Jihadist terrorists have long had Spain in their sights – here’s why
A toxic combination of history and social tension makes Spain fertile ground for extremist recruitment.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Catalonia attacks
Barcelona’s Las Ramblas: economic powerhouse and symbolic heart of a city
The boulevard runs through the heart of the city, drives its tourist economy and acts as a symbol of life in Catalonia.
Analysis and Comment
How virtual reality is changing the way we experience stage shows
Theatre is undergoing a virtual revolution.
Confederate and Black America: why clashes at Charlottesville show Civil War alt-histories are more than just fantasy
To pitch an alternative timeline, you first have to believe a particular narrative of real history. That's where things can go wrong.
Should the UK be worried about inflation? No – looming deflation is the real concern
Inflation has been on the rise since the Brexit vote but, before long, deflation might be a greater concern.
Resilience has become a way of life in Sierra Leone, now mourning hundreds lost in mudslide
Mass graves are being dug for hundreds of those killed in a nation once more gripped by grief.
How Indian cinema helped fight fascism during World War II
In the midst of the country's struggle for independence, India's film industry became a messenger and ally in the global fight against Britain's enemies
Greenland: how rapid climate change on world’s largest island will affect us all
The ice sheet is melting and permafrost is thawing. What's happening in Greenland will speed up climate change across the world.
Little prospect of regime change in Russia short of a popular uprising – and that’s unlikely
Vladimir Putin position in the Kremlin looks more secure than ever, and he has shut down almost all the avenues for a genuine challenge.
Same-sex couples in Northern Ireland hamstrung in bid for marriage equality by Stormont stalemate
A judge in Belfast has dismissed a challenge to Northern Ireland's ban on same-sex marriage citing it as a 'social policy' issue.
How tranquil spaces can help people feel calm and relaxed in cities
Research shows tranquility can help to boost levels of relaxation, reduce stress and even provide pain relief.
Is it OK to drink cloudy tap water?
A new study finds a link between cloudy tap water and outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, such as norovirus.
Want more women in top positions? Provide them with more flexibility at work
Flexible working reduces the likelihood that women cut their hours or leave the labour market after childbirth.
Independent music labels are creating their own streaming services to give artists a fair deal
Spotify, Apple Music and the like aren't working for indy artists,
Fungal disease spreads through UK hospitals – here’s what you need to know about Candida auris
The spread of a multidrug-resistant fungal infection is rapid and alarming.
How Charlottesville has exposed competing narratives in America’s cultural memory
The alt-right is trying to subvert America's history of opposition to fascism.
Timbuktu destruction: landmark ruling awards millions to Malians
The International Criminal Court has told Malian radical Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi to pay €2.7m in reparations for an attack on the world heritage site.
How a dual citizenship row ensnared Australian MPs and caused headaches for PM Turnbull
Seven MPs are now under a cloud as to whether dual citizenship renders them ineligible to be elected to parliament.
Pauline Hanson wears burqa in Australian senate
Pauline Hanson's stunt of wearing a burqa into the Senate on Thursday drew a swingeing attack from George Brandis.
Northern Ireland’s Brexit border: the promise of invisibility
The UK government continues to insist there will be no physical markers on the border. But how can that work?
A Brexit tip from Henry Kissinger: the UK urgently needs a vision for the future
Why are the Brussels negotiations stumbling along so badly? Because a fundamental step has been skipped.
Why we keep playing the Generation Blame Game … and why we need to stop
The generational 'war' is a con, designed to hide a darker truth.
Why people believe in conspiracy theories – and how to change their minds
Rational arguments and myth busting often won't help you change the mind of a conspiracy theorist. But there are other ways.
The ‘boyfriend model’ of abuse is not restricted to grooming gangs
The 'boyfriend model' of abuse is in the headlines after a string of high-profile grooming scandals. But are we in denial about how prevalent it is?
E-cigarettes are a gateway to real cigarettes for Britain’s young
A new study reveals the risks of vaping in non-smoking teenagers.
Scientists may have found a way to overcome common genetic causes of male infertility
A study in mice shows it is possible to delete extra chromosomes in a range of conditions that are associated with infertility, including Down's syndrome.
Migrating birds use a magnetic map to travel long distances
New research reveals how birds navigate their way over thousands of miles.
Why the very idea of ‘screen time’ is muddled and misguided
Technology enables many ways of interacting. We need to be more specific and scientific.
Is it safe to take exercise supplements?
An Australian woman recently died as a result of taking too much protein supplement. But that doesn't mean these sorts of supplements should be avoided.
How to achieve Paul Auster’s literary genius? Start living uncomfortably
America's answer to Kafka and Dostoevsky gets real at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Blamed for being abused: an uncomfortable history of child sexual exploitation
For over a century, British authorities have ignored the exploitation of working-class girls.
Scotland’s drug death crisis needs a radical harm reduction response – now
Drug deaths in Scotland are now among the highest in Europe. What can be done?
Language puts ordinary people at a disadvantage in the criminal justice system
'If we can’t understand our rights, we have no rights.' But efforts are being made to rebalance the inequalities.
