Briefings
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Online privacy
From the Cambridge Analytica scandal to online identity fraud, privacy has become one of the internet’s biggest battlegrounds. But there are still ways to protect yourself online.
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Women and science
In its history, the Nobel Prize for Physics has been awarded to 206 men and three women. Does this mean that men are better at science? The truth is much more complicated.
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Plastic
Up to 12.7 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean every year: about one garbage-truck of waste every minute. How harmful is plastic, and how can you use less?
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Knife crime
Knife crime in the UK has been steadily rising since 2014. The Home Secretary Sajid Javid says it must be treated like “the outbreak of some virulent disease”. But why is it happening?
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The dark side of the Moon
Until China’s historic probe landing in 2019, the dark side of the Moon was shrouded in mystery. Now, scientists hope we could one day land astronauts, and even build human settlements there.
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Lost tribes
Despite the march of globalisation, there are still around 100 remote tribes that have no contact with the outside world. But they face ever growing threats from disease and climate change.
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Space tourism
In 2020, NASA will open the International Space Station to tourists. Meanwhile, private space companies are racing to send travellers into orbit. Will you soon be going on holiday in space?
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Food scarcity
Studies suggest that our most vital crops are in danger of extinction, and climate crisis is partly to blame. The answer could lie in eating different types of food — including insects.
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Antibiotic resistance
How much should we worry about antibiotic resistance? Health officials have repeatedly warned that superbugs are as big a threat to humans as climate crisis and war. Why?
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Refugees
There are 68.5 million “forcibly displaced people” worldwide, including 25.4 million refugees — the highest numbers in history. Who are the world’s refugees? And where do they flee to?
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Air pollution
Seven million people die from air pollution every year. It has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. What is it, how does it work, and what is being done to reduce it?
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Fear of flying
Fear of flying is common — and often exacerbated by news stories about rare but dramatic plane crashes. However, you are far more likely to die in a car accident. Is fear of flying rational?
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The hyperloop
Want to be whisked down a tube at near-supersonic speed — for the price of a train ticket? Enter the hyperloop. Elon Musk has promised that it will revolutionise transport, but can it work?
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The English language
English has long been known as the language of the world. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people around the world speak some English. But new translation technology might threaten its...
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European football
After years in the wilderness, English football has risen again to dominate the continent — in both skills and wealth. How is football played across Europe, and is this a golden age for English...