“The government’s official experts on illegal drugs have been asked to look at whether intelligence-enhancing drugs, such as those used by students to boost performance in exams, should be banned.”

The Guardian reports on the latest in the cognitive enhancers debate in the UK.

“There is no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs.”

Researchers report on a major meta-analysis of food in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (related news article from the Times).

“The blood is pale green and rather acrid smelling. I couldn’t bring myself to actually taste it fresh but it leaves an acidy, tobacco-like taste on your fingers if you do not wash it off.”

Bill Bateman, of the University of Pretoria in South Africa, has been researching the armoured ground cricket, which defends itself by squirting out toxic blood (BBC).

“It’s an irritant that causes them to try to come up to escape it. It works on other worms, so probably it’ll work on the Palouse.”

Jodi Johnson-Maynard, of the University of Idaho, tells Wired why mustard may help her catch specimens of the giant Palouse earthworm.

“Manufacturing is one of our biggest exports and it is growing, but it will only grow if we keep ahead, using our science based research.”

UK business secretary Lord Mandelson unveils £150m of support for high-tech manufacturing (Daily Mail).