How Maison Schiaparelli pioneered a new form of fashion currency
In a luxury market often blamed for flattening creativity, Maison Schiaparelli has long stood out for its defiant unconventionality. Where Coco Chanel’s creations exalted the functional elegance of the modern woman, Elsa Schiaparelli was interpreting her dreams, transforming her dresses into intellectual statements. The story of how Elsa Schiaparelli did this is celebrated in Schiaparelli: […]
The hidden history of Wales and the Jewish world
Jewish history in Wales stretches back centuries, yet its significance remains little known outside specialist circles. My new book uncovers how Jews, Judaism, Israel and Palestine have played a far greater role in Welsh history and imagination than many realise. In fact, they have helped shape ideas of nationhood, identity and belonging over centuries. In […]
Ukraine war now longer than the first world war – but the similarities are unsettling
A Ukrainian soldier near the frontline in Kharkiv Oblast in 2022. podyom / Shutterstock The war in Ukraine has now exceeded the first world war in duration. And while the comparison between these two conflicts is imperfect, it is becoming difficult to ignore. Some of the similarities are obvious. At the tactical level, the conflict […]
Boys want to challenge harmful ideas about manhood – working with them, not lecturing them, is the key
BearFotos/Shutterstock In a recent BBC documentary, former England men’s football manager Gareth Southgate explored the challenges facing young men in Britain, including low school attainment, declining employment opportunities, low self-esteem and poor mental health. The positive masculinity Southgate promotes focuses on ambition to achieve, emotional openness, resilience and learning from setbacks, advocating for the role […]
Ovarian cancer drug approved for NHS use will prolong lives
More than 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. LADYMAYPIX/ Shutterstock A drug that can treat chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer has just been approved for use on the NHS in England. Mirvetuximab soravtansine (also known as Elahere) is the first new drug to be approved for hard-to-treat ovarian cancer in over 20 years. In […]
Farmers are key to restoring native woodlands – here’s what’s holding them back
Callananphoto/Shutterstock Ireland’s native woodland scheme, which was introduced by the government in 2001, is successfully bringing back biodiversity. But the country still struggles to meet its tree-planting targets. The reason? Policy doesn’t always match the economic realities farmers face. Ireland should be a forestry success story. The climate is mild, the soil is fertile and […]
Hardening the body: the science behind martial arts conditioning
Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock.com The White House is gearing up to host a UFC event as part of celebrations of 250 years of American independence. The fighters on the card are relying on body conditioning techniques that have been around for centuries to try to emerge victorious. Muay thai, karate and jiujitsu all use ancient practices that […]
Why some men with prostate cancer may soon need only five radiotherapy sessions
Video_Stock _Production/Shutterstock For many men with prostate cancer, the word “radiotherapy” still conjures up weeks of daily hospital trips: 20 or more sessions, Monday to Friday, for a month or longer. A new NHS England programme aims to shrink that burden dramatically by offering eligible men a highly focused form of radiotherapy that treats the […]
Supergirl: why DC comics is betting big on a hero long stuck in Superman’s shadow
Since her official debut in 1959, Supergirl has struggled to emerge from the shadow of her cousin, Superman. So it’s a bold move that the second cinematic release in the newly rebooted DC Universe will be Supergirl. Milly Alcock first appeared as Supergirl in the epilogue to Superman (2025). Her Supergirl is a brash “party […]
How the US finally fell in love with soccer
When Roberto Baggio missed a penalty in the 1994 Fifa World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, more than 94,000 people were there to watch Italian heartbreak and Brazilian ecstasy. To this day, no other World Cup has been as well attended as the 1994 tournament. Tickets were cheap and abundant, and […]