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Petals produce a 'blue halo' that helps bees find flowers, reveals a new study. Researchers found that several common flower species have nanoscale ridges on the surface of their petals that meddle with light when viewed from certain angles. The nanostructures scatter light particles in the blue to ultraviolet colour spectrum, generating a subtle effect that scientists have labelled the 'blue halo'. Ursinia speciosa is a member of the Daisy family. The region at the base of the petals contains...

A computer that thinks for itself has mastered the world's most difficult game with no human input, scientists have revealed. The Artificial Intelligence computer program taught itself the game, and scientists claim the breakthrough is a gamechanger with all sorts of applications. Deep Mind's updated AlphaGo algorithm defeated its predecessor by 100-nil - which in turn had been too good for Go champion Lee Sedol last year. Go is a 3,000 year-old Chinese game and has trillions of possible moves...

The plight of human trafficking victims is being highlighted on Wednesday, October 18th, for Anti-Slavery Day. The UK government estimates that at least 13,000 people across Britain are trapped in modern slavery although police say the figure is likely to be much higher. Kevin Hyland, Britain's anti-slavery tsar, agrees in his annual report that the estimate is too low, and the true number is in the tens of thousands. In 2015, Britain passed the Modern Slavery Act, ushering in the...

Britain's banks are on notice to treat people claiming refunds or compensation for payment protection insurance (PPI) to act fairly or face punitive measures, including against their directors. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) watchdog told banks and other financial institutions that it is paying close attention to the way they deal with PPI claims, as it works to ensure a two-year deadline for an end to PPI claims is strictly adhered to. It warned it will not stand idly by...

Donald Trump has claimed once again that the United States is the "highest taxed country in the world" in a speech aimed at pushing through massive tax cuts. The President said "we’re the highest taxed country in the world, and yet we may get no Democrat support," in a speech this week. The claim has been proven false by several independent analyses on numerous occasions. Even when state tax, federal tax, municipal tax, fees and fines are accounted for the US is...

A new species of bird that lived in Germany almost 50 million years ago has been discovered - complete with the waxy oils it used to colour its feathers. The fossil was so extraordinarily well-preserved its preen gland - found in the tail of our modern feathered friends - was still intact. Most birds use their heads to rub protective oils from this gland over their feathers, legs and feet. Flamingos in the wild even use pigments from these fatty...

Hillary Clinton in the UK on a tour to promote her autobiography What Happened, today revealed that she will not be running for President against Donald Trump in 2020. “No, I won’t run again,” the former Democrat candidate told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Clinton vowed to “continue to speak out” against Donald Trump, adding she would still be “raising money and support for candidates and causes that I believe in… and I will be supporting the Democratic Party in the...

Economic experts have today suggested the UK should reverse Brexit in order to avoid the severe consequences of a messy breakup. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a report that puts forward the case for a dramatic rethink on the agenda. Its findings have already been hailed as the “final nail in the coffin for the already long-buried notion that Brexit will benefit our economy”. But even with EU negotiations stalled there are growing signs that the UK economy...

Public sector workers are being forced to go to food banks to eat - that is an absolute disgrace and it must stop An uprising of ‘Maybots’ will descend on Parliament Square today as part of a mass rally against the public sector pay cap. The sinister Prime Ministerial mechanoids will be seen holding up a giant arm pinching money from the pockets of public sector workers. credit: © Jess Hurd/GMB GMB research shows the average public sector workers has...