Volodymyr Zelensky’s other war: Ukraine’s endless struggle with corruption
Ukraine celebrated this year’s independence day on August 24 in the presence of key allies and amid the unfolding of another major corruption scandal. It all started when Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s defence minister until his dismissal as part of a government reshuffle last month, posted a nine-minute video on August 19 that was widely seen […]
The ‘wonder material’ graphene can be made using a kitchen blender, a mobile phone and a newspaper
There is something slightly ridiculous about using a kitchen blender to make graphene. This is, after all, the “wonder material” associated with futuristic technologies. You might reasonably expect its production to involve equally futuristic equipment. Often, it does. Producing graphene in liquid form can rely on purified graphite (better known to many as the “lead” […]
Robert Harris returns to ancient Rome with Agrippa – a novel about an empire’s forgotten architect
Loredana Sangiuliano/Shutterstock/Canva Robert Harris has returned to Rome with his new novel, Agrippa. It’s a fictional autobiography of M. Vipsanius Agrippa, right-hand man of the Emperor Augustus, purportedly written in the days before Agrippa’s death at the age of 50 in 12BC. In Harris’s Cicero trilogy (2021), narrator Tiro allowed readers to see an intimate […]
Why police have been told to pause their use of AI in court cases
Toey Andante/Shutterstock Police forces in England and Wales have been told to pause some uses of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in criminal justice work, including preparing court statements. The intervention follows concerns that commercial AI systems are being used in situations where accuracy, provenance and accountability are critical. Alex Murray, head of the Police.AI centre […]
The physical activity paradox: not all forms of exercise lower your dementia risk – this type raises it
New Africa/Shutterstock.com Not all physical activity is equal when it comes to protecting the brain from dementia. Where and why we move may matter more than most people realise. A large new review of studies published in The Lancet Public Health found that leisure-time physical activity – such as sport, dancing or going to the […]
Empty North Sea oil fields could store enough green hydrogen to power the country for seven years
Dabarti CGI/Shutterstock Every time Britain has a still, grey week in winter, something invisible happens behind our plug sockets: gas power stations fire up to keep the lights on. That gas is often imported, with prices set by volatile global markets. This is one reason why energy bills surged during the cost-of-living crisis, despite the […]
Why Andy Burnham’s plan to get rough sleepers inside this winter makes sense
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to bring people who are sleeping rough in England into temporary accommodation for Christmas. While this is a good move, and should be happening across the rest of the UK, more needs to be done quickly to help people who are homeless. Winter is a dangerous time for people […]
The brain has its own thermostat – study shows epilepsy may interfere with it
New Africa/Shutterstock Doctors have long known that changes in body temperature can affect seizure activity. Fever can trigger seizures in some young children, while in rare forms of epilepsy, bathing in hot water can bring on a seizure. Raised body temperature can also trigger seizures in Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that usually […]
Train to Busan ten years on: zombie thriller that propelled the rise of Korean cinema
Ten years ago, a divorced father and his young daughter boarded a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan. But before they reached their destination, most of South Korea had been overrun by zombies. This simple premise turned director Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan into one of the most successful Korean films of its generation. Following […]
What live sewage spill data does (and doesn’t) tell us about water pollution
Maximillian cabinet/Shutterstock During periods of heavy rainfall, pipes known as storm overflows aim to prevent excess water overflowing into the sewage system. But this is not always the case. During intense rainfall, combined sewers (which carry both wastewater from homes and businesses and rainwater running off roads and buildings into drains) can exceed their capacity. […]