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The shocking murder of Conservative MP David Amess on Friday has exposed just how vulnerable politicians are when they are out serving the public. In fact, threats of violence against politicians are very far from rare. As part of his ongoing research on the psychological pressures of political life, James Weinberg has come across far too many examples of people thinking it is legitimate to intimidate public servants. He’s been trying to understand why – and how
we can fix the problem. Meanwhile, Alasdair Booth has been taking a closer look at constituency
security.
An unexpected positive of the pandemic was that flu pretty much disappeared, thanks to social distancing. But now things are reopening, this could be a problem. Less exposure over the past 18 months has resulted in less immunity building up, meaning cases could be common and severe this winter – creating a dual threat as COVID continues to spread.
And as Britain continues to grapple with a shortage of HGV drivers, we take a detailed look at what it’s really like to work behind the wheel.
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Laura Hood
Politics Editor, Assistant Editor
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EPA/Andy Rain
James Weinberg, University of Sheffield
Politics has become a low-trust, high-blame environment that has left public servants under near constant threat of attack.
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Alamy/PA
Alasdair Booth, Loughborough University
Westminster is now enmeshed in tight and very visible security apparatus. But protecting MPs at local meetings is a different problem.
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Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock
Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia
Social distancing has shielded us from other respiratory viruses – but that’s not necessarily a good thing.
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Shutterstock/Jarek Kilian
Akilah Jardine, University of Nottingham
What drivers told us about life on the road.
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Health + Medicine
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Adam Kleczkowski, University of Strathclyde
Voluntary modifications to behaviour – such as mask wearing when it’s not mandatory – are probably helping to keep the virus in check.
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Marco Bucci, Karolinska Institutet
PET scans using a special tracer can pick up ‘tau tangles’ in the brain.
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David Comerford, University of Stirling
A number of factors – from initial difficulties to common misconceptions – mean that many women abandon breastfeeding in frustration. But a new study shows success with a new kind of support.
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Science + Technology
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Tim Thompson, Teesside University
The vastly differing environment would need a whole new approach to disposing of dead bodies.
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Catherine Thornton, Swansea University; April Rees, Swansea University
There is immense interest in understanding whether potentially protective SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are provided to the baby via breast milk. This is what we know so far.
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Gareth Dorrian, University of Birmingham
The Lucy mission could revolutionise our knowledge of the Solar System’s history, while the DART mission could help redirect hazardous asteroids in the future.
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Environment + Energy
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Stephanie Sodero, University of Manchester; Bertrand Taithe, University of Manchester; Ram Vadi, University of Manchester
Researchers asked aid workers how to best prepare for the climate emergency in places where its effects are most severe.
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Jamie Stewart, University of Strathclyde ; Antonios Katris, University of Strathclyde ; Karen Turner, University of Strathclyde
More ambitious plans for making the UK’s homes energy efficient could create 22,545 new full-time jobs.
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Arts + Culture
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David Orrego-Carmona, Aston University
Subtitles need to be read quickly and dubbing needs to match lips. It’s not an easy feat.
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Alex Fitch, University of Brighton
The revelation that a Superman is bisexual is a big deal in terms of Superhero comics, and it hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
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Business + Economy
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Terence Huw Edwards, Loughborough University; Mustapha Douch, University of Edinburgh
Any notion that trade only started being affected on January 1 2021 is completely wrong.
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Politics + Society
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Eleanor K Johnson, University of Bristol
Vacancy rates in the care worker sector have now risen above pre-pandemic levels.
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Featured events
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— Falmer , Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9RH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Sussex
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— Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, London, City of, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Brunel University London
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— Thomas Paine Study Centre Lecture Theatre, University of East Anglia, Norwich , Norfolk, NR4 7TJ , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of East Anglia
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— Edgbaston campus, Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Birmingham
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