From painkillers to antibiotics: five medicines that could harm your hearing: DC Studio/Shutterstock When we think about the side effects of medicines, we might think of nausea, fatigue or dizziness. But there’s another, lesser-known risk that can have lasting – and sometimes permanent – consequences: hearing loss. A wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs …
Trips to the playground and jigsaw puzzles: five surprising ways to help children learn to write: Rachaphak/Shutterstock It’s a milestone that leaves parents beaming with pride: the first time their child shakily writes out their own name. And it’s the start of many more key childhood moments, from Christmas lists to writing their own stories. …
Fast furniture is terrible for the environment – here are five ways to spot it: The UK spent more than £20 million on furniture in 2024, predominantly for bedrooms and living rooms. Many of us are aware of the problems with fast fashion, including the problems caused by dumping this cheap, low-quality clothing in landfills. …
Nigeria at COP29: Five items to put on the climate agenda: The world’s efforts to address climate change and its effects have been the subject of discussion for almost three decades at the annual Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This year’s COP, at Baku, Azerbaijan, is the …
Five MTV Video Music Awards performances that have influenced queer culture: The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are always an important date in the queer cultural calendar. And the 2024 event, which took place on September 11, was no exception. Chappell Roan’s performance of Good Luck, Babe! is already one for the ages; looking at …
Five disinformation tactics Russia is using to try to influence the US election: The White House’s recent exposure of Russian attempts to influence this year’s US presidential election will come as little surprise to anyone who followed disinformation tactics during the last US election. During the 2020 campaign, the Kremlin used its state-sponsored media outlets, …
UK riots: five essential reads on what triggered a week of violence: The UK has experienced more than a week of violent rioting, during which white nationalists have marauded through towns and cities, fighting with police and calling for borders to be closed to keep out immigrants. Gangs have intimidated non-white citizens and laid siege …
Five ways to get healthier (and happier) with your pet: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock This article was written with the help of my pets. When I lost focus or started to tire, I grabbed my dogs’ leads and they happily joined me for some fresh air and a little outdoor adventure. I freely admit that …
Five books by Maryse Condé to introduce you to the award-winning Guadeloupian writer: Guadeloupian writer Maryse Condé, who has died aged 90, left a body of work which includes many deeply nuanced and wide-ranging responses to the centuries of often violent contact between cultures and societies. Take her bestselling pair of historical novels Segu (1984) …
80% of premature baby deaths happen in poorer countries. Five simple measures that can help save them: Worldwide in 2020 a baby died every 40 seconds because of complications of prematurity. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years old. The burden of preterm birth is heavier in in low- …
Five years on the road in Africa: how Lerato Mogoatlhe became a travel writer: South African journalist Lerato Mogoatlhe set off for three months in west Africa. She ended up drifting across the continent for five years. In 2019 she wrote a book about her travels, called Vagabond: Wandering Through Africa on Faith. As a …
Global triggers: why these five big issues could cause significant problems in 2024: The tensions between the US and China made the global economy shudder in 2023. The ramifications of the Ukrainian war echoed beyond the country’s border. In Africa, the coup d’état in Niger and Gabon contributed to the global democratic retreat of recent …
Five Christmas fashion trends we should bring back – and may be found in your wardrobe already: Dazzle camouflage costume ball at the Chelsea Arts Club in 1919. Wikimedia, CC BY Christmas is a season for partying and dressing up. Sequins, Santa hats and ugly Christmas jumpers abound. Each event seems to demand a new …
Who are the new greats of Irish music? Five musicians to watch out for: The world lost three great Irish musicians in 2023: Shane MacGowan, Sinéad O’Connor and Christy Dignam. While their music reflected their individual struggles and resilience, it also grappled with the evolving essence of Irish identity. Their work stands as a reminder …
Five things you probably have wrong about the T rex: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock An icon from the age of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex has featured in everything from blockbuster movies to the shape of chicken nuggets. As a creature to be feared for its bone-crushing bite or ridiculed for its inability to give a high five, T …
Five major outcomes from the latest UN climate summit: The latest UN climate summit, COP28, was always going to be controversial. It was held in a state whose economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas – the United Arab Emirates. The summit president, Sultan Al Jaber, remains head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil …
Five tips on talking politics with family without falling out – from a conflict resolution expert: Family gatherings can be difficult, especially when politics enters the conversation. If you feel anxious about discussing divisive issues and falling out with people you love, you are not alone. The war between Israel and Gaza, climate change, culture …
Remembrance Day: five beautiful novels about war commemoration: Every autumn, the UK participates in an astonishing commemorative practice: the annual charity drive of the Poppy Appeal. From its origins during the first world war to the purple poppy commemorating animals in wartime, the artificial poppy has become a fragile but enduring symbol of remembrance. Writers …