Dear England: ‘feelgood’ Gareth Southgate play reviewed by a sports coaching expert: Dear England, a play about football manager Gareth Southgate, immaculately encapsulates the light and dark sides of the game. At the start of the play – which recently transferred to the Prince Edward Theatre – Southgate watches his earlier self missing the crucial …
Kids are exposed to violent war images: trauma expert sets out how you can protect them: In today’s screen-filled world, many children and teens have nearly continuous access to media. Estimates from the United States suggest that school-age children spend four to six hours per day watching or using screens. Adolescents spend as much as …
TB vaccine: WHO expert explains why it’s taken 100 years for a scientific breakthrough, and why it’s such a big deal: The BCG vaccine for TB has been used for 100 years. It is largely effective for children under five, but less so in older people and can’t be used on patients who have certain …
Boudica: Queen of War reviewed by an expert in the real ancient British ruler: Warning: this review contains some spoilers for Boudica: Queen of War. Boudica: Queen of War is a lively and violent retelling of the ancient British queen’s story. Written and directed by Jessie V. Johnson, the film draws deeply upon Tacitus’ account …
Five witchcraft myths debunked by an expert: Three women executed as witches in Derneburg Germany in October 1555 Everett Collection About 400 years ago, the European witch hunts were at their peak. Between the 15th and 18th centuries, an estimated 50,000 people, mostly women, were executed for witchcraft across Europe. They were accused of devil-worship, …
What makes a film score frightening? Expert explains the techniques that build tension and make us jump: Think of the scariest film you’ve ever seen. Beyond any blood-curdling screams or pounding heartbeats, there’s sure to be another sound that sticks in your memory – the score. Perhaps that’s the shrieking strings of Psycho (1960), or …
The scariest stories to listen to this Halloween, from a horror audio expert: mariesacha/Shutterstock The next time you watch a horror movie, try putting it on mute. More than likely, it will lose its edge and may even appear comic. As much as horror media is visual, sound plays an outsize role in its ability …
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have a new defence alliance: an expert view of its chances of success: On 16 September 2023 in Bamako, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger established the Alliance of Sahel States, a mutual defence pact. The agreement was signed against the backdrop of an ongoing political crisis in Niger following a …
Bird flu in South Africa: expert explains what’s behind the chicken crisis and what must be done about it: An outbreak of avian flu – a highly contagious viral infection that affects wild birds as well as poultry – has hit poultry farms in South Africa. Two different strains are causing outbreaks in the country …
How Israel underestimated Hamas’s intelligence capabilities – an expert reviews the evidence: Israel has a cutting-edge security technology industry and was (and still should be) considered to be the leading nation for national security. The controversial electronic intelligence platform Pegasus was developed in Israel, and the border between Israel and Gaza was considered – before …
Kenya’s cost of living crisis: expert unpacks what’s driving it and what should be done: Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living. Policy analyst Adan Shibia led a technical team that prepared a recent report on the state of Kenya’s economy. We asked him to unpack what’s driving costs, who’s affected and what …
Israel-Gaza conflict: how could it change the Middle East’s political landscape? Expert Q&A: The surprise attack by Hamas launched on Israel on October 7 has already led to thousands of deaths in both Israel and Gaza, and sparked concerns that the conflict could escalate across the Middle East. An expert in the politics and relations …
Battling to make ends meet? Financial planning expert offers 5 tips on how to build your budget: Every day seems to bring new headlines about rising costs. In Nigeria, unions are threatening to strike amid soaring fuel prices; the country’s inflation rate hit 25% in August. The amount it costs to fill a food basket …
Could Donald Trump stand for US speaker? An expert explains: The roiling civil war on Capitol Hill that’s led to the ousting of Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the US House of Representatives has left Republicans scrambling for a replacement. With no clear successor, the risk of further acute embarrassment to the party, and a …
Black Sabbath – The Ballet: a heavy metal expert reviews this ‘spectacle of entertainment’: Ballets are typically performed to the enchanting and distinctive melodies of classical music, not the emphatic beats and supersonic volume of heavy metal. But it’s the music of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath that scores Birmingham Royal Ballet’s new show, Black …
‘We could eradicate malaria by 2040’ says expert after revolutionary vaccine is approved by WHO: The World Health Organization has approved a new vaccine that scientists argue will be a game-changer in the fight against malaria, which kills half a million people in Africa every year. Trials have shown that the R21/Matrix vaccine, developed by …
Do liposomes make food supplements more effective? A chemistry expert explains common myths about these products: LookerStudio/Shutterstock There has been an explosion in nutritional supplements that promise a superior product because they contain nanoparticles called liposomes. But there’s a lot of misleading information and outright myths about these being shared online, so it’s important to …
How to make a perfect romcom – an expert explains the recipe for romance: Picture the scene: it’s a dreary weeknight evening, you’re tired from work, and you want to watch something that will pick you up. My guess is that some of you – perhaps more than would admit it – would pick a …