As more high-paying jobs require a degree and expertise in things like computer coding or mechanical engineering, colleges and universities are racing to fill a pronounced void in qualified candidates. One place they are making extra effort is among women.

Hot on the heels of the uncritical media fuss around the recent Contracts for Difference awarded to offshore wind (for comment see “Forget the Spin: Offshore wind costs are not falling”) comes an equally misleading set of headlines falsely claiming that Solar Photovoltaic generation is on the brink of operating without market distortions and coercions. The truth, unsurprisingly, is quite otherwise.

Fish appear to be individuals with complex personalities, according to new research. Researchers tested the idea that Trinidadian guppies all had a fairly standard response to potential dangers.

Britain will need to boost its generation of electricity by about a quarter, Scottish Power has estimated. The energy firm said electric cars and a shift to electric heating could send demand for power soaring.

In the past 540 million years, the Earth has endured five mass extinction events, each involving processes that upended the normal cycling of carbon through the atmosphere and oceans.

With the help of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, a German-led group of astronomers have observed the intriguing characteristics of an unusual type of object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter: two asteroids orbiting each other and exhibiting comet-like features, including a bright coma and a long tail.

How did Neanderthals grow? Does modern man develop in the same way as Homo neanderthalensis did? How does the size of the brain affect the development of the body?

No doubt today there’s a huge demand for science de-indoctrination – especially among children – in a variety of fields, ranging from nutrition, climate science, economics and even eugenics (still!).

The site where Europe’s first lunar mission crash-landed on the Moon 11 years ago has finally been located using CSI-style techniques.

A few weeks ago, it was claimed on multiple news outlets that the cost of producing offshore wind power has plummeted over the past couple of years. The BBC claimed that “offshore wind power [is] now cheaper than new nuclear”, while other news outlets even made the claim that offshore wind is now cheaper than new gas.

In former times, it was thought to be prudent to consult with the purveyors of advice and wisdom prior to major undertakings, such as starting big wars.

Image copyright: GETTY IMAGES

Australia will establish a national space agency to grow its space industry, the government has said. The nation is one of the only developed countries in the world not to have a space agency.

Scientists at The University of Manchester have created the world’s first ‘molecular robot’ that is capable of performing basic tasks including building other molecules.

Matthew Walker has learned to dread the question “What do you do?” At parties, it signals the end of his evening; thereafter, his new acquaintance will inevitably cling to him like ivy.

For half a century, astronomers have been unable to find the source of the most energetic rays in our universe. But now, after detecting them for more than a decade, South American researchers say cosmic rays come from outside the Milky Way.