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materials science

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Life

Do the bumps on a bell pepper reveal how sweet it will be? Er, no

Social media influencers are convinced that the number of lobes on the base of a bell pepper give us information about its sex and taste. James Wong debunks this myth with some science

Regulars

Chemistry

Super-sticky hydrogel is 10 times stronger than other glues underwater

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The ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ Book Club has just read Adam Roberts's Lake of Darkness

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Our verdict on Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts: A mixed bag

Culture

Comment

What would it feel like to be on a planet spinning out of control?

Culture

Environment

Read an extract from Alex Foster’s sci-fi novel Circular Motion

Culture

In The End of the World As We Know It, other writers are telling stories set in the post-apocalyptic world of Stephen King's The Stand

Comment

The best new science fiction books of August 2025

Culture

Chemistry

Extra-hard hexagonal diamonds can now be grown in a lab

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2JHN167 HUGH JACKMAN, THE PRESTIGE, 2006

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The Prestige is just as clever and thrilling 30 years on

Culture

2JD8W56 ALICIA VIKANDER, EX MACHINA, 2014,

Comment

Fictional female robots have a long history, and it's often quite dark

Culture

The greatest robot of all time? The cooker on the moon, from A Grand Day Out

Comment

The 25 best fictional robots – according to ¿ìè¶ÌÊÓƵ

From R2D2 to the Terminator via Bender and Johnny-5, we choose our favourite robots from books, films and television series

Culture

Environment

Built-in fire extinguishers can prevent battery explosions

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Video

Which sci-fi movies predicted the future accurately?

Video

Comment

Foundation's new season has dramatic potential – but sadly falls flat

Culture

Chemistry

We finally understand why quasicrystals can exist

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