John Vanbrugh at 300: the man described as ‘the Shakespeare of architecture’
Blenheim Palace and Portrait of John Vanbrugh by Godfrey Kneller (1704). Inga Kebleryte/Shutterstock/National Portrait Gallery/Canva Every generation discovers its own heroes. I found mine in 2026. He died in 1726 and his name is John Vanbrugh (1664-1726). I’m not the first to discover him, of course, and I am in stellar company. This year has […]
Mark Carney: a master of statecraft in an era short of great orators
For the past decade, global diplomacy has been dictated by one man’s social media musings. Since Donald Trump first glided into the Trump Tower atrium on his golden escalator, he – and what he has to say – has been the story, throwing red meat to the media and shaping the affairs of the US […]
Stop adapting Jane Austen! Five other 18th-century writers perfect for the screen
Charlotte Lenox, Frances Burney and Eliza Haywood are three other female writers whose work is ripe for adaptation. Wikimedia With new adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility arriving on our screens this autumn, television’s long-running love affair with Jane Austen shows little sign of abating. But there are other 18th-century writers with […]
Neuroscience offers new insights into how our brain solves ‘the cocktail party problem’
Master1305/Shutterstock Imagine you are at a cocktail party. The room is crowded, people are coming and going, and you can barely hear your friend as they tell you some juicy gossip about the date they went on last week. The fact you can still follow what they’re saying is down to your brain performing some […]
Who do you trust in an emergency? We asked people in places hit by extreme weather
One evening in August 2025, a Pakistani shepherd, Abuzar Hussain, was tending sheep and goats in the mountainous slopes of Shijar. At about 6pm, a thunderous roar shattered the silence of the valley. Abuzar could see a glacial flood headed towards his village, and had minutes to react. He desperately climbed up to a higher […]
Granting a new gasfield licence does not guarantee energy security
Arild Lilleboe/Shutterstock The UK government is deciding whether to approve a licence for Jackdaw gasfield, around 250km east of Aberdeen, in the North Sea. This is being presented by supporters as part of the answer to Britain’s energy-security problem. The UK government has argued that if Britain still needs gas, then producing it domestically is […]
Why ‘accidents’ can happen during intense exercise
There are very few downsides to exercise. But a recent viral story highlighted one of the more embarrassing – and potentially dangerous – issues that can occur when your body reaches it limit with exercise. Joanna Wietrzyk, the winner of the recent women’s pro Hyrox race in Beijing (a challenging fitness race that blends running […]
What might Canada’s EU ‘associate membership’ look like, and is it even a possibility?
In a speech to the European Parliament, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney declared that “Europe and Canada are stronger together”. He also backed an offer made by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, one day earlier for Canada to become the first “associate member” of the bloc. “Canada welcomes this ambition,” […]
How a traditional Nordic way of eating could help you live longer
We live in Denmark, which consistently ranks as one of the world’s healthiest countries. The modern Danish diet, however, may not be quite so world-leading – with many Danes consuming high levels of sugar, salt and convenience food. Yet, go back a few generations and science is increasingly showing that many of the staple foods […]
The Bayeux tapestry: how this medieval wonder was reinvented for modern times
The Bayeux tapestry is back after a thousand years. Made in England at the end of the 11th century, the 70-metre masterpiece has returned for the first time in a blockbuster exhibition at the British Museum. The origins of this embroidery are mysterious. Although there is general agreement now that it was most likely designed […]