By Eef Hogervorst, Professor of Biological Psychology, Loughborough University
For millions of people around the world, pollen season means weeks of sneezing, itchy eyes and a blocked or runny nose. The timing varies depending on where you live and which plants are in flower, but grass pollen is one of the most common triggers.
Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to airborne pollen. Many people manage their symptoms with antihistamines bought from a pharmacy. But recent headlines have raised a worrying question: could some of the medicines used…
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By Alexandra Makin, Third Century Research Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University
If I say the word “hobby”, you’ll likely think of something you like to do in your spare time – gardening, walking, reading, knitting, model kits. Maybe it’s pottery classes, DIY projects or learning something new on YouTube. But what you may not know is many hobbies were originally forms of work that evolved into something to do in our spare time as manufacturing practices changed.
Crafts are one type of hobby that have always been popular. Many, like lacemaking, were originally…
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By Michael Garrett, Sir Bernard Lovell chair of Astrophysics, University of Manchester
The moment of first contact with extraterrestrials is a staple of science fiction. It usually involves a frantic scientist having a Eureka moment, realising in a single dramatic instant that Earth is being visited by creatures from light-years away.
Aliens are in the public consciousness once again thanks to Steven Spielberg’s latest film, Disclosure Day, which follows a whistleblower’s attempts to reveal extraterrestrial visitations…
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By Jenni Ramone, Associate Professor of Postcolonial and Global Literatures, Nottingham Trent University
Alison Donnell, Professor of Modern Literatures in English, University of East Anglia
Anne Whitehead, Professor of Modern & Contemporary Literature, Newcastle University
Manjeet Ridon, Associate Dean International, Faculty of Arts, Design & Humanities, De Montfort University
Paty Paliokosta, Associate Professor of Special and Inclusive Education, Kingston University
Sojin Lim, Reader in Asia Pacific Studies, Co-Director of the International Institute of Korean Studies, University of Lancashire
The Women’s prize for fiction has been awarded to a female author of any nationality for the best novel written in English since 1996. In its 30th year, it is now one of the most influential literary awards in the world.
The 2026 shortlist explores themes of power, agency, ageing and connection. The list reflects the prize’s drive to support new and emerging female talent with four debuts.
Here we have enlisted six experts to guide you through the nominations for 2026.
Read more: Women’s…
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By Andrew Gawthorpe, Lecturer in History and International Studies, Leiden University
Iran fired barrages of missiles at Israel for the first time in two months on June 7. The initial trigger was an Israeli strike against a Hezbollah target in the Lebanese capital of Beirut earlier that day, an attack that Donald Trump had only recently asked the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to avoid carrying out.
Israel’s military soon launched retaliatory strikes on targets in western and central Iran, again defying calls by Trump for restraint. Iran…
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By José Iriarte, Professor of Archaeology, University of Exeter
Archaeologists thought ancient Amazonia was only home to wandering people, but new technology has uncovered complex societies living in forest cities.
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By Matthew Smith, Visiting Assistant Professor of History, Miami University
For more than a century, anti-Catholicism was a powerful force in the region’s culture and politics. But religious pluralism ultimately triumphed in the ‘Queen City.’
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By Gustavo Morello, Professor of Sociology, Boston College
As millions watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup, players’ tattoos will be on display – offering a glimpse into the inner lives of soccer’s biggest stars.
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By Eileen G'Sell, Teaching Professor in College Writing, Washington University in St. Louis
Strutting down the catwalk in a Cindy Castro frock, 37-year-old Amazon worker Samari Jomar Mercado looked like an ethereal punk-rock fairy: sleeve tattoos, lace bag on her wrist and a white ribbon billowing from her nape like a flag. After a dramatic pivot and pit pose, she paused to salute her rapturous crowd.
“For years she worked 10 hours a day, six days a week … lifting heavy items at a fast pace,” emcee Lisa Ann Walter announced as Mercado…
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By Smita S. Iyer, Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh
Immune cells can carry HIV into the brain, leading to problems with memory and cognition. Blocking other immune cells from the brain can make matters worse.
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