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The peppered moth has long been taught in schools as an example of Darwinian Natural selection happening almost on human timescales. In 19th century industrial Britain, soot on trees caused a mutation in the genes that regulated the wing colour to briefly thrive. Birds ate the unfortunate typical lighter coloured ones, while the mutant black ones were better camouflaged. Until that is, the clean air act allowed the older, typical coloured one to return in numbers. For the first time, scientists have now identified the genetic goings-on that underpin this classic case. And even better, they suggest the single original mutation in an individual moth occurred just when one might have expected – sometime around 1819. The two papers were published in the journal Nature, one identifying the gene at the heart of the moth wing pattern, the other identifying the mutation, which arose during the industrial revolution. Roland Pease spoke to the author of that second paper, Ilic Sackiery, and to evolutionary biologist Jim Mallett, at Harvard University.

The Argus Project
A wearable exo-suit with dozens of surveillance cameras embedded to act as a citizens’ version of the police body camera is The Argus Project response to police brutality in the USA. The project poses the question: what happens when the watched becomes the watcher? Lauren Hutchinson reports from New York on the project designed to empower citizens to exercise their right to bear witness.

Pluto's 'Beating Heart' Explained
The spectacular flat landscape that dominates the left side of Pluto's icy "heart" can now be explained, say scientists. Sputnik Planum is the most prominent feature on the diminutive world, covering 900,000 square km. Broken into an array of polygons, it is devoid of any impact craters. Reporting in the journal Nature, the researchers say that roiling cells of nitrogen ice remove any blemishes, maintaining a super-smooth appearance. Bill McKinnon of Washington University explains the finding to Jonathan Amos.

Gut Microbes and Mental Health
The impact of gut bacteria on our cardiovascular system and metabolism has been well-researched. But how about the effect on our minds? Scientists are examining the possibility that these bacteria might influence our moods. John Cryan, Professor of Anatomy and Neuroscience at University College Cork, has just published a review of the current state of the field in the journal Genome Medicine. So could we see a day when certain gut bacteria are used in the treatment of depression and anxiety? Claudia Hammond brought together John Cryan with Phil Burnett, a neuroscientist working with psychiatrists at the University of Oxford.

The Neglected Sense
We may fear going blind, deaf or dumb, but few of us worry about losing our olfactory senses. And yet more than 200,000 people in the UK are anosmic - they cannot smell. Kathy Clugston is anosmic and gives a first-hand account of the condition. She sets out on a personal mission to discover why she cannot smell.

Boredom
Boredom is boring – but could it be good for us? Psychologist Sandi Mann, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, tells Claudia Hammond that boredom can make us more creative.

(Photo caption: A mating pair of peppered moths © AFP Photo/Nature /Institute of Integrative Biology/University of Liverpool/Ilik Saccheri)

The Science Hour was presented by Gareth Mitchell with comments from ´óÏó´«Ã½ Science reporter Jonathan Webb

Editor: Deborah Cohen