Page 11 - News

Person petting a tabby cat walking on a wooden floor near a scratching post and feather toy in sunlight.

Why Your Cat Rubs Against Your Legs: What It Really Means

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

When your cat rubs against your legs, you may naturally assume it is simply asking for a cuddle. Science, however,...

Whale shark with a mounted camera swims near a diver and a small boat in clear blue ocean water.

Whale sharks filmed feeding off Western Australia

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Off Western Australia, researchers have captured close-up footage of whale sharks to gain a clearer understanding of how they feed....

Person planting seeds in a garden bed with colourful pansies in the foreground.

Action 39-Cent Flower Seed Packet for a Colourful Spring Garden

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

While many amateur gardeners still hesitate to spend money on costly plants, the retailer Action has launched an offer that...

Person lying in bed cuddling a golden retriever dog with a cat beside them, next to a table with a book and glass.

What sleeping with a dog or cat says about pet owners in Spain

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

In Spain, a very common habit among pet owners is prompting psychologists to examine our relationship with affection. Published on...

Person wearing gloves pruning budding tree branches with red secateurs in an orchard during early spring.

Pruning an Apple Tree in February for a Better Harvest

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Many amateur gardeners sit back in late winter, convinced there is nothing to do in the orchard during February. That...

Elderly man wearing a hat gardening, planting colourful flowers in a brick-bordered flowerbed on a sunny day.

Gardeners used to sink tiles around flower beds: 50 years later, gardeners know why

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

On a spring morning, in a slightly aged garden, you may notice an odd line of roof tiles set upright...

Young man drinks mate tea on a balcony overlooking a street and birds flying at sunset.

Why Thousands of Birds Gather Above Argentine Cities at Dusk

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

At dusk, people in several Argentine cities find themselves looking upwards almost instinctively. Above the rooftops, thousands of birds create...

Person cleaning a wet, tiled patio with a broom, bucket of soapy water, and a bottle of cleaning liquid.

Clean a Patio with Vinegar Without a Pressure Washer

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Almost everyone with a garden or balcony knows the situation: weeks of rain, very little sunshine, plus fallen leaves and...

Woman sitting on carpet drinking tea and reading a book while a tabby cat approaches in a cosy living room.

Why Cats Choose the Least Demonstrative Person, According to Manuel Manzano

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

In the evening, when everyone settles on the sofa, the same scene plays out in many homes: someone calls the...

Hands placing straw mulch around a young tomato plant in a raised garden bed with a watering can nearby.

Why Tomato Plants Rot at the Base: The Mulch Mistake to Avoid

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

At first, everything in the bed appears ideal: vigorous young plants, loosened soil and a fresh layer of mulch. A...

Person using a small hand rake to tend a raised garden bed with labelled plants and marigold flowers nearby.

Plastic Forks in Vegetable Beds: A Simple Trick to Keep Animals Away

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

The odd-looking sight conceals a surprisingly effective trick. Anyone strolling through allotments in spring or summer will increasingly spot white...

Four men in vintage attire standing near an unusually large horse beside a brick stable in a rural setting.

Sampson: the tallest horse ever recorded at 2.19 metres

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

In the quiet corridors of a rural English museum, an old photograph can sometimes bring visitors to a standstill. It...

Person watering a potted orchid on a windowsill with dark liquid from a glass pitcher next to a jar and glass of water.

Molasses for orchids: the kitchen ingredient that may encourage new blooms

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Do your orchids stay green yet refuse to produce fresh blooms? An ingredient kept beside the cake tins may help...

Woman comforting a golden retriever by holding its paw in a cosy living room with a laptop on a wooden table.

Why a dog repeatedly licks the same paw: what it may mean

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

In France, a dog that repeatedly licks the same paw is not necessarily grooming itself: this behaviour may indicate genuine...

Young man gardening in backyard planting a shrub with garden tools, wheelbarrow, and plant care instructions nearby.

Transform Your Garden in a Weekend Without a Huge Budget

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

On Saturday morning, the gate was still creaking as Julien set his wheelbarrow down on the path. Behind the hedge,...

Diver photographing a shark swimming near a yellow buoy underwater with sunlight filtering through the surface.

A Shark Filmed off Marseille After Six Months of Waiting

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

At dawn off Marseille, the sea held the pewter shade familiar to fishermen and weekend divers. For months, a small...

Woman kneels beside a dog in a travel crate on the tarmac near an airplane and luggage conveyor belt.

Why dogs still travel in aircraft holds despite the risks

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

For many animals, travelling in the hold is a genuine ordeal, and some do not survive it. So why does...

Woman in denim overalls fertilising tomato plants in a raised garden bed at home.

Tomatoes: Two Free Kitchen Fertilisers for More Fruit

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

The answer is often sitting in the compost caddy. Almost everyone growing vegetables or using balcony planters knows the situation:...

Person holding ripe peaches near a blossoming peach tree in a sunlit garden.

Peach Tree Care in Spring for Better Summer Fruit

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

The peach tree flowers early and offers little forgiveness for delays. From spring onwards, a few well-chosen actions determine the...

Young boy lying on the floor reading a book and petting a golden retriever in a bright living room.

Pet Dogs Could Improve Children’s Health Through Household Microbes

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Dogs have been considered ‘part of the family’ for millennia, and families are known to share their microbes. What, then,...

Two dolphins swimming underwater near fish and holding a seashell with sunlight filtering through water surface.

Dolphins Filmed Using Shells to Hunt Fish Off Queensland

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Dolphins off Queensland, Australia, have been filmed using an infrequently observed hunting method called ‘shelling’ to catch prey. Indo-Pacific bottlenose...