Does expensive oil still matter for the rise of electric cars? It might seem obvious that higher petrol prices would speed up the shift – and that cheaper oil could slow it down again.

But that link is weakening. Researchers at the LSE and the University of Birmingham say electric vehicles are becoming cheaper to own and easier to use regardless of oil prices, thanks to better batteries and charging networks. They say the transition is now being driven by deeper economic forces – which carry their own risks.

Claims that mouthwash wipes out “good” bacteria have gone viral on social media recently. In their telling, these bacteria are necessary to keep your heart healthy. We asked an expert to look at what the research actually says (spoiler: regular over-the-counter mouthwash poses minimal risk, but oral hygiene really is linked to cardiovascular health).

Archaeologists have discovered 12,000-year-old dice. They’re flat, two-sided objects that work a bit like a coin toss. Is it evidence of gambling, thousands of years earlier than previously recorded, or just our early ancestors having some fun? Experts are split.