Why humans care so much about body odour, and what it really tells us
Microgen/Shutterstock Humans spend a great deal of time trying to smell good. We wash, deodorise and perfume our bodies daily, suggesting body odour must matter. Yet scientifically, the picture is far less straightforward. In the animal world, smell is a powerful communication tool. Many species use scent to signal readiness to mate, mark territory or […]
Heatwaves are destroying the sex lives of bees – new research
A red mason bee seeking pollen. Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock There is not yet much research on the effects of heatwaves on bees. What little there is focuses on super extremes of weather that would kill an adult bee. However, my new research with colleagues shows that UK populations of solitary bees may be much more […]
They ‘showed me a lot of love’: why young men seeking belonging join gangs
DubstepWar/Shutterstock The government has published plans for “once-in-a-generation” reform of youth justice in England and Wales. The reforms are billed as a blueprint for earlier intervention, more targeted support and addressing the root causes of youth crime. It’s welcome that the proposals recognise how many children in the youth justice system have grown up with […]
‘AI needs to be disarmed’: Pope Leo sees threat to humanity in technological arms race
In the first landmark publication of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has addressed recent advances in artificial intelligence by focusing on the threat it poses to workers, social justice and “the dignity of persons”. Presenting his first papal encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”), at the Vatican on May 25, Leo declared: “Artificial intelligence needs to […]
Ageing with purpose: the surprising science of frailty reversal
siro46/Shutterstock Some of the most powerful interventions to slow or improve frailty are also the most ordinary: regular movement, adequate nutrition and meaningful social connection. It almost sounds too simple for a condition now recognised as one of the strongest predictors of hospitalisation, disability, poor recovery from illness or surgery, nursing home admission and death […]
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 […]