By Robert Boatright, Professor of Political Science, Clark University; Institute for Humane Studies
Primary winners represent the views of a small group of people who turn out inconsistently and often do not even represent the the views of the parties’ voters, to say nothing of the general public.
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By Noelia Noël, Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey
The 2026 Nobel prize for physics has been awarded to Francis Halzen for his discovery of high energy neutrino particles from space.
The Nobel committee said Halzen has made “decisive contributions” to the discovery of “neutrinos of astrophysical origin” with IceCube, an experiment installed under ice at the South Pole.
Ellen Moons, secretary general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, referred…
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By J. David Creswell, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Carnegie Mellon University
Can a sensor on your wrist really tell how your brain slept? Here’s what happens when sleep trackers go up against polysomnography, the clinical gold standard.
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By Eric Vanden Eykel, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Ferrum College
A formation known as Durupınar, just a few miles from the Iranian border in Turkey, has been associated with Noah’s Ark for nearly 70 years.
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By Jennifer Schlinger, Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work, University of North Dakota
Family members can offer invaluable support to patients, but a trained advocate can provide an objective perspective as well as knowledge of resources that families may lack.
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By Peter C. Mancall, Distinguished Professor and Professor of the Humanities, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Few historic figures are as divisive as Christopher Columbus. For some, in both Spain and the United States, he remains a…
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By Lorraine Whitmarsh, Professor of Environmental Psychology, University of Bath
Bella Zanin, Knowledge Exchange Associate, Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations, University of Bath
This summer broke records around the UK for maximum temperatures and dry weather.
According to the UK’s Met Office, while it was rare to hit 35°C in the 20th century, that temperature has been surpassed in six out of the past ten years. And it’s only expected to get higher.
Rising temperatures not only contribute to
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By Colin Davidson, Professor of Neuropharmacology, University of Lancashire
Antidepressant use continues to rise. In England, 96 million antidepressant prescription items were dispensed to an estimated 9.1 million patients in 2025 to 2026. These medicines are prescribed for depression and other conditions, including anxiety and some forms of pain.
Antidepressants can take several weeks to work fully, can cause unwanted side effects…
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By Rachael Leggett, Assistant Professor in Psychology, Coventry University
Ever felt a sudden wave of cringe toward someone you were into – all because they wore questionable shoes or chewed a bit too loudly? Congratulations, you’ve caught “the ick”.
That instant flip from attraction to total repulsion is everywhere on TikTok and Instagram, with singletons and couples bonding over the specific, often ridiculous triggers that turned them off. But beyond the viral memes and funny rants, why does our brain sometimes pull the handbrake so fast on an attraction?
There are a number of potential explanations. Some psychologists…
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By Denis Flannery, Associate Professor in American Literature, University of Leeds
“If you can listen to Rebel Rebel and not be a tiny bit glad you’re alive,” the Irish writer Joseph O’Connor once claimed, “you’ve got an answering-machine for a heart”.
O’Connor was of course referring to David Bowie’s 1974 song, which provides the title of a new musical directed by Belgian theatre director Ivo van Hove. Based on the music of Bowie, the musical has recently finished…
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