The changing face of diversity in the UK cabinet
Andy Burnham’s first cabinet includes four ministers from visible ethnic minority backgrounds: home secretary Shabana Mahmood, energy security secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, AI minister Kanishka Narayan, and Lisa Nandy as culture secretary. A decade ago, this team alone would probably have generated headlines. Now, it has barely registered. This silence on the makeup of the cabinet […]
How Shakespeare and his contemporaries used music to rouse emotions
Music is one of the most powerful tools through which films and TV programmes affect us. We might hear a sad melody that brings us to tears, a creepy tune that gives us goosebumps, or a funny song that compels us to laugh. This effect is not limited to the silver and small screen. In […]
UK drought: crop harvests at severe risk of collapse
Extreme droughts affect farmland and therefore the UK’s food system. Ann Dr/Shutterstock Much of England is now officially in drought. Reservoir levels are being closely monitored by water companies, while farmers are reporting dry soils and poor crop conditions. Further restrictions such as grazing rules could soon come into effect. Water is recognised as critical […]
The surprising chemical footprint of your clothes
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock When trying to make more sustainable clothing choices, many consumers follow a simple rule: choose natural fibres over synthetic ones. Cotton instead of polyester. Wool instead of acrylic. Linen instead of nylon. The logic seems straightforward. Natural fibres originate from plants or animals, while synthetic fibres are largely derived from fossil fuels. If a […]
Why the AI industry is so fond of the prefix ‘co’ – by an expert in linguistics
AI companies and evangelists frequently use terms such as co-pilot, co-worker, co-creator and co-scientist to imply these rapidly developing systems can happily co-exist with us humans. Their inference is clear: people should always be in the loop – the AI is never in charge. But amid stories of AI models going rogue and the prospect […]
Muscle coordination can be mimicked by electric motors – it could lead to improved robots
mybox / Shutterstock People often take their muscles for granted. They pick up a bag, tighten a grip, climb a hill, hold a cup of coffee and the body quietly adjusts force, speed and position without the person ever thinking about it. Muscle turns chemical energy into movement. It is able to produce force smoothly […]
Two meetings and a funeral: diplomacy on the sidelines of Lindsey Graham’s memorial service
Summit meetings on the fringes of funerals, diplomacy after death as the British political scientist Geoff Berridge put it, have a long and useful tradition. Not only can such working funerals force a meeting at a time that would not otherwise have happened, but they can remind those assembled of the transience of life, physical […]
Money worries can leave a lasting mark on the brain, 80-year study shows
AnnaStills/Shutterstock.com Money worries can keep us up at night, but could decades of financial stress leave a lasting mark on the brain itself? That’s the question my colleagues and I set out to answer in a new study – and the answer, it turns out, is yes. Most research on money and brain health looks […]
The resurrection of the musical vampire: from the 19th century stage to The Vampire Lestat
June 7 2026 was a historic day for musical vampires. The stage adaptation of The Lost Boys won four Tony awards and the third season of the TV show Interview with the Vampire, now retitled The Vampire Lestat, premiered on AMC in the US and BBC Two in the UK. In the new season of […]
Six things to know about infrared workouts – by a fitness expert
New Africa/Shutterstock From yoga studios to boutique gyms, workouts performed beneath infrared heating panels have become a visible fitness trend. Studios often claim that infrared heat improves circulation, flexibility and recovery, reduces inflammation and helps the body to “detoxify”. It is an appealing idea. Exercise already provides substantial health benefits, so could infrared heat make […]