Latest Stories
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The man who was a whale’s breakfast (nearly)
Could the Bible story of Jonah be true? Today, lobster fisherman Michael Packard is counting his blessings after a humpback whale off the coast of America nearly swallowed him whole.
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China guilty of Uighur ‘dystopian hellscape’
Is China guilty of genocide in Xinjiang? Yesterday the New York Times declared that China was committing “the ultimate crime” against its Muslim ethnic Uighurs. China bitterly denies it.
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War looms as Israel and Palestine trade blows
Is the terrible bloodshed in Jerusalem inevitable? Today, Israel and Palestine are teetering on the brink of another war, and each side blames the other for this new bout of violence.
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Death threats for thinkers who deny free will
Is free will an illusion? This week it was reported that a growing chorus of scientists now agrees that humans have no real choice. But outraged critics feel it robs their lives of meaning.
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Scientists make first human-monkey embryo
Are scientists opening a Pandora’s box? The latest breakthrough could make it possible to grow human organs inside animals. It will save lives, but the ethical implications are enormous.
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Easter film shows Jesus as African refugee
If Jesus returned today, would he be a migrant? In a highly imaginative film being shown over Easter, a reinterpretation of the life of Jesus plays out in a disturbing 21st-Century context.
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The nun who became a symbol of resistance
Is moral courage stronger than physical force? A photograph of a nun pleading with police in Myanmar not to use violence against demonstrators reminds us of the power of peaceful protest.
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Nazi aide, 95, charged over teenage crimes
Should Irmgard F stand trial? At a Nazi death camp in 1944 a secretary helped send 10,000 Jews to their death. Because she was under 21 at the time she will now be tried in a juvenile court.
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‘China locked us up like animals…’
Is China guilty of genocide? Despite growing calls for it to be held accountable for seeking to eradicate Uighur Muslims, some countries are unwilling to accuse the nation outright.
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Jewish leaders stand up for Uighur Muslims
Is hope made stronger through tragedy? On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the plight of the Uighurs and a new musical both remind us that genocide is more than a historical threat.
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Manchester’s Mother Teresa set for sainthood
Does religious faith give you special moral courage? Few argue with Elizabeth Prout’s incredible, selfless commitment. But some say that it would be impossible without a deep faith in God.
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The raven and the tower: an omen returns
Are omens useful? As the queen of the ravens vanishes, a prophecy foretells the end of the United Kingdom. Some call this fantasy, but others say there is wisdom in listening to the birds.
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Shakespeare caught up in antisemitism row
Was Shakespeare antisemitic? His play The Merchant of Venice has long attracted accusations of racism – and now a new book by Michael Morpurgo has reignited the controversy.
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The woman who died and lived to tell the tale
Is there life after death? For centuries, people have believed that consciousness continues long after our hearts stop beating. Now a new Netflix series searches for scientific proof.
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Taking Christmas advice from ancient Rome
Is giving really better than receiving? As people across the world spend billions on Christmas presents, a leading Roman philosopher’s thoughts on the subject have never been more relevant.