Britain’s quarter century: crime falls, sea-levels rise and education yet to recover from COVID
In this fifth part in our series on how the UK has changed in the past 25 years, we look at crime, education, transport, energy and the environment. Crime and policing Graham Farrell, professor of crime science, University of Leeds Toby Davies, associate professor in criminal justice data analytics, University of Leeds Contrary to many […]
What children worry about when they start secondary school – and how to support them
Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Moving from primary to secondary school can evoke a range of emotions, from excitement and anticipation to uncertainty and anxiety. It is an important rite of passage: many children look forward to the new opportunities, experiences and greater independence that secondary school offers. For some, it represents a chance to leave behind the familiarity […]
A ‘super El Niño’ could make India’s monsoon drier yet more dangerous
India is currently in the middle of its summer monsoon, but this year’s rainfall presents an interesting paradox. Much of the country has received less rain than usual so far, yet has still been hit by severe floods and landslides. In the southern state of Kerala, for example, devastating floods occurred despite the overall monsoon […]
Latest sanctions on Iran risk strengthening Tehran and undermining US credibility
The United States has announced its latest plan to put maximum economic pressure on Iran. Launching “Operation Economic Outcast” on August 24, the US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said the plan would involve the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran. The US objective is ambitious. To economically isolate Tehran, punish countries that continue trading with […]
$40 trillion debt balloon is a warning sign for US economy and the world
US national debt has passed a record US$40 trillion (£29.4 trillion). This milestone is a major warning sign. It reveals vulnerabilities that threaten the long-term economic stability of the US and the rest of the world. The speed of US debt accumulation is staggering. US national debt first reached $1 trillion in 1941 and, after […]
How much sleep do I need? Why you can forget the eight-hour sleep rule
Mafi R/Shutterstock.com For decades, the answer to “how much sleep does an adult need?” has been simple: eight hours. The idea dates back to the mid-19th century when the notion of eight hours of work, eight for recreation and eight for sleep first took hold. But growing evidence suggests that eight hours may not be […]
The real reasons you procrastinate – and how to stop, according to science
DimaBerlin/Shutterstock Faced with a task or project, do you repeatedly tell yourself that you’ll do it “tomorrow”, “soon”, or “after watching just a few more videos”? If so, as someone who has studied the science of procrastination for years, I can reassure you that you are not alone. Around 20% of adults procrastinate regularly. Those […]
The brain isn’t hardwired to read – here’s how we pull it off and why some are better at it than others
For an experienced reader, recognising the words on this page feels effortless. Yet, evolutionarily speaking, your brain shouldn’t be able to read. Reading has existed for too short a time to have shaped a dedicated centre in the brain. Therefore, the brain has to learn to read using systems that evolved for other purposes. But […]
Volodymyr Zelensky’s other war: Ukraine’s endless struggle with corruption
Ukraine celebrated this year’s independence day on August 24 in the presence of key allies and amid the unfolding of another major corruption scandal. It all started when Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s defence minister until his dismissal as part of a government reshuffle last month, posted a nine-minute video on August 19 that was widely seen […]
The ‘wonder material’ graphene can be made using a kitchen blender, a mobile phone and a newspaper
There is something slightly ridiculous about using a kitchen blender to make graphene. This is, after all, the “wonder material” associated with futuristic technologies. You might reasonably expect its production to involve equally futuristic equipment. Often, it does. Producing graphene in liquid form can rely on purified graphite (better known to many as the “lead” […]