|
|
|
|
Narcissists have climbed to the very top of global politics in recent years. Some remain in office while others have, shall we say, moved on. Despite breaking the rules and demonstrating that they care more about their own image than the people they govern, these self-regarding personality types continue to attract support at the ballot box.
A group of researchers recently sought to find out how deep our attachment to narcissistic leaders runs by entering the murky and corrupt world of playground politics. When asked to pick a leader for their group, the children in their study were far more likely to choose the narcissists in their midsts than anyone else – even if they were manifestly unqualified for the top job. So it seems our attraction to a certain type of politician
starts at a very early age.
The United Arab Emirates and China have sent missions to Mars and both will enter the planet’s orbit this week. Here’s what to expect in a busy week on the red planet. And could COVID-19 become endemic? We
investigate.
|
Laura Hood
Politics Editor, Assistant Editor
|
|
|
Even our youngest citizens can be won over with empty promises to make the playground great again.
Shutterstock
Eddie Brummelman, University of Amsterdam
Does our penchant for unfit but charismatic populists trace back to our playground politics?
|
China’s Tianwen-1 blasts off.
STR/EPA
Daniel Brown, Nottingham Trent University
If China succeeds, it will be the first country ever to visit and land on Mars on its first try.
|
fizkes/Shutterstock
Grace C Roberts, Queen's University Belfast
A number of other human coronaviruses just cause the common cold, and it's possible SARS-CoV-2 may one day be the same.
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Rob Reddick, The Conversation
Vaccine developers pledge to create boosters that can better handle the new variants of the virus, and new data gives reassurance on the Oxford vaccine.
-
Jonathan Pugh, University of Oxford; Julian Savulescu, University of Oxford
A growing list of countries is recommending that the AstraZeneca vaccine only be use in those younger than 65.
-
Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia
New trial data appears to support pushing back the second dose to 12 weeks.
-
Sylvia Richardson, University of Cambridge
We are repeatedly missing opportunities to gain quality evidence to help us manage the pandemic – that's why we need designed evaluations.
-
Vicky Fallon, University of Liverpool; Sergio A. Silverio, King's College London; Siân Macleod Davies, Liverpool John Moores University
A study examined the psychological and social experiences of over 600 women with babies between birth and 12 weeks during the first UK lockdown.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Thomas A. McKean, University of Aberdeen
There can be few more uplifting ways to stay connected during lockdown than singing together, which goes a long way to explaining the success of the Wellerman sea shanty on TikTok.
-
Danielle Dove, University of Surrey
Writers did it themselves back in the 19th-century so modern period dramas should be cut some slack for trying to prioritise modern aesthetic tastes over historical accuracy.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Andrew Noble, Anglia Ruskin University
Employers like Pimlico Plumbers may want to get authoritarian about vaccinating those who work for them, but they'll have a hard time justifying it in court.
-
Sangeeta Khorana, Bournemouth University
The Modi government is more sceptical about free trade deals than previous Indian administrations, as evidenced by its decision not to join the RCEP trading bloc.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Michelle Bentley, Royal Holloway
There were messages for friend and foe alike, but Biden was strangely silent on Brexit.
-
Kyle Cunliffe, Aberystwyth University
Once again allegations have surfaced that the former US president was a Russian 'asset'. Maybe so, but that doesn't mean he was their agent.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Tom Oliver, University of Reading
People both for and against pricing biodiversity need to work together to protect the natural world.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Pieter Verdegem, University of Westminster
The web's inventor believes the liberation of our data will help redistribute power on the internet.
|
|
Cities
|
-
Cathy Parker, Manchester Metropolitan University; Regine Sønderland Saga, Manchester Metropolitan University; Steve Millington, Manchester Metropolitan University
Options include residential conversions, new independent shops, and demolition.
|
|
Podcasts
|
-
Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation
Transcript for Episode 1 of The Conversation Weekly podcast, including stories on Mars and Belarus.
|
|
| |
Featured events
|
|
Online, Online, Oxfordshire, N/A, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Oxford
|
|
East Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB11PT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Anglia Ruskin University
|
|
Priory Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Coventry University
|
|
University of Birmingham Facebook (Live), Birmingham, Birmingham, B152TT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Birmingham
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
