Nineteen Eighty-Four might have been inspired by George Orwell’s fear of drowning

| Insights & Views

George Orwell had a traumatic relationship with the sea. In August 1947, while he was writing Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) on the island of Jura in the Scottish Hebrides, he went on a fishing trip with his young son, nephew...

Why Israel-Iran tensions might not raise prices at the pump as much as feared (for now)

| Insights & Views

The unexpected attack by Israel on Iran, a major oil-producing nation, may undermine anaemic global economic growth and hinder central banks ability to cope in an already uncertain market. Iran exports up to 2 million...

England is expanding free school meals – here’s what could happen if they were given to all children

| Insights & Views

The UK government has announced an extension of free school meals in England to all children whose parents receive universal credit, in order to address child hunger and poverty. The government claims that half a million...

The UK’s warm homes plan has been saved – here’s how Labour can learn from a decade of failed insulation schemes

| Insights & Views

The UK government confirmed in its June 2025 spending review that it will honour its manifesto pledge and not cut the 13.2 billion warm homes plan, as had been speculated. The money will be spent over the next four years,...

Wandering uteruses and far-reaching tubes: the surprising mobility of the female reproductive tract

| Insights & Views

The ancient wandering womb theory suggested that many ailments in women were caused by the uterus becoming dislodged and roaming the body in search of moisture. According to these theories, the uterus could roam freely...

Blinding lights: the hidden science behind gambling’s glow

| Insights & Views

Theres a reason casinos rarely have windows or clocks, theyre engineered to make you lose track of time. But what if its not just time youre losing? New research suggests that the lighting used in gambling environments...

Misogyny has become a political strategy — here’s how the pandemic helped make it happen

| Insights & Views

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more overt forms of gendered hate have jumped from obscure internet forums into the mainstream, shaping culture and policy. Social media doesnt just reflect sexist, anti-feminist views; it...