of woolly mammoths became extinct because of a lack of drinking water, a study concludes.
MH370 was flown into water, says Canadian air crash expert
One of the world’s leading air crash investigators tells Australian TV he believes Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was deliberately flown into the sea.
‘Hacking nerves can control disease’
Controlling human nerve cells with electricity could treat a range of disease including type-2 diabetes, a new company says.
Australia plans new co-ordinates to fix sat-nav gap
Australia is to shift its longitude and latitude to address a gap between local co-ordinates and those from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).
‘Amazing’ waterspout off Suffolk coast
A whirling column of air and water mist provides a stunning sight off the Suffolk coast.
Pokemon Go ‘transformed teenager’s life’
A mobile phone game that has caught the attention of the world also appears to have caused a breakthrough with autism sufferers, as the Victoria Derbyshire programme finds out.
Escaped lynx returns to zoo after three weeks on the run
A lynx that escaped from Dartmoor Zoo is back in his pen after more than three weeks on the run.
Dissecting brains for medical research
Dr Laura Palmer shows us what happens inside a brain bank and and explains why such donations are vital.
Banking Britain’s brains: The story of a scientific resource
Researchers and donors tell the story of how your brain tissue can help with medical research.
Gibraltar caves reveal Neanderthals’ secrets
The cave systems at the base of the rock of Gibraltar have just received UNESCO world heritage status, in recognition of the rich insights they bring to the study of Neanderthals.
May had objections to Hinkley Point, says Cable
Theresa May had “objections” to a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point during the days of the coalition, says the then Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable.
Lettuce towers and office block farms – is this the future?
Towers of lettuce and pak choi, or a three-storey farm in an office building – could this be the future of farming?
Hinkley Point: EDF’s UK boss ‘confident’ of go ahead
The boss of EDF in the UK says he is confident the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station will be built, despite the government delaying its approval.
New Yorkers flock to foul flower
A rare, and extremely pungent. ‘corpse flower’ has bloomed in New York Botanical Garden.
Drop in little terns numbers concerns RSPB
The RSPB is concerned after the number of little terns nesting in the UK’s biggest colony dropped by almost half.
Plastic bag use plummets in England
Shoppers in England are on target to use six billion fewer plastic bags in the first year since a 5p levy on them was introduced, government data suggests.
Heavy lifting
Andy Green looks at the logistics involved in getting the Bloodhound supersonic car to South Africa next year so that it can begin its assault on the world land speed record.
Lava pictures from ‘smiling’ Hawaiian Kilauea volcano eruption
The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has erupted, however the volcano appears to be “smiling”
Have you ever seen one of these?
It’s a rare albino squirrel, living in a garden in Sussex.
Large Abelisaurus Dinosaur dinosaur footprint found in Bolivia
One of the largest ever dinosaur footprints has been found in Bolivia, of the Abelisaurus dinosaur
Civic pride ‘can help sustain urban biodiversity’
The establishment of community gardens in inner city areas can boost social and ecological wellbeing, suggest researchers.
English Bulldog health problems prompt cross-breeding call
Crossing the English Bulldog with another breed is the best way to ensure its survival, according to US scientists.
Debate needed on 1.5C temperature target
Scientists are calling for a “thoughtful debate” about the wisdom of global attempts to limit temperature rises under 1.5C.
Chinese rocket lights up skies over Utah and California
People in the US have filmed a Chinese rocket body streaking across the sky over Utah and California.
How a huge school of sharks ‘flips the food pyramid’
Ecologists discover a food web beneath the waves of French Polynesia that is both unusual and spectacular.
Hinkley Point gets final investment approval from France’s EDF
Investment in the UK’s first new nuclear plant in decades gets final approval from the company financing most of the project.
Cancer found in ancient human ancestor’s foot
The earliest evidence of cancer in the human fossil record has been discovered in South Africa, say researchers.
PM wants positive outcome for science in Brexit talks
The Prime Minister has said that she wants to ensure a positive outcome for science in negotiations to leave the European Union.
Antibiotic resistance: ‘Snot wars’ study yields new class of drugs
A new class of antibiotics has been discovered by analysing the bacterial warfare taking place up people’s noses, scientists report.
