Conflicts can spread infectious diseases while making outbreaks harder to detect
The Ebola outbreak that emerged in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and crossed into neighbouring Uganda may have been killing people for weeks before the alarm was raised. When Médecins Sans Frontières investigated in May 2026, it reported that at least 55 people had died since the beginning of April. On May 17, the […]
Where have all the wasps gone this summer?
Dabuch/Shutterstock Summer can be lovely – until a wasp turns up. Whether they present as an irritating picnic visitor or an uninvited loft guest, common social wasps are as much a part of our summer as festivals, sun cream and the growing despair of how to entertain children who’ve forgotten how to be bored. But […]
Is Netanyahu’s star waning in Washington? His latest meeting with Trump suggests it may be
Appearing increasingly isolated and weakened, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to Washington this week, where he had a face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump – his eighth of the US president’s second term. Netanyahu is desperate to revive his image as the closest ally of the most powerful man in the world, but his star […]
Gianni Infantino wants to sell the World Cup – but it’s not his to sell
It’s clear from the generally horrified reaction to Gianni Infantino’s plan to turn the World Cup into an investment vehicle that the Fifa boss has gone too far. For years Infantino has been the target of criticism. What is seen as his inapprioriate close relations with world leaders including Vladimir Putin of Russia, Mohammed bin […]
Hundreds of people in England have died before doctors diagnosed their tuberculosis
Angele Bu/Shutterstock Dave, a retired dockworker, has smoked since his teens. When he develops a persistent cough, he dismisses it as “just a smoker’s cough”. Then he loses weight, develops fevers and wakes at night drenched in sweat. After several courses of antibiotics, he continues to deteriorate and is admitted to hospital. Doctors find emphysema, […]
You have more ways to connect than ever, but deep friendship feels hard to find – here’s how to build better connections
Gorgev/Shutterstock You know what’s happening in the lives of dozens of people. A friend from school has just had a baby. Someone you follow online recently got engaged. A colleague has returned from a holiday. Messages and updates arrive constantly. Yet when you’re having a difficult week, deciding who to call feels surprisingly hard. You’re […]
Can social care ever really be fixed? Experts react to the latest in a long line of promises
BlurryMe/Shutterstock The Big Conversation on Care is the latest attempt to fix England’s broken social care system. Getting a handle on this issue has been attempted no fewer than 22 times since the 1990s – but Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed that this time they’ll find the right answers. But what might these be […]
How heatwaves make life harder for homeless people
River Tiber in central Rome, Italy. LifeCollectionPhotography/Shutterstock Cities are getting hotter. Building materials like concrete or asphalt trap and radiate heat. Heat emissions from vehicles and air conditioning units are concentrated in urban areas, and there’s less of a breeze in built-up places. Alongside fewer trees or the absence of cooling rivers, heatwaves can feel […]
Ten simple and proven ways to reduce your exposure to pollutants in your home
fizkes/Shutterstock Modern life exposes us to a wide range of substances. While most exposures occur at low levels, researchers like me are increasingly interested in the potential cumulative effects of certain chemicals. These include synthetic compounds, indoor air pollutants and microplastics, which can disrupt our hormone and developmental systems. Scientists are still investigating the combined […]
How Latin America’s right use humour – and why it has deep historical roots
Future Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro sits on the shoulders of a supporter during a rally in Juiz de Fora, south-eastern Brazil, in 2018. Antonio Scorza / Shutterstock Humour plays a key role in the political communication of rightwing populist leaders in Latin America. Politicians including Javier Milei in Argentina, Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and […]