Jude Bellingham’s leg veins are standing out as much as his scoring skills – here’s why
The ripple of the net after a Jude Bellingham strike is no longer the only ripple attracting attention. During England’s World Cup campaign, the midfielder’s prominent thigh veins have become an internet talking point. They may look dramatic, but visible veins are common in elite athletes. The explanation begins with anatomy. Superficial veins lie in […]
Why food skills belong in the school curriculum – not left to chance at home
Norenko Andrey/Shutterstock One in ten children aged seven to nine years is living with obesity in Europe. In England, childhood obesity rises from around 10% of children in reception to around 22% by year six. While we know there are many complex and inter-connected biological, social and environmental causes of childhood obesity, a good start […]
How fatigue shapes World Cup interceptions
An interception can last less than a second. A defender reads a pass, steps into its path and reaches the ball before its intended recipient. Yet that brief movement requires the brain to judge speed, distance and direction while the body accelerates, changes course and maintains balance. Interceptions show how closely thought and movement are […]
Don’t change lanes – the maths of holiday traffic jams
ClimbWhenReady/Shutterstock.com Millions of people will take to the roads this holiday season, only to end up spending frustrating hours sitting in traffic jams. Congestion costs drivers time, fuel and patience – while also increasing pollution and placing huge pressure on transport networks. If you’ve ever found yourself staring enviously at the lane next to you, […]
Can scientists make a new element for the periodic table?
surprisestock/Shutterstock There are currently 118 chemical elements on the periodic table. The last one added was oganesson, which was first created by scientists in 2002. Seven-year-old Robyn, from Edinburgh in Scotland, wants to know whether scientists will be able to make any more new elements, and how they do it. He joined our host Eloise […]
Can beetroot juice boost your sports performance? Here’s what the latest study shows
Anton Vierietin/Shutterstock.com Evidence that beetroot juice can improve athletic performance has long been inconsistent. While some studies reported benefits, others found little or no effect. Now, a new study, combining results from 33 studies, provides the clearest evidence yet that it can enhance exercise performance. The meta-analysis included data from more than 500 professional and […]
From Alexander Litvinenko to Sergei Skripal: the long road to reforming UK security
When Alexander Litvinenko was murdered in London in 2006, poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 slipped into a pot of tea, the UK was shocked. Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer who had become a critic of Vladimir Putin’s government, died after a highly publicised illness. A later public inquiry concluded that his killing was probably approved […]
A forgotten young poet gives us a rare glimpse below stairs at the 1995 Pride and Prejudice’s Netherfield Hall
Edgcote House as Netherfield in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. BBC “Netherfield Park is let at last!” go the famous opening words from Mrs Bennet in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. To her delight, the estate has been taken on by the eligible newcomer Mr Bingley – a “single man in possession of […]
The 16th century lesbian poet who could be Scotland’s answer to Gentleman Jack
Amarillis crowning Mirtillo by Jacob van Loo (circa 1640-1660). Muiderslot Marie Maitland, a 16th-century Scottish gentlewoman, has for centuries been recognised as the likely scribe of the Maitland Quarto. This important manuscript, now held in the Pepys Library of Magdalene College, Cambridge, is an anthology of Scottish poetry by members of the noble Maitland family […]
Why the US-China Moon race could turn into a lunar land grab
Nasa is planning to build up its lunar base in stages. Nasa Sixty years ago, the United States and the Soviet Union were embroiled in a race to the Moon, which the USA won. The 21st-century lunar contest, with China stepping in for the Soviet Union, has many similarities, but key differences. The Apollo astronauts […]