The latest research has revealed that at one point, our planet would have resembled a huge snowball, covered in ice. And in another era, volcanic eruptions wiped out 75 per cent of species on land. Ominously, we’re long overdue another Earth-changing event. So what should we be bracing ourselves for?

Synthetic life

We’re on the verge of being able to create new life from scratch. Professor Julian Savulescu explains why we need to start playing God.

Happy geneday

It’s now 10 years since we completed the rough draft of the human genome, so we take a look at some of the more surprising findings we’ve made since then. Think it’s our genes that make us unique? Think again.

Return to sender

Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa has just returned to Earth carrying specks of dust from a distant asteroid. We look at what we might learn from this and the other missions that will return samples from space.

PLUS

We go behind the scenes as the next fleet of British nuclear subs are built

3D TV has arrived – should you swap your telly now or wait?

Q&A: What will happen to all the oil from the US spill? How far away is the horizon? Why does shampoo make your eyes sting? Why do fish float when they die?