Three lesser-known Antoni Gaudí buildings to visit to mark the centenary of his death
(L-R) Casa Vicens, Torre de Bellesguard and Cripta de la Colònia Güell Ian Gampon/Wikimedia/Hans Nestru, CC BY In the second week of June, Pope Leo XIV made his first papal visit to Spain on a six-day journey to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. One of the key moments of his visit was a solemn […]
Will the US-Iran talks in Switzerland deliver peace? It’s unlikely
When it was signed at the end of the G7 summit on June 17, the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) was hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough. By reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing sanctions and launching a 60-day negotiating process, it felt like a positive step on the road to ending a conflict that has […]
Keir Starmer has resigned – but what could a new PM actually do differently against Reform UK?
Andy Burnham now looks almost certain to take over as Labour leader – and UK prime minister – after Keir Starmer announced his resignation. In a speech in Downing Street, Starmer said his colleagues had persuaded him that he could no longer continue in the role and it’s believed that even allies had privately advised […]
Can supplements keep your brain sharp? Why the evidence is more complicated than it seems
Teacher Photo/Shutterstock Many of us would like to keep our brains sharp as we get older. That has helped create a growing market for “brain-health” supplements. These include fish-oil capsules and postbiotics, the beneficial, non-living compounds and byproducts produced by “good” gut bacteria (probiotics) when they digest dietary fibre or prebiotics. But assessing these products […]
People who lift weights live longer – new study
People who regularly strength trained had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and dementia. PeopleImages/ Shutterstock Strength training has long been seen as something you mainly do to build muscle or look good. But a new study adds to a growing body of evidence that shows lifting weights does far more than change […]
When climate pressures deepen, the fight against violence becomes harder
Andrzej Kubik/Shutterstock Climate-induced crop failures, death of livestock and water shortages increase food insecurity and malnutrition. This makes it harder for families to maintain stable incomes and consistent supplies of food. Climate-induced drought and flooding make agriculturally dependant communities poorer and more desperate for income. In some countries such as Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan and Kenya, […]
Keir Starmer resigns: can anyone survive as prime minister in today’s Britain?
Keir Starmer has resigned as leader of the Labour party, and so in time as the UK’s prime minister. In the end, despite his numerous assurances that he would fight on, after Andy Burnham’s resounding win in the Makerfield byelection, the pressure on Starmer became too great to withstand. It makes him the sixth British […]
How Donald Trump has changed the way diplomacy is done
The negotiations to end the US-Iran war, resulting in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 17, have been something of an acid test of Donald Trump’s approach to diplomacy. What does it tell us? And has this US president changed the way diplomacy is done? When Trump was inaugurated for his second […]
World Cup technology: from ref cams to AI analysts, cutting-edge research is changing the game
The men’s football World Cup presents a unique global opportunity to showcase new football technology – from boots and balls to digital systems designed to enhance both officiating accuracy and fan engagement. The process of bringing these technologies to the game often begins in universities and other research institutions. The academic journal Sports Engineering, of […]
The Caspian Sea has lost an area nearly the size of Sicily: human activities are a major reason why
The Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water on Earth, is shrinking. Not fluctuating, not entering another natural cycle, but shrinking. For decades, scientists and policymakers treated changes in the Caspian as part of the basin’s natural variability. Water levels in the sea have always risen and fallen. But our new study shows something […]