By Yvonne Skipper, Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Education), University of Glasgow
Misinformation is found in every element of our online lives. It ranges from fake products available to buy, fake lifestyle posts on social media accounts and fake news about health and politics.
Misinformation has an impact not only on our beliefs but also our behaviour: for example, it has affected how people vote in elections and whether people intend to have vaccinations.
And since anyone can…
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By Rin Ushiyama, Lecturer in Sociology, Queen's University Belfast
Japan held elections for its upper house, the House of Councillors, on July 20. The vote proved a challenge for the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP), which has been reeling from corruption scandals, rising prices and US tariffs…
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By Jitka Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer Health and Social Care, The Open University
Lis Boulton, Visiting Research Fellow, Take Five to Age Well: Empowering the UK towards longer, healthier lives Project, The Open University
Most of us want to enjoy later life feeling strong, connected, and mentally sharp. But how often do we stop to think about whether the things we’re doing right now are helping us get there?
A new quiz – which we have developed as part of the Take Five to Age Well project, a free, expert-led, month-long challenge from The Open University and Age UK – makes it easier, and more empowering, to ask that question, reflect and take action.
Healthy ageing doesn’t depend on just one thing. Research shows…
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By Mark Westgarth, Professor, History of the Art Market, University of Leeds
A ceratosaurus fossil has sold for US$30 million in New York, infuriating many dinosaur experts. Here’s why they ought to think again.
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By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University
When we think about the side effects of medicines, we might think of nausea, fatigue or dizziness. But there’s another, lesser-known risk that can have lasting – and sometimes permanent – consequences: hearing loss. A wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs are known to be ototoxic, meaning they can damage the inner ear and affect hearing or balance.
Ototoxicity refers to drug or chemical-related damage to the cochlea, which affects hearing, and the vestibular…
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By Alexander Bowles, Glasstone Research Fellow, Plant Science, University of Oxford
As roses fill gardens and hedgerows this season, there is a story, millions of years in the making, unfolding beneath their petals.
Analysis of rose genomes and floral structure is revealing how the stunning diversity we admire is rooted in the genes of these plants, offering new insight into how the beauty in our world is built at the molecular level.
Modern roses are a riot of colour. Some roses are showy and fragrant while others are modest and understated. Jude the Obscure is coloured…
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By Kate Sullivan de Estrada, Associate Professor in the International Relations of South Asia, University of Oxford
A security specialist in the Western Indian Ocean sees how countries work together to counter the threat of a massive oil spill.
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By Stephen Cushion, Professor, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University
Nathan Ritchie, University Teacher and Researcher in Sociology, Loughborough University
In a world of fake news and disinformation, factchecking claims and the veracity of images has become an important part of impartial journalism. People invest their trust in information sources they believe are accurate.
With this in mind, the BBC launched…
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By Serin Quinn, PhD Candidate, Department of History, University of Warwick
Are you a pro at pickling? How about baking sourdough bread or brewing your own kombucha? If the answer is yes, you’ve probably picked up on one of the recent trends promoting fermented foods, which promise to boost your gut health and save both you…
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By Filippo Menga, Visiting Research Fellow, Professor of Geography, University of Reading
Hosepipe bans have been announced in parts of England this summer. Following the driest spring in over a century, the Environment Agency has issued a medium drought risk warning, and Yorkshire Water will introduce restrictions starting Friday, 11 July. It’s a familiar story: reduced rainfall, shrinking reservoirs and renewed calls for restraint: take shorter showers, avoid watering the lawn, turn off the tap while brushing…
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