Briefings
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Aztecs
Archaeologists are still uncovering the secrets of an extraordinary civilisation that ruled Central America for 200 years. What do we really know about the Aztecs, and how did they live?
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The language of trees
Beneath every forest is a complex underground web that plants use to communicate. The network is so intricate that we are only just starting to understand it. What is the language of trees?
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The story of football
After months of lockdown, the Premier League has returned. For the first time, games will be played behind closed doors with no crowds. But what is the history of the world’s favourite game?
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Black history
The death of George Floyd has sparked global protests against discrimination and police violence. Many people in the UK have been calling for better education to combat racism in society.
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Dreams
A large number of people around the world have reported experiencing unusually vivid dreams while in lockdown, leading many to wonder what exactly goes on in our brains while we sleep.
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Spacesuits
These super high-tech garments are essentially personalised, human-shaped spacecraft. They must be both comfortable enough and strong enough to protect astronauts from changes in pressure.
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British inventions
Life would be very different if it weren’t for British inventors. We wouldn’t have trains, vaccination, or the internet. Today, the latest inventions could change the world for the better.
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The Milky Way
This year, scientists have discovered a planet we could live on; a new black hole, and the edge of the Milky Way. Our galaxy holds secrets we continue to unlock. But what do we already know?
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Bees
The UK’s rarest bumblebee, the shrill carder, is on the rise again. After a decade of dwindling numbers, the endangered species has made a comeback. But what is so important about bees?
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Vaccination
Human trials for the new coronavirus vaccine began last week in Oxford. If successful, it would be the fastest production of a vaccine in history. But how does vaccination actually work?
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Deep sea
It’s in our DNA to discover: we’ve been around the globe – and even ventured into space. But there is one final frontier still to explore. It’s deep below the surface of the world’s oceans.
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The Olympic Games
The world’s biggest sporting event has been postponed for a year because of the pandemic, disappointing millions of viewers, athletes, and organisers. How did the Olympic games come about?
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The Spanish flu
Coronavirus is often compared to the Spanish flu of 1918 – the most deadly pandemic in human history, which infected about 500 million people, nearly a third of the global population.
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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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Antibiotic resistance
With all the news about a killer virus, how much should we worry about bacteria and antibiotic resistance? Experts say superbugs are as big a threat to humans as climate crisis and war. Why?