By Christopher Wiley, Head of Music and Media; School of Arts, Humanities and Creative Industries, University of Surrey
Like a voice from the grave, an important part of Surrey’s cultural heritage has sounded again. It is a short ceremonial brass fanfare by Dame Ethel Smyth (1858–1944).
Fanfares are short, rousing pieces for brass instruments. Late last year I was asked to find one to open the installation ceremony for the University of Surrey’s new vice chancellor, Professor Stephen Jarvis. As this was going to be a high-profile…
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By Primrose Freestone, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester
Sweat rarely smells on its own. Body odour develops when bacteria on the skin break down compounds in sweat and release volatile chemicals that evaporate into the air.
This interaction between sweat and microbes explains why some areas of the body smell more strongly than others, why odour varies between people and how deodorants and antiperspirants reduce it.
Sweat is a clear, salty liquid produced by glands across almost the entire surface of the skin. Its production is controlled by the autonomic…
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By Eugene Malthouse, Research Fellow, Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, University of Nottingham
Sidney Sherborne, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick
Some buildings leave such an impression when you visit them that they can be forever summoned to the mind’s eye. For us, these include the soaring dome of St Paul’s cathedral in London, the Georgian grandeur of Royal Crescent in Bath, and the ascending towers and pinnacles of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge.
As psychologists with a particular focus on wellbeing, we are fascinated by the feelings these buildings instil in us – a sense of being grounded, of momentary stillness, even of awe.
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By Alexander Titov, Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen's University Belfast
As Ukrainian officials meet with US negotiators in Geneva with the possibility of full three-way talks involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington in early March, there’s a glimmer of hope that an end to the conflict may be in sight. But the fact that after four years this remains a glimmer speaks volumes about the difficulties in ending the war.
Even Donald Trump, who promised to end the war in one day, has now stopped issuing ultimatums and deadlines to the warring parties.
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By Andrea Loux Jarman, Senior Lecturer in Law, Bournemouth University
The US Supreme Court told Donald Trump on February 20 that the tariffs he has used to try and bend the world to his will are unlawful. Tariffs are taxes and it is not for the president to impose them. According to the US constitution, Congress holds the power of the purse.
Trump relied on the terms of a 1977 law designed to address national emergencies, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to impose the majority…
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By Fredrik NG Andersson, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Lund University
Sweden has been part of the European Union for 30 years, yet it is one of the few EU countries that has kept its own currency, the krona. Legally, Sweden is expected to join the euro one day but in reality, that day keeps being pushed into the future.
This makes Sweden something of an outlier in Europe. In a referendum in 2003, 56% of voters said no to the euro, and no government since then has felt confident enough…
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By Karen Stollznow, Research Fellow of linguistics, Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University; University of Colorado Boulder
While a young language learner can more easily acquire a native accent, adults retain the ability to learn new languages well into later life.
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By Shelley Inglis, Senior Visiting Scholar with the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, Rutgers University
As President Trump and other Republicans cast doubt on the legitimacy of the US electoral system, other democracies offer lessons in protecting the integrity of voting systems.
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By Daniel Cueto-Villalobos, PhD Candidate, Sociology, University of Minnesota
Minnesotans from all walks of life, including suburban moms, veterans and protest novices, have bucked their ‘nice’ stereotype to speak out.
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By Christy Cobb, Associate Professor of Christianity, University of Denver
‘Apocrypha’ means ‘hidden’ in Greek, but it is often used to describe texts that are outside the official biblical canon.
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