The threat of a no-deal Brexit is causing staff at several universities in the UK to stockpile scientific equipment, including protective gloves and fly food, New Scientist has learned. Researchers say they want to ensure their experiments can continue should imports of materials be disrupted after the UK's planned exit from the European Union on 31 October. Giorgio Gilestro at Imperial College London says he and his colleagues have collected extra stores of the ingredients needed to make food for the thousands of fruit flies he uses in his experiments. "The yeast is produced in France and travels via Belgium. The agar is imported from Japan. Polenta comes from Italy and fructose from Belgium," he says.