3 h. ago Does painting cows with stripes prevent fly bites? Researchers who studied this wins Ig Nobel prize

A researcher who studied fingernail growth and a group that explored whether painting zebra-like stripes on cows reduced fly bights are among the winners of this year's Ig Nobels

Events

3 h. ago Teflon diet, garlic milk and zebra cows triumph at 2025 Ig Nobel prizes

Researchers into idea to blend powdered PTFE into food as a zero-calorie filler to curb hunger win chemistry prizeFor decades scientists, doctors and public health officials have battled to solve the obesity crisis. Now researchers have won an Ig Nobel prize for a radical new approach: slashing people’s calorie intake by feeding them Teflon.The left-field proposal was inspired by zero calorie drinks and envisaged food manufacturers blending powdered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) into their products in the hope it would sate people’s hunger before quietly sliding out. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago 'Godfather of AI' issues chilling warning about impact of tech on jobs

Nobel prize winning British professor Geoffrey Hinton, 77, has few regrets after helping introduce AI to the world - even though what he created 'will put millions out of work'

Events

1 week ago Need I list all the reasons why Trump shouldn’t get a Nobel peace prize? | Sidney Blumenthal

Trump has been an enabler of war, famine, disease and deathDonald Trump’s thuggish campaign to bully his way to the Nobel peace prize should not be the cause for the committee to reject him. There are many more substantial grounds that render him patently unqualified to receive the award.Among the numerous reasons that make him one of the least deserving people in the world who should be honored, he has single-handedly destroyed the United States Agency for International Development, which has saved hundreds of millions of people from hunger and disease, and promoted democracy and the rule of law around the world. In an executive order issued on his inauguration day, 20 January, Trump slandered USAID as “not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values” and claimed that its workers “serve to destabilize world peace”.Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume p...

Politics

2 w. ago Pfizer CEO is latest to say Trump should get Nobel Peace Prize – for something much of MAGA hates

Vaccine makers are publicly defending Covid-era achievements as the Trump administration rolls back vaccine approvals and cuts research funding

Politics

2 w. ago Outcry as Swedish ‘cultural canon’ snubs Abba and anything since 1975

Critics argue ‘shared map’ of Swedish culture is ‘very exclusionary’ and a ‘nationalist education project’The Gustav Vasa 1541 bible, Pippi Longstocking, Ikea, the right to roam, paternity leave, Sámi joiks, the Nobel prize and works by Ingmar Bergman and August Strindberg all made it into Sweden’s long-awaited, much-criticised proposal for a “cultural canon”.However, notable omissions from the list of 100 works and references that have formed Sweden’s culture and history – intended, its creators said in Uppsala on Tuesday, to establish a “shared map and compass” for Swedish citizens and new arrivals to Sweden – included Abba and anything from after 1975, a period that has seen Sweden transform into an international, multicultural society. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Voices: Trump has a rival for that Nobel Peace Prize, now he’s let Blair into the White House

Those who've never forgiven Tony Blair for the Iraq war were horrified to discover the US president has sought his counsel on Gaza's future. Enough of such childish spite, says Sean O'Grady – the former PM is an ideally qualified adviser...

Politics

3 w. ago Justice department releases transcripts of Ghislaine Maxwell interview with deputy attorney general – live

Transcripts and audio recordings from Maxwell’s interviews with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche released As we bring you more information about the reported FBI raid on John Bolton’s Maryland home, it’s worth pointing out that Bolton was stripped of his security clearance when Trump started his second term in office. The president also got rid of Bolton’s government detail, despite being the target of an assassination plot due to Bolton’s criticism of the Iranian regime.Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser in his first term in office, but has since become a vocal critic of the president. Less than an hour ago, a post from Bolton’s X account critiqued the state of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “Russia has not changed its goal: drag Ukraine into a new Russian Empire,” he wrote. “Meanwhile, meetings will continue because Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize, but I don’t see these talks making any progress.” Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago Trump threatens to send troops to Chicago and says he could bring in ‘regular military’ to Washington DC – live

US president attacks Democrat-run cities as he also says Putin might come to US World Cup and confirms $2bn request to Congress to ‘beautify’ capitalAs we bring you more information about the reported FBI raid on John Bolton’s Maryland home, it’s worth pointing out that Bolton was stripped of his security clearance when Trump started his second term in office. The president also got rid of Bolton’s government detail, despite being the target of an assassination plot due to Bolton’s criticism of the Iranian regime.Bolton served as Trump’s third national security adviser in his first term in office, but has since become a vocal critic of the president. Less than an hour ago, a post from Bolton’s X account critiqued the state of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “Russia has not changed its goal: drag Ukraine into a new Russian Empire,” he wrote. “Meanwhile, meetings will continue because Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize, but I don’t see these talks making any progress.” Continue ...

Events

4 w. ago Cure for hiccups: Top neuroscientist hails £12 gadget that works instantly: 'Why is this not bigger news?'

Muscle relaxants taken to relieve hiccups may no longer be necessary, as a leading neuroscientist heralds this £12 gadget as the cure.

Economics

4 w. ago Scientist heralds £12 gadget which 'cures' hiccups as 'Nobel Prize worthy'

Muscle relaxants taken to relieve hiccups may no longer be necessary, as a leading neuroscientist heralds this £12 gadget as the cure.

Economics