TIL that in 1916, a conman called Sir Edmund Backhouse, claiming to be working for the Chinese government, sold the UK six (non-existent) battleships and an (imaginary) flotilla-load of rifles.

[since originally being published on Reddit, the resource in question has been moved to http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-30513]

Welcome to Opal, new gems

I just wanted to wave a welcome to the new folks joining us in the gemstones over the last seven…

Urban birds sing at higher pitch than rural ones to help song carry further, research shows.

Birds that sing their songs at a higher pitch help them travel further in built-up areas. Previously it was thought…

"The Law You Won't Be Told" - jury nullification explained [4:30]