Why personal climate action matters – according to experts: EL_Images/Shutterstock Do you feel powerless? You probably aren’t responsible for the investment decisions of an energy company, nor do you have a hand in government policy. But still, you are reading about climate change – a problem that can easily seem intractable to most people. The Veganuary …
How much could the NHS save if people had healthier lifestyles? Hundreds of millions according to research: encierro/Shutterstock The NHS spends a lot of time and money looking after people who smoke, or drink too much or don’t do enough exercise. Hospital admissions and treatments are an expensive business. So what would happen if these …
Why the man-hating feminist is a myth – according to science: As part of the “Women Against Feminism” campaign that launched in 2014, social media posts have featured young women holding placards with the message “I don’t need feminism because…” listing various reasons ranging from “I respect men” to “I am not a MAN-HATER”. This perception …
The best techniques for being a cricket fast bowler, according to science: Twenty years ago, Shoaib Akhtar became the first person recorded to bowl at 100mph (161km per hour) during the 2003 One-Day International Men’s World Cup match for Pakistan against England. There was an expectation afterwards that this feat would become a regular occurrence. …
Ancient Egypt had far more venomous snakes than the country today, according to our new study of a scroll: How much can the written records of ancient civilisations tell us about the animals they lived alongside? Our latest research, based on the venomous snakes described in an ancient Egyptian papyrus, suggests more than you might …
Why it’s good to talk about women’s health at work, according to research: Lucky Business/Shutterstock In the past couple of years, women’s health and wellbeing in mid to later life has gone from being whispered about in the shadows to being the subject of documentaries, newspaper articles and breakfast TV discussions. This “celebrity endorsement” of …
South Africans are fed up with their prospects, and their democracy, according to latest social attitudes survey: 29 years of democracy has left its mark. Rather battered and frayed South African flag billowing in the wind against a cloud-strewn sky. The mood among South Africans has soured. The latest findings from the representative survey that’s …
What is antisocial behaviour? According to my research, no one really knows: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled plans to crack down on antisocial behaviour. The proposals include making offenders wear hi-vis jackets to wash police cars and clean up vandalism, within 48 hours of being served a court order. Offenders may have …
Five things research can teach us about having better sex, according to a sex therapist: AimPix/Shutterstock Sex can be wonderful, but it can also be tricky. Science may be the furthest thing from your mind when you’re getting intimate with someone. But actually, there’s a lot we can learn from science when it comes to …
Shrinking: a psychiatrist doesn’t know the “truth” and other issues with the show’s depiction of therapy, according to a clinical psychologist: Shrinking is advertised as the story of the grieving therapist Jimmy (Jason Segel) who has lost his wife and wants to try a new approach to his loss, one that involves honesty, including telling …
Five ways to make part-time working easier and more available, according to new research: fizkes/Shutterstock Economic inactivity and the rising cost of out-of-work benefits are high on the UK government’s agenda right now. But new research into working patterns during the COVID furlough scheme suggests that both employers and the government could be missing a …
Christmas films: there might be some truth to stories about hometown romances, according to research: The festive season seems to be a good time for love, or so many Christmas films would have us believe. One incredibly popular trope is “the return” – where the main character, usually with a successful career in the city, …
UK strikes: why the government must start mediating talks, according to negotiation experts: The UK government is to hold an emergency planning meeting this week to prepare for the impact of strike action across multiple sectors including transport, healthcare, Royal Mail and many others. Relevant departments and their ministers will meet to discuss a response …
Pregnant students in Tanzania may stay in school according to a new ruling by African child rights experts: Gettyimages The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of Children recently made what experts call a landmark ruling. The committee is a regional quasi-judicial organ of the African Union. Its task is to monitor …
Diabetes in South Africa: 60% aren’t being screened for complications, according to new study: Eleven percent of South African adults live with diabetes. GettyImages The world is experiencing a steep rise in the number of people living with diabetes, a chronic condition of significant public health concern. Many developing countries like South Africa now bear …
Persuasion: why the Netflix adaptation is actually worth a watch, according to a romantic literature expert: Nick Wall/Netflix SPOILER ALERT: this article contains plot references to Persuasion. So, the jury’s in. People really, really hate Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Austen’s last novel, the book follows the story of 27-year-old Anne Elliot eight years …
Five exciting additions to Marvel’s cinematic universes – according to a comics expert: Ms Marvel is making her debut this year as the first female muslim superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel/Disney Two new Marvel heroes have been brought to the big and small screens that may be quite new to many people. The …
Conger ice shelf has collapsed: what you need to know, according to experts: Steve Allen/Shutterstock East Antarctica’s Conger ice shelf – a floating platform the size of Rome – broke off the continent on March 15, 2022. Since the beginning of satellite observations in the 1970s, the tip of the shelf had been disintegrating into …