The Sewer Knows What You Ate

20 July 2026 at 20:00

During the Covid-19 pandemic, wastewater testing became a virus warning system. Now, scientists are using the approach to understand how communities eat.

Molten salt and human sweat: the weird batteries that could store renewable energy

The Guardian - Energy

By: Jillian Ambrose

19 July 2026 at 12:00

From Nevada to Manchester, developers are trialling innovative solutions to clean energy’s biggest challenge

In the deserts of the United Arab Emirates a sprawling clean energy project, stretching across an area roughly the size of 12,600 football fields, will play host to a breakthrough allowing solar energy to power the equivalent of half a million homes through the night.

The Gulf state has been steadily combining 5.2GW of solar power capacity with 19GWh of battery storage to create the largest battery scheme in the world.

Science word of the day: Neuroplasticity

Live Science

18 July 2026 at 09:00

Science word of the day: Neuroplasticity

Pronunciation: Nur-roh-pla-STISS'-ih-tee

What it means: Neuroplasticity is the ability of the nervous system to adapt to the environment or to injuries by forming new connections and modifying and strengthening existing connections. Neuroplasticity can happen after an injury, such as a stroke or trauma to the brain, but it also occurs during ordinary learning. Just by reading this definition, you may be making new, sustainable brain connections.

How to use it in a sentence: Scientists used to think neuroplasticity was an ability only the the young had, but researchers are increasingly learning that aging brains can adapt throughout the lifespan, much to everyone's relief.

Can you crack our science word of the day puzzle, Chain Word?