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If you’ve ever been told that masturbation is unnatural, evolutionary biologist Matilda Brindle begs to differ. Indeed much of the animal kingdom is at it, if her fascinating article about its evolutionary reasons is anything to go by. Primates, the animal group humans belong to, seem particularly dedicated to self-pleasure.
Testing the idea that masturbation may help protect animals from sexually contracted infections and boost their chances of passing on their genes, Matilda has found evidence that self-gratification has given an evolutionary advantage to male primates since at least the ancestor of all monkeys and apes, including humans. Unfortunately, things aren’t so clear for females.
Meanwhile, research shows that though there are many benefits to eating fruit and vegetables, plant foods that are rich in compounds called flavanols may be more helpful than others. Here’s what you need to know.
And late last year, scientists recorded one of the brightest explosions in the universe ever known. Now, astronomers think they may have figured out why it happened.
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Jenna Hutber
Commissioning Editor, Science
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This female rhesus macaque seems surprised at the idea not everyone thinks masturbation is natural.
Matilda Brindle
Matilda Brindle, UCL
Masturbation seems like an evolutionary conundrum. New research has found an explanation.
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Two-and-a-half cups of green tea contain the recommended daily amount of flavanols.
granata68/ Shutterstock
Gunter Kuhnle, University of Reading
Many plants contain flavanols – but some contain more than others.
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An x-ray of the brightest ever gamma ray burst reflected off dust layers, creating extended ‘light echoes’ of the initial blast.
Nasa
Hendrik Van Eerten, University of Bath
Radiation from the brightest cosmic explosion ever seen may have been mixing with gas and dust around its dying star – making the signal last longer.
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An anti-COVID mask protest on November 7 2020 in Aylmer, Canada, organised by the Church of God.
Mette Holm/Alamy
Tamas Lestar, University of Winchester
To adequately prepare for the next pandemic, we need to understand where people’s spirituality and science scepticism overlap – and why.
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Workers decommission an oil rig in the North Sea.
Lee Ramsden/Alamy Stock Photo
Gavin Bridge, Durham University; Gisa Weszkalnys, London School of Economics and Political Science
Labour would still honour existing licenses to drill for fossil fuels.
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Ivor Cummings.
Courtesy of Chris Rochester
Nicholas Boston, Lehman College, CUNY
A paper trail, both typed and handwritten, documents Cummings’ dogged efforts to secure accommodations and resources for the Windrushers on a time crunch.
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Politics + Society
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Jo Wilding, University of Sussex
Numbers obtained through a freedom of information request reveal the dire state of the legal aid sector in England and Wales.
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Christoph Bluth, University of Bradford
The options facing the Kremlin’s economic and military planners.
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Aisha K. Gill, University of Bristol; Sundari Anitha, University of Lincoln
Forced marriage protection orders are not very useful in combatting ‘honour’-based violence or other abuse.
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David Rowe, Western Sydney University
Today’s big sport story is LIV Golf, but Saudi Arabia’s involvement in sport will generate many more money-driven, politics-heavy headlines.
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Business + Economy
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Thankom Arun, University of Essex
The UK could learn a lot from developing economies about using digital payments to boost financial inclusion.
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Albert Sanchez-Graells, University of Bristol
Rishi Sunak is pitching the UK as a hub for AI regulation, but some experts doubt its appeal.
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Education
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Arinola Adefila, Staffordshire University
Universities have the resources to support collaborative climate action.
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Environment
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Michael Grubb, UCL; Serguey Maximov Gajardo, UCL
British electricity generators saw their revenues increase by £29 billion in 2022 – here’s why that happened.
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