Latest Stories
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Eight rules promise wisdom and happiness
Does life need rules? The School of Life says that you should “know your insanity” and “accept your idiocy”. But countless thinkers have tried and failed to convince us to follow rules before.
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Arctic on fire as temperature records broken
Are we facing the end of the world? Or a new beginning? With a heatwave in Siberia, the climate crisis is more alarming than ever – but many see a moment of opportunity.
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Found! Largest prehistoric structure in UK
Were we happier in the Stone Age? 4,500 years ago, a thriving culture in Neolithic Britain built vast structures with only stone tools. Experts think we have been going downhill ever since.
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Grief and questions over senseless killings
Is lack of mental health care the key problem? A midsummer day in a Reading park was ripped apart by a knifeman. Three victims are dead. Today, a nation in shock must ask why it happened.
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Shock research: Humans now fatter than pigs
Is it wrong to be fat and lazy? Many of us now have more body fat than pigs, scientists said yesterday. But for most of history, being plump and idle was regarded as the goal of a good life.
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Two images…and a crisis of masculinity
What does it mean to be masculine? Two moments frozen in time – one an epitome of humane kindness; the other an image of mindless crudity – sum up what many see as a societal catastrophe.
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Bombshell books that could be Trump’s doom
Might Trump resign this summer? He has weathered an impeachment trial, a pandemic, and the historic Black Lives Matter protests – but two explosive new books could prove the final straw.
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‘Artistic armageddon’ as funds run dry
Should government save the arts? Live events have been extinguished by the pandemic. Festivals, theatres, and museums are all struggling – but some would prefer that the money go elsewhere.
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‘Life has not been the same without football’
Does football do more for society than politics? The Premier League returned last night, a day after Marcus Rashford scored a triumphant victory over the government on free school meals.
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Probable number of alien civilisations is 36
Would the discovery of alien life change anything? A philosopher says it would have huge implications for us and for our ideas of morality, and that aliens may have kept quiet for a reason.
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Eureka! Bees talk with ‘toots’ and ‘quacks’
Should bees run the world? Bee colonies are highly organised and hugely successful societies built on cooperation and hard work. Some say we have a lot to learn from these social insects.
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Striker fights on for free school meals
Is Marcus Rashford an exception or an inspiration? The Premier League striker grew up poor and hungry, but is now using his fame to fight for children going hungry during the lockdown.
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Economists warn of second Great Depression
Will we be able to cope with an economic depression? Some believe the coronavirus will cause a downturn on a scale not seen since the 1930s, and we will need all our resources to survive.
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Trump and Johnson struggle as protests grow
Are Trump and Johnson failing? As Covid “cabin fever” and division tears peaceful societies apart, Johnson has published an article about statues, calling for a “more cheerful approach”.
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Face masks on: A society without smiles
Do masks increase alienation? As the UK follows much of the world by having mandatory face coverings on public transport, some fear it may harm our ability to form connections with others.