W hen a peacock mantis shrimp strikes, it generates the heat of a star. The crustacean retracts a spring-loaded mouthpart known as a dactyl club and puts it on a latch, like a cowboy cocking the hamme

Clouds of noxious gas, stink bombs and purple smokescreens may sound like schoolboy pranks, but the animal world is just as capable of executing arresting chemical warfare, says Deborah Nicholls-Lee

Amazing answers to your curious questions

David Farrier Nature’s Genius Evolution’s lessons for a changing planet 288pp. Canongate. £20. In David Farrier’s latest book, he warns us that humanity is endangering every facet of life on Earth thr

BRAKES! BRAAAKES!!THE LAST SHOUTED FROM THE WHOLE CHEST, FINGERNAILS CLEAVING INTO THE JESUS HANDLE ON THE LAND CRUISER'S CENTRE CONSOLE. HE STIG HAS LITERALLY NO SELF-CONTROL. Or sense of self-preser

Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot was already sidelined with one injury when a microwave caused another. At home in 2009, Broadfoot decided to poach an egg – soon he was all over the back pages. “Shell