A couple grow their own furniture. Another artist polishes metal to a mirror sheen. A third collaborates with insects. Together, they are redefining craft. Ori Orisun, a materials researcher, at her ...

In cacti across South America, thousands of tiny bugs known as cochineal beetles can be found. These bugs feed on the plant, consume its juice, and then, in many cases, are killed by humans to make ...

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Cheesecake lovers are in for a treat, ...

Thomas Edison had an encyclopedic memory, and by the early 1920s, he had become increasingly frustrated by the fact that college graduates applying to work for him didn’t have a wealth of knowledge ...

Shellac is a refined version of lac, a resin secreted by lac insects. Coveted for its binding abilities and glossy appearance, the material is present in a range of personal care products and ...

For years, despite writing about beauty for a living, my nails were permanently neglected. I’d occasionally get a gel manicure for a wedding or a work trip, but because my schedule was often – shall ...

Have you ever glanced at the ingredient list on your favorite snack and noticed the phrase “natural flavors”? It sounds wholesome, right? But what if I told you that some of these so-called natural ...

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or ...

If the arthropods ever decide to hire a spokesman to work with homo sapiens, there's a pretty good chance that Barrett Klein will be on the shortlist. Not only has the University of Wisconsin-La ...