It’s time to start thinking about our digital carbon footprint
The traditional media industry comes with a large environmental cost, but emissions from digital productions are often ignored.
There may be a huge flaw in UK fracking hopes – the geology
Why protesters should think about putting their feet up.
How llamas conquered the world
They survived the pressures of globalisation and now thrive internationally.
Charlottesville, Virginia: the history of the statue at the centre of violent unrest
Robert E. Lee is one of the most memorialised figures of the American civil war. Here's why that causes so much anger.
Eight foods that (nearly) last forever
Fruit cake may last a century, but it's got nothing on honey.
Here’s looking at you, kid: how webcams help parents bond with premature babies
Watching their babies via webcams eases parents' anxiety and helps them connect in the absence of physical contact
Hip-hop dance vs Donald Trump: how robot moves just got political
East London collective Boy Blue Entertainment have taken their provocative show to the Edinburgh International Festival.
Don’t give up on ambitious green architecture – despite London’s Garden Bridge folly
Such projects should be clear from the outset about who owns them, who will build them, and who they are for.
The ‘Princess Diana story’: why everyone has their own version
Documentary makers, museum curators, PR teams and the royal family all want their say on the 20th anniversary of her death.
The real Quacks: medical misadventures in the Victorian era
A new BBC drama manages to capture the flawed, but sometimes brilliant, men of Victorian medicine.
Going through university clearing? Then make sure you do these four things
Clearing advice from the experts.
American Horror Story: how the cult TV show hints at real-world nightmares
Be prepared to be scared and informed in equal measure by the next series of this cult show.
The UK’s plan for post-Brexit customs is more hopeful than realistic
Explainer: what is Dance Movement Psychotherapy?
What could have tipped the EU referendum result in favour of Remain
Venezuela’s long history of racism is coming back to haunt it
SoundCloud survives but it’s bad news for musicians
Why ‘upskirting’ needs to be made a sex crime
Podcasts
The Anthill
We unearth some of the best and brightest research from the world of academia.
Listen to the podcast
Long reads
The heartbreaking story of the flying mathematicians of World War I
On the trail of the men of Britain's Royal Aircraft Factory, who gave their lives to help create the world's first air force.
How the humble potato fuelled the rise of liberal capitalism
When Enlightenment thinkers were looking for a way to build a healthy and productive society, they hit upon the tuber.
Brexit
Fact Check: can Wales and Scotland block the Brexit repeal bill?
We asked two constitutional law experts to explain what would happen if Edinburgh and Cardiff refuse to give legislative consent to a bill.
Brexit and the sin of originalism: the past should not define the future
Liam Fox insists on keeping faith with the referendum decision. But that is preventing ministers from adapting to an evolving situation.
There’s only one woman on the UK Brexit negotiating team – here’s why that matters
There is a serious gender imbalance on this important team, which could lead to bad decisions being made.
Donald Trump
Charlottesville, Donald Trump, and the dark side of American populism
Having stoked white resentment for his own benefit throughout his campaign, Trump is still emboldening it.
If Trump is bluffing on North Korea, the results could be catastrophic
In international relations, words matter – and so does the credibility of the speaker.
Who’s who in the Godfather version of Trump’s White House
Donald Trump Jr. has been compared to Fredo Corleone in The Godfather. But that's not good casting.
Trump’s inappropriate anger has become essential to his political success
Angry outbursts may have derailed any other politician – but not Trump.
Discover
How to build the perfect sandcastle – according to science
There is a direct correlation between the age of the builder, spade size and the speed at which boredom sets in.
Lips are the most exposed erogenous zone, which makes kissing feel very good
Scientists in the Netherlands have reported that we share about 80m bacteria during a passionate ten-second kiss; a finding that makes puckering up seem cringe-worthy – and downright unsanitary at the…
Saturn’s moon Titan may harbour simple life forms – and reveal how organisms first formed on Earth
Scientists discover rare molecules on Titan which suggests it's creating the building blocks of life.
Podcast
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Revealed: the first ever flower, 140m years ago, looked like a magnolia
Scientists have reconstructed the common ancestor of everything from rose bushes to oak trees, ivy or wheat.
How does a country become a country? An expert explains
Catalonia and Kurdistan are both holding referendums on independence this year. But is it that simple to break free?
Having more, owning less: how to fight throwaway culture
Why keep buying and chucking when you can rent and return?
Huge drop in men’s sperm levels confirmed by new study – here are the facts
If this trend continues, most men will be infertile by 2060.
Booze in space: how the universe is absolutely drowning in the hard stuff
It's like one great big distillery up there.
Game of Thrones and the cut and thrust of warring women through the ages
The new series will bring several strong women into conflict with each other – just like the Wars of the Roses.
Events
-
Graphene in Energy Innovation Opportunities Workshop — Heriot-Watt University
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Global Challenges in Cultural Heritage — University of Stirling
How we are different
10 reasons
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- Three families’ stories of new beginnings after the horror of Indian partition
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