By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex
In his first term of office Donald Trump achieved the lowest average job approval ratings (41%) among Americans since the end of the second world war. In his second term he has fallen well below that with an approval rating of only 35% in a recent Economist/YouGov poll.
Much of this can be explained by voter perceptions of the state of the US economy.…
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By Jarred H Martin, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Pretoria
Jacomien Muller, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Pretoria
Jolize Joubert van Appel, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Pretoria
Sonja Nicolene Mostert, Senior Lecturer, University of Pretoria
Student mental health has become one of the defining challenges facing universities worldwide. In South Africa, these concerns are often framed around reports which point to anxiety, burnout and academic pressure. With this comes the call…
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By Heike Becker, Professor of Anthropology, University of the Western Cape
Celebrated Namibian liberation leader Andimba Toivo ya Toivo played an important role in his country’s development. Beyond Namibia, however, he remains unknown to many.
Anthropologist Heike Becker has written a biography of ya Toivo, finally telling his story in full. We asked her four questions about the man and…
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By Kevin Naidoo, Professor of Scientific Computing and Physical Chemistry, University of Cape Town
The goal is to develop treatments that can strip away the sugar shield cancer uses to hide from the immune system.
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By Anné H. Verhoef, Professor in Philosophy, North-West University
Edmund Terem Ugar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, North-West University
Can technology really replace human relationships? As philosophy scholars who focus on human happiness and on artificial intelligence (AI), we tackle this question in a recent paper.
In our study, we address the rise of AI companions, chatbots, and social robots for friendship, advice, emotional support, and even romance.
We argue that AI can reduce loneliness and provide assistance, but it lacks the genuine understanding, emotions, and…
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By Mariecia Fraser, Reader in Upland Agroecology, Aberystwyth University
The UK government has issued a denial after mounting speculation that 90% of Dartmoor hill ponies were to be culled.
Speculation started over confusion around current grazing policy. So why have these animals been dragged into a political storm?
Britain’s semi-wild…
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By Halima Akhter, Researcher of Caesarean Births in Bangladesh, Department of Anthropology, Durham University
Official NHS maternity statistics show that caesareans accounted for 45% of deliveries in English NHS hospitals in 2024-25. More recent monthly NHS maternity data reported that 27% of deliveries under NHS maternity services in January 2026 were emergency caesareans.
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By James Brouner, Senior Lecturer in Sport Analysis, Kingston University
A sports injury can feel like a single setback: a twisted ankle, a strained calf or a sore knee. But for many people, the real problem starts when they try to come back too soon – only to end up with a second injury.
Secondary injuries happen for a simple reason. After an injury, the body often changes the way it moves. This is a normal protective response. If one area hurts, feels weak or isn’t working properly, the…
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By Andrew Ibi, Programme Leader BA Fashion: Design & Communication, School of Art and Creative Industries, Liverpool John Moores University
Osaka is part of a tradition of Black women using style not as decoration but as a way of asserting identity, heritage and agency.
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By Jonas Nordin, Professor of Book and Library History, Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences, Lund University
In 1768, towards the end of the period of Swedish history known as Frihetstiden, the Age of Liberty, King Adolf Frederick threatened to abdicate unless an extraordinary session of the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament, was immediately convened. The immediate issue concerned a new financial plan, but the king hoped that the parliamentary session would also lead to constitutional changes to strengthen his power.
The 16-member strong Council of the Realm, over which the king presided, was given three…
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