Understanding incel culture – and how schools can address it
New Africa/Shutterstock Incels – involuntary celibates – believe they have been unconditionally excluded from the dating market and are doomed to remain virgins. This has negative implications for their mood and self-esteem, as well as the women and girls they grow to resent. For this reason, schools in England are now required to address incel […]
Our unsung hero of science: Friedrich Miescher, the man who discovered DNA
Wellcome Collection via Wikimedia, CC BY-NC Whether through TV crime dramas or cinema blockbusters about dinosaur theme parks, DNA is a staple of modern popular culture – its double-helix structure one of science’s most iconic visualisations. Yet remarkably, the young Swiss scientist who discovered DNA in the first place is largely forgotten. Born in Basel […]
Five health conditions mothers can develop after giving birth
Postpartum pre-eclampsia can affect as many as 27% of mums. antoniodiaz/ Shutterstock During pregnancy, a mother’s body undergoes vast structural and functional changes. But what many might not know is that the after-effects of these changes can last long after giving birth – and can even result in the development of new health conditions. Here […]
Microplastics have been found to interact with the gut microbiome – here’s what health effects they might have
Microplastics have increasingly been linked to a range of health harms. SIVStockStudio/ Shutterstock Through the air we breathe and the food we eat, we can’t help but inhale and ingest tiny bits of plastic every day. These microplastics, as they’re known, have been found in many parts of the human body – including the lungs, […]
Middle East conflict: how the US and Iran could step back from the brink
Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face a renewal of American bombardment was due to expire this week, but was extended at the last moment, this time with no defined time limit. But the risk of renewed escalation remains real, as both sides continue to block traffic through the […]
Reading shortcuts for children may be popular, but the research doesn’t back them up
This year marks the UK’s National Year of Reading, which aims to rebuild good reading habits and enjoyment as child and adolescent reading declines year on year. Reading enjoyment is at its lowest level for two decades, according to the National Literacy Trust’s annual survey. This matters because books expose children to a broader and […]
Edible orchids are being overharvested in the Mediterranean – how to protect these astonishing blooms
Anatolian orchid (_Orchis anatolica_). Susanne Masters, CC BY-NC-ND Each spring, the meadows and hillsides of the Mediterranean draw tourists to admire flowering orchids. But in some regions, these astonishing blooms are steadily declining – or at risk of disappearing altogether. Collection for trade is depleting these wild orchids. It’s not their flowers but their tubers […]
What intentional communities can teach us about resilience amid global instability
shutterstock 4 season backpacking/Shutterstock As conflict intensifies in the Middle East, energy markets swing wildly and the cost of living keeps climbing, a pressing question is emerging for anyone who is tied in to the fluctuating energy and food markets: how do we build resilience? Big political and economic solutions still matter. But they take […]
Seeds of Exchange reveals the untold story of the plant collectors who connected Canton and London in the 18th century
I’m standing in a deconsecrated church in Lambeth, London, now home to the Garden Museum. It has a warm and pleasant atmosphere, undeniably a church, yet far removed from its original purpose. On this quiet Friday morning, I met with Emma House, the lead curator of the exhibition Seeds of Exchange. We wandered around the […]
Venice is sinking – we analysed every plan to save it, and none would preserve the city as we know it
Venice has co-existed with the sea throughout its 1,500-year history, perhaps better than any other city on earth. Yet over the past century it has flooded increasingly often, as the sea rises and the city itself sinks under its own weight. We recently published an academic analysis of the various options Venice has to ensure […]