Venezuela earthquakes add tragic new layer to the country’s humanitarian crisis
Venezuela has a well-documented vulnerability to earthquakes. The country sits on the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, resulting in routine tremors and causing historical earthquake disasters. But the experience of a “doublet”, a pair of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes 40 seconds apart, on June 24 was a rare misfortune. From an […]
Robin Hood was often far more violent than modern legend – but he wasn’t the most extreme medieval outlaw
Two deaths related to Robin Hood have put the fictional medieval outlaw in the news recently. The release of The Death of Robin Hood featuring Hugh Jackman as the titular hero has coincided with the sad news of the death of the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, the tree that legend has it was one […]
Autistic people aren’t afraid of genetic research – they are afraid of what scientists might do with it
Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com When my colleagues and I asked autistic people and parents of autistic children in Sweden how they feel about genetic research in autism, one response stood out: “I hope genetic research finds new ways to help us, not erase us.” It captures a tension that has shaped debates about autism genetic research for years. […]
Investigative interviews are key to solving crimes – should AI be helping police with their inquiries?
Dabarti CGI/Shutterstock Investigative interviewing – the process of obtaining accurate and complete accounts from victims, witnesses and suspects – is the lifeblood of the criminal justice system. When a crime occurs, someone usually knows something. But the way a police interview is conducted doesn’t simply determine whether information is obtained. It shapes the reliability and […]
Three ways climate action can be more inclusive for 1.3 billion disabled people
An empty wheelchair represents the “empty chair” and missing representation in climate change negotiations. Bubbers BB/Shutterstock Imagine a global political summit that shapes the future of our planet where one of the most populated countries in the world does not have a voice? This may seem unlikely, but currently 1.3 billion disabled people (nearly the […]
The Titanic ‘curse’ and the forgotten fearless life of the captain’s daughter
A recreation of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. meunierd/Shutterstock A supposedly unsinkable ship, an iceberg and a catastrophe that circulates through popular culture – the Titanic disaster is one of the most retold events in modern history. But familiarity comes at a cost. Repeated retellings tend to simplify what happened and reduce the real […]
New Alzheimer’s drugs offer hope for some, but good dementia care protects the humanity of those they cannot help
Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock Disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s offer a meaningful glimpse of hope for many people who fear dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but dementia itself is an umbrella term for symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and changes in thinking. Unlike older dementia drugs, which help with symptoms but do […]
Cracks in European unity emerge over Ukraine and security
When Donald Trump signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Versailles on June 17 after the G7 summit, it dominated the headlines around the world. This is no more than you’d expect. The 60-day ceasefire, which – despite a few wobbles – appears to be largely holding in both Iran and southern Lebanon, was a […]
A healthy diet may still make a difference for people at higher risk of dementia
Brain changes that can eventually lead to dementia may begin many years before anyone notices symptoms such as memory problems, missed appointments or difficulty finding words. This is where blood biomarkers are becoming important. Biomarkers are measurable signs of biological activity in the body. In dementia research, some blood biomarkers can give clues about biological […]
How installation art can make plastic waste more tangible
Science tells us that plastic lives forever. From oceans to urban streets, plastic pollution has become a defining geological marker of our time – entangled with nature, yet often hard to see. While we often measure plastic pollution in tonnage of microplastics, those numbers can feel abstract. The reality is more immediate: plastic is everywhere […]