USA at 250: the Black American struggle for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, there is a tension between those who want to remember an uncomplicated past and those who would remember that freedom is a constant struggle. It’s a right that must be fought for and defended. And amid all the hoop-la over the celebrations, the nation risks forgetting that […]
Your summer fiction reading list: five of the best reads of 2026 so far, according to our experts
The best summer companion is a good book. This year has already given us some truly brilliant ones making it really hard to whittle down the best. But no matter what your tastes are, we have you covered. These novels range from historical fiction to gripping crime drama. From 1800s Ireland, to 1930s Taiwan, to […]
How an El Niño becomes a super El Niño
El Niño has begun and forecasters predict a more than 60% chance that the naturally occurring phenomenon could become a very strong, or super El Niño later in 2026. El Niño begins with warmer water in the Pacific Ocean near the equator and can have a cascade of dramatic effects on the world’s weather. But […]
Why the UK government needed to apologise for its role in historic forced adoptions in England
Mid-century attitudes to childbirth varied hugely between married and unmarried women. Imperial War Museums British prime minister Keir Starmer has apologised in the House of Commons for historical forced adoptions in England. Mothers and adult adoptees directly affected by these practices were present in the gallery. In his apology Starmer praised their courage and resilience […]
Smartphones are helping filmmakers tell the stories the movie industry overlooks
When my feature documentary Motherboard was released, I was in my late 50s. I had filmed it over 20 years, on five generations of smartphones, documenting the pain, joy and comedy of raising my son Jim alone. When I became pregnant at 38, I found myself single and broke. I was working long hours as […]
Immigration and asylum bill: why yet another attempt to overhaul the system won’t work
The UK government’s immigration and asylum bill puts forward a number of proposals to overhaul the asylum system. These include changes to how human rights are interpreted, and requiring refugees to pay back some of the support they receive. If passed, it will be the fifth immigration act adopted since 2022. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood […]
State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’
Vladimir Putin has finally acknowledged that Ukraine’s relentless drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure are having an effect. Speaking to the ruling United Russia party on June 28, the Russian president confirmed that his country is facing “a certain shortage” of fuel and that “strikes on our infrastructure sites are creating problems”. In fact, the […]
Confessions II: why Madonna still matters
Every time she releases a new album, journalists and social media commentary insist that Madonna is over. They are usually, eventually, proven wrong. This debate has emerged again now Madonna is on the promotional circuit for her new album Confessions II. Despite the positive response to the music released so far, she is drawing controversy […]
The Bayeux tapestry and the hidden history of the women who embroidered it
The Bayeux tapestry and a medieval illustration of a woman weaving. BL Royal 20 C V, f. 30v, illuminated manuscript/Wiki Commons/Canva For the first time in nearly 1,000 years, the Bayeux tapestry is returning to Britain. The 70-metre embroidery will be displayed at the British Museum from September. The tapestry depicts the Norman Conquest of […]
Comet from another star has a composition unlike anything else in our solar system
An image of 3I/Atlas from the Hubble telescope shows the teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust emanating from its solid, icy nucleus. NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) Astronomers have revealed new details about the make-up and age of a visiting comet that was born around a distant star. They conclude that the […]