|
|
|
Editor's note
|
|
Britons are notoriously bad at learning other languages. This is partly to do with the ubiquity of English as spoken in so many countries as a second language. But English speakers learning another language also face many grammatical hurdles which have disappeared over the years from their mother tongue. Interestingly, writes Michelle Sheehan, Britons were probably better at learning languages a few hundred years ago when English was more
complex.
It’s very unusual to see a creature with two different coloured eyes, yet it occurs in many species of animals, including rabbits, cats, dogs and horses. When George, aged ten, wrote in to ask why this happens, biologist Jan Hoole offered a fascinating response – with a bit of help from her pony, Biggles.
When a new set of UK population statistics were published last week, much of the media coverage focused on a rise in the UK’s population. But by digging into the data, Danny Dorling found that there were 20,000 more deaths than the previous year – a 3% increase. His analysis reveals the startling extent to which mortality is rising, and life expectancy falling.
England bowed out of the Women’s World Cup last night after a 2-1 defeat against the US. Stay tuned – we’ll bring you more analysis of an incredible football tournament in time for the final on Sunday.
|
Jonathan Este
Associate Editor, Arts + Culture Editor
|
|
|
Top stories
|
ivosar via Shutterstock
Michelle Sheehan, Anglia Ruskin University
Britons are notoriously bad at learning other languages. Here are some of the things that they find difficult.
|
What a good boy.
Shutterstock.
Jan Hoole, Keele University
Having different coloured eyes is quite unusual, but it happens in many species throughout the animal kingdom.
|
Life expectancy in the UK is falling.
Ralf Geithe/Shutterstock
Danny Dorling, University of Oxford
There were an extra 623,000 deaths in the UK in the year to mid-2018 – an increase of 3%.
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Yuan Ju, University of York; Jiawen Li, Lancaster University
Most people follow some form of moral code, but to what extent they abide by these rules does differ in various situations.
-
Huw Morgan, Aberystwyth University
Scientists spend years preparing for the two-minute window of a total solar eclipse.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Danny Christiansen, University of Copenhagen
If you see professional athletes with velcro bands around their legs, this is why.
-
Robin Stevenson, University of Glasgow
A culture of fear and blame in the NHS could be improved by a different approach to how nurses and doctors learn from gaps in their performance.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
José M. Rey Benayas, Universidad de Alcalá
The abandonment of crops and pastures allows the natural regeneration of bushes and forests and the recolonization of fauna.
-
Sarah M. Munoz, Université de Montréal
Island nations composed of low-lying atolls are at risk of being wiped out by rising sea levels in the era of climate change. Yet the international community is doing next to nothing to help them.
|
|
Education
|
-
Peter Gouzouasis, University of British Columbia; Martin Guhn, University of British Columbia
Researchers who looked at over 110,000 students found that learning an instrument in elementary school, and continuing music study into high school, significantly improves school achievement.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Andrew Filmer, Aberystwyth University
Moving on from tiered seats and post-war black box stages, the design of theatres are changing again in response to new societal concerns.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Steven Pressman, Colorado State University
Most of the gains from the record economy went to those at the top, while everyone else saw much smaller gains – if any – in income and wealth.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Sarah Thebaud, University of California, Santa Barbara; Leah Ruppanner, University of Melbourne; Sabino Kornrich, Emory University
Dirt blindness is used by some to excuse men for spending a third as much time as women cleaning. A new study shows it's a myth.
|
|
| |
Featured events
|
|
Room 103, 51 Gordon Square, London, London, City of, WC1H 0PN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — UCL
|
|
University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
|
|
99 George St , Glasgow, Glasgow City, G11RD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Strathclyde
|
|
|
University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
