
To fend off Reform, mainstream parties must address the tangible decline of British towns
Reform UKs surge in recent local elections is not an isolated incident but a culmination of long-term economic and social shifts that have reshaped British society. It is the latest chapter in a narrative that includes the...

The 2024 Sir Paul Curran award for academic journalism goes to Paul Whiteley
Paul Whiteley, emeritus professor of government at the University of Essex, has been named as the 2024 winner of the Sir Paul Curran award for academic communication. The prize is awarded every year to an academic who has...

Almost 2,000 years ago in modern-day Uttar Pradesh, India, someone deposited a cache of gems inside a reliquary (a container for holy relics), along with some bone fragments and ash. The gems were precious, but the bones...

Spit science: why saliva is a great way to detect disease
A few drops of saliva can now reveal what used to require a scalpel, a syringe or a scan. Scientists have developed ways to analyse spit for the tiniest traces of illness from mouth cancer to diabetes, and even brain...

Quantum computers could crack the security codes used by satellites – they need future-proofing
Satellites are the invisible backbone of modern life. They guide airplanes, help us find our way with GPS, deliver TV and internet, and even help emergency services respond to disasters. But a new kind of computer quantum...

‘I don’t even recognise myself anymore’: the reality of eating disorders in sport
The UK is facing what charities are calling an eating disorder epidemic, with an estimated 1.25 million people affected. These conditions have the highest mortality rate of any mental health illness, making early...

The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien: a sobering meditation on the human condition
The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien intricately blends historical and speculative fiction to tackle contemporary global issues. It explores migration, the refugee crisis, identity politics and cultural conflict. At the...