By Colin Manning, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Climate Science, Newcastle University
Storm Floris made landfall in northern parts of the UK on the morning of Monday August 4 2025, bringing intense rainfall followed by severe winds throughout the afternoon. The Met Office issued an amber weather warning for much of Scotland and yellow alerts for parts of Northern Ireland and northern England.
Affected areas can expect 20mm–40mm of rain on average, with some areas of Scotland potentially receiving up to 80mm. Wind speeds in exposed and elevated regions could reach 80mph–90mph, while gusts of 50mph-60mph are forecast for much of Scotland.
The storm’s defining…
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By Christopher Holliday, Senior Lecturer in Liberal Arts and Visual Cultures Education, Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities, King's College London
Bond films have leaned into and shifted away from the allure of hi-tech gadgetry at different times over the years.
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By Jenna Carr, Graduate Teaching Fellow and Sociology PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool
A decade ago, the National Crime Agency identified a new drug supply method. Before then, drug supply was predominantly between user-dealers – people supplying their social circles to fund their drug use, rather than…
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By Mooyoung Han, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University
Suresh Rohilla, Associate Professor, Urban Water Management, Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences, University of Bradford
As floods and droughts grow deadlier, ancient wisdom from Korea’s rain gauge and India’s harvesting traditions reminds us why the world needs a UN Rain Day.
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By Anna Kenyon, Senior Lecturer in Population Health, University of Lancashire
Every day, we’re faced with constant opportunities for stimulation. With 24/7 access to news feeds, emails and social media, many of us find ourselves scrolling endlessly, chasing our next hit of dopamine. But these habits are fuelling our stress – and our brains are begging for a break.
What our brains really need is some much needed time off from concentrating. By not consciously focusing on anything and allowing the mind to drift, this can reduce stress and improve cognitive sharpness.
This can often be easier said than done. But attention restoration theory (Art) can…
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By Rachel Woods, Senior Lecturer in Physiology, University of Lincoln
From collagen powders to immunity gummies, supplements are everywhere – in our Instagram feeds, on supermarket shelves and filling our bathroom cabinets. Promising better sleep, glowing skin, sharper focus or even a longer life, they’re marketed as quick fixes for modern health woes.
As a nutritionist, I’m often asked whether supplements are worth the money – and the answer is: it depends. Based on online claims, you might think they can cure almost anything.
While some supplements do have a valuable role in certain circumstances, they are often misunderstood and frequently…
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By Lauren A. Siegel, Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Events, University of Greenwich
Travellers have been killed in search of the perfect shot – selfie parks may be controversial but they should at least keep tourists safe.
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image A prop depicting a water tap with cascading plastic bottles is displayed by activists near the Shaw Centre venue of negotiations for the global plastics treaty, in Ottawa, Canada, April 23, 2024. © 2024 Kyaw Soe Oo/Reuters Countries will resume negotiations in Geneva on August 5, 2025, on a global plastics treaty. Previous talks have stalled amid deep divisions over key issues. To make the treaty meaningful, countries need to tackle plastic pollution at its source by limiting production, including by phasing out fossil fuels and subsidies.Each year,…
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By Tanner Ethan Walker, Assistant Professor of Religion, Wesleyan University
While the biblical figure of Samson is often characterized as driven by poor judgment, a Hebrew Bible scholar argues why he could instead be interpreted as a figure of emotional complexity.
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By Betsy Pudliner, Associate Professor of Hospitality and Technology Innovation, University of Wisconsin-Stout
The American South – and the nation more broadly – continues to wrestle with how to remember its most painful chapters. Tourism is one of the arenas where that struggle is most visible.
This tension came into sharp relief in May 2025, when the largest antebellum mansion in the region – the 19th-century estate at Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana – burned to the ground. While some historians, community members and tourism advocates mourned…
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