Editor's note

In the past few months, five young women working in the pornography industry have died. Not all of the causes of death are clear, but questions have been raised about many of the women’s mental health. Many have suggested that they suffered as a result of the cruel conditions of working in porn. But this view is incredibly short-sighted, blaming the industry when in reality it is the stigma that workers face in wider society that is the problem.

Dogs have some pretty gross behaviour by human standards but eating their own faeces (or that of other dogs) might top the list. Jacqueline Boyd explains how new research suggests this practice of “coprophagy” might have actually evolved as a way to prevent the spread of disease. And she has some tips for how to stop your dog doing it.

Ed Sheeran’s song Shape of You, which was one of the favourites to win honours at the 2018 Brit Awards, has achieved massive success over the past year. It was the most downloaded track of 2017 and the YouTube video has been viewed more than 3.2 billion times. Pop music expert Leah Kardos explains why the song has struck a chord with so many people.

And in the latest episode of In Depth Out Loud, our long read podcast, we’re looking back on the secret history of Ebola and the decades of mistakes that made the deadly 2014 outbreak so much worse than it might have been.

All the best.

Josephine Lethbridge

Interdisciplinary Editor

Top story

Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com

Five young women in porn have died within a few months – it's time for a change

Rosie Hodsdon, Northumbria University, Newcastle

Recent deaths within the pornography industry in the US have reignited debates on labour conditions and mental health.

EPA-EFE/Nigel Roddis

Brits 2018: why everyone loves Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You

Leah Kardos, Kingston University

The UK singer-songwriter's biggest hit is odds-on to be a winner at the 2018 Brit Awards.

Once an EU citizen, always an EU citizen? via shutterstock.com

Britons shouldn't get their hopes up about keeping EU citizenship after Brexit

Adrienne Yong, City, University of London

A Dutch court has asked the European Court of Justice for clarification on whether British citizens should be allowed to keep their citizenship after Brexit.

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