Our Freedom: Then and Now explores what freedom means to Brits, 80 years after the second world war
Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, Our Freedom: Then and Now is a nationwide photography project exploring how communities understand freedom. The show opened at London’s Southbank Centre in April and is now touring the UK. This exhibition offers an alternative perspective to the idea that this is currently […]
Who is calling the shots in Iran?
Following the last round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Iran’s foreign minister and negotiator Abbas Araghchi declared in a post on X on April 17 that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open”. This came after he also signalled that his government could be flexible over the issue of nuclear […]
Alzheimer’s drugs offer little benefit, major review finds – and the reasons go deeper than the science
PeopleImages/Shutterstock.com How is it possible to spend tens of billions of dollars developing drugs to treat a serious disease that affects millions of people, and yet end up with something that does not work? This is a mystery that has bedevilled Alzheimer’s research for years. A new review of the evidence has concluded that the […]
Why understanding autism means looking beyond spoken language – two autistic researchers of communication explain
The idea of the “autism spectrum” is widely used in diagnosis, education and public discussion. First developed by the psychiatrist Lorna Wing in the 1980s, the term was intended to reflect the wide range of autistic experiences and needs. But a growing body of research is questioning whether the concept still helps us understand autistic […]
How school grades can affect mental health – particularly for girls
LightField Studios/Shutterstock Schools increasingly rely on testing, grading and performance accountability. In England, Ofsted inspections and school league tables sharpen the focus on measurable performance. Similar developments have taken place in Sweden, where repeated reforms have introduced earlier and more detailed assessments. Performance-driven school environments shape young people’s wellbeing. Yet despite frequent reforms to evaluation […]
Golden eagles in England? Here’s the ecological case for bringing them back
England’s last recorded pair of golden eagles lived in the Lake District. After the female died in 2004, the male was left alone for 12 years before his death in 2016. This marked the end of golden eagles across English skies. Though they have lived on in Scotland, the birds were largely wiped out across […]
The fake disease that fooled the internet — and what it says about all of us
Damn! It looks like I’ve got bixonimania! monshtein/Shutterstock.com Until a few years ago, no one had heard of bixonimania. Then, in 2024, a group of scientists posted findings online announcing the condition, which they claimed affected the eyes after computer use. However, the scientists had made it up – not just the work, but the […]
The 10 pence pill that underpins diabetes care – and may do much more besides
pimpampix/Shutterstock Metformin has a strong claim to being one of the most influential medicines of the past century. For decades, it has underpinned the treatment of type 2 diabetes, helped millions of people control their blood sugar, and inspired a second life in research on everything from ageing and cancer to heart health and fertility. […]
Five books about the lives of musicians that are stonking good reads
This year is the national year of reading, and if you’re a music lover, I urge you to pick one up about your favourite musician. The lives of musicians are often full of highs and lows, which makes for compelling reading. Here are five of my favourites. 1. Fight The Power by Chuck D I […]
The old adage that people leave managers, not companies is true – but only up to a point
Meeko Media/Shutterstock It has been said that “people leave managers, not companies”. It’s easy to believe that this is true, either from personal experience or observation. Many workers can easily point to a line manager who dismissed their concerns or treated them unfairly. But is it really fair to suggest that managers alone are the […]