Health spa holidays: energy and meditation in Switzerland

The natural powers at the Sass da Grüm wellness retreat in Switzerland give our writer the chance to tap into a world of calm

Plus: healthy holidays in Portugal and England

Prototype of world’s first microchip goes up for auction at $1,000,000

Designed by Jack Kilby and built by Tom Yeargan, the chip is made not from silicon, but germanium

Vertical Veg man: six of the best edible flowers

Continuing our series about growing food on balconies, patios and
window sills, the VV man gets a taste for edible florals

The strange science behind design: materials from unusual sources

From clothing made from crab compounds to recycled blue jeans worked into your Ford Fusion, innovation in textile manufacture and design is getting weirder – and more sustainable

Game of Thrones hits the high street: dressing Cersei style

If you secretly long to dress like a Queen of Westeros – or Little Red Riding Hood – your moment has arrived

Ibiza unites against oil prospectors

The waters surrounding the Balearic party island are a world heritage site – and conservationists, politicians and tourist chiefs are adamant that plans to drill in the sea must be stopped