The war in Ukraine shows how libraries play a vital role in challenging disinformation

Libraries have always been places of knowledge. For many of us, they offer insight into the socio-cultural and political changes happening around the world. I see...

What will its first far-right leader since WWII mean for Italy?

“Una vittoria storica” – a historic victory. That’s how the website of one of Italy’s major newspapers, the Corriere della Sera, reacted to the exit polls...

As pandemic measures are lifted, social media use has declined with the exception of TikTok

In September, the Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram is faltering in its bid to keep up with TikTok, the wildly popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app. But...

Ketamine paired with looking at smiling faces to build positive associations holds promise for helping people with treatment-resistant depression

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Simple computer exercises using positive words and images designed to boost self-worth...

Why do we laugh? New study considers possible evolutionary reasons behind this very human behaviour

Quality of sleep matters for your health, not just the duration – new study

The American National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get seven to nine hours sleep each night. Many people fall short of this because they restrict their...

Child stars: The power and the price of cuteness

Anyone who was paying attention to North American pop culture in the late 1990s and early 2000s will remember that it was a moment fascinated with...

Here’s the real reason to turn on aeroplane mode when you fly

We all know the routine by heart: “Please ensure your seats are in the upright position, tray tables stowed, window shades are up, laptops are stored...

What do we owe future generations? And what can we do to make their world a better place?

Markus Spiske via Unsplash, FAL Your great grandchildren are powerless in today’s society. As Oxford philosopher William MacAskill says: They cannot vote or lobby or run...

Thinking about quiet quitting? Here’s why – and how – you should talk to your boss instead

Quiet quitting is a catchy name, popularised on social media, for something we’ve all probably done. Its popularity is probably down to the inevitable and much-needed...