​Have you ever weighed an avocado at the supermarket self-service checkout and then put it through as a carrot instead? If so, you’re one of a host of ‘swipers’ – or seemingly well-intentioned patrons engaging in routine shoplifting. Emmeline Taylor explains how such theft is becoming a real headache for supermarkets, and how those who steal justify their actions.

The high mercury content in certain fish, such as tuna and swordfish, is thought to be responsible for causing autism in some children. As a result, pregnant women are advised to limit their intake of these fish. But mothers of autistic children who ate fish while they were pregnant should be reassured by the latest research. The study found no link between blood mercury levels during pregnancy and autism in the child, according to Caroline Taylor.

We humans have unusually large brains compared to our bodies. The dominant view among scientists is that this feature has evolved in response to complex social interactions that most other species are incapable of. But now new research has challenged this idea. Mauricio Gonzalez Forero explains why ecology is more likely to be the driving force.

Philip Roth, who has died at the age of 85, was far from a classic literary hero. At once acclaimed as the greatest American author of the 20th and 21st century, and disparaged as a misogynist who portrays women as ‘monstrous’, he was something of a controversial author. Read about both perspectives today.

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