Seeds of Exchange reveals the untold story of the plant collectors who connected Canton and London in the 18th century
I’m standing in a deconsecrated church in Lambeth, London, now home to the Garden Museum. It has a warm and pleasant atmosphere, undeniably a church, yet far removed from its original purpose. On this quiet Friday morning, I met with Emma House, the lead curator of the exhibition Seeds of Exchange. We wandered around the […]
Venice is sinking – we analysed every plan to save it, and none would preserve the city as we know it
Venice has co-existed with the sea throughout its 1,500-year history, perhaps better than any other city on earth. Yet over the past century it has flooded increasingly often, as the sea rises and the city itself sinks under its own weight. We recently published an academic analysis of the various options Venice has to ensure […]
Fining hospitals for medical misogyny won’t help women – it will hurt them
At the back of the queue. toodtuphoto/Shutterstock.com Hospitals that score poorly on feedback from female patients could soon see their budget cut under a plan unveiled in April by Wes Streeting, the UK’s health secretary. Branded “patient power payments”, the scheme would tie a slice of hospital income to women’s experiences of care, a measure […]
From floppy discs to Claude Mythos, how ransomware grew into a multibillion-dollar industry
jijomathaidesigners/Shutterstock When evolutionary biologist Joseph Popp coded the first documented piece of ransomware in 1989, he had little idea it would become a major criminal business model capable of bringing economies to their knees. Popp, who worked for the World Health Organization at the time, wanted to warn people about the dangers of ignoring health […]
How US presidents shift controversial actions abroad to get around limits at home
When Donald Trump deported a group of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador in 2025, it was the fulfilment of a long-held wish. Across both of his administrations Trump has pushed officials to find ways to brutalise immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, believing that doing so will deter others from making the trip. The Venezuelan […]
Heritage is created, not inherited – as Korean pop culture shows
An exhibition at South Korea’s Yeosu Arte Museum. BtheJ/Shutterstock The word “heritage” generally calls to mind the distant past. Ancient buildings, historic objects or traditions passed down over generations. “Heritage” feels old by definition, but it’s not simply something we inherit. It is something we actively make. What matters is not age but the decision […]
Consent is a core principle in the Kamasutra – what we can learn from it today
We often assume, when it comes to sex, that women’s voices have only been taken seriously in relatively recent history. However, female sexual power and liberation can be found in the Kamasutra, which dates back to the 3rd century. You can be forgiven for thinking that the Kamasutra isn’t an empowering or forward-thinking text, based […]
With talk of closer EU alignment, the UK is signalling to Europe that it’s a partner worthy of trust
PM Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have reset the UK-EU relationship – but UK alignment would take things a step further. Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock It is now almost a decade since the UK voted for Brexit and since the tariffs of US president Donald Trump’s first term increased global trade frictions. Brexit […]
Dan Dare is blasting off again: why, as a scientist, I’m excited for the comics’ return
Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future was a groundbreaking science fiction comic serial, first appearing in the UK comic The Eagle in 1950. Now, more than 75 years later, a reinvention of the series is underway, with the first new graphic novel written by Alex de Campi (Bad Girls and Madi) with art by Marc […]
Our Freedom: Then and Now explores what freedom means to Brits, 80 years after the second world war
Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, Our Freedom: Then and Now is a nationwide photography project exploring how communities understand freedom. The show opened at London’s Southbank Centre in April and is now touring the UK. This exhibition offers an alternative perspective to the idea that this is currently […]