Spinach's reputation as a "superfood" just got a high-tech boost. A team at MIT has discovered that aside from being part of a healthy diet, spinach can actually be employed as a research assistant - capable of sending email and alerting us to key changes in the environment.

A new research project is looking into whether there's scientific truth behind a long-held, but as yet untested, belief - that animals are able to sense imminent earthquakes. These new insights might be able to help us predict earthquakes in the future, set up early warning systems and ultimately limit their damage.

Armed with simple sensors and open source data, a pioneering new EU-backed project hopes to help NGOs, governments and local citizens make urban areas healthier and safer places to live.