comment on the news as it happens
Killer space blast 'off the hook' Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:08:28 GMTThe theory that the great beasts living in North America 13,000 years ago were killed off by a space impact can now be discounted, a new study claims.
Ancient reef uncovered in Pacific Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:58:41 GMTAn ancient reef may provide scientists with clues about what will happen to coral when sea temperatures rise.
Facial cancer hits Tasmanian devil Cedric Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:41:39 GMTA Tasmanian Devil who experts hoped was immune to a facial cancer that threatens the marsupial species is euthanised after developing tumours.
Earthquake recorded in North Sea Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:31:19 GMTAn earthquake is recorded in the North Sea about 155 miles east of Aberdeen.
Big rocket booster in second test Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:09:11 GMTA further test ignition takes place on the giant booster intended to power Nasa's next big rocket.
Plants send SOS signal to insects Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:31:37 GMTPlants are able to summon insects to their aid to avoid being eaten by caterpillars, scientists discover.
GM potatoes beating killer blight Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:27:52 GMTResearchers working on trials of genetically modified crops in Norfolk have grown potatoes which resist disease.
UK biofuels 'fail on green goals' Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:04:23 GMTThe vast majority of biofuels sold on UK forecourts are imported and do not conform to environmental standards, figures show.
Old star wallows in 'steam bath' Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:46:11 GMTEurope's Herschel space telescope spies an aging star that has surrounded itself in hot water vapour.
Creation was Godless says Hawking Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:25:32 GMTThere is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe, Professor Stephen Hawking concludes in a new book.
Miracle free-kick 'was no fluke' Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:15:06 GMTPhysicists explain one of football's most spectacular free-kicks, showing that Roberto Carlos's 1997 "impossible goal" was not a fluke.
Brazil green light for Amazon dam Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:49:59 GMTBrazil's government approves the controversial construction on a tributary of the Amazon of the world's third biggest hydroelectric dam.
Free kick study boost for footballers Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:25:05 GMTDr Andy Harland of Loughborough University analyses what new free-kick trajectory findings mean for footballers.
Making money from Peruvian bird poo Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:24:26 GMTAn island off Peru is making money from selling bird poo to use as organic fertiliser.
Gorillas 'play tag like humans' Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:00:38 GMTGreat apes play tag in similar way to humans, an international team of scientists finds.
Ants protect trees from elephants Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:34:46 GMTA species of acacia tree found in Eastern Africa seems to be protected from elephant damage - by the ants that live on it.
Worm brain clue to evolution Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:29:50 GMTResearchers map the nervous system of worms to try and understand how the human cerebral cortex evolved.
Stone Age funeral feast unearthed Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:17:29 GMTThe remains of a huge 12,000 year old feast have been found in a cave in Northern Israel.
Floods swamp south Sudan region Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:53:14 GMTSome 57,000 people have been forced from their homes because of dramatic floods in south-western Sudan over the past month, officials say.
Technique to trace persistent CFCs Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:49:58 GMTUltrafine measurements of atmospheric gases could help scientists track down the last sources of CFCs thought to be slowing the recovery of the ozone layer.
Rare tree flowers after 23 years Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:29:30 GMTA rare Chinese tree has flowered for the first time in 23 years at Kew's country estate in West Sussex.
Stricter checks for climate body Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:00:12 GMTThe UN's climate science body needs stricter checks to prevent damage to its credibility, an independent review concludes.
Did the Universe need a creator? Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:27:04 GMTThere is no place for God in theories on the creation of the Universe, the physicist and mathematician Professor Stephen Hawking has said.
Reading Arabic 'hard for brain' Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:56:38 GMTIsraeli scientists believe they have identified why Arabic is particularly hard to learn to read.
Clue to ancient Antarctic seaway Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:13:42 GMTScientists have found evidence for an ancient sea passage linking currently isolated areas of Antarctica.
Wheat genome boost to food supply Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:25:18 GMTThe draft sequences of the wheat genome released by UK scientists may prove to be a vital contribution to the efforts of securing global food supply.