Shakespeare’s First Folio turns 400: what would be lost without the collection? An expert speculates: Shakespeare's First Folio was the first published work to include Macbeth. Matt Riches/Unsplash It has been 400 years since the publication of the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, a volume now known as the First Folio. Prepared by his …
Nollywood could see a major boost from Nigeria’s new copyright law – an expert explains why: The digital era contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood, Nigeria's film industry. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images Nigeria has finally updated its 2004 copyright law, bringing it into the digital era – where the entertainment industry has …
Why Finland is the happiest country in the world – an expert explains: Finland has been the happiest country on earth for the past six years, according to the World Happiness Survey. This survey relies on the Cantril ladder life evaluation question: Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to …
Why some people lose their accents but others don’t – linguistic expert: FGC/Shutterstock The way a person speaks is an intrinsic part of their identity. It’s tribal, marking a speaker as being from one social group or another. Accents are a sign of belonging as much as something that separates communities. Yet we can probably …
Poole oil spill expert Q&A: why is there an oil field in Dorset anyway?: A major incident has been declared after a leaky pipeline caused 200 barrels of oil “reservoir fluid” to spill into Poole Harbour in Dorset, south-west England. The oil was being transported from nearby Wytch Farm, which hosts western Europe’s largest onshore …
When can your boss fire you for social media use? An expert on the law explains: Burdun Iliya/Shutterstock Gary Lineker isn’t so special. He might be a millionaire celebrity whose tweet criticising the government led to a crisis at the BBC and a national argument. But in being suspended from his job for something he’d …
Is Norse god Odin older than previously thought? An expert analyses new evidence: A new find from Denmark, dubbed the Vindelev bracteate, has challenged previous understanding of religion in late prehistoric and early medieval Scandinavia. The discovery of the oldest recorded mention of the god Odin – usually known from much later stories of Norse …
Prime: a YouTuber expert explains how Logan Paul and KSI’s drink became so popular: YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI released their drinks brand, Prime Hydration, in January 2022. One year on, Paul said the drink had generated US$ 250 million (£209 million) in retail sales worldwide, with US$ 45 million of that in January 2023 …
Why central banks are too powerful and have created our inflation crisis – by the banking expert who pioneered quantitative easing: Iurii Motov/Shutterstock Fifty years ago, a war broke out in the Middle East which resulted in a global oil embargo and a dramatic spike in energy prices. The war, between Israel and an Arab …
Were there gladiators in Roman Britain? An expert reviews the evidence: The Colchester vase, dating to the later second century AD. Following Hadrian/Flickr, CC BY-SA In 1853, a Roman vase was found being used as a container for ashes in a grave outside Roman Colchester. Dating to the later second century AD, it depicted four …
Chris Brown: a fandom expert on how racialised loyalty helps the controversial singer retain his fans: American singer Chris Brown’s reputation is as well known as his music. In 2009, he was sentenced to five years’ probation for assaulting his then girlfriend, fellow singer Rihanna, and he has been involved in other controversies over the …
From Roald Dahl to Goosebumps, revisions to children’s classics are really about copyright – a legal expert explains: The backlash to Puffin Books’ decision to update Roald Dahl’s children’s books has been swift and largely derisive. The publisher has been accused of “absurd censorship”, “corporate safetyism” and “cultural vandalism.” At its core, however, updating Roald Dahl’s …
Managing people for the first time: expert tips on how to succeed: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock Getting a promotion that involves managing people for the first time is a milestone in anyone’s career. It is a sign that your employer values your performance and skills and trusts you to lead projects and colleagues. This transition can also …
The Dark Side of the Moon at 50: an album artwork expert on Pink Floyd’s music marketing revolution: This month marks 50 years since the release of The Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album beamed the band into super stardom with platinum-selling singles such as Money and The Great Gig in …
Why are so many Irish films and filmmakers nominated for Oscars? An expert in Irish cinema explains: The announcement of Irish film The Quiet Girl’s Oscar nomination for best international film led to understandable joy among its production team, as captured in a video shared on Twitter. The cinema where they received the news erupted …
Swimming pools v wild swimming – a germs expert on which is worse: Sally Anderson/Alamy Stock Photo Wild swimming has grown massively in popularity in recent times. Not only is swimming outdoors a pleasant way to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and green leafy surroundings, it can also help to relieve stress and elevate our …
Royal Academy’s Spain and the Hispanic World – an expert in Spanish art reviews the exhibition: The Royal Academy’s first big show of 2023 is unusual. As well as presenting an impressive collection from Spain and the Hispanic world (around 150 items covering over 4,000 years, including paintings, sculptures, maps, books and manuscripts), it also …
Why the UK has only had one named storm so far this winter – an expert explains: Storm Otto, which originated in Denmark and was named by the Danish Meteorological Institute, hit Scotland and north-east England last Friday (February 17 2023) with wind gusts of over 80mph, disrupting power to 61,000 homes. Otto was the …