When a teenager makes the ‘stupid choice’, their brain is working exactly as designed
pikselstock/Shutterstock When an adult refuses to let an injustice pass – stands up to a bully, or asserts their rights – we call it principle. When a fifteen-year-old retaliates to an insult thrown in a school corridor, risking detention, we call it a failure to think ahead. It’s easy to ascribe this to a not-yet-developed […]
Smouldering myeloma: Lauren Laverne’s diagnosis explained
When the BBC presenter Lauren Laverne revealed she has smouldering myeloma, the diagnosis sounded more alarming than it is. Her situation is more subtle and nuanced than the word “myeloma” suggests. Smouldering myeloma is better thought of as an early warning stage – a sign that some of the cells in her bone marrow are […]
How was the first language formed?
Nine-year-old Eva was watching an episode of the children’s show Horrible Histories about the stone age recently when a question popped into her head. The cave men were speaking a broken form of English, but Eva thought that didn’t sound right and she wondered: how was the first language formed? She joined our host Eloise […]
Arctic sea ice decline seemed to be slowing – until two record-breaking low-ice winters
Hector John Periquin / unsplash, CC BY-SA Arctic sea ice appeared to be entering a new phase. In the early 2020s, the rapid decline seen over previous decades seemed to ease, leading scientists to ask whether winter sea ice loss had slowed. Our new study suggests that conclusion was premature. After two exceptionally low-ice winters […]
Testosterone and combat readiness: what does the evidence really show?
Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, recently announced plans to measure testosterone levels in US soldiers with a promise of “ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best”. Soldiers found to have low testosterone would be offered treatment, although accepting it would remain voluntary. The announcement has reignited debate about […]
No lectern and the promise of a ‘new model’ – what we can learn from Andy Burnham’s speech
The UK’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has taken on the leadership of the country at a divisive and unstable time. The divisions stem from attitudes over immigration and its economic and cultural impacts, as well as the apparent instability of the UK political system. As Burnham prepared to deliver his first speech as prime […]
Why you keep buying books you don’t read – and why it feels so good
Gorgev/Shutterstock.com At busy times, I find I simply cannot read as much as I would like to. Life has a habit of filling every available hour with work, meetings, emails, chores, errands and deadlines. Standing in one of my natural habitats – a bookshop – it is frustrating to see so many things I want […]
Why do some people who trust in science also believe in scientific conspiracy theories?
Pro-science protesters at the second annual Portland March for Science, Oregon 2018. Png Studio Photography/Shutterstock In a world where trust in institutions is mostly in decline, levels of trust in science remain relatively high. Yet at the same time, belief in scientific conspiracy theories, such as hushed-up effects of vaccines or aeroplane “chemtrails”, is also […]
How to know when fruit and veg are still safe to eat – and when they should be binned
Overripe fruit and veg can harbour harmful bacteria. Krakenimages.com/ Shutterstock Whether it’s trimming off a piece of mushy parsnip or cutting away a slightly mouldy bit of apple, many of us have used produce long after their peak of freshness. While fruits and veggies are important for our health, they’re also highly susceptible to bacteria, […]
Iran is turning into the sort of ‘forever war’ that Donald Trump promised to avoid
When Donald Trump returned to the White House, he promised to avoid another Middle Eastern “forever war”. After the costly experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan, that pledge resonated with an American public weary of prolonged military intervention. For a brief moment, it appeared that this promise might be realised. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed […]