Why the lion grew its mane : a miscellany of recent scientific discoveries from astronomy to zoology

A leopard that changed its spots, a substance just one atom thick, an invisibility cloak, and a creature that sees with its feet.

They all sound too far fetched to be true but are in fact just some of the recent discoveries from the real-life world of science.

What is it about a lion's mane that tells the females if they're looking at the cream of the pride?

Why is there a hole in the Earth's crust and are volcanoes still erupting on the moon?

Did Hobbits really exist, could genetic engineering hold the key to eradicating malaria and how are cricket bats helping to secure the future of the koala bear?

These and many other modern mysteries are questions that are being tackled and unravelled by scientists today.

Science comes in many guises but from the study of animal behaviour to the creation of batteries powered by tree sap, it is constantly making new discoveries about the world around us.

Whatever the fields being investigated, the research provides intriguing and thought-provoking insights into the creation of the universe, how life functions, what came before us and what the future holds. Animals past and present, humans and their ancestors, distant galaxies, medicine, and future technologies are among the topics covered to show that the world and the rest of the universe remain fascinating places full of questions to be answered.

In clear and straightforward language, this book offers a lively anthology of discoveries concerning Neanderthal menus, giant dragonflies, exploding stars and many more. And, of course, it explores what a mane means to a lion.