Elephant killings in Africa ‘stabilise’ but threat continues
The rapid growth in the illegal killing of African elephants seen since 2006 seems to have stabilised and may be decreasing.
Clever koalas learn to cross the road safely
Koalas have quickly learned to use wildlife passageways to cross busy roads in Australia’s Queensland state as they move between habitats.
Time to say goodbye
As Philae, the robotic lander, is finally switched off and the world says goodbye.
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot ‘roars with heat’
Jupiter’s giant storm is somehow heating the planet’s upper atmosphere – possibly by means of sound waves – astronomers discover.
Farewell to Philae as lander coms cut
Professor Monica Grady describes the final days of communication with the Philae lander
X-rays reveal complete dino skeleton
Scientists have used high-power X-rays to “see inside” an exquisite and complete dinosaur specimen.
MH370: Missing jet ‘could be further north’
The crashed remains from Flight MH370 could be as much as 500km further north than the current search area, argues a new modelling study.
Orangutan ‘copies human speech’
An orangutan copying sounds made by researchers offers new clues to how human speech evolved, scientists say.
Waste mountain
Every day hundreds of thousands of Britons put their coffee cup into a recycling bin. They’re wrong – those cups aren’t recyclable.
Increasing ocean acidity could impact fish spawning
A new study suggests that the increasing acidification of the oceans is likely to interfere with the ability of fish to reproduce.
Peruvian fishermen rescue baby whale from net
Fishermen in the Plura region of Peru have rescued an exhausted whale calf that had become trapped in a net.
How have Dolly the Sheep’s ‘siblings’ fared?
The prospect of using cloning to treat humans has been boosted by new evidence suggests that it can be used safely in animals.
Royal Society head calls for ‘underwriting’ of research
The president of the Royal Society has called for the UK government to underwrite the research of all UK-based researchers who apply for EU funding now.
Dolly the sheep’s siblings ‘healthy’
Dolly the sheep’s “siblings” are generally healthy, a study has shown, providing hope that cloning can yield animals free from degenerative illness.
In pictures
Photographer Charles Fox documents the work of the Trapang Sangke fishing community in Cambodia.
White humpback Migaloo spotted off Australia’s Byron Bay
A rare white humpback whale has been spotted off Australia’s east coast travelling at a leisurely pace not far from the famous holiday town Byron Bay.
New trials for delivering goods by drones
The UK government’s getting together with the retail giant Amazon, to start testing flying drones that can deliver parcels to your door.
Scans reveal how teenage brain develops
The areas of the brain involved in complex thought are the ones that change the most during the teenage years, research shows.
Solar Impulse completes historic round-the-world trip
The first round-the-world solar powered flight has been completed.
Sri Lanka prime minister: Mangroves curb climate threat
On World Mangrove Day, Sri Lanka’s prime minister says mangroves’ ability to swiftly absorb carbon make them vital in the fight to curb climate change.
Dutch men confirmed as world’s tallest
When it comes to height, Dutch men and Latvian women tower over all other nationalities, a new study reveals.
Solar Impulse completes historic round-the-world trip
The Solar Impulse becomes the first aircraft to circle the globe powered by the sun after landing in Abu Dhabi on the last leg of its journey.
Tigers maul two women at Beijing wildlife park
Tigers at a wildlife park in Beijing have killed one woman and injured another after the pair left their vehicle, Chinese media reports say.
Solar Impulse: Zero-fuel plane begins final flight
The Sun-powered aircraft Solar Impulse sets out from Egypt’s capital, Cairo, on the last leg of its quest to circle the globe.
Rare bog butterfly flutters back from brink
A small bog in Lancashire is once again home to a rare species of butterfly, for the first time in 100 years.
Telecopes: A giant leap for Africa
Currently under construction, the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa is establishing its role in scientific research.
Sunburned dolphin spotted in Moray Firth
A dolphin that was sunburned while stranded out of water on mudflats for 24 hours in May appears to be recovering from its injuries.
Super-hard metal ‘four times tougher than titanium’
A super-hard metal is made in the laboratory by melting together titanium and gold.
Drought ‘shuts down Amazon carbon sink’
A recent drought shut down the Amazon Basin’s carbon sink by killing trees and slowing trees’ growth rates, a first-of-its-kind study shows.
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