Latest Stories
-
It has rain, water, clouds: so, maybe life too!
What a wonderful find — but does it have any point? Astronomers are thrilled by yesterday’s announcement about a habitable planet. The bad news: it would take two million years to get there.
-
Emergency plan to deflect giant asteroid
Are asteroids our biggest threat? Scientists are now working on a plan to protect Earth from Didymos, a giant rock the size of Egypt’s great pyramid — one of 20,000 known near-Earth objects.
-
Earth’s 2019 resources ‘budget’ already used
Will it take a disaster to teach us to live within our means? As of today, humans have consumed more resources than Planet Earth can regenerate in a year — a worse record than last year.
-
The scientist: ‘Just keep working on it’
What does it take to be a scientist? In part one of our new ‘Careers’ series, research engineer Hollie Wright tells The Day about her life in the lab and how she achieved a childhood dream.
-
Historic heatwave shatters records in Europe
How long do we have to fix the climate emergency? As Europe wilts in a blistering heatwave and new research pins the blame on humans, the time window for a decisive response is shortening.
-
France hires sci-fi writers to predict threats
Can fiction be truer than fact? The French army is to create a “Red Team” of sci-fi writers to imagine possible, future threats. But many say it is absurd and that soldiers would be better.
-
One in six believe this was taken in a studio
Why are conspiracy theories so powerful? Despite all the proof that it happened, there are still thousands who are convinced that the Moon landing was a hoax set up by the US space agency.
-
Neil Armstrong, a reluctant American hero
What makes someone a hero? Centuries from now, Neil Armstrong will still be remembered as the first man to walk on the Moon. But he thought of himself simply as a “nerdy engineer”.
-
Celebrating 50 years since mankind’s giant leap
Will humans ever live on the Moon? Tomorrow, it will be 50 years since the Apollo 11 astronauts began their historic journey to the Moon. Now, the world wants to go back — this time to stay.
-
Scientists warn public on alien communication
If aliens call, what should we say? Scientists are turning to the public to ask how — and if — we should reply to intelligent extraterrestrial life. It could alter the course of history.
-
Climate crisis made heatwave five times likelier
Can Europe adapt to rising temperatures? Last week, France had its hottest day in history. Yesterday, experts confirmed that the heatwave was made five times more likely by the climate crisis.
-
Artificial stars could redesign the night sky
Why not re-write the stars? We have the ability. Already, Japan wants to create fake meteor showers, China wants an artificial moon for street lighting and Russia wants to sell advertising.
-
Underwater metropolis planned as seas rise
Is the best response to climate change to invent new ways of living? The Japanese Shimizu Corporation plans to build a giant underwater metropolis powered by energy from the seabed.
-
A world without humans could be a new Eden
Yesterday, a major UN report warned that a great extinction has begun on Earth, threatening human life. But the planet is a living organism and would thrive without us, say scientists.
-
Net zero: Britain must plant billions of trees
The UK should lead the global fight against climate change by cutting greenhouse gasses to nearly zero by 2050, says a powerful independent committee this morning. How realistic is this?