Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: what its success means for children’s reading
It was sad but strangely fitting that Dolly Parton should have died during the UK’s National Year of Reading, given the way the much-loved country singer used her wealth and influence to promote reading. Parton’s Imagination Library has provided hundreds of millions of books to pre-school children around the world since 1995. While books are […]
How the Bayeux tapestry came alive for the people who viewed it a thousand years ago
As a professional embroiderer and textile archaeologist specialising in the early medieval period (450-1100 CE), I was privileged to be asked to contribute to the British Museum’s catalogue for its much-anticipated exhibition of the Bayeux tapestry, which is on display from September 2026 till July 2027. My previous work has involved me analysing the reverse […]
Human ‘safety drivers’ in Uber robotaxis could lose skills if all they do is observe
A safety driver may become less of an operator and more of a critical supervisor. Scharfsinn / Shutterstock Imagine getting into a London taxi. Someone is sitting in the driver’s seat, but the car is driving itself. If the autonomous system gets into difficulty, they must recognise what is happening, decide whether to intervene and, […]
My unsung hero of science: Harriet Taylor Mill, the radical feminist philosopher who lived in the shadow of her husband
I first heard about Harriet Taylor Mill when reading about her much more famous collaborator and future husband, the British philosopher and politician John Stuart Mill. Appropriately for someone who remains in the margins of history despite her enormous contribution – including to her husband’s status – Taylor Mill was deeply angered by injustice. Throughout […]
Why the world can’t agree how to tackle drought
The UN Cop17 summit in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, took place in August 2026. Susan Ann Samuel, CC BY-NC-ND Delegates from 196 nations plus EU officials have met in Mongolia to discuss how best to tackle drought and desertification. Often overlooked by the larger and busier climate summits, this small UN desertification summit, known as Cop17, felt […]
What is post-workout fatigue – and can you prevent it?
PeopleImages/ Shutterstock You finish a workout feeling pleased with yourself. But an hour later, your legs feel heavy, climbing the stairs seems impossible and all you want to do is sit down. The feeling of being drained after a tough working is often described as “post-workout fatigue”. You might feel low on energy, while your […]
Being a councillor is still a difficult career for women – why this matters for democracy
maxim ibragimov/Shutterstock The results of the May local elections across England highlighted a persistent problem in British politics: women remained underrepresented in local government. While attention often focuses on increasing the number of women elected, an equally important challenge is keeping them in office once they get there. Although there has been progress in recent […]
Moscow has a long history of paranoia about Britain’s support for Russia’s enemies
Relations between London and Moscow reached another peak of tension in August over the UK’s support for Ukraine. The success of Ukraine’s long-range strikes against targets deep inside Russia, with the help of UK-made drones, and the UK’s commitment to supply blueprints to help it manufacture long-range missiles, led the Kremlin to accuse the UK […]
Brazilian meat, antibiotics and superbugs: what you need to know
Andrzej Rostek/Shutterstock From 3 September 2026, Brazilian beef, poultry and other animal products will no longer be authorised for import into the European Union (EU) or Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales will continue accepting them during a separate UK assessment. The split concerns how antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines are used in farm animals. […]
How a little stress may help our cells protect themselves
NRF2 helps control genes involved in protecting cells against stress and damage. vetre/Shutterstock The cells of our body are frequently exposed to hazards that can cause them to be damaged, malfunction or die. Yet they have defence systems that can sometimes be strengthened by small doses of stress, a phenomenon known as hormesis. Scientists are […]