Too much Lena Dunham, Lorde’s new album and a book to break your heart: what to watch, listen to and read this week: When I first watched Girls, I remember marvelling at Lena Dunham’s four twenty-something New Yorkers. Sex and the City it was not. I realised wistfully just how much I wished the series …
Ocean mud locks up much of the planet’s carbon – we’re digging deep to map these ancient stores: Damsea/Shutterstock Mud is messy. For some, it’s a plaything. To many, it can mean real hardship. Mud, though, is often overlooked, particularly when it lies out of sight. Deep down at the bottom of the sea, it …
In Uganda rolex is much more than street food – it’s a national treasure: When Ugandans refer to getting a rolex, they seldom mean an expensive Swiss watch. Rolex is a popular kind of street food, made famous in global media. It serves more than just a practical function as fast food, but has many …
Antifungal resistance is not getting nearly as much attention as antibiotic resistance – yet the risks to global health are just as serious: TopMicrobialStock/Shutterstock Fungi are known for causing superficial infections of the nails, skin and hair, but they can also cause systemic infections that can have much more serious health implications. Indeed, over 6.5 …
What makes a person seem wise? Global study finds that cultures do differ – but not as much as you’d think: We all admire wise people, don’t we? Whether it’s a thoughtful teacher, a compassionate doctor, or an elder in the community, we recognise wisdom when we see it. But have you ever thought about …
Gigantic solar farms of the future might impact how much solar power can be generated on the other side of the world: Kertu / shutterstock The Sun’s energy is effectively limitless. While resources such as coal or gas are finite, if you are able to capture and use solar power it doesn’t prevent anyone else …
How subtle forms of misinformation affect what we buy and how much we trust brands: Both direct and indirect misinformation influence brand trust. estherpoon/Shutterstock Misinformation isn’t just blurring political lines anymore. It’s quietly infiltrating our shopping trolleys in subtle ways, shaping our decisions about what we buy and who we trust, as my research shows. …
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 …
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill: how much trouble is the prime minister really in as MPs threaten a parliamentary rebellion?: The legislative process in Britain consists of a series of discrete stages, each with its own purpose and function. A bill’s second reading is the discussion of, and vote on, the principle of the legislation. As …
OCD is so much more than handwashing or tidying. As a historian with the disorder, here’s what I’ve learned: Elena Abrazhevich/Shutterstock Readers are advised that this article contains explicit discussion of suicide and suicidal and obsessional thoughts. If you are in need of support, contact details are included at the end of the article. At …
Mohamed Amin was a famous Kenyan photojournalist – there’s much more to his work than images of tragedy: Kenyan photojournalist Mohamed Amin (1943-1996) rose to fame for documenting the 1984 famine in neighbouring Ethiopia with powerful images of the tragedy. He also captured the Ethiopian people’s suffering during the brutal reign of Mengistu Haile Mariam. …
Gaza war: Hamas’s web of allies in the October 7 attacks makes ending the conflict much harder for Israel: There have been reports that Hamas cooperated with a number of other armed groups to stage the October 7 attacks. If correct, this indicates substantial challenges for Israel – especially when it comes to ending the …
Black Friday is an environmental nightmare – the Victorians had a much more sustainable approach to fashion: Around 46 million people across the UK are expected to have visited their local high street to go shopping over the last weekend in November, encouraged by so-called Black Friday sales. The projected spend in-store and online is …
New Beatles and Rolling Stones music owes much of its success to the psychology of nostalgia: The Beatles wave to fans after arriving at New York's Kennedy Airport in 1964. US Library of Congress Throughout the 1960s, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were engaged in a friendly rivalry. Despite being amicable in person, they …
Suella Braverman: how much of a threat is sacked home secretary from the backbenches? What the polling tells us: We’ve had many indications over the past few years, but recent events are perhaps the most significant yet of the difficult electoral coalition the Conservatives are trying to bridge as they fight to hold onto power. …
How much income is needed to live well in the UK in 2023? At least £29,500 – much more than many households bring in: StanislauV/Shutterstock You don’t have to look very hard at the moment to find evidence of the immense financial pressure on UK households. New figures from the Trussell Trust show that 1.5 …
Israel: why the brand boycotts probably won’t make much difference: McDonald’s and Starbucks are among numerous western companies facing consumer boycotts over the Gaza conflict. McDonald’s found itself caught in the crossfire after an Israeli franchisee said it was providing thousands of free meals to the Israel Defense Forces. Similarly, Starbucks faced boycott calls after …
Self-control isn’t always a good thing – having too much can be bad for your mental health: Characteristics of 'overcontrolled' personalities may make a person more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness. silverkblackstock/ Shutterstock Having high self-control is often seen as a good thing. It’s believed to be key to success in many aspects …