Marathon runners rely on family and experts to succeed, while races rely on passionate volunteers

| Insights & Views

This past April, the Boston Marathon attracted more than 32,000 runners and approximately half a million spectators. With such a huge crowd on hand, its easy to think that the athletes major source of support comes from...

Golden Dome: what Trump should learn from Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ missile defence system plan

| Insights & Views

Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new next-generation missile defence system which he says will by capable even of intercepting missiles launched from the other side of the world, or launched from space. The US...

NOAA’s 2025 hurricane forecast warns of a busy season – a storm scientist explains why and what meteorologists are watching

| Insights & Views

U.S. forecasters are expecting an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms, and 6 to 10 of those becoming hurricanes. Every year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other...

Heart Lamp by the Indian writer Banu Mushtaq wins 2025 International Booker prize – a powerful collection of stories inspired by the real suffering of women

| Insights & Views

Banu Mushtaqs quietly powerful collection of short stories, translated by Deepa Bhasthi, shines a light on the lives of Muslim women in rural India. It is the first time that the International Booker prize has been won by...

Mary Dorcey: queer Irish poet illuminates a form of sexuality even the law has overlooked

| Insights & Views

Its the tenth anniversary of the marriage referendum in Ireland on May 22. The first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote, Ireland has transformed itself from a conservative stronghold to a liberal state....

Hay fever: why symptoms are so bad this year – and what to do if your usual remedies aren’t working

| Insights & Views

Hay fever can be annoying at the best of times. But this year, many people are reporting their usual symptoms are worse than ever before with their normal go-to remedies doing little to provide relief. Heres what you can...

Starmer’s winter fuel allowance ‘U-turn’ sets him on a tricky path with backbenchers and voters

| Insights & Views

The U-turn is a long and, depending on your point of view, honourable or dishonourable tradition in British politics. Now Keir Starmer has been accused of following this tradition after heavily hinting the UK government is...