Before Greek myths reached the multiplex, they were weapons of political satire

William Dent depicts Cerberus, the Hound of Hades – a three-headed dog symbolising gluttony – as composed of the heads of politicians Charles Fox, Lord North and Edmund Burke. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, Accession Number B1981.25.1573 Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has brought Homer’s epic tale back to the big screen. The […]

Babies born under sugar rationing grew into adults with lower cancer risk

Could how much sugar you consumed before your second birthday shape your health decades later – even into your 70s? A new study that my colleagues and I conducted suggests the answer could be yes. People who had less sugar exposure during the first few years of life were much less likely to develop several […]

If British voters seem impatient and angry, data shows they might have a point

With seven prime ministers in ten years and the fragmentation of the two-party system, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that UK leaders struggle to hold on to their position. The World Bank ranks nations around the world on governance indicators – and its data show that, on certain metrics, voters in the UK may […]

The enduring mystery of Scotland’s medieval cannibals

An engraving of Sawney Bean by I. Basire after J. Nicholls (1741). WikiCommons Cannibalism is one of the biggest taboos throughout history. The idea of eating one of your own species tends to fill people with disgust and horror. Yet, cannibalism has happened for many reasons, including warfare and religious rituals. Reports of cannibalism are […]

Why university resits are harder for some students than others

KOTOIMAGES/Shutterstock University resits are a second chance for students who have experienced academic difficulties. Typically resit exams are sat during the summer break. But while resits are available to all eligible students, the ability to engage with them is influenced by broader inequalities. When students fail assessments, the conversation typically shifts towards personal responsibility. The […]

Are zoos ready for the changing climate?

amarw92/Shutterstock When people think about climate change and animals, they might picture melting sea ice, drought-stricken landscapes or species struggling in the wild. Far less attention is given to the animals living in our care. Yet as heatwaves become more frequent, intense and unpredictable, zoos may be facing one of the biggest animal welfare challenges […]