UK-Ukraine drone partnership risks Putin’s wrath but will boost long-term security
When the UK allowed Ukraine to use British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles against targets inside Russia in late 2024, Moscow predictably accused London of escalating the war and threatened retaliation. Russia’s latest warnings over Kyiv’s use of British-made drones that “the deeper its involvement in the conflict… the higher the price it will pay” may […]
There’s a better way to cool data centres that cuts their huge thirst for water
Water is an amazing substance. The human body is made up of more than 50% water. Approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. We drink it, bathe in it, cook with it, clean with it. It is also used to cool data centres, which is an increasing draw on what is a […]
What if our cities were designed for wildlife as well as people?
shutterstock Paul Sawer/Shutterstock On a warm evening in May, swifts scream over rooftops, chasing insects above the traffic. A fox slips along a garden wall while gulls squabble on a supermarket roof. We tend to treat these animals as visitors. But they’re residents too, living alongside us in places designed for people. My recent research […]
The UK will add folic acid to flour – but supplements remain vital before pregnancy
Folic acid should be taken before getting pregnant and during the first trimester. Prostock-studio/ Shutterstock Fewer than one in five women in England now take folic acid before pregnancy. This is down from one in four just five years ago. The decline is worrying because it could undermine the progress that has been made in […]
Climate change is rewriting England’s ‘green and pleasant’ story
In 1804, William Blake wrote in his poem Jerusalem of England’s “green and pleasant” land. This idealised vision of English pastoral has resonated through two centuries, fusing the character of the nation with its landscape – those “mountains green” and “pleasant pastures”. Turned into a hymn by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916, Jerusalem is sung […]
Jason Arday’s death: Black academics need to feel they belong in higher education
The death of Professor Jason Arday has left many of us with a profound sense of sadness. For Black academics in particular, his loss feels deeply personal. Jason represented possibility – a reminder of what could be achieved despite the barriers that continue to shape Black people’s experiences in education. I had the privilege of […]
A-level results: why politics is the fastest growing subject
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock This year’s A-level results show a significant increase in the number of students choosing to study politics. In fact, politics saw the largest year-on-year increase of all A-level subjects in the UK, with entries up 11.9% this year compared with 2025. This is an additional 2,639 students – up from 22,185 to 24,824. […]
Working from home should be a right, not a reward
Many women find they can at least keep their careers by working from home. PeopleImages The Australian state of Victoria was due to enforce a legal right to work from home starting September 2026. But just weeks away from its implementation, the new premier, Ben Carroll, has announced a year’s delay in response to fierce […]
Can Britain’s railways cope with ever-more extreme heat? An expert Q&A
On August 14, the hottest day of an exceptionally hot summer, a train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex, England. Three carriages tipped over and two people were seriously injured. The following day, another train derailed in Essex. We don’t yet know what caused either derailment, and the UK’s Rail Accident Investigation Branch is still […]
How drones are taken down – from nets and metal cages to jammers
From the Ukraine war and suspected drone sightings at Europe’s busiest airports to the seizure of over 700 unauthorised drones during the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the skies above us and news reporting are abuzz with drones. Spanning different sizes and functions, drones have become essential military tools and mainstays of contemporary conflicts. This is […]