Over 100 years of Antarctic agriculture is helping scientists grow food in space

Scientists just grew plants in soil from the Moon, but Antarctica has long provided researchers with the perfect place to test their agricultural techniques for a future in space.
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Caesar’s favourite herb was the Viagra of ancient Rome. Until climate change killed it off

Perfume, tonic – even love potion – silphium was prized by the ancient Romans, but in its success lay the seeds of its own downfall
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Friday essay: how the West discovered the Buddha

From talk of a ‘poisonous doctrine’ to mistaken beliefs that he hailed from Africa, Western thinkers got Buddhism wrong for a long time.
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Giant sinkhole with a forest inside found in China

Species unknown to science could be hiding in this gaping hole.
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Why Are People Still Blaming Facebook For Australia’s Terrible News Linking Tax Law?

We’ve talked a fair bit about Australia’s ridiculous “News Bargaining Code,” which is literally nothing more than a tax on Facebook and Google for sending traffic to media organisations, paid to Murdoch.
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Suburbs that don't Suck - Streetcar Suburbs (Riverdale, Toronto)

Car-dependent suburbs suck. But that doesn't mean that all suburbs suck. It is possible to build suburbs that don't suck, and the US and Canada used to design great suburbs all the time. But even though these pre-war suburbs are loved by many people, and in huge demand, they're illegal to build today.
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Capybaras are considered fish: Good news for everyone observing Lent

In the 1500s, the Catholic Church classified the capybara as a fish, so its meat could be eaten on Fridays during Lent. If you’re not familiar with the capybara, it is the largest rodent in the world and certainly not a fish.
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