Natural compounds

Two billion years before we made history and split the atom, the Earth had already accomplished it and was running its own nuclear reactors. And they operated for hundreds of thousands of years, as the first signs of multicellular life emerged.

They may be better known for stir-fries than supercomputing, but shiitake mushrooms have now been harnessed to function as living processors, storing and recalling data like a semiconductor chip but with almost no environmental footprint.

The humble henna plant, famed for its vibrant dye, could hold the key to healing scarred livers. In a new study, researchers have found that its active compound, lawsone, may stop and even reverse liver fibrosis.

A humble kitchen spice could pack a powerful antiviral punch. Researchers have found that compounds in cardamom seeds can trigger the body’s virus-detecting systems, potentially paving the way for natural cold and flu treatments.