Ancient Egyptian princesses weren’t just figureheads – their weapons reveal lives of skill and strength
This dagger was found in the coffin of the tomb of Princess Ita, a daughter of Amenemhat II of the 12th Dynasty of Egypt. De Young Museum, San Francisco, CC BY For centuries, the image of the ancient Egyptian princess has been shaped by ideas of ceremony, beauty and royal privilege. But a new scientific […]
Why the Commonwealth Games are such an important platform for para sport
England’s Mark Swan celebrates a lift during the men’s para powerlifting at the Birmingham games in 2022. hairul_nizam/Shutterstock The Commonwealth Games, being staged this year in Glasgow, hold para events in the same place and at the same time as the general competition. Not only does this give equal opportunity to all athletes, but it […]
Shere Hite: the woman who changed the narrative on the female orgasm in the 1970s
In 1976, a Playboy model turned feminist sex-researcher called Shere Hite did hundreds of television and radio appearances promoting her book, The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality. She went on Good Night America dressed in a high-necked Victorian white silk blouse, huge faux-pearl earrings and matching necklace, her face framed by a […]
How the BJP finally won in West Bengal after years of trying
With a population of more than 100 million, West Bengal is the fourth largest state in India. It has always been an important target for the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), but despite the electoral success of Narendra Modi’s party across the whole country in recent years, West Bengal always bucked the trend. Rather than […]
Harvey Nichols may be for sale, but it will always be an important part of UK fashion history
Constantly namedropped in Absolutely Fabulous – one of the sharpest and funniest sitcoms of the 1990s – London’s most iconic fashion department store is up for sale following a significant downturn in business over the last five years. Sadly, the retail pressures of a declining luxury goods market and the removal of VAT-free tourist shopping […]
Nasa’s new space telescope will tackle some of the universe’s biggest mysteries
The Nancy Grace Roman telescope could help answer some of the biggest cosmic questions. Nasa Nasa is about to launch a space observatory that could help settle some of the biggest mysteries in modern astronomy. The Nancy Grace Roman space telescope will study how the universe began, what it is made of and how it […]
Thinking about life inside: how performance is creating space for a discussion of crime and punishment
The informal role of prison philosopher is taken up by incarcerated people across the world. With time on their hands and a proximity to other people, systems of control and narratives of morality, people in prison are well positioned to practice philosophy. This is the terrain that Dennis Kelly’s six-part BBC television drama Waiting for […]
Putin under pressure but history tells us most Russian leaders die with their boots on
Russia’s war against Ukraine is not going according to Vladimir Putin’s original plan. The Russian president’s initial strategy called for the war to be won within ten days, but Ukraine’s spirited defence in the first months of the war robbed Russia of the initiative. Now, four and a half years later, the frontline inside Ukraine […]
Meet Likweli – the newly named monkey that hints at Congo’s hidden secrets
Colobus congensis, known locally as ‘likweli’, has a dramatic black face with pinkish-orange lips. Junior Amboko, CC BY-NC Hearing that a new primate species has been named is exciting news for scientists because primates across the world are in decline. According to the IUCN Red list, a global inventory of animal extinction risk, 44.4% of […]
Scuba divers underestimate how much damage they do to coral reefs – we’ve watched hundreds to find out why
A scuba diver resting on a reef in Leyte, Philippines. Bing Lin Scuba diving is often presented as a success story for marine ecotourism. Each year millions of people dive beneath the surface to experience coral reefs first-hand. Scuba diving generates income for coastal communities and helps people understand why coral reefs matter. But that […]