How did plants first evolve into all different shapes and sizes? We mapped a billion years of plant history to find out: From minuscule moss to colourful flowers and tall trees. Philip Donoghue / James Clark Plants range from simple seaweeds and single-celled pond scum, through to mosses, ferns and huge trees. Palaeontologists like us …
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden: 50 years of banal royalism: The death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and the subsequent coronation of King Charles III eight months later, were international media events of historic proportions. People around the world observed, in close detail, how the UK’s royal institution consolidates its authority by …
Coup in Gabon: Ali Bongo the eighth west African leader to be ousted by military in two years: Gabon’s prime minister, Ali Bongo, has become the latest in a string of African leaders to be ousted by a military coup in recent years. Bongo, who had just won a third term in power, was ousted …
70 years ago, an Anglo-US coup condemned Iran to decades of oppression – but now the people are fighting back: The 1953 coup d’etat in Iran ushered in a period of exploitation and oppression that has continued – despite a subsequent revolution that led to huge changes – for 70 years. Each year on August …
Afghanistan: two years after Taliban takeover the west is letting down the democratic opposition: The consequences of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan two years ago are bad enough for the people who live there, especially women and girls, but also for the region and the world, in the flow of migrants and threat of terrorism. …
The science of why you can remember song lyrics from years ago: The science behind rhyme, rhythm and repetition. Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock Why is it that many people can’t remember where they put their car keys most mornings, but can sing along to every lyric of a song they haven’t heard in years when it comes on …
Two years after Taliban takeover: why Afghanistan still poses a threat to the region and beyond: The dramatic and rapid Taliban offensive in the spring of 2021 culminated in its takeover of Kabul on August 15. The chaos of the western withdrawal that surrounded the return of the Taliban represented a sad endpoint of two …
India was a tree planting laboratory for 200 years – here are the results: Allowing forests to regenerate on their own has been championed as a strategy for reducing planet-heating carbon in the atmosphere while also boosting biodiversity, the benefits ecosystems offer and even the fruitfulness of livelihoods. But efforts to increase global tree cover …
I’ve spent 50 years studying one seabird colony fight its way back from near extinction – now it faces new threats: A guillemot nesting on a cliff ledge on Skomer Island, south Wales. Andrew Astbury/Shutterstock Over the past few decades, Skomer Island off the south coast of Wales has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in its …
Cameroon’s anglophone conflict has lasted for six years: what citizens say about how to end it: Cameroonians want an end to the six year old armed conflict. Wikimedia Commons The armed conflict in Cameroon between separatist groups and the military is in its sixth year. Armed groups are fighting for secession of the English-speaking north-west …
Bank account closures don’t just affect ‘politically exposed persons’ – sex workers have struggled with financial exclusion for years: BongkarnGraphic/Shutterstock The fallout over the closure of Nigel Farage’s bank account has shed light on how financial institutions handle “politically exposed persons”, whom they may view as high-risk clients. Farge, the former Ukip leader, who held …
Mali crisis: UN peacekeepers are leaving after 10 years – what’s needed for a smooth transition: Malians march against the UN peacekeeping force in Bamako in September 2022. Ousmane Makaveli/AFP via Getty Images The UN Security Council voted on 30 June 2023 to end its peacekeeping mission in Mali, Minusma, after Mali officially requested its …
Long COVID: brain function still affected for some up to two years after infection – new research: LightField Studios/Shutterstock Difficulties with cognitive functions or skills, such as the ability to recall memories, concentrate on tasks, or find the right words in conversation, are commonly reported following a COVID infection. These symptoms are often referred to …
Kenya’s politicians continue to use ethnicity to divide and rule – 60 years after independence: Protesters in Kisumu confront police officers after Kenya's disputed 2017 elections. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images Since independence in 1963, Kenya’s politicians have fed and manipulated ethnicity to win elections. With some 40-odd ethnic groups, Kenya is a country of …
Drawing in the sand at the beach? Our ancestors did the same 140,000 years ago: This ammoglyph consists of a circular groove, a central depression and two possible knee impressions. Charles Helm The urge to draw images in sand, or create sand sculptures, seems to be irresistible, as a walk on many a modern beach …
Three powerful films about gay marriage to celebrate ten years of the Same-Sex Marriage Act: It’s now ten years since the UK passed the Same-Sex Marriage Act, which made same-sex marriage legal in England and Wales. Since then, there’s been an increase in LGBT+ characters onscreen, especially in television. But in film, this representation often …
2001: A Space Odyssey still leaves an indelible mark on our culture 55 years on: 2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark film in the history of cinema. It is a work of extraordinary imagination that has transcended film history to become something of a cultural marker. And since 1968, it has penetrated the psyche …
Death in Jenin: Israel’s biggest attack in the West Bank in 20 years is down to Netanyahu’s political weakness – here’s why: Israeli forces say they have completed a 48-hour military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin – the largest in two decades. Beginning on Monday, July 3, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) …