The Best of BBC Future

Every food culture has certain dishes that people turn to in times of need. And no one food is a comfort food staple right across the world. Here's why.

From an Australian frog that swallowed its own eggs to woolly mammoths, scientists could soon bring back long-lost species from the dead.

From bearing the burdens of the Roman Empire to enabling trade over long distances, the humble donkey has been surprisingly influential.

Rising temperatures and pollution have led to an explosive growth of harmful algal blooms, contaminating our drinking water and harming human health.

Aircraft currently leave a major footprint on the world's climate, so can the aviation industry hope to reach net zero by the middle of the century?

Airships could offer a much cleaner and quieter alternative for some aspects of the aviation market. In a former airship factory, a new generation are taking shape.

The problems caused by plastic waste are rapidly increasing around the globe, but it still serves a useful purpose in food packaging. Can plastic still be a green option?

«brands have transitioned away from refillables to single-use packaging faster in the global North than in the South; it simply made more economic sense,»

It's not just domestication that has changed animals – simply sharing their environment with humans has radically altered the behaviour of some species.

«It's not just domestication that has changed animals – simply sharing their environment with humans has radically altered the behaviour of some species.»

Through apparently spontaneous change or through mishap or illness, our eyes can change colour in surprising ways.

We know fish as a healthy food, but pregnant women are told to limit consumption. Do the health benefits of eating fish outweigh the risks, particularly as stocks grow more depleted?

A growing and influential intellectual movement aims to understand why human progress happens – and how to speed it up. Garrison Lovely investigates.

For millennia, people slept in two shifts – once in the evening, and once in the morning. But why? And how did the habit disappear?

In recent years, psychologists have gained a deeper understanding of human kindness and its benefits, but as Claudia Hammond writes, there's still so much to explore.

What can ants and meerkats teach us about parenting? Evolutionary biologist Nichola Raihani uncovers the ancient social instincts that still shape our families today.

Bullying can make kid's lives a misery and cause lifelong health problems – but scientists are discovering powerful ways to fight it.

Many of us believe perfectionism is a positive. But researchers are finding that it could be dangerous, leading to a long list of health problems – and that it’s on the rise.

Our world is awash with a rainbow of colours, but certain shades can have a surprising impact on our ability to concentrate, our mood and even our taste.

«And if you want a child to concentrate, you might consider painting a classroom in a vivid palette and so bolster their reading scores.»

It can seem like an almost childish mistake, but a surprising number of adults confuse left from right and scientists are only just starting to understand why.

Morocco has become famous for its vast, world-leading solar arrays. But these mega-projects are just the start of the action on climate change that Morocco could be capable of.

Many countries are looking to floating solar power to save valuable space. The Netherlands is taking this one step further, with water-based arrays that follow the Sun.

Speaking a second or even a third language can bring obvious advantages, but occasionally the words, grammar and even accents can get mixed up.

«our languages aren't just static throughout our lives but shifting, actively competing and interfering with each other.»

Most of us are subjected to insults, sarcastic comments or bad feedback in our everyday lives. But we weren't built to deal with torrents of criticism.

Some 200 places around the world have now achieved Dark Sky status. Frankie Adkins explores the benefits nights with out light pollution can bring.

«LED lighting – despite its reputation for energy efficiency – often contains high proportions of blue light in its spectrum, which creates a harsh glar»

We've all had those frustrating moments when we struggle to recall someone's name. It turns out these momentary lapses may actually be good for your memory.

This year, the human population on Earth is expected to reach eight billion. To mark the occasion, BBC Future takes a look at one of the most controversial issues of our time.

«15 November 2022, the United Nations has predicted that there will be eight billion humans alive at the same time»