How letting your mind wander can reset your brain
‘Attention restoration theory’ posits that allowing the mind to wander is important for restoring focus and attention.
What the world can learn from Korea’s 15th-century rain gauge
As floods and droughts grow deadlier, ancient wisdom from Korea’s rain gauge and India’s harvesting traditions reminds us why the world needs a UN Rain Day.
What we’ve learned in ten years about county lines drug dealing
The practice is becoming more localised, with fewer lines running between police forces
Will the new James Bond embrace hi-tech gadgets in an age of AI? The films have a complicated history with technology
Bond films have leaned into and shifted away from the allure of hi-tech gadgetry at different times over the years.
Storm Floris: the weather is rarely this windy in August – which makes it more dangerous
Trees in full leaf are more likely to fall, which is why summer storms can be particularly disruptive.
Why people ignore debt letters – and what it says about inequality today
A researcher spent 18 months living in a community where debt problems were commonplace.
Why we still don’t understand what happens to women’s bodies during labour
We know more about the mechanics of space than of childbirth. With no studies or evidence, care is based on assumptions, and women are paying the price.
Jane Austen was a satirist – why isn’t she treated like one?
Although many women writers were critiquing society in the 18th century, hardly any of them were considered satirists.
Can Syria rebuild its economy from the ashes of war?
Syria’s economy has been battered by war – the coming years will be decisive.
Love in the age of WhatsApp – a philosopher explains how technology reduces the power of a relationship
The fact that we are human sets limits to the kinds of love that can work well.