Global warming is accelerating as time passes. Models predict that trend is set to continue even if we manage to rein in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere – but…Read More >
Rights for same-sex married couples to move around the EU confirmed in landmark ruling
Dr Alina Tryfonidou explores a landmark EU Court of Justice ruling which provides greater clarity and legal certainty for same-sex couples who get married in an EU member state, in a new…Read More >
Emotions shape the language we use, but second languages reveal a shortcut around them
Our native language and emotions are closely woven together. Being bilingual offers an emotional detachment that can be useful for reasoning, but which also makes it easier to swear, says…Read More >
12 years without an execution: Is Zimbabwe ready to abolish the death penalty?
Dr Mai Sato has just published a report examining Zimbabwean citizens’ attitudes towards the death penalty in their country which concludes that public opinion needn’t pose a barrier to its…Read More >
Tracking the silent changes to the UK’s biodiversity
The vast numbers and diversity of living things that populate our planet are in catastrophic decline – referred to by many scientists as Earth’s sixth mass extinction. But as Matthew Greenwell and…Read More >
Jogging memories with sounds and pictures
It’s Dementia Action Week. Reading researchers are tackling the problem of dementia on all fronts, from investigating its causes to how we can improve care and quality of life for…Read More >
How Britain’s colonial legacy still affects LGBT politics around the world
Many laws across the world that make homosexuality a crime were imposed during rule by the British Empire. Joseph O’Mahoney attempts to unpick why these stigmatising laws persist in a new…Read More >
How Ludwig Wittgenstein’s secret boyfriend helped deliver the philosopher’s seminal work
In a new post for The Conversation, John Preston looks at how the work of 20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein was shaped by his love for a young mathematician, who…Read More >
How Big Oil distorts climate change reality with tweaks in language
The language the oil industry uses to talk about climate change has altered over time as it attempts to distance itself from culpability, says linguistics specialist Dr Sylvia Jaworska in a new post for…Read More >
Broccoli, 19th century maths and polymers
Professor Howard Colquhoun tells the story of how an infinitely repeating pattern discovered in a plastic molecule relates to obscure 19th century maths – and Romanesco broccoli. In 1874, Henry…Read More >