Cities aren’t built for older people – our study shows many can’t walk fast enough to beat a pedestrian crossing
Max Western, University of Bath and Afroditi Stathi, University of Birmingham To many people, crossing a road at a traffic light is a mundane task requiring little thought or effort.…
What is super flu? And other questions answered
James Hay, University of Oxford The NHS is facing severe pressure this winter as flu cases surge earlier than usual, with some calling it “super flu”. Here’s what you need…
The UAE is leaving Saudi Arabia squeezed in Yemen
Andreas Krieg, King’s College London Fighters aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group in southern Yemen, raised their flags in the provinces of Hadramout and Marah in…
New cancer therapy brings remission for patients with deadly T-cell leukaemia
Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University A small group of patients with an otherwise incurable form of T‑cell leukaemia have seen their cancer driven into remission by an innovative form of…
Donald Trump’s peace agreements are also business deals
Patrick E. Shea, University of Glasgow The US president, Donald Trump, presided over two major agreements in early December. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a…
From the Miller’s Tale to King Lear’s roaring sea, a history of flooding in literature
Stewart Mottram, University of Hull Geoffrey Chaucer’s Miller’s Tale is renowned for its salacious storyline of sexual misadventure. Set in 14th-century Oxford, it tells the tale of John the Carpenter,…
Why you feel pressure to adhere to Christmas traditions – and how to reject the ones you
Robert Dempsey, Manchester Metropolitan University It’s December, the weather’s turning, and the holidays are fast approaching. You’ve got to find the perfect gift for your partner, parents or that weird…
Genesis Mission: why Trump’s plan to put AIs in charge of science could backfire
Akhil Bhardwaj, University of Bath Donald Trump’s new “Genesis Mission” initiative promises to use artificial intelligence to reinvent how science is done, in a bid to move the dial on…
Data centres in space: will 2027 really be the year AI goes to orbit?
Domenico Vicinanza, Anglia Ruskin University Google recently unveiled Project Suncatcher, a research “moonshot” aiming to build a data centre in space. The tech giant plans to use a constellation of…
Flu season has started early this year – a new variant might be to blame
Ignacio López-Goñi, Universidad de Navarra Every winter, respiratory viruses, especially influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, put huge pressure on healthcare systems throughout Europe. In a typical season, flu causes up to…