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Editor's note
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At up to 170 tonnes, the blue whale is the largest animal in the world – in fact, scientists reckon it’s probably the largest animal ever, even including dinosaurs. We don’t know this because marine biologists have managed to lure a friendly whale onto giant scales, but because scientists have painstakingly chopped up and weighed individual chunks of whale carcass. It’s not particularly easy or accurate (for example, you have to factor in blood lost in the process), and it relies on finding a dead whale or killing one. Far from ideal if you want to study live wales on the move.
The huge size of many whales is a crucial part of their survival strategy, as all that blubber gives them enough energy reserves to travel long distances across the oceans in search of food. For this reason, scientists have long wanted a better way to assess the weight of a living whale in its natural habitat. And now they may have found one, thanks to drone-cameras, new 3D modelling, and an unusually calm and shallow bay in Argentina. Fredrik Christiansen reports on how to weigh a whale (without killing it first).
Boris Johnson delivered his first party conference speech as prime minister yesterday – Jim Buller on what this revealed. And legal expert Hayleigh Bosher explains what the law says about the public’s
right to know in light of Meghan Markle launching legal action against the Mail on Sunday over the publication of private letters.
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Will de Freitas
Environment + Energy Editor
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Top stories
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A southern right whale calf near Valdes Peninsula, Argentina.
wildestanimal / shutterstock
Fredrik Christiansen, Aarhus University
Scientists have used drones and 3D modelling to work out the weight of Earth's largest mammals without killing them.
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Boris Johnson calls on Jeremy Corbyn to take him on in an election.
Peter Byrne/PA
Jim Buller, University of York
If he can sell this plan to Brussels, it's game changing – but that's a big 'if'.
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Prince Harry says his wife Meghan has been ‘vilified almost daily for the past nine months’.
EPA-EFE/Facundo Arrizabalaga
Hayleigh Bosher, Brunel University London
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex say they plan to sue a UK paper for publishing a private letter.
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Health + Medicine
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Sophie Legge, Cardiff University; James Walters, Cardiff University; Stanley Zammit, Cardiff University
As many as one in ten people will have a psychotic experience in their lifetime – and researchers now know your genes play a role.
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Catriona Morrison, University of Bradford
Your memory may be unreliable – but that can be an advantage.
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Rachael Gribble, King's College London
New research suggests the partners of UK military personnel may experience greater levels of depression and binge-drinking compared to women in the general population.
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Environment + Energy
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Jennifer Arthur, Durham University
These lakes could threaten the future stability of parts of the Antarctic ice sheet.
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Alexander Piel, Liverpool John Moores University; Fiona Stewart, Liverpool John Moores University
Attacks on chimpanzees are happening at an alarming rate, within and outside national parks.
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W. Ranald Boydell, Heriot-Watt University
Despite the furore, Franzen is simply being pragmatic: confront the brutal facts but remain hopeful.
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Politics + Society
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Victoria Honeyman, University of Leeds
A look at his published writing shows the prime minister has ramped up the rhetoric as Brexit has approached.
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Christopher Fear, University of Hull
Behind the showman, there is a very real strategy.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Last week the PM got himself caught up in a Trump-created political rally. Now he's on the spot over this (typical) Trump call.
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Business + Economy
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Hanna Szymborska, The Open University
Inequality has reached untenable levels – public spending and wealth taxes are needed.
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Education
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Edda Sant, Manchester Metropolitan University
When ideas are presented as topics to be debated, rather than as facts to be learnt, students and democracy benefit.
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Arts + Culture
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Alexandros Antoniou, University of Essex
A number of recent controversial stories show why the UK media needs a regulator with teeth.
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Science + Technology
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Samantha Rolfe, University of Hertfordshire
Musk's plans have potentially dire consequences for alien life, astronauts and the environment.
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Featured events
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Bonar Hall University of Dundee, Dundee, Dundee City, DD1 4HN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — The Conversation
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Bonar Hall University of Dundee, Dundee, Dundee City, DD1 4HN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — The Conversation
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Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 4GJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Lancaster University
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Coventry Cathedral, Priory Road, Coventry CV1 5FB, Coventry, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Warwick
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