By Jason Gilchrist, Lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University
South Africa wants to expand exports of rhino hunting trophies and other wildlife products. The move relies on an exemption process within the international treaty that has largely restricted rhino horn trade since 1977.
It’s a shift that could reopen one of global conservation’s fiercest debates: does a legal trade protect endangered species – or hasten their decline?
International trade in rhino horn exports remains…
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By Bernd Stahl, Professor of Critical Research in Technology, School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham
When I talk to my son, an engineering student, and we have a question or disagreement, he immediately turns to ChatGPT as his primary source of information and confirmation.
He is not alone in this. The use of generative AI tools has exploded across different demographic groups. For many people, these tools can be entertaining, informative and beneficial. However, they also have a dark side.
Generative AI is not formally recognised as addictive right now – the medical evidence…
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image Hungarians march in downtown Budapest to protest against the previous government’s law banning LGBTQ+ Pride events, May 1, 2025. © 2025 Denes Erdos/AP Photo Hungarian prosecutors announced on June 4 that they had dropped charges against a mayor and a civic activist for their roles in organizing 2025 Pride events in Budapest and Pécs. The charges, which were brought under Fidesz-era anti-LGBT legislation, were part of the former government’s crackdown on civic space and LGBT rights.Prosecutors had filed criminal charges this January against Budapest…
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By Kirsty Lindsay, Scientific Officer, Northumbria University, Newcastle
In the 1950s, Arthur C. Clarke imagined an amputee astronaut. If John McFall reaches orbit, science fiction becomes science fact.
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By Danny William Walmsley, PhD Candidate at Neurovascular Research Laboratory, University of South Wales
Damian Bailey, Professor of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of South Wales
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping medicine, from diagnosing disease to accelerating drug discovery. Its influence is also reaching the world of sport.
In a recent editorial, we looked at how AI could transform how researchers, doctors and sporting organisations detect, monitor and manage concussion, which is one of the most challenging health issues facing contact sports today.
Concussion…
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By Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Art History and Museum Studies, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds
When I was 21, I was encouraged to write my university dissertation on a house that I had known most of my life – Standen, built by the architect and designer Philip Webb between 1891 and 1894 in West Sussex. My uncle was the gardener there.
While studying for a degree in art history, I realised that the place where my cousins and I played as children was a vital site for understanding the politics of the Arts and Crafts movement, which…
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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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