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Editor's note
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“All the world’s a stage”, Shakespeare wrote, each life a play, its “acts being seven ages”. We recognise how life moves through different phases from childhood, to adult life, to the second childhood of old age the Bard so memorably conjures. But as we age our appetite changes too. Nutrition expert Alexandra Johnstone argues that, from our youth to the time we become “sans taste, sans teeth”, we must recognise and respond to these changes to guard our health.
The idea that the Earth is flat, once common, seemed to have been consigned to the past centuries ago. But it is now an increasingly held belief – so much so that flat earthers have just held their first ever UK Convention. Education lecturer Harry Dyer watched the whole thing and considers what the flat earth movement means for science and knowledge in a post-truth world.
A plague of toxic caterpillars has infested oak trees throughout London and may spread beyond the capital. These caterpillars eventually grow into oak processionary moths, but for now their hairy backs can give you a nasty rash. Callum Macgregor has previously written about his love of moths, yet even he finds it hard to summon much sympathy for this invasive species.
And transhumanists believe that technology will enable humankind to transcend the physical limitations of our bodies. But in a world where the benefits of technology aren’t enjoyed equally by all, in the latest edition of our long read podcast In Depth, Out Loud, we consider a more dystopian vision of this future.
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Michael Parker
Membership Editor
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Top stories
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What we eat, how much and how often changes over our lives.
milsamil/Shutterstock
Alex Johnstone, University of Aberdeen
Shakespeare wrote of the 'seven ages of man', and our appetite for food changes as we age too – with implications for our health.
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dsom/Shutterstock.com
Harry T Dyer, University of East Anglia
A public meeting of flat earthers is a product and sign of our times.
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Sarah2 / shutterstock
Callum Macgregor, University of York
The oak processionary moth established itself in the UK a decade ago, ahead of the parasitoids that would normally keep its numbers in check.
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Science + Technology
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Alexander Thomas, University of East London
This is the audio version of an in depth article from The Conversation, which explores the ethics of transhumanism.
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Stefano Mariani, University of Salford; Judith Bakker, University of Salford
We cannot spot every shark in the ocean. But we can detect their 'environmental DNA'.
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Bettina Büchel, IMD Business School; Dario Floreano, EPFL- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
Elon Musk 's Tesla has serious production problems.
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Amanda Jane Hughes, Liverpool John Moores University
The first step to mining an asteroid is finding a suitable candidate. Scientists estimate there should be some ten nearby targets.
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Corinna Frey, Cambridge Judge Business School; Marian Gatzweiler, University of Edinburgh
From eye-scanners to 3D printers, technology in humanitarian crises can be a positive force for disenfranchised people.
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Health + Medicine
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Ann John, Swansea University
Our new study has found that people who suffer from severe mental illness are at a much higher risk of dying from preventable diseases and conditions.
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Darya Gaysina, University of Sussex
Folic acid in pregnancy – and the gene which explains why the benefits may differ.
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Adrian Martineau, Queen Mary University of London
Vitamin D could help the 20m children worldwide who suffer from acute, severe malnutrition.
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Politics + Society
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Tendayi Bloom, The Open University
Where to start dismantling the UK's hostile environment policy on immigration.
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Meysam Tayebipour, Lancaster University
Israel's prime minister failed to undermine the validity of Iran's nuclear deal, and instead ended up demonstrating just how important it is.
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Stephen Chan, SOAS, University of London
Zimbabwe has high hopes for a post-Mugabe era, but it has some serious growing pains to deal with first.
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Environment + Energy
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Oliver Heidrich, Newcastle University; Diana Reckien, University of Twente
Climate change plans can bring broader benefits to cities, while helping avert disaster.
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Business + Economy
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Simon Collinson, University of Birmingham
London remains incredibly dominant over the UK regions in terms of financial and legislative decision-making.
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Arts + Culture
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Neil Blain, University of Stirling
For years and years, the home of Oor Wullie seemed resigned to its fate. Then something strange happened.
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Jackie Harrison, University of Sheffield
Fake news is not new, but it is inevitable and inescapable - which is why we need uncomfortable, critical and truthful journalism to prevail.
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Alvaro Jarrin, College of the Holy Cross
Who's really benefiting from a health care system that provides free or low-cost plastic surgeries for the poor?
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Fabric District, London Road, Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 8HL, United Kingdom — Liverpool John Moores University
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