Want to cut your energy bills? Here’s how five experts are doing it
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock Rising prices are putting pressure on people to try and use less energy. But what are the most effective ways of cutting bills? We asked five experts for their practical advice. 1. Insulate your home Upgrading loft insulation to current standards, typically 27–30cm thick for mineral wool, improves energy efficiency, comfort and […]
Why many of Hungary’s religious groups will be celebrating Viktor Orbán’s election loss
Hungary’s long-serving leader, Viktor Orbán, was dismissed on April 12 by an electorate fed up with his authoritarian rule. Péter Magyar led his Tisza party to a landslide victory, securing a two-thirds majority in parliament. This is enough for Tisza to elect members of Hungary’s highest court and even amend the constitution. Magyar has vowed […]
How accelerating evolution could help corals survive future heatwaves – new study
As global warming accelerates, extreme heatwaves are causing widespread death of tropical reef corals. Most corals rely on tiny algae cells living within their tissues that photosynthesise and produce energy. Corals use this energy to build their skeletons that create the reef structure. In our warming world, evolution of heatwave tolerance will be critical for […]
Iran’s AI memes are reaching people who don’t follow the news – and winning the propaganda war
Screenshot of an AI-generated video produced by Iran’s Explosive Media. Explosive Media/X A Lego-style Iranian military commander raps over a gangster beat: “Our inbox is flooded with Americans saying they don’t watch the news. They listen to our songs instead since your media is full of shit.” This is the opening line of an AI-generated […]
How we worked out a fossilised ‘pterosaur’ was actually a fish – new research
Artist’s impression of a pterosaur with a fish in its mouth. Fossils of one have sometimes been mistaken for the other. Warpaint/Shutterstock Georges Cuvier, the 19th-century French anatomist who first recognised pterodactyls as flying reptiles, wrote that “of all the beings whose ancient existence has been revealed to us, [they are] the most extraordinary”. Now […]
Why the ceasefire in Lebanon is unlikely to change much on the ground
Following direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials, a ten-day ceasefire has been agreed between the two countries. It is currently unclear whether Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that has been fighting Israel in southern Lebanon since early March, has agreed to observe the temporary cessation of hostilities. If it holds, the ceasefire will be welcomed […]
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy – an uninspired, unscary gore fest that demonises disability and leans into stereotypes of Egypt
Production company Blumhouse has taken a gamble by featuring director Lee Cronin in top billing in his third film’s marketing campaign. Announcing Cronin as a horror auteur, the film’s full title is Lee Cronin’s The Mummy. This is an odd move for a director with only two (admittedly strong) previous features under his belt. It […]
Legal aid for asylum seekers is hard to come by – it’s no wonder criminal advisers are taking advantage
Treerat Wongvorapat/Shutterstock The Home Office is investigating after a BBC report found evidence of a “sham industry” of immigration advisers helping people fabricate asylum claims. The advisers and lawyers allegedly promised quick routes to refugee status – sometimes for fees of thousands of pounds – by helping asylum seekers present themselves in ways they believed […]
Strait of Hormuz: why even neutral and distant countries like Switzerland can’t escape the fallout
Glaciers in the Swiss alps are experiencing rapid melt due to climate change. Manuel Wild/Shutterstock There is often a perception that geographical distance reduces vulnerability – an idea that can be particularly appealing in neutral countries with long-standing stable and strong economies. Switzerland is a clear example: its long-standing neutrality, formally recognised at the Congress […]
The problem with vet bills – a dog-owning economist explains
Kamil Macniak/Shutterstock When my dog Buddy ate a tub of chewing gum – around 60 pieces – we rushed him to the vet, where he stayed overnight. Thankfully he was fine. The same could not be said for our wallets. Two aspects of the experience with the vets stood out to my inner economist. First, […]