Europe’s protest wave looks like 1968, but the demands are fundamentally different
A protester throws a bottle towards a police van during clashes in Barcelona, Spain, on October 5. Lino De Vallier / Shutterstock Spain’s November 11 general strike, called in response to a housing crisis, stagnant wages and rising living costs, is part of a much wider European story. Student-led protests in countries across the continent […]
The Odyssey’s sea monsters are terrifying expressions of ‘ecohorror’
Odysseus and Polyphemus by Arnold Böcklin (1896). Museum of Fine Arts Boston The ancient Greeks are generally thought of as a people at home on the sea. Yet their familiarity with the ocean didn’t stop them from fearing it. Danger and uncertainty always loomed over ancient voyages, and this is reflected in writing from the […]
The surprising origins of Denmark’s reputation for open-mindedness
Ask Danes what makes Denmark Danish and you might hear about openness, tolerance and the freedom to live as you choose. You can see it in the country’s history: Denmark was the first country in the world to legalise pornography. Alternative communities such as Christiania in Copenhagen are internationally famous for their counterculture and liberal […]
Sewers could hold the key to detecting deadly fungal infections
TopMicrobialStock/Shutterstock Every year, fungal infections kill around 2.5 million people worldwide, more than tuberculosis and malaria combined. Yet most people may have never heard of the fungi responsible, and few health systems track them in any organised way. In a recent review, my colleagues and I argue that one of the best places to start […]
Dark nutrition: what happens when people stop trusting food and nutrition science?
Caftor/Shutterstock.com “I’m Pi and this is Leo, and today we’re going to eat some raw roadkill.” So begins a YouTube video featuring two raw food enthusiasts eating the heart of a run-over raccoon. Another of the duo’s YouTube videos is titled The Elite Know Raw Food is Safe & Healthy and Vilify it to Keep […]
The stroke risk younger adults may be overlooking – and the symptoms that should never be dismissed
Ahmet Misirligul/ Shutterstock Stroke is often seen as a condition that only affects older people. Yet the incidence of stroke in older people has actually fallen in recent decades. At the same time, rates of stroke in under-55s has been on the rise. In England, stroke incidence among 35- to 54-year-olds rose by about 2% […]
La Bola Negra: this deeply moving cinematic homage to Lorca is part of his queer legacy
Directed by legendary Spanish film-making duo Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo – also known as “Los Javis” – La Bola Negra (The Black Ball) is Spain’s big hope for next year’s Oscars. The film reimagines the unfinished 1936 work of the same name by the Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca (1898-1936), based on […]
The Cop31 climate summit is betting on electrification – but still needs a plan to ditch fossil fuels
The latest UN climate summit, Cop31, will get underway in Antalya, Turkey, on November 9. One of its key objectives is to boost electrification across the global economy – replacing petrol and diesel vehicles, gas boilers and some industrial processes that burn fossil fuels with electric alternatives. The summit’s host, Turkey, has set a target […]
Four ways thinking like a strategist can make you a better padel player
Zoran Zeremski/Shutterstock As an avid tennis player, I never imagined an injury would lead me to discover a new sport. But just a few months ago, forced to take a break from tennis, I picked up a padel racket for the first time. I assumed that years of playing tennis would give me a head […]
Is natural toothpaste really as good as fluoride? Tooth decay expert on the difference
Natural and herbal toothpastes may contain plant-derived ingredients, but these alone cannot replace fluoride’s proven protection against tooth decay. Ivan Citakovic/Shutterstock Natural, herbal and organic toothpastes are becoming familiar sights on shop shelves, often promoted as healthier alternatives to conventional products. Some contain ingredients such as aloe vera, neem or green tea. But before changing […]