Why climate scientists need to talk more about the very worst-case scenarios
London is under water. The Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Bank of England are all submerged. Far away, the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets have collapsed, triggering accelerated sea level rise which, combined with a storm surge in the North Sea and a high spring tide, has led to […]
The mystery behind what killed Botticelli’s muse: has a 550-year-old medical case been solved?
Sandro Botticelli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Simonetta Vespucci is probably one of the most painted women of the Italian Renaissance. Sandro Botticelli is widely believed to have used her as his model for Venus, and she appears, transformed and idealised, across several of his most famous works. She died in 1476, aged just 23. […]
Himalayan snowfall has been miscalculated for years, here’s how we found a new way to measure it
Researchers developed a new way to measure snowfall which will help communities plan on how to use and capture water. Evgeni Fabisuk/Shutterstock Mountain snow and meltwater from glaciers in the Himalayas determine how much water is available for drinking, farming and hydropower for millions of people in India, Pakistan, Nepal, China and Afghanistan. This is […]
Heatwaves: how to close the UK’s cooling divide
Some countries have legal maximum temperatures for workers. Magic Lens/Shutterstock Adapting to intense heat is not a choice but a necessity. Thousands of people – up to 440 per day – lost their lives prematurely during the record-breaking May and June heatwaves in England and Wales. With maximum temperatures reaching 36.7°C, schools have been closed, […]
What watching people restock their cupboards tells us about aesthetics and authenticity on social media
Faithie/Shutterstock There are few things a good influencer can’t turn into engaging content. Social media has made even the smallest aspects of our daily lives entertaining and “aesthetic”. Viral trends have developed around what we might consider boring, mundane tasks, such as restocking the refrigerator or cupboards. In a recent paper, we explored the appeal […]
Why the US economy stays strong even when its policies shock the rest of the world
A container ship entering a port in New York City. MikeDotta / Shutterstock The US economy is continuing to grow faster and generate more new jobs than Europe. Annual national income growth over the past five years has averaged 3.3% in the US against 2.6% in the EU. In the first quarter of 2026, the […]
How sports stars can also be influential climate leaders
Extreme heat has become one of sport’s toughest opponents. This summer’s Fifa World Cup has once again raised concerns about players competing in dangerous temperatures. But football is far from alone. Tennis players have battled through extreme heat at Grand Slam tournaments. Marathon races have been cancelled because of soaring temperatures. Wildfire smoke has disrupted […]
Why power banks in hold luggage pose such a risk on holiday flights
Skrypnykov Dmytro / Shutterstock Airline passengers are being warned not to pack power banks in their hold luggage ahead of the summer holiday travel period. Devices with rechargeable batteries, like mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches can be plugged into power banks on the go, where charging sockets may not be available. However, power banks […]
Medieval plague survivors left us graffiti, court records and a lesson for COVID
Graffiti inscription about the Black Death at St Mary’s church, Ashwell Jack1956/Wikipedia, CC BY Memories of pandemics are often contentious. They can be disputed, uncomfortable and politically charged. As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to feel more distant, governments, communities and families have started asking how it should be remembered. Efforts range from personal memorials for […]
This is what Andy Burnham’s devolution plans need to consider – expert panel
The clearest of Andy Burnham’s proposed policies is introducing greater levels of devolution – the handing over of more power from Westminster to regional and local authorities. Our experts explain the upcoming challenges, and potential solutions, if Burnham presses ahead with this policy. What will Burnham’s key challenge be? Michael Kenny, Professor of Public Policy, […]