DUCK-BILLED PLATYPUS
When the Duck-billed platypus was first encountered by Europeans in 1798, a pelt and sketch were sent back to Great Britain by Captain John Hunter, the second Governor of New South …
CUSTARD POWDER
Custard powder makes a delicious dessert but also has a rather less savoury potential – in certain conditions, it can be a powerful explosive. …
ELEPHANTS HATE BEES
Did you know that elephants hate bees? Around the world, spreading farmland is increasingly overlapping with elephant habitats, often resulting in dangerous interactions, as …
TULIPS
Few images are as indelible as the sight of new tulips bursting through the dark winter ground. In the Netherlands – the world’s largest exporter …
BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Earlier this week my partner and I had a “breath of fresh air” experience of the type that seems to come along very rarely these …
WASSAILING
I encountered the remnants of Wassailing a few years ago in Tolpuddle, Dorset, U.K. I was looking for a cup of coffee during a trip …
SPRINGY POLES AND FOREHEAD STRAPS
Springy poles and forehead straps: How to carry more than your own bodyweight. The rural farm workers of Vietnam could be seen as almost …
WALKING BACKWARDS
Walking backwards is not a common way to get around, but it can bring some surprising benefits. During the 19th Century, the activity of …
SILURIAN HYPOTHESIS
I must admit that I had never heard of the Silurian Hypothesis until I recently read an article which referred to it. I decided to …
STAY HAPPIER
In the New Year’s cycle of resolutions for the coming twelve months, which usually last at least a few days, I came across this list …