By Guus Kroonen, Associate Professor, Scandinavian, Germanic and Indo-European Comparative Linguistics, Leiden University; University of Copenhagen
Eske Willerslev, Professor, Globe Institute, Section for Geogenetics, University of Copenhagen; University of Cambridge
Hugh McColl, Assistant Professor, Globe Institute, Section for Geogenetics, University of Copenhagen
Why do people speak Germanic languages such as English in England and Swedish in Sweden, but Celtic languages in Ireland, Wales and Brittany? The dispersal of languages is one of the enigmas of European prehistory.
Two new studies in Nature, which we took part in, show how DNA from several thousand ancient individuals helps us solve this riddle.
As early as the 17th century, scholars noticed striking similarities…
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By Barbara K Seeber, Professor, English Language & Literature, Brock University
While there is much to enjoy in the new ‘Sense and Sensibility’ film, a Jane Austen scholar finds some important elements of the novel are lost.
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By Nadia Atia, Head of English & Reader in Postcolonial and Global Literature, Queen Mary University of London
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s death, the exhibition A World of Mystery at the British Library takes visitors on a fascinating journey through spaces that evoke Christie’s life and work. This landmark exhibition offers unprecedented access to a body of private papers, diaries, manuscripts and family objects, brought together for public view for the first time.
Beautifully curated by Lucy Rowland, there is an impressive array of artefacts celebrating Christie’s life and…
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By Jason Opal, Professor of History, The Ohio State University
Democrats and independents flooded the polls in the U.S. midterm elections, while Republicans stayed home or voted Democrat. A look at what happened — and what it might mean for Canada.
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By Jennifer L. Gordon, Professor, Psychology, University of Regina
After decades of relative neglect, menopause is suddenly everywhere — in the news, on social media and in conversations among friends. Some are calling it the “meno-boom,” and booms attract business.
The Canadian menopause wellness market — meaning the products, treatments and services designed and sold to help women manage symptoms before, during and after menopause — is projected to reach a…
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By Alessandro Marcon, Senior Research Associate at the Health Law Institute, University of Alberta
Jia Hu, Public Health Physician, Immunization Programs and Prevention and Health Promotion, University of British Columbia
We all want a well-functioning immune system to help us fight invasive bacteria and viruses and recover faster from illness. Popular “immune-boosting” ideas, however, might be more of a hindrance than a help.
Immune boosting is an online trend. Content producers share immune-boosting recipes — from smoothies to soups…
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By Amnesty International
Ahead of the vote in Belgian Federal Parliament on Thursday 5 November on whether to allow police raids on people’s homes for migration control purposes, including homes of people who may be hosting undocumented migrants, Dinushika Dissanayake the Deputy Regional Director of Amnesty International said: “These proposals which allow for home raids are bound to […] The post Belgium: ‘Divisive’ migration home raids law must be voted down by parliament appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Narmin Nahidi, Assistant Professor in Finance, University of Exeter
Every Bonfire Night, people pay for a box of fireworks so their friends and family can enjoy the colourful display. Within a few minutes, it’s all over. But the price on the box doesn’t reflect the hidden costs. The smoke inhaled by neighbours, the animals disturbed or the public services called out when things go wrong.
It’s not a question about whether fireworks celebrations are enjoyable, but whether the people enjoying them are aware of – or actually paying for – their full cost. Economists call this…
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By Vincent Charles, Professor of AI for Business and Management Science, Queen's University Belfast
Tatiana Gherman, Associate Professor of AI for Business and Strategy, University of Northampton
The social media we know was once easy to define. Platforms such as Facebook or X were designed to mediate human relationships at scale: sharing stories, forming communities, debating ideas, and increasingly, monetising attention.
However flawed these platforms became, they were built on one core assumption: people interacting with people. But that assumption is currently being tested.
In January 2026, a new platform called Moltbook was…
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By Andrew Dix, Senior Lecturer in American Literature and Film, Loughborough University
“Is this a joke?” asks a young Chilean woman early in Martin McDonagh’s new film, Wild Horse Nine. She is trying to grasp something said to her by another character; just as easily, however, she could be wondering exactly what kind of film she is in. For Wild Horse Nine itself is tonally unstable, mixing farcical events with historical drama and comic wordplay with an affecting portrait of male friendship.
This mixing of moods and blending of genres brings the film into alignment with McDonagh’s…
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