What ‘warfare versus welfare’ gets wrong about real-life economics
Lord Robertson’s claim that the UK cannot defend itself with an “ever-expanding” welfare budget has resonated loudly, given his previous positions as a Nato secretary-general and UK defence secretary. Following up on the UK’s 2025 strategic defence review, which he led, Robertson warned that low investment is leaving UK security “in peril”. The comments have […]
Osteopenia: loss of bone mineral density affects millions of people – here’s what you need to know
A human tibia under the microscope: many people do not even realise they have osteopenia. eranicle/ Shutterstock Around 40% of adults worldwide are affected by osteopenia: a loss of bone mineral density. This condition is extremely common particularly in postmenopausal women and elderly adults. It’s estimated that more than 500,000 fractures occur annually in the […]
Christianity in the UK is flourishing in immigrant communities – but a US-style Christian nationalism is lurking elsewhere
Polling company YouGov has thrown into question claims of a recent upsurge in church attendance among young adults. This has not surprised some experts, who cite evidence for the more conventional story of steep religious decline. If Christianity was once central to British society, that claim remains difficult to sustain in the 21st century. Church […]
How Iran cryptocurrency demands explain a key role of money throughout history
When Iran began demanding payment in exchange for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, it offered the option to pay in cryptocurrency. Likewise, the shadowy network of tankers that have smuggled Russian oil to world markets since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have often been paid this way. Illicit actors the world […]
Loneliness can affect your memory – but that doesn’t mean it leads to dementia
Jelena Stanojkovic/Shutterstock.com Loneliness is something most of us will experience at some point. It is a normal emotion, not a character flaw. But it is also something that can quietly affect how we think and remember, and researchers have long debated whether it might even raise the risk of dementia. A new study, published in […]
Limited scrutiny of party claims in early Welsh election coverage – new analysis
With the Senedd (Welsh parliament) election campaign now under way, voters in Wales are beginning to see more political coverage across television, online and social media. Broadcasters have reported on manifesto launches and party messaging. But how far is this coverage helping voters understand what the parties are actually proposing? And how much of it […]
The V&A catalogue row shows China’s censorship now travels through cultural supply chains
The V&A in Kensington. Yau Ming Low/Shutterstock When people think about censorship, they often imagine an obvious ban: a book prohibited, an exhibition closed, or a speaker silenced. But the recent revelation that London’s Victoria and Albert Museum changed exhibition catalogues at the request of its Chinese printer points to something subtler. It suggests that […]
Is mouthwash bad for the heart? Here’s what the research actually says
Don’t give up your mouthwash just yet. years44/ Shutterstock Social media videos are claiming that mouthwash can raise risk of blood pressure – and potentially damage heart health. According to some of these videos, this is caused by mouthwash wiping out “good” oral bacteria that are important for the cardiovascular system. While it’s a striking […]
Departures: this stylish gay love story deftly balances darkness and whimsy
In her 1998 essay What’s a Good Gay Film?, film critic B. Ruby Rich considered what queer audiences were looking for. She wrote that queer cinema-goers were seeking “films of validation and a culture of affirmation: work that can reinforce identity, visualise respectability, combat injustice and bolster social status”. They were tired, she argued, of […]
‘I’m not a politician’: why the clash with Pope Leo could prove dangerous for Donald Trump
“I am not a politician; I speak of the Gospel.” Pope Leo XIV’s recent remarks, made during his apostolic journey to Africa, immediately suggest that his clash with Donald Trump operates on a different level to the US president’s usual political spats. This is not the classic kind of confrontation that Trump has often had […]