Hayley Bennett

Hayley is a science writer and (sustainably sourced) fish finger sandwich fan, based in Bristol, UK.

Recent articles by Hayley Bennett

Illustration showing a doctor, DNA and an arm with a bad scar on it

Scientists are now closer than ever to scarless healing

Healing a wound without leaving a scar is something we could all do while in the womb. But unlocking this ability after birth has proven impossible. Until now…

Collagen powder

Here's the skincare advice collagen experts wish more people knew

A victim of advertising embarks on a journey to understand the true benefits of products that promise to boost her collagen

A woman rubs banana peel on her face

Should we be getting banana facials?

While TikTok influencers extol its virtues, this is what the experts think of the banana facial

Illustration of a plant with leaves that look like hands, insects are flying around it and a series of dots are on its pot

Can plants count?

Plants can't count exactly like humans do, but scientists agree that they're capable of some very clever things

Photo of Stonehenge

Are there any other Stonehenges?

Stonehenge is one of many ancient stone circles dotted around the world, in Japan, Australia and even the US

Walking shoes on a forest path

Here’s the single easiest and most effective exercise for weight loss

It turns out this low-effort exercise is underrated for cutting fat – and for your overall health

Photo of two statin drugs on a piece of paper showing a heart scan.

Here's what you need to know if you take statins to lower your cholesterol

Statin use is already widespread and is increasing every year. But are the drugs right for everyone?

A huge glacier towers above a small red boat in the ocean.

This 'Doomsday Glacier' is melting faster than anyone thought. Now Earth's biggest cities are in danger

Antarctic expeditions and outlandish geoengineering schemes hope to slow sea level rise... but it might be too late

Piglets in a barn

US meat could soon be gene-edited. Here’s what that means

Genetically modified pork could be hogging space on your plate next year. But is it truly safe, or something to squeal about?

Yet, it’s easy to dismiss theories of fungal intelligence and consciousness as eccentric, but perhaps instead it’s worth exploring what’s driving the theories. Often it’s a desire to make organisms that seem almost alien to us more relatable. Giving a species human characteristics can, in some cases, persuade us to protect them. In the case of the wood wide web, however, some scientists are now arguing that the theory has gone too far. The idea that trees communicate with each other via fungal networks is being stated as fact, when the truth is that the evidence for it remains thin. Similarly, defining fungi as conscious under current definitions seems premature and could interfere with conservation efforts. On the other hand, if you change the definition, you can say what you like. But why bother? “We don’t need human characteristics to think about how cool fungi are,” says Stokes, whose own research focuses on the poisonous ‘death cap’ mushroom.

Fungi could be conscious. Here's what that means

New research on fungi suggests they could be demonstrating some form of intelligence, but not all experts are convinced.

vagus nerve illustration

Why protecting your vagus nerve is key to optimal mental health

It's the body’s information superhighway that tells your organs how to rest.

Vaping vapour.

Is smoking or vaping worse for you? It depends who’s asking

Research suggests vaping is one of the best ways to help smokers quit the habit. But that doesn’t mean it’s a harmless alternative to smoking

Retired couple smiling at the beach.

How to keep your mind and body sharp in retirement: 5 lessons from the world's best studies

Expert-backed tips for the best post-work life

A Spider-like figure in the Nazca Lines

How we're about to solve the world’s greatest archaeological puzzle

Artificial intelligence is helping archaeologists unlock Earth’s oldest secrets.

Balding man holding head.

Balding cure: We may finally have a simple way to reverse hair loss

More than half of men and millions of women are affected by hair loss. It causes low self-esteem in some and anxiety in others. Thankfully, scientists around the world are getting to the roots of the problem with pioneering new treatments.

A lungfish swimming through water

How mucus kept this air-breathing eel hidden from scientists for 30 years

The lungfish isn't like other fish... for one key reason.

A group of white clouds in the sky

Could marine cloud brightening help us fight climate change?

Is the future of keeping Earth cool floating above us?

A beach with turquoise waters crashing onto the shore. I riptide can be seen going out to sea.

How do you escape a riptide?

You really don't want to get caught in one of these.

An ear with sound waves going into it.

What genre of music makes you most productive?

Read this before making your revision playlist.

Fruit and veg in a bag.

In terms of our carbon footprint, is it really better to eat freshly sourced, locally grown food?

Off to the farmers market we go.

Photo of two scientists monitoring an underwater forest sample in Ningaloo Reef.

Earth's underwater forests are under threat. Here are the ingenious ways they could be saved

Seagrasses, corals and kelp are crucial to Australia’s marine ecosystems. But they are under pressure. With the help of communities and traditional knowledge, scientists are striving to restore these underwater forests to protect carbon stocks and marine wildlife