By Paul Hough, Lecturer Sport & Exercise Physiology , University of Westminster
The festive season has a reputation for undoing good habits such as eating well and exercising. Normal routines disappear, days become less structured and exercise habits can fade. The solution to staying active is not more willpower, but smarter planning. Research shows that simple, practical strategies can help people stay active through Christmas and into the new year.
At this time of year, articles often focus on the calorie content of festive foods and drinks, alongside advice on how to “burn off” festive indulgence. However, guilt-based motivation is ineffective…
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By Amy Brown, Professor of Child Public Health, Swansea University
Are you a parent to one child? Or are you considering having a child in the future, and wondering about what your family size should be?
Parents of only children are frequently asked when they are having another child, as if there is an expectation that they will be planning another – even though around 45% of families in the UK now have one child.
In research for my new…
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By James Rodgers, Reader in International Journalism, City St George's, University of London
A vast amount of information has not necessarily meant more reliable information, writes James Rodgers, a former BBC correspondent who held postings in Gaza, Moscow and Brussels
On December 10, the year 2025 reached a murderous milestone. In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had recorded 126 journalists and media workers killed,…
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By Michelle Spear, Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol
Why sweet treats bypass fullness signals and make space in your stomach, even after a massive meal. The biology of betsubara.
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By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University
The new year will bring new controls over what you see online – such as blurring pornographic or violent search results if you’re not logged in.
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By Sarah Jefferson, Senior Lecturer in Education, Edith Cowan University
As the summer holidays begin, parents may feel concerned their children will “forget how to spell their own names” during the long school break.
Or there may be worries about forgetting times tables, slipping reading levels and generally falling behind. Parents may wonder if it’s better to maintain some kind of academic routine during the break.
The short answer: a light touch is plenty.
‘Summer learning loss’
Researchers have studied the idea school students have some degree of “summer learning loss” for more…
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By Kate Douglas, Professor of English, Flinders University
Teens – like most of us – are influenced by each other when it comes to reading. They share their favourite books read in 2025, ranging from manga to crime to romance.
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By Joan Taylor, Professor Emerita of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism, King's College London
The modern Christmas themes of peace and joy were in short supply amid the ‘dislocation and danger’ of ancient Judea – as they are in today’s fractured world too.
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By Philip C. Almond, Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought, The University of Queensland
A surprising number of people say they are open to the existence of angels. Their Old Testament identities are very different, however, to how they are seen today.
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By Nelly Liyanagamage, Lecturer, University of Wollongong
Christmas is just around the corner, and you might be wondering how to spend those long, lazy afternoons. If you’re tired of the same old Monopoly, perhaps it’s time to try Settlers of Catan.
It’s a strategy board game for three to four players fighting to be the dominant force on Catan island. Settlers of Catan fundamentally changed the board game industry since its launch in 1995. It has sold more than 40 million copies and led to dozens of spinoffs.
Catan offers the strategic thrill of Monopoly,…
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