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Festive science

Six pointed snowflake

Humans

Kenneth Libbrecht interview: A grand unified theory of snowflakes

Snowflakes can form in either a plate or column shape, but no one understood why – until physicist Kenneth Libbrecht investigated. His theory is the result of two decades making snow in the lab

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Life

The secret life of cheese: How marvellous microbes create its flavour

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Mind

The surprising truth about why adults make children believe in Santa

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Life

The curious case of the “glacier mice” that seem to dance on ice

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Humans

The reason we love to gather around the TV lies in Stone Age embers

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Environment

Frankincense is a holiday favourite, but its future is under threat

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Rudolph superpowers

Life

Reindeer’s real superpowers could help us beat depression and cancer

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Village Fredvang on the island Moskenesoya

Environment

Deep and crisp and living: How snow sustains amazing hidden life

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Star Trek

Humans

From Star Wars to Hitchhiker’s – how to make the best drinks in sci-fi

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Green Film Festival

Humans

Don’t miss: Green films, rare plants and a cosmos tour

This week, watch how to save the world, explore what we're losing, then contemplate the heavens

Culture

Environment

Six spectacular ice phenomena to look out for this winter

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Mind

Cheers! Saying thanks is good for you and those around you

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Humans

Toys are us: How childhood objects may have shaped human history

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Life

How busting some moves on the dance floor is good for your brain

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