2,000 years of the dock leaf
Generations have sworn by dock leaves to take the sting out of a brush with stinging nettles — but modern medicine disagrees. Ian Morton explains more as he delves into the history and lore of this plant.
Curious Questions
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Curious Questions: What is a weed?
They're the bane of gardeners' lives, but do they even exist, at least in any consistent and logical sense? Martin Fone takes a step back to think about which plants are and aren't weeds — and how the mystery of fast adaptive evolution means that the 'wrong plant in the wrong place at the wrong time' definition isn't quite enough.
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Curious Questions: What was the world’s greatest sea rescue?
Eighty-three years after it was founded, the RNLI made its largest rescue off the coast of the Lizard, in Cornwall.
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Curious questions: Did the modern Olympics really start in Much Wenlock?
Martin Fone traces the history of the Olympics and examines the contribution of Shropshire doctor William Penny Brookes.
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Curious Questions: Who invented the bread maker?
Making bread by hand is rewarding, but inconsistent — unlike the stuff you'll get from a decent automatic bread maker. Martin Fone ponders how such a machine, with its artificial kneading, came into existence.
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Curious Question: How do waves shape our coastline?
Whether constructive or destructive, waves (some as high as four double-decker buses) claw at our shores in a frenzy of energy, observes Annemarie Munro.
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Curious questions: Does water divining actually work? (N.B. Einstein thought it probably did...)
Widely thought to be a form of witchcraft, water divining relies on a pair of rods and ‘the uncanny reaction of the human nervous system’ to factors unknown. Yet it is still employed by water companies today, discovers Catriona Gray.
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Curious Questions: What was the first ever televised sporting event?
Over 20 million people have been tuning in to watch England's stirring exploits at Euro 2020, and the huge numbers look only set to get bigger as the summer goes on. It's a far cry from the first ever televised sporting event, almost a century earlier, as Martin Fone explains.
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Curious Question: Do goldfish really have a three-second memory?
Martin Fone wonders whether everyone's favourite pet fish has greater cognitive abilities than we give it credit for.
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Curious questions: How do you swat a fly?
Houseflies are a health hazard, but attempts to swat them have to contend with the insect's exceptional defense mechanism, finds Martin Fone.
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Curious Questions: When was the world’s first motor show held?
May 9 marks the anniversary of what many have regarded to be the first motor trade show; but was it really the first motorcar show, wonders Martin Fone?
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Curious Questions: How does a bumblebee fly?
Scientists only discovered the humble pollinator's secret in 2005, says Martin Fone.
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Curious Questions: Is the chocolate side really the top of a Jaffa Cake?
Martin Fone discovers nothing is quite as it seems in the world of Jaffa Cakes — including whether they are a biscuit or a cake or whether chocolate sits at the top.
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Curious Questions: Why are four-leaf clovers lucky?
Ian Morton investigates the myths and legends linked to Ireland's favourite plant.
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Curious Questions: Why is chocolate poisonous to dogs?
Chocolate is potentially life-threatening to dogs and other animals throughout the year, but more issues crop up around Easter, when chocolate is in high supply. Alexandra Fraser, with the help of veterinary doctor Jessica May, explains how to act if you suspect your pet had been poisoned.
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Curious Question: Could the world’s smelliest fruit soon charge your phone?
Martin Fone dives into the world of pongy fruits and discovers why durian could be at the charging end of your mobile's battery.
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Curious Question: Do dogs go through a stroppy teenage stage?
Martin Fone investigates the behaviour of dogs as they grow up and reminds prospective owners that a dog is a lifetime commitment.
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Curious Questions: Who created the 'Your Country Needs YOU' poster?
It's one of the most famous images of the 20th century, copied and parodied countless times. But who created the famous image of Lord Kitchener calling his countrymen to arms? Nicholas Hodge takes a look — and discovers a dog-loving cartoonist who'd 'rather win a medal at golf' than be elected to the Royal Academy.
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Curious Question: When was the first census held?
As the UK prepares to compile this decade's census, Martin Fone retraces its history.
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Curious questions: Who first classified the clouds?
Martin Fone investigates the scientists so intrigued by cloud formations that they decided to sort them out into different types.
