The Plague Killed killed off a giant swath of the population but those who survived saw better lives across the board, because there were so few left to work. And rabbits, once the gifts of kings, were suddenly everywhere.
Overcoming gaps in medical funding. nakrnsm, CC BYBy Stephanie Swift, University of OttawaDisease can affect any person, rich or poor. While your bank balance can’t really protect you from getting sick, it could potentially buy you – and many other patients – access to a better treatment for your disease. A new “plutocratic proposal” put forward by Alexander Masters enlists wealthy patients to both fund and participate in clinical trials alongside other patients who could benefit from an otherwise untested new treatment.
Let's take a look back through the past 12 months of quantum physics research. sharyn morrow/Flickr, CC BY-NC-NDBy Felix Pollock and Kavan Modi of Monash University.The past year has provided some of the most interesting developments in quantum mechanics to date. The field is more than 100 years old and has been tested to unimaginable precision, yet some of its most striking statements are still being debated.
Asteroidea Electrica, first prize winner by Adrianus Indrat Aria. Cambridge University, CC BYBy Allan McRobie, University of Cambridge
Do selfies belong at funerals? Daniel Incandela, CC BY-SA
Every ten minutes in Australia someone has a heart attack. For 17% this will be fatal; the rest get a second chance. If you have had a close call, these five food tips will help get your health back on track.
Artist’s impression shows a sunset seen from the super-Earth Gliese 667 Cc. The brightest star in the sky is the red dwarf Gliese 667 C, which is part of a triple star system.
The insanity defense is often an option of last resort rather than a lenient alternative to imprisonment. Douglas LeMoineBy Meron Wondemaghen, University of New England
The cost of a degree just keeps rising. Is it still worth it? ShutterstockBy Robert Reich, University of California, BerkeleyThe early admissions deadlines for universities across the country have come and gone, and acceptance letters are on their way. But with the cost of a four-year college education rising an average of 5% a year, many students and parents are likely wondering whether the cost of a degree is worth it.
A woman sniffs a glass of wine during a tasting event in Beijing. ReutersBy Pierre Ly, Puget Sound University and Cynthia Howson, University of WashingtonChina’s wine industry has exploded in recent years, with the number of wineries more than doubling over the past decade, propelling the country past Australia to become the world’s 7th-largest producer. What is driving this fast-paced growth and is the quality of Chinese wine improving?
The Greeks hailed Dionysus (also known as Bacchus) as their patron god of wine, said to provide ecstasy and spiritual vision to his devotees. Pictured is Caravaggio's 1595 masterpiece Bacchus. WikimediaBy Robert Fuller, Bradley University
The magi, as you know, were wise men – wonderfully wise men – who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents.
World War One Christmas Truce Commemoration match – but it's debated whether the original ever happened. Mike Egerton/PA WireBy William Keylor, Boston University
