Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities – but a US-style Christian nationalism is lurking elsewhere
Polling company YouGov has thrown into question claims of a recent upsurge in church attendance among young adults. This has not surprised some experts, who cite evidence for the more conventional story of steep religious decline. If Christianity was once central to British society, that claim remains difficult to sustain in the 21st century. Church […]
How Iran cryptocurrency demands explain a key role of money throughout history
When Iran began demanding payment in exchange for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it offered the option to pay in cryptocurrency. Likewise, the shadowy network of tankers that have smuggled Russian oil to world markets since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have often been paid this way. Illicit actors the world […]
Loneliness can affect your memory – but that doesn’t mean it leads to dementia
Jelena Stanojkovic/Shutterstock.com Loneliness is something most of us will experience at some point. It is a normal emotion, not a character flaw. But it is also something that can quietly affect how we think and remember, and researchers have long debated whether it might even raise the risk of dementia. A new study, published in […]
Limited scrutiny of party claims in early Welsh election coverage – new analysis
With the Senedd (Welsh parliament) election campaign now under way, voters in Wales are beginning to see more political coverage across television, online and social media. Broadcasters have reported on manifesto launches and party messaging. But how far is this coverage helping voters understand what the parties are actually proposing? And how much of it […]
The V&A catalogue row shows China’s censorship now travels through cultural supply chains
The V&A in Kensington. Yau Ming Low/Shutterstock When people think about censorship, they often imagine an obvious ban: a book prohibited, an exhibition closed, or a speaker silenced. But the recent revelation that London’s Victoria and Albert Museum changed exhibition catalogues at the request of its Chinese printer points to something subtler. It suggests that […]
Is mouthwash bad for the heart? Here’s what the research actually says
Don’t give up your mouthwash just yet. years44/ Shutterstock Social media videos are claiming that mouthwash can raise risk of blood pressure – and potentially damage heart health. According to some of these videos, this is caused by mouthwash wiping out “good” oral bacteria that are important for the cardiovascular system. While it’s a striking […]
Departures: this stylish gay love story deftly balances darkness and whimsy
In her 1998 essay What’s a Good Gay Film?, film critic B. Ruby Rich considered what queer audiences were looking for. She wrote that queer cinema-goers were seeking “films of validation and a culture of affirmation: work that can reinforce identity, visualise respectability, combat injustice and bolster social status”. They were tired, she argued, of […]
‘I’m not a politician’: why the clash with Pope Leo could prove dangerous for Donald Trump
“I am not a politician; I speak of the Gospel.” Pope Leo XIV’s recent remarks, made during his apostolic journey to Africa, immediately suggest that his clash with Donald Trump operates on a different level to the US president’s usual political spats. This is not the classic kind of confrontation that Trump has often had […]
Akira returns to cinemas – why the legendary anime demands a rewatch
The classic 1988 anime Akira returns to cinema screens on April 17. Set in a dystopian neo-Tokyo, it is one of the few pieces of cyberpunk manga which has translated well onto the screen. Its ultimate message is disturbing: we are no better or worse than the elites who are using technology to dominate us. […]
From sunsets to the night sky: how technology can help you to notice nature in new ways
Northern Lights were spotted across the UK in 2024. Alyssa Glen/Shutterstock On a chilly yet beautifully clear evening last November, I sat on a video call with colleagues and happened to mention the live feed from the International Space Station – a real-time broadcast from onboard cameras as the station orbits earth. Several people hadn’t […]