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Editor's note
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All eyes are on the US senate where Donald Trump has become the third president to be impeached after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. It’s a highly politicised affair which has its roots in medieval English history as parliament sought to curb the powers of the rich and powerful. They didn’t come more rich and powerful than the Duke of Buckingham, a royal favourite, who, in 1626, was impeached on a long list of charges that
can be summed up with the phrase “abuse of power” (similar to the main charge facing President Trump).
Buckingham was lucky (for a while at least): King Charles I was incensed by this attack on his leading courtier and dissolved parliament to prevent impeachment. Buckingham was assassinated two years later and we know what happened to Charles I – a cautionary tale. Impeachment gradually became less common in Britain – the last instance was in 1806, two decades after the Founding Fathers included the process in the US constitution. From our colleagues in the US we have five important reads about impeachment.
Mosquitos are responsible for the spread of some of the nastiest diseases, but a skin cream already on the market is proving to be an efficient way of preventing the virus infecting the body. We’ve also got some new research into how to brew the perfect cup of coffee.
All the best.
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Jonathan Este
Associate Editor, Arts + Culture Editor
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Top stories
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Overweening ambition: George Villiers, first Duke of Buckingham.
Peter Paul Rubens
Mark Knights, University of Warwick
Impeachment was a common political tool in early modern England, but its use lapsed 20 years after it was adopted in the US constitution.
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Where the action is: The capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Naomi Schalit, The Conversation
Did you know that senators shouldn't be called 'jurors' in an impeachment trial? Here's a roundup of stories that give behind-the-scenes facts and context to the news event of the year – so far.
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Researchers discovered a cream could stop the spread of deadly viruses from mosquitoes.
frank60/ Shutterstock
Steven Bryden, University of Glasgow; Clive McKimmie, University of Leeds
The cream was found to boost the body's anti-viral immune response, stopping mosquito-borne viruses in their tracks.
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Burst/Pixabay
Jamie Foster, University of Portsmouth; Christopher H. Hendon, University of Oregon
For consistently great espresso, use less coffee and grind more coarsely, suggests a new study.
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Health + Medicine
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Haitao Guo, University of Pittsburgh; Guangxiang “George” Luo, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Shou-Jiang Gao, University of Pittsburgh
A new coronavirus related to SARS and MERS has now traveled from China to the United States. A genetic analysis reveals that this deadly pathogen may have originated in snakes.
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Science + Technology
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Adam Hawkey, Solent University
An expert explains the challenges of a mission to Mars for younger readers.
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Arts + Culture
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Helen Parish, University of Reading
The age-old practice of priestly celibacy is now under fire, with the suggestion that the rules should be relaxed.
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Deborah Shaw, University of Portsmouth
In his Golden Globes acceptance speech, Parasite director Bong Joon-ho teased audiences about their unwillingness to watch subtitled films, highlighting the anglo-centric culture of film
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Politics + Society
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Robert Barnes, York St John University
The Commonwealth's 'golden age' wasn't entirely dazzling.
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Jennifer Mathers, Aberystwyth University
Vladimir Putin has proposed changes to the Russian constitution, which could mark the start of a shift in his persona as a national hero.
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Lanre Ikuteyijo, Obafemi Awolowo University
Harsh economic conditions at home and false picture of rosy life in Europe contribute greatly to illegal migration by Nigerian youths
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Environment + Energy
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Enrica Papa, University of Westminster
Since 2019, night train networks have seen a remarkable revival across Europe.
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Owen King, University of St Andrews
Meltwater lakes forming at the head of glaciers are causing them to shrink faster, which will affect the flow of big rivers that supply millions of people downstream in Asia.
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Sofie Sjogersten, University of Nottingham
Researchers found that palm oil plantations up to five years old were more harmful to the climate than already established ones.
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Glenn Hadikin, University of Portsmouth
The words used to describe the natural world are dwindling - some are even being hijacked and given modern new meanings.
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Featured events
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Bowland Auditorium, Berrick Saul Building, Campus West, York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of York
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Room SLB/118, Spring Lane Building, Campus West, York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of York
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Room ENV/005, Environment Building, Campus West, York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of York
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School of the Arts, 19-23 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, L69 7ZG, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Liverpool
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