Sweden elections: why immigrants are underrepresented at the polls
The Swedish election has turned into a nail-biter. With the majority of votes counted in the contest for the national parliament, only a few tenths of a percentage point separate the left-leaning opposition “red-green” bloc and the incumbent centre-right coalition. This group is commonly known as the “Tidö” bloc. The opposition Social Democrats, led by […]
Houthi rebels’ control of Red Sea oil chokepoint exposes deep divisions in Brics
Houthi rebel forces have seized the Yemeni port of Mokha as well as Mayyun Island overlooking the Bab el-Mandab strait. This gives Iran’s most powerful remaining proxy force in the Middle East nearly complete control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast. Directly or indirectly, Tehran now has a chokehold on around 12% of global trade […]
Why the consequences of the ‘empty nest’ can be real – and serious
pics five/Shutterstock September is traditionally the time of year when many young people go to university or college, often leaving parents and carers facing an “empty nest”. But an empty nest doesn’t just mean a quiet home. Sometimes for the older generation there are also difficult questions about the next phase of their life. The […]
How to build a nutritious emergency food stockpile
Andrii Zastrozhnov/ Shutterstock A UK government watchdog has said UK homes aren’t prepared for the possibility of food supply disruptions that could come from disasters like cyberattacks, power cuts, disease outbreaks or extreme weather. The current government recommends that the public stock up on non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking. But this vague guidance doesn’t […]
Employers look for resilient staff – then leave them to burn out
Workers are often tested beyond their limits and require strong resilience Dragana Gordic / Shutterstock “Resilience” is in danger of becoming a casualty of business buzzword bingo, but we know it matters. The World Economic Forum lists it as one of the most important skills for the future of work, and I’ve found it turns […]
One in six women may have this liver condition. What does it mean in pregnancy?
Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock A liver condition that many people have never heard of may affect around one in six women of childbearing age worldwide. A 2025 global analysis estimated that 15.8% of women aged 15 to 49 were living with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in 2021. Imagine Lisa, 31, arriving for her first pregnancy […]
How to build climate-resilient transport systems
Pasha Smith/Shutterstock Extreme weather frequently causes major disruptions in UK transport and energy systems. Heavy snowfall often leads to school closures, roads grinding to a halt, rail services and flights severely disrupted or cancelled and even power cuts. Successive heatwaves cause railway tracks to buckle and overhead lines to sag, resulting in slow or cancelled […]
Who should own the knowledge that underpins AI technology?
Russian mathematician Yurii Nesterov’s work on gradient descent methods is influential in the development of AI technology. Simons Foundation via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-ND Russian mathematician Yurii Nesterov was recently awarded the Gauss Prize for outstanding mathematical contributions for his “groundbreaking work” on optimisation. The award cited his work on gradient descent methods – and […]
Why did MPs vote to reject the assisted dying bill – and what happens now?
MPs at Westminster have voted to reject the assisted dying bill, in a significant blow to those campaigning to change the law – 11 years to the day after MPs rejected a previous attempt. Had it passed, the bill would have made it legal, in certain circumstances, for terminally ill people in England and Wales […]
Pharmacogenomics: how your genes could help doctors choose the right medicine and dose
A cheek swab can reveal inherited genetic variants that may influence how someone responds to certain medicines. Prostock-studio/Shutterstock Two people can take the same dose of the same medicine and have very different results. One may improve, while the other gets little benefit or develops serious side effects. Part of the explanation often lies in […]