COVID PPE failures left healthcare workers and patients at risk – what lessons the government needs to learn for the future
Only around a third of the masks England held in its emergency stockpile were immediately usable during the pandemic. banjongseal324SS/ Shutterstock The latest report published as part of the COVID-19 inquiry has found the UK was not adequately prepared for a pandemic. The report, which looked at the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment […]
People in the UK favour harsher punishment than Norwegians – belief in free will may help explain why
Ongoing problems in the criminal justice system in England and Wales, from overcrowding in prisons to court backlogs, have raised fundamental questions about how and why we punish people. Advocates for a more rehabilitative, less punitive system often point to Scandinavian prisons as a model for how things could be done better. My colleagues and […]
Andy Burnham says he’ll end rough sleeping – here’s what’s needed to make it happen
On his first day as prime minister, Andy Burnham promised to end rough sleeping, and pledged an additional £340 million to the cause. A positive aim for society, to be sure, but what he didn’t mention is that we’ve nearly solved this before. The question isn’t whether ending rough sleeping is desirable or achievable, it’s […]
How ‘super’ enzymes can transform recycling
Josep Curto/Shutterstock From microplastics clogging up our oceans to landfills leaching out dangerous chemicals, plastic waste is a serious and growing problem for human health and the environment. We need to recycle more, and crucially, recycle better. Most plastic that is recycled is melted and remoulded into lower-quality products such as carpet fibres and garden […]
Reassuring touch kept the peace six million years before humans evolved – new research
Physical touch may be an important evolutionary tool to help manage social tension and keep the peace. Left: Jake Brooker/Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust; Right: Zanna Clay/Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary, CC BY-NC-ND During an eight-month-long research trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, we studied consolation: the way bonobos and chimpanzees comfort each […]
Chancellor John Healey faces serious challenges in funding Burnham’s grand aspirations
The UK’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, laid out a radical agenda in his short speech upon taking office. He called for a long-term strategy to reverse 40 years of Thatcherism, and the privatisation and centralisation that resulted. Wisely, he put a ten-year horizon on these objectives and it is now up to his new […]
Perimenopause and heart health: when chest symptoms need urgent attention
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock A racing heart can be frightening at any age. Palpitations are common during perimenopause and may occur alongside hot flushes, anxiety and disturbed sleep. In many cases, they do not indicate a serious heart problem, but they should not automatically be attributed to hormonal changes. Palpitations can occur for many reasons, including stress, anaemia, […]
Manchester’s digital transformation could be a blueprint for other parts of the UK
Pandora Pictures/Shutterstock Of the policy areas where Andy Burnham might claim a mayoral record worth nationalising, the digital and technology economy is among the strongest. It is also one that has drawn surprisingly little scrutiny. Over the past decade, Greater Manchester has become the fastest-growing digital economy in Europe, home to a tech ecosystem valued […]
Before Beckham and Ronaldo, there was Kevin Keegan – the footballer who invented the personal brand
Anyone old enough to remember Kevin Keegan in his heyday as a player will also have etched on the memory his 1980 television advert for the aftershave and deodorant brand Brut. Featuring Keegan working out in the gym and bantering in the locker room alongside boxing legend Henry Cooper, it was an early example of […]
Soon, there will be so much electricity you might be paid to use it
Simon Collins / shutterstock Imagine a perfect summer weekend day: a cloudless blue sky with a gentle breeze. Solar panels are at full capacity, wind turbines are turning offshore – and many people are out and about, in gardens or parks. Electricity supply is high, but demand is low. Electricity systems must balance supply and […]