Could sodium replace lithium as the dominant ingredient in batteries?
Mahir Asadli / Shutterstock The world we live in today runs on batteries. But the lithium ion batteries that dominate the market are expensive and environmentally demanding to extract. The raw materials for lithium ion batteries are scarce and concentrated in a few geographical regions. This places continued pressure on supply chains. Sodium-ion batteries are […]
John of John: weaving an island tale of secrets that lie beneath repression and shame
Fifty pages into John of John, Douglas Stuart’s atmospheric third novel, you can almost feel the cold, damp air of the fictional Hebridean village of Falabay, and come to recognise its brooding and eccentric inhabitants like old friends and neighbours. Through a microcosm of everyday island life, Stuart demonstrates his finely honed skill in exploring […]
The Enhanced Games: ‘dangerous clown show’ or a wake-up call for traditional sport?
Las Vegas has always had a reputation for doing things bigger, louder and glitzier than everyone else. On Sunday, May 24 2026 it continues that tradition when the inaugural Enhanced Games take place at a purpose-built entertainment centre at Resorts World, a giant hotel complex on the city’s famous strip. A one-day sports competition showcasing […]
How London, Paris and New York coped in the heatwaves of the past
Paris, London and New York are more often associated with culture, finance and history than with dangerous heat. Yet each summer all three are increasingly exposed to extreme temperatures they were never designed to withstand. Like many dense urban areas, they amplify heat through what is known as the “urban heat island effect”. This reflects […]
Is the US preparing for military action against Cuba? Expert Q&A
A US court filed criminal charges against Cuba’s 94-year-old former leader, Raúl Castro, on May 20. Castro has been charged with conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft. The charges relate to a 1996 incident in which four men were killed after Cuban fighter jets shot […]
Tuna has overtaken cod as the UK’s top-selling seafood – here’s why
Awesome, unexpected and unforgettable: a sudden bolt of silver as a tuna jumped clear of the sea. Nobody else saw it, and I (Angus Atkinson) almost thought I was hallucinating. But since I first saw one from a boat just off the south Devon coast ten years ago, Atlantic bluefin tuna have steadily increased in […]
Matt Brittin takes over as BBC director general – will the former Google exec’s tech world experience be right for the job?
The BBC started a new chapter on May 18 when Matt Brittin took over as director general. The former senior Google executive has come to the broadcaster at a time of profound change in both media and technology. While the worlds of media and big tech face different challenges, their corporate and competitive strategies are […]
Net migration and asylum claims have fallen – here’s what the latest figures tell us
1000 Words/Shutterstock The latest figures on immigration to the UK show a sharp decline in net migration, which is now at its lowest point since 2012, excluding the pandemic years. Data released by the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office covers the most recent changes in visas, small boat arrivals, asylum hotel use […]
How ‘zebra striping’ on a night out can help you drink less – and potentially avoid a hangover
‘Zebra striping’ involves alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Halfpoint/ Shutterstock On a typical night out, the rhythm of drinking can be hard to control. Rounds arrive quickly, glasses are topped up before they’re empty, and intentions to “take it slow” often dissolve by the second or third drink. If you’re not careful, you’ll find […]
Spying, Southampton and economic pressure cooker of the ‘richest match in football’
Football kit. beast01/Shutterstock In elite football, competitive advantage is pursued relentlessly. Big clubs invest heavily in performance data and tactical analysis in the pursuit of marginal gains. Yet that desperate search for gains has now led to one club, Southampton FC, suffering an enormous loss. Southampton admitted to spying on their opponent’s training session and […]