By Jamie Thompson, Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading
This question of why some branches of the tree of life explode into thousands of species, while others remain small, has shaped evolutionary biology since Charles Darwin.
My colleague and I have published a new study of cactus flowers which may help explain the conundrum.
For more than a century, scientists have seen flowers that are…
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By Dereje Melese Liyew, Lecturer, Political Science, Debre Markos University,
Ethiopia launched a national dialogue process in 2022 to address deep political divisions and help steer the country towards stability.
In theory, such dialogues can help societies move beyond war, rebuild trust and agree on new political rules. This has happened in countries such as Kenya,…
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By Mzingaye Brilliant Xaba, Lecturer, National University of Lesotho
Environmentalists from all walks of life in South Africa are notching up an impressive set of wins against the state and big mining companies, research has found.
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By Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo, Assistant Professor of Public Health, University of Iowa
Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu Badru, Ph.D. Candidate in Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa
Unintended pregnancies are more common in sub-Saharan Africa than the world average: up to 91 out of 1,000 pregnancies compared to 64 in 1,000.
Unintended pregnancy is common among women living with HIV too. In a South African study, for example, more of the women living with HIV reported unintended pregnancies (55% of them) than those not living with HIV (33%).
Preventing unintended…
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By Andrew McInnes, Reader in Romanticisms, Edge Hill University
This new BBC drama is an enjoyable retelling of Austen’s most popular novel from the perspective of one of its least regarded characters.
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By Andrew Moscrop, Primary Care Researcher, University of Oxford
British children are not getting shorter, despite claims to the contrary. In fact, they are getting taller.
But this is not good news. When my colleagues and I analysed national data on child height, we found that the trend is largely explained by rising childhood obesity and widening inequalities.
Claims that British children are becoming…
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By William Garbett, PhD Candidate in History, Lancaster University
A tall, well-built man saunters past a band and onto the stage. He is handsome and slick, the parody of an American talk show host. Magnanimously he interviews the band, only to cut off one guitarist, patronise another and upstage the saxophonist with a mimed solo. And so, Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård opened the 1,000th episode of the American sketch show Saturday Night Live (or SNL) on January 31.
SNL is essentially a variety show, with sketches, a bit of stand-up and live music from bestselling artists. Although streaming…
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By Lowri Sian Wilkie, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychology, Swansea University
Andrew H Kemp, Professor and Personal Chair, Swansea University
Zoe Fisher, Clinical Lead, Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Strategy, RPB, Swansea University
With the 2026 Senedd election nearing, Wales must decide whether to defend its pioneering Well-being Act or let it be overshadowed by short-term political pressures.
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By Amnesty International
Responding to the arrest in Norway of humanitarian worker and founder of the NGO Aegean Boat Report, Tommy Olsen, who is being prosecuted in Greece alongside fellow human rights defender Panayote Dimitras, of the NGO Greek Helsinki Monitor, on charges related to their work defending the rights of refugees and migrants, Dinushika Dissanayake Amnesty International’s […] The post Norway: Release human rights defender Tommy Olsen and reject his extradition to Greece appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Joshua Larsen, Associate Professor in Water Science, University of Birmingham
Annegret Larsen, Assistant Professor in Geography, Wageningen University
Lukas Hallberg, River Catchment Research Fellow, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Across Europe, beaver numbers are increasing after a long period of decline. As these aquatic mammals recolonise rivers, they are gradually rebuilding wetlands that once existed across many river valleys.
As geographers, we have been investigating how these changes could also affect the movement of carbon through river systems.
To find out, we measured the full carbon balance of a wetland created by beaver damming. Our new…
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