Freedom of speech takes many forms and they are always cultural
In the early 20th century, American anthropologist Franz Boas argued that being free just means being fully in harmony with your culture. The Inuit with whom he had done fieldwork saw themselves as incomparably free, even though he saw them as constrained by traditional rules. But the opposite was also true: they saw his (freely […]
How a 45-minute family exercise session could boost thinking skills
WOSUNAN/Shutterstock Getting enough exercise is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Yet many people around the world are not active enough. Around one in three adults fail to meet the recommended levels of physical activity, while four in five children aged 11–17 do not achieve the recommended average of […]
New evidence reveals extent of anti-fascist motives behind ‘insane’ aristocrat’s plot to assassinate Mussolini
Violet Gibson pictured after her arrest in 1926. wikimedia Benito Mussolini stepped out onto the Piazza del Campidoglio at 10:58 in the morning of April 7, 1926. He had just delivered a speech prepared for him by his lover, the Jewish writer Margherita Sarfatti. The speech had been a success, and Mussolini left satisfied, making […]
Seven memorable films to watch with your dad on Father’s Day
Despite the prominence of family relationships in cinema, fatherhood remains a surprisingly underexplored area of academic film study. There are a few exceptions. Charting the emergence of the paternal protector as a key masculine archetype is Katie Barnett’s Fathers on Film: Paternity and Masculinity in 1990s Hollywood. And crucially, Gershon Reiter’s Fathers and Sons in […]
The 11 best songs and albums about fatherhood – according to music experts
Shutterstock Songs about fathers and fatherhood range in tone from joy and celebration to absence, tension and grief. For Father’s Day, we asked 11 experts to share their favourite tracks and albums about fatherhood. 1. Teeth of Time by Joshua Burnside (2025) Joshua Burnside’s album Teeth of Time is an, at times, gut-wrenching exploration of […]
Heatwaves: five reasons why Victorian houses are cooler than modern buildings
Alex Segre/Shutterstock More than four million homes were built in the UK during the Victorian era. Victorian homes were constructed long before the complex computer models used today to design buildings were invented. Yet, these homes, built over 100 years ago, are cooler in summer than many built more recently. Here are some fundamental architectural […]
Think before you flush: expert advice on how and when to save water at home
BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock. Water unites everyone on the planet, and as well as keeping us alive, it has thousands of other uses, yet we undervalue it, take it for granted and often waste it. As many countries are now experiencing hot weather more frequently, our demand for water increases. Water companies need to act to reduce […]
Eight ways to sleep well in hot weather
antoniodiaz/Shutterstock When temperatures rise, sleep often suffers. Hot nights can make it harder to fall asleep, increase waking during the night and leave people feeling less rested the next day. One reason is thermoregulation, the body’s ability to keep its internal temperature within a safe range. Sleep is closely linked to body temperature: to fall […]
Andy Burnham is back at Westminster: what this says about Britain’s changing political system
Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield byelection doesn’t simply mark the return of one of Labour’s most recognisable figures to parliament. With his clear ambitions to lead his party – and the country – it may also represent a landmark moment in English devolution. His thumping win – taking 55% of the votes and more […]
Donald Trump’s Iran ceasefire deal prompts strong feelings and profane language
After dining lavishly on lobster, caviar and truffles in the opulent surrounds of the Palace of Versailles last night, Donald Trump affixed his signature to the much-anticipated memorandum of understanding that will, all being well, begin a 60-day ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran. The document was subsequently signed in Tehran by the Iranian […]