Does COVID really damage your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infections? The evidence is lacking: The northern hemisphere has seen a surge in winter viruses. Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock Over the past month or two, many northern hemisphere countries including the US and the UK have seen a large wave of respiratory viral infections. …
Calling politicians ‘clowns’ is a disservice to clowns – yes, really: Lisa F. Young / Shutterstock A recent Labour party campaign mocked short-lived prime minister Liz Truss and current chancellor Jeremy Hunt as clowns, complete with photoshopped red noses, colourful wigs and oversize bowties. This advertisement echoed years of similar criticisms of former prime minister …
The history of chocolate: when money really did grow on trees: Advent calendars with hidden chocolatey treats, huge tins of Quality Street and steaming cups of hot chocolate festooned with whipped cream and marshmallows are all much-loved wintry staples at Christmastime. But how many of us stop to think about where chocolate actually comes from …
What do politicians really think of economists? Our new research explains why relations fell apart after 2008: ESB Professional / Shutterstock As countries across Europe and around the world grapple with high living costs and impending recession, voters are concerned about the economy and how their elected representatives will fix it. For many, it’s tempting …
Online safety: what young people really think about social media, big tech regulation and adults ‘overreacting’: timelineguru/Shutterstock Don’t say ‘just don’t go online’ because adults wouldn’t do that if something happened in the real world. If you got followed home, it’s not like [they would say]: “Hey, stop leaving the house.” Help the person understand …
Labour’s plan to reform politics doesn’t go far enough – here’s what evidence shows will really stop governments hoarding power: In a major report for the Labour party, former prime minister Gordon Brown has proposed a number of reforms to address some of the UK’s glaring institutional problems. He recommends reforming the House of Lords, …
What’s really going on when a child is ‘overtired’ – and how to help them go to sleep: G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock Anyone who’s cared for a young child will recognise the signs. They’ve had too little sleep or missed a nap, they’re cranky, tearful, and stroppy, and they can’t or won’t fall sleep. They are “overtired”. …
World Cup 2022: Qatar is accused of ‘sportswashing’ but do the fans really care?: Doha. All clean? Shutterstock/HasanZaidi Fifa’s choice of Qatar as host of the 2022 men’s football World Cup has been controversial since day one. Questions continue to be raised about the nation’s attitude to human rights, and its treatment of migrant workers. …
Exercise really can help you sleep better at night – here’s why that may be: Even just one workout can improve your sleep. RealPeopleStudio/ Shutterstock Many people struggle to get enough good quality sleep. Not only does this leave us feeling tired the next day, but over the long term poor sleep can actually have …
Northern Ireland census shows more Catholics than Protestants — a political scientist on what this really means: Belfast City Hall, Northern Ireland. Ballygally View Images | Shutterstock The results of the 2021 Northern Ireland census have been released and they show that 42.3% of the population identify as Catholic and 37.3% as Protestant or other …
Can we really deflect an asteroid by crashing into it? Nobody knows, but we are excited to try: Animation of the Dart mission. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL Nasa’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (Dart) spacecraft is designed to be a one hit wonder. It will end its days by crashing into an asteroid at 24,000 kilometres …
Should we really believe scientific facts will last forever when history is full of revolutions in thinking?: Phrenology has long since been overturned, but it was once very popular among scientists. Holly Anne Cromer/Shutterstock Astronomers once believed the Sun revolved around the Earth. In the 19th century, scientists thought the shape of a person’s skull …
Liz Truss may not appoint an ethics adviser – does that really matter?: Clicksbox / Shutterstock Liz Truss, who is likely to be prime minister next week, has indicated that she may not appoint an ethics adviser. She said she has “always acted with integrity”, so there is no need for an official to advise …
‘Tomato flu’ outbreak in India – here’s what it really is: A “new virus” called tomato flu has been reported in Kerala, India. According to an article in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the first case of this mysterious illness was reported on May 6. There have now been over 80 cases, with the disease spreading …
Five myths about the partition of British India – and what really happened: Lord Mountbatten, then viceroy of India, meets Nehru Jinnah and other leaders to plan partition of India. Wikipedia, CC BY-NC This August marks 75 years since the partition of the Indian subcontinent. British withdrawal from the region prompted the creation of two …
Is there really a paradigm shift in US/Africa relations? Why the answer seems to be yes: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken setting out Washington's new Africa strategy at the University of Pretoria. Photo by Andrew Harnik / AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images) US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s whirlwind visit to three African countries …
China: how does the UK’s power to push back against the rising superpower really compare to that of the EU?: Vladm/Shutterstock The EU has been at the forefront of political efforts to work with and check the threats represented by China to the west since 1975. In 2019, the EU labelled China “a systemic rival” …
TikTok really could be a factor in the rise of tics among young women – but its real cause is this medical condition: Peter Snaterse/Shutterstock A recent Channel 4 TV programme, Britain’s Tourette Mystery – Scarlett Moffatt Investigates, promised to explain why there has been an increase in the number of people, mainly teenage girls, …