Petals produce a 'blue halo' that helps bees find flowers, reveals a new study. Researchers found that several common flower species have nanoscale ridges on the surface of their petals that meddle with light when viewed from certain angles. The nanostructures scatter light particles in the blue to ultraviolet colour spectrum, generating a subtle effect that scientists have labelled the 'blue halo'. Ursinia speciosa is a member of the Daisy family. The region at the base of the petals contains...

A computer that thinks for itself has mastered the world's most difficult game with no human input, scientists have revealed. The Artificial Intelligence computer program taught itself the game, and scientists claim the breakthrough is a gamechanger with all sorts of applications. Deep Mind's updated AlphaGo algorithm defeated its predecessor by 100-nil - which in turn had been too good for Go champion Lee Sedol last year. Go is a 3,000 year-old Chinese game and has trillions of possible moves...

Isn’t London Marylebone a wonderful train station? Buried among the charming terraced houses of Lisson Grove and a stone’s throw from Lord’s Cricket Ground and the famed Madame Tussauds it is probably more famed for being one of the stations on the Monopoly board than being a major London terminus. But what it lacks in thoroughfare it gains in character, and it was with a spring in my step that I bordered the 17:50 Chiltern service to Oxford early one...

Winner of this year’s Documentary Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, Dina follows its title character as she prepares to get married to her fiancé Scott, who works as a greeter at Walmart. They are both on the autism spectrum and each struggle with it in different ways. For the most part, though, they lead fairly normal lives. Scott enjoys rock music and Dina has a liking for the Kardashians. As the film progresses we learn about the hardships that Dina...

By Jim Mackney Alfred Hitchcock, born in Leytonstone on the 13th of August 1899, came to be known as the “Master of Suspense” and was a true filmmaking auteur. He is known for a distinct visual style now known as "Hitchcockian" where the camera mimics a person’s gaze, forcing the audience to undertake a form of voyeurism, and for using the narrative principle of a MacGuffin; a plot device in the form of a goal, desired object, or other motivator that...

We are witnessing the emergence of one of the players of his generation in Kevin de Bruyne. His impact at Manchester City cannot be understated and he is the on-field leader of Pep Guardiola’s revolution in the blue half of Manchester. Is there a finer central midfielder in the game today? The Belgian is the almost perfect player in that position. Taking a look at his Premier League output so far this season: He scores goals – One in the...

Almost half the nation's parents have never considered asking their children about their mental health, it has emerged. Researchers found millions of mums and dads are so busy with looking after their families day-to-day they haven't thought about asking their kids how they are. The stat is even more remarkable when you consider the fact many parents believe their youngsters are suffering from stress caused by school issues. Two thirds said they believed their kids 'have it tough', with more...

The plight of human trafficking victims is being highlighted on Wednesday, October 18th, for Anti-Slavery Day. The UK government estimates that at least 13,000 people across Britain are trapped in modern slavery although police say the figure is likely to be much higher. Kevin Hyland, Britain's anti-slavery tsar, agrees in his annual report that the estimate is too low, and the true number is in the tens of thousands. In 2015, Britain passed the Modern Slavery Act, ushering in the...

How To Solve A Problem Like Murder is set to appear for its grand finale at Paradise by Way of Kensal Green. Brought to you by UnCorked Theatre the show has been described as a "real life version of Cluedo, keeping you guessing until the end". Soaked in sin, each room has kept its secrets safe. The walls buzz with excitement, holding a new fate at every turn. But a crime as heinous as murder can only be buried for so long....