Whales and dolphins have rich cultures – and could hold clues to what makes humans so advanced
Complex behaviour such as regional accents and cultural food preferences in whales and dolphins seems to be linked to brain size.
Japan’s new digital age brings together the old and the new
How culture can inform technological innovations.
George Saunders’s Lincoln in the Bardo is a genuinely startling novel
The Booker Prize jury has done us a favour by drawing attention to this book.
Why the US withdrawal from UNESCO is a step backwards for global cultural cooperation
The US still owes UNESCO millions in arrears.
China’s green planning for the world starts with infrastructure
China has become a commanding authority in infrastructure and has the opportunity to shape global development in ways that may define the rest of the 21st century.
Funny people are more intelligent than their po-faced peers
Research shows that funny people are also nicer to be around.
Enabling innovation: Lessons from Crystal Pepsi
It can be much easier to develop a new product than to actually get people to try it, even for big established brands. Where did launches for products like Crystal Pepsi go wrong?
World hunger is increasing thanks to wars and climate change
According to the UN, world hunger is rising for the first time in 15 years. The answer is not only growing more food, but also buffering small-scale farmers against climate change and armed conflicts.
Bees in the city: Designing green roofs for pollinators
Urban bees deal with what's known as "habitat patches," discontinuous patches of green like gardens, parks and ravines. Green roofs could offer relief to bees dealing with habitat fragmentation.
Deadly explosion in Somali capital Mogadishu brings shock, outrage, and resilience
The attack, in which more than 300 people were killed, comes as Somalia tries to put in place a new security pact.
Tracing the origin of Indonesian people through genetics
I try to learn who are the ancestors of Indonesian people through genetics. The genetics of Indonesian people are a mix between different groups of humans.
Sugar in the diet may increase risks of opioid addiction
High fructose corn syrup in food and drinks has long been linked to rising rates of child and teen obesity. New evidence suggests it increases the risks of opioid addiction and overdose too.
What 115 years of data tells us about Africa’s battle with malaria past and present
The history of malaria prevalence in Africa is a long term cycle of highs and lows. However, there's been little change in the high transmission belt that covers parts of West and Central Africa.
British literature is richly tangled with other histories and cultures – so why is it sold as largely white and English?
Why do so many books by non-white authors find themselves in 'global literature'?
Wallacea: a living laboratory of evolution
The central islands of Indonesia, also known as Wallacea, is a place of wonder, a living laboratory for the study of evolution.
LIGO announcement vaults astronomy out of its silent movie era into the talkies
A LIGO team member describes how the detection of a gravitational wave from a new source – merging neutron stars – vaults astronomy into a new era of 'multi-messenger' observations.
Just 120 days into his term, Ecuador’s new president is already undoing his own party’s legacy
Ecuador's president, Lenin Moreno, has been flirting with conservatives. Beyond irking his base, it has also lead to mass resignations and Twitter battles with his powerful left-wing predecessor.
