Editor's note
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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.
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Josephine Lethbridge
Interdisciplinary Editor
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Top story
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Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com
Rosie Hodsdon, Northumbria University, Newcastle
Recent deaths within the pornography industry in the US have reignited debates on labour conditions and mental health.
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EPA-EFE/Nigel Roddis
Leah Kardos, Kingston University
The UK singer-songwriter's biggest hit is odds-on to be a winner at the 2018 Brit Awards.
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Once an EU citizen, always an EU citizen?
via shutterstock.com
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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Education
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Keith Topping, University of Dundee
The latest What Kids Are Reading report finds that secondary school students aren't challenging themselves – and it could limit their choices later in life.
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Politics + Society
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Brian Ward, Northumbria University, Newcastle
It's 200 years since the legendary African American abolitionist and ex-slave Frederick Douglass crossed the Atlantic and found freedom in northeast England.
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Michelle McManus, University of Central Lancashire; Louise Almond, University of Liverpool
The law around 'sexting' needs to be overhauled as the way young people communicate changes and evolves.
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Environment + Energy
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George Ferns, Cardiff University
Oil companies are pushing the world to believe they are the solution to, not the cause of, climate change.
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Health + Medicine
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Derek Gatherer, Lancaster University
The audio version of a long read on the historical mistakes and cover ups that hampered the response to the devastating Ebola outbreak of 2014.
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Business + Economy
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Jacqueline Boyd, Nottingham Trent University
New research explains that dogs may have evolved to eat faeces as a way to prevent the spread of disease.
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Robert O'Neill, University of Huddersfield
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) is responsible for rising rail fares and student loan repayments.
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Alexandre Nobajas, Keele University
Unless the UK can strike a deal quickly, British water will no longer be recognised on the coveted European list of recognised mineral sources.
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Arts + Culture
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Kayonda Hubert Ngamaba, University of York
Considering factors that contribute to happiness and life satisfaction.
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Featured events
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Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom — University of Stirling
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Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom — Royal Holloway
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Federation House, Manchester, Manchester, M4 4BF, United Kingdom — Manchester Metropolitan University
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Room SLB/118, Spring Lane building, York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom — University of York
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