By Marc Van Goethem, Microbial ecologist, University of Pretoria
Microbial ecology (the study of how tiny microbes interact with each other and their environment) underpins the health of every ecosystem on Earth. The microbes living in soil recycle nutrients, support plant growth and help ecosystems respond to environmental change. In this explainer, microbial ecologist Marc Van Goethem tells us why microbes are critical to human life. They can…
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By David James Cantor, Director of the Refugee Law Initiative, School of Advanced Study, University of London
The eruption of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in May 2026 sparked a major crisis.
Transmissions and deaths are skyrocketing, and no vaccine is currently available.
This virus is notably…
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By Rebecca L. Clark, Postdoctoral Fellow in Philosophy, London School of Economics and Political Science
An Australian state is set to introduce a law supporting the right to work from home, and it’s already in place for some parents in Portugal. Should it happen elsewhere?
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By Xueyu Geng, Professor in Ground Engineering, University of Warwick
Heatwaves can cause tracks to buckle, forcing speed restrictions or closures. An engineering expert explains how railways can adapt to a hotter climate.
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By Anna Jackman, Associate Professor in Human Geography, University of Reading
From the Ukraine war and suspected drone sightings at Europe’s busiest airports to the seizure of over 700 unauthorised drones during the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the skies above us and news reporting are abuzz with drones.
Spanning different sizes and functions, drones have become essential military tools and mainstays of contemporary conflicts. This is depicted by the saturation of the Russia-Ukraine…
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By Lydia Scholle-Cotton, PhD Candidate, Education, Queen's University, Ontario
Cheryl Lee-Yow, PhD Student in Education, Queen's University, Ontario
Emily Luo, PhD Student in Education, Queen's University, Ontario
A survey and workshop project is designed to help educators reflect on their comfort with genAI, assessment and educational practices and their fears and challenges.
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By Weilong Zhang, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Cambridge
Britain’s postwar sugar rationing was an accidental experiment. Decades on, it’s revealing how early diet shapes cancer risk, ageing and eating habits for life.
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By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex
Prime ministers aren’t lasting long in the job these days – and data shows that the UK is slipping on some measures of governance.
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By Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University
PSA testing hasn’t been banned – but the row over prostate cancer screening reveals a genuine scientific and ethical dilemma.
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By Aishwarya Lakshmi, Executive Director, Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance, Rice University
The growing assertion of a majority Hindu identity is fueling debates about religious pluralism in India. A 2025 Washington-based research group report documented a steady, incremental increase in hate speech since 2023 targeting religious minorities in India, while Human Rights Watch reported a rise in religious and communal violence in 2024. Much of this rhetoric and violence has been justified as defending…
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