Colin | Colin Barras

Light switch could boost network speeds

Oct 21, 2009 | Journalism

An all-optical switch could boost the performance of the plastic optical fibres widely tipped for...

‘Missing link’ Ida lacks evolutionary insights

Oct 21, 2009 | Evolution, Journalism, Palaeontology

Appearances can be deceptive. Ida, a fossil so complete that it launched 1000 headlines in May, might actually be too damaged to reveal much about primate evolution, according to a new analysis. Image: Barras

Subterranean microbes revive tired old gas fields

Oct 21, 2009 | Earth Science, Journalism, Life

Whatever you may think of our addiction to fossil fuels, there is no shortage of ideas on how to extract every last tonne. Field trials are now showing that all it takes is common fertiliser. Image: richardmasoner

Innovation: You Facebook, you tweet– now lifelog

Oct 20, 2009 | Journalism

News that a wearable always-on camera is coming to the mass market heralds the lifelogging era but...

Richard Leakey: Passionate, prickly and principled

Oct 14, 2009 | Evolution, Human Origins, Journalism

He looks impatient, like a slightly older, more restless version of Indiana Jones, only trapped in the foyer of a hotel near Edinburgh Castle rather than some exotic citadel. But this is Richard Leakey, a member of the clan whose name is synonymous with palaeoanthropology. And while he may have quit the field some time ago, its rows still touch a nerve. Image: Ryan Somma