Do shorter prison sentences make society less safe? What the evidence says: The final report of the Independent Sentencing Review has proposed the most significant reform of sentencing and punishment in England and Wales since the 1990s. The review, chaired by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, calls for a number of changes to address …
Why are women paid less than men? New research in South Africa shows the company you work for makes the biggest difference: Why do women earn less than men? The usual suspects – occupation, hours, experience – explain some of it. But a powerful, often overlooked reason is simply this: where women work. The companies …
UK election: Reform and Green members campaigned more online – but pounded the pavements less: It’s party conference season in Britain, a chance for members to meet and talk through their successes and failures from the election campaign – and start talking strategy for the next. Perhaps inevitably after it suffered such a crushing defeat …
How we’re using ‘chaos engineering’ to make cloud computing less vulnerable to cyber attacks: Armadillo Photograp Cloud computing has emerged as a crucial element in today’s technology, serving as the backbone for global connectivity. It empowers businesses, governments, and individuals to employ and construct cloud-based services and forms the foundation for a huge range of …
A single person on universal credit now receives 20% less than what it costs just to eat and keep warm: Shutterstock The UK’s income safety net is in tatters. In principle, anyone without income can escape destitution by claiming universal credit or, if above pension age, pension credit. In reality, the value of working-age benefits …
Humans are going back to the Moon to stay, but when that will be is becoming less clear: NASA A 2019 Time magazine cover portrayed four astronauts running towards the Moon. Pictured alongside the headline “The Next Space Race”, one of the astronauts carried an American flag, one carried a Chinese flag and the other …
Jobs in South Africa: the labour market is recovering from COVID – but unskilled and less educated people are still being left behind: For more than three decades the South African economy has had very high rates of joblessness. The country’s economy has been unable to create enough jobs for its growing army of workers. …
Pay gaps and less chance of a top degree: the unequal experience of ethnic minority staff and students at English universities: fizkes/Shutterstock A 2020 report on racial harassment published by industry body Universities UK drew attention to the “institutional racism and systemic issues that pervade the entire higher education sector”. In the same year, the …
Hypochondriacs die earlier than those who worry less about their health – what might explain this paradox?: HBRH/Shutterstock People who worry excessively about their health tend to die earlier than those who don’t, a recent study from Sweden has found. It seems strange that hypochondriacs who, by definition, worry yet have nothing wrong with them, …
Girls less likely to be diagnosed with special educational needs – new research: Mariia Korneeva/Shutterstock The point when a child with special educational needs (SEN) is diagnosed is an important moment in their lives. It allows schools to provide them with access to additional resources, such as assistive technology, specialised teaching programs or the services …
Leasehold reform: why UK government’s plans could make housing less affordable and less fair: Most flats in England are owned under leaseholds. Shutterstock The UK government is introducing plans to reform the system of leasehold property in England and Wales to parliament. The leasehold and freehold reform bill aims to empower leaseholders and achieve greater …
People experiencing news fatigue are less likely to be voters: Shutterstock/Shyntartanya In a comprehensive analysis of news consumption across the globe, a recent report by Reuters concluded that “interest in news continues to decline, fuelling disengagement and selective news avoidance”. In the 46 countries surveyed in the report, public interest in news has dropped significantly …
As Dark Side of the Moon: Redux shows, when it comes to lyrics, less is usually more: The cover to Dark Side of the Moon: Redux. Roger Waters There’s a scene in The Simpsons episode, Lisa The Simpson (1998), where Lisa is watching a jazz violinist’s performance and a man is criticising it. “You have …
Hotter, drier summers will make European craft beers less ‘hoppy’ – new study: Mike Workman/Shutterstock September 2023 was the warmest ever recorded according to the EU Climate Service, with Earth’s average surface air temperature peaking at 16.38°C. The average global temperature was also at least 1.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels on about a third of …
Advanced British Standard: Sunak’s proposed replacement for A-levels and T-levels could make education less divisive: Ground Picture/Shutterstock Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to scrap A-levels and the recently introduced T-levels. He unveiled proposals for young people to instead study the new Advanced British Standard (ABS) at the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The …
The UK just passed an online safety law that could make people less safe: Tero Vesalainen / Shutterstock The UK’s long-debated online safety bill (OSB) has been approved by the House of Lords, clearing the way for it to become law. But it has pitted the government, which proposed the bill, against tech companies that …
France used 10% less electricity last winter – three valuable lessons in fighting climate change: French authorities dimmed public lights in December 2022 to avert energy shortages. Jerome Labouyrie/Shutterstock Measures which help people use less energy at home, while travelling or at work could significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel …
People who grow their own fruit and veg waste less food and eat more healthily, says research: Households that produced their own fruit and veg wasted 95% less than the average UK household. Air Images/Shutterstock The rising cost of living is making it harder for people, especially those on lower incomes (who often have poorer …