By Gail Flanagan, PhD Candidate, Applied Linguistics, University of Limerick
For us linguists, the flurry of “word of the year” announcements from dictionaries and publishers is a holiday tradition as anticipated as mince pies. The words of the year aren’t just a fun peek into new slang and language changes, they also tell us quite a bit about the worries, trends and obsessions of the English-speaking world.
And this year’s list has one clear theme. In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) played a huge role in our offices, social media feeds, music and film, and now…
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By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol
There are few things I look forward to more each year than an excellent Christmas lunch. In fact, I deliberately avoid roast dinners in the run-up to the big day. Especially obligatory work parties, where the turkey inevitably resembles sawdust and the stuffing has the texture of a silicone implant. Call me a snob if you like.
It is estimated that a typical Christmas lunch plate alone can clock in at at least 1,200 calories. Add a couple of glasses of bubbly and a slice of Christmas pudding with brandy…
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By Wanja Kimani, PhD Candidate in Fine Art, Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London, University of the Arts London
Rudy Loewe’s arresting mural The Congregation sits above the entrance to Brixton Underground station in London. The large-scale painting highlights the people and places that have shaped the area’s history over the last 75 years. It serves as a gateway into Brixton’s past and present for locals and the estimated 22 million passengers that transit through the station every year.
The Congregation is the ninth artwork in the Art on the Underground mural…
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By Nophar Geifman, Professor of Health and Biomedical Informatics, School of Health Sciences, Digital Health Expert Group, University of Surrey
A study of 38,000 adults identified blood protein signatures linked to higher mortality risk. They cannot predict death, but they could help guide earlier care.
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By Ed Hutchinson, Professor, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow
Viruses, as we all know, are invisibly small things that make us sick. But is that the whole story?
Zoom in close enough and you’ll discover the complex, unseen world of viruses. Some do make us sick, but many others simply exist alongside us as part of the natural world. Most are very beautiful and many, it turns out, look a bit like snowflakes.
It’s the time of year for seasonal decorations. So the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre…
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By Nikiforos Panourgias, Senior Lecturer, Queen Mary University of London
Ukraine is desperate for more funds to defend itself. But using Russia’s frozen assets could upset the delicate system underpinning Europe’s financial system.
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By Anna Champneys, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Nottingham Trent University
Just as humans have historically gathered during winter, many animals do the same. Animals may not be exchanging presents or decorating their nests and dens but a lot of species become more social in winter – even ones that are normally solitary.
Animals have more to worry about this time of year than bickering relatives or the last date for Christmas post. Winter poses severe challenges for wildlife, from freezing…
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By Matthew L. Druckenmiller, Senior Scientist, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder
Rick Thoman, Alaska Climate Specialist, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Twila A. Moon, Deputy Lead Scientist, National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder
The 20th anniversary of the annual report tracks how sea ice, snow cover and many other vital signs of the Arctic have changed, and the impact that’s having on people and wildlife.
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By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato
With changes to its own gun laws on the table, New Zealand has even more reason to proceed with caution after the Bondi mass shooting.
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By John Singleton, Lecturer in Journalism & Global Media Studies, University of Galway
Your data is being collected and served back to you in a fun way. You might be limiting you taste in following its design for you.
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