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Editor's note
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Farming practices have changed dramatically over the past 100 years or so – and perhaps nowhere can this be seen so starkly as where it all begins: seeds. Most seeds are now developed and sold by just four multinational companies, and this may have drastic effects on the kinds of crops we’ll still be able to grow in the future.
Because of this, the humble act of saving seeds for as many varieties of fruits and vegetables as possible has become an unlikely political act. But in the process of doing so, individual gardeners around the world are helping to safeguard the future of the world’s vegetables – something especially important now that climate change is threatening the quality of seeds.
We’ve also been considering what constitutional changes that Boris Johnson, emboldened by his large majority, may wish to pursue – and the part that Christmas film Love Actually played in returning him to Number 10.
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Josephine Lethbridge
Interdisciplinary Editor
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Top stories
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Markus Spiske/Unsplash
Helen Anne Curry, University of Cambridge
Saving seed is a way of protecting the world's vegetable varieties, saving money, and increasingly, a political statement too.
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It’s not just Brexit that he’s eyeing up.
PA
Stephen Clear, Bangor University
A large majority gives the prime minister freedom to dramatically alter the machinary of the nation.
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A still from the Conservatie party Love, Actually parody campaign video, Brexit, Actually.
Boris Johnson/Twitter
Bran Nicol, University of Surrey
The "card scene" from the much-loved Christmas film was parodied by both parties. Boris' use of it of it showed a keen awareness of the allure of an awkward British bad boy
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Health + Medicine
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Laura Wilkinson, Swansea University
Variety may be the spice of life, but it can also make you pile on the pounds.
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Deirdre Gilpin, Queen's University Belfast; Michael Tunney, Queen's University Belfast
More evidence that vaping may be harmful to your health.
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Caitlin Lloyd, University of Bristol
Anxious teenage girls are more likely to fast – one of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa.
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Toby Pillinger, King's College London
Some antipsychotics with the worst side-effects are the best at treating symptoms.
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Arts + Culture
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Ingeborg Birnie, University of Strathclyde
More people than ever are choosing to learn Gaelic, but Scotland needs a strategy to ensure they are using the language in their everyday lives.
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Emily Zobel Marshall, Leeds Beckett University
In a surprising twist, Frozen 2 tackles the complicated issue of warped colonial narratives and the case for repatriation. A worthy feat, but how well does Disney pull it off?
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Sally O'Reilly, The Open University
We have an innate desire to be reminded of darkness and mortality during the festive season.
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Politics + Society
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Sarah Burns, Rochester Institute of Technology
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is known as a master of Senate rules. If the House impeaches President Trump, what could he do to influence the process – and outcome – of a trial?
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Andre Spicer, City, University of London
In the US, some federal departments become known as 'turkey farms' – stuffed with loyal but ultimately useless political appointees.
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Philip Seargeant, The Open University
How conspiracy theories, such as the Crowdstrike theory that Ukraine was behind the attack of the Democratic Party's server, draw from storytelling techniques.
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Environment + Energy
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Richard Ellis, University of Reading
New research shows even brief hot spells can damage seed quality.
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Birte Loschenkohl, University of Essex
There is nothing funny about the prospect of environmental collapse. But comedy can highlight the errors that led us to the crisis, and encourage us to act in the face of hopelessness.
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Science + Technology
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Carsten Welsch, University of Liverpool
There are many forces in nature, but they may one day be united into The Force.
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Carrie Ijichi, Nottingham Trent University
Whether you're a human, a dog or even a horse – how you handle pain will depend on how emotionally stable and guarded you are.
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Cities
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Andrea Mechelli, King's College London
The risk of developing psychosis is 77% higher in urban than rural dwellers. But there are positives.
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Featured events
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