Turning down your thermostat really can ease a gas supply crisis – here’s how: Russia has threatened to close a major gas pipeline to Europe in retaliation for countries considering bans on Russian oil imports. This could drive up prices due to lack of supply internationally, which would affect even countries like the UK which …
Death: how long are we conscious for and does life really flash before our eyes?: Death is still a mystery. Shutterstock The first time I reached past the sheer horror of the concept of death and wondered what the experience of dying may be like, I was about 15. I had just discovered gruesome aspects …
Ukraine: what’s really behind Putin’s deployment of ‘peacekeeping’ troops? Experts explain: Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the independence of the two breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk followed a surreal live broadcast of a security council meeting in the Kremlin. Sitting facing the 13-member council, Putin cajoled and argued as, one by one, his most senior …
The ‘new’ offences added to the online safety bill are not really new – and could continue to fail victims of online abuse: fizkes/Shutterstock The UK government has recently revealed more detail about its ambitious plans to become the “safest place in the world to go online” by way of the online safety bill. The …
Genetics helps estimate the risk of disease – but how much does it really tell us?: Makakaden/Shutterstock Genetics research has made momentous strides in the 21st century. At the start of the century, we had a broad understanding that most medical problems in the developed world are partly genetically determined but lacked the technology to …
Could 5G really ground planes? Why the US has delayed rolling out the mobile internet technology around airports: Simlinger/Shutterstock Several international airlines recently cancelled flights into certain US airports over concerns the rollout of 5G mobile communication technology could interfere with some planes’ equipment. After warnings about the potential problem from aviation bosses and the …
Can low carbon jobs really level up post-industrial towns? We went to Bolsover to find out: A 17th-century castle overlooks the town of Bolsover. Andrew Hill / flickr, CC BY-SA In 2019 Boris Johnson demolished the so-called “red wall” of northern England as scores of Midlands and northern towns voted Conservative for the first time …
Does a new study really show that hydroxychloroquine might be effective against omicron?: Stock Footage Inc/Shutterstock Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug controversially touted as a cure for COVID despite a lack of robust evidence, is creating renewed interest as a potential treatment for omicron. The discussion has been sparked by a new study from the University …
Real estate in the metaverse is booming. Is it really such a crazy idea?: denisik11/Shutterstock The idea of spending thousands or even millions of dollars to buy fictitious “land” in a virtual world sounds, to be frank, absurd. But in recent months, we’ve seen significant investments in virtual land within the metaverse. PwC is among …
New Year’s resolutions – if the future is preordained can we really change?: What's the point of trying to run if the future already exists? Andre Gie/Shutterstock Many of us set ourselves New Year’s resolutions hoping to form better habits. Some of us might want to be more environmentally friendly. Others want to eat better, …
Nine reasons why Die Hard really is a Christmas film: AA Film Archive/Alamy It’s that time of year for hunkering down to watch a Christmas film with the family – and to hold the annual debate over whether or not Die Hard actually counts as one. This debate has now become, in some film history …
Hollywood has got method acting all wrong, here’s what the process is really about: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock So-called method acting seems to be having a moment. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst apparently didn’t speak to each other on the set of their new film, Power of the Dog, to help them stay in character. While Lady Gaga …
Does vaping really damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer?: Vapers experience DNA changes, according to a recent paper published in Nature, and the changes are similar to those seen in smokers – although much less pronounced. Crucially, this evidence was based on a few people by examining changes in their DNA at the …
South Africa in the news: Scientists say it will take weeks to tell how dangerous Omicron really is. Here’s why: By Maggie Fox, CNN As soon as South Africa announced the spread of a new and troubling variant last week, scientists went to work. By the time the World Health Organization had named the new …
Could a chewing gum really reduce the spread of COVID-19? Maybe — but here’s what we need to know first: Milles Studio/Shutterstock An experimental chewing gum could reduce the spread of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a recent study published in the journal Molecular Therapy. You might already have noticed headlines calling …
Sleeping longer than 6.5 hours a night associated with cognitive decline according to research – what’s really going on here?: Does too much sleep really increase your risk of cognitive decline? Dragan Grkic/Shutterstock A good night’s sleep is important for many reasons. It helps our body repair itself and function as it should, and is …
Q&A: is the common cold really much worse this year?: Worst cold ever? People claim that 2021 has delivered longlasting, debilitating colds from www.pexels.com, CC BY-SA Many people are reporting the “worst cold ever”. But are colds really much worse this year? And, if so, what is causing it? We asked consultant microbiologist Fidelma Fitzpatrick …
How a money transfer system really helped Kenya’s poor – now it must be careful not to leave them behind: It started as a development project in Kenya designed to help poor rural entrepreneurs without bank accounts. Now M-Pesa, a phone-based money transfer service, has millions of users across the country. So far in 2021, …