High infant formula milk prices are putting babies at risk
CameraCraft/Shutterstock We have all seen an increase in the cost of our food shop over the last few years. In March 2023, food price inflation in the UK hit a record peak of 19.1%. But price rises for infant formula milk have been steeper still. Infant formula, which was already expensive, rose by an average […]
Iran oil spill: the war is leaving environmental scars that ceasefires cannot heal
The mangrove forests of Qeshm Island off the coast of southern Iran. Nmarandi / Shutterstock Oil slicks moving along Iran’s southern coast have reached the Hara mangrove forests of Qeshm Island. Iranian authorities say the extent of the contamination is still being assessed and the source of the oil pollution has not yet been established. […]
Want to support Ukraine? Read its books
Since 2013, Vladimir Putin has argued that Ukrainians and Russians are “one people”. It’s an attempt to erase Ukrainian identity, part of an assault that has been ongoing for centuries. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has regularly targeted Ukraine’s cultural institutions and publishing ecosystem. This summer alone, Russian attacks have destroyed nearly 10 […]
Eight in ten adults track their own health – new survey
Enrique Micaelo/Shutterstock.com Before breakfast, you may already have checked your sleep score, resting heart rate or blood oxygen level. By bedtime, you might look at your step count, stress score or even an estimate of your biological age. For millions of people, keeping tabs on health and wellbeing has become almost as routine as checking […]
An astronomer on what it’s really like to stargaze for a living
metamorworks/Shutterstocl Jodie Foster tearing up a dirt road, yelling stellar coordinates into a walkie-talkie à la the 1997 sci-fi film Contact. Control rooms alive with a cacophony of “enhance that signal”. Real-time discovery. That’s what I pictured when my PhD supervisor told me I’d be going observing at a telescope. Cut to 2am on top […]
Extreme weather is making work difficult for many people – this is what needs to change
Extreme temperatures have led to some workers being forced to take sick leave. Dragon Images We have experienced several heatwaves in the UK this summer, and workers suffering from heat stress is among the biggest causes of weather-related sick leave here. Very high temperatures can cause symptoms like heat rashes and cramps, or even exhaustion […]
Hosepipe bans make climate change more tangible – but restrictions can provoke resistance
S_Photo/Shutterstock Drought is affecting almost three-quarters of England and around 27 million people are under water use restrictions or hosepipe bans. When a hosepipe ban comes into force, it does something that decades of climate summits and net zero targets have struggled to do. It makes climate change personal. Psychologists call this a reduction in […]
The 18th-century British artists who turned India into a picturesque fantasy
Bengal Village Scene by George Chinnery (1819-1821). Birmingham Museums Trust In 1825, English artist George Chinnery left Calcutta for Macau, chased away by his disgruntled wife Marianne and his creditors. He’d been based in India for the past 23 years, having previously lived in Hyderabad and Dacca. Besides running a debt of around 30,000 rupees […]
Andy Burnham has started to help the night economy, but must do more
Prime Minister Andy Burnham cut business rates for pubs and clubs Xavier Lorenzo Andy Burnham has spoken up for Britain’s nightlife, but he needs to think much bigger. The new PM has already given Britain’s struggling nightlife businesses something to celebrate. His government cut business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues by 20%, part […]
Why children often eat less in hot weather – and when parents should worry
Sylvie Pabion Martin/Shutterstock If your child suddenly starts picking at meals during a spell of hot weather, it can be unsettling. But a smaller appetite for a few days can be a normal response to heat, particularly if your child is drinking well, has their usual energy and seems otherwise healthy. Research directly examining heat […]