I’ve had so many conversations during the pandemic with friends who feel sad that they haven’t been able to read during lockdown. Even though it’s completely understandable that we might not have the energy in this stressful period, they seem to feel a sort of shame for not using their extra time at home to focus on a book.

If you’ve been struggling, we’ve got five tips that will have you hurling yourself at the bookshelf with glee. And these are not your average “habit building” recommendations. This is about a whole new approach that includes recognising how much you’re already reading in your daily life without realising and using that as motivation.

Perhaps your first piece of literature could be this essential article on how to feed ducks. In fact, let’s call it a mandatory public service announcement because you’re doing it wrong and you need to stop. No bread, please. Instead, think seeds, veg and even rice.

We’re all still reeling from the shocking scenes in Washington this week, where supporters of president Donald Trump, some of whom were armed, stormed the Capitol building in a bid to stop lawmakers officially declaring Joe Biden as the winner of November’s election. In the days that followed, much has been said about how the police responded to this (mostly white) crowd compared to how they managed the Black Lives Matter protests earlier this year. Danielle K. Kilgo, a journalism professor at the University of Minnesota considers how the US media covered these events.

Also this week, the cute cat trap, praise for the placebo and a reality check about exercise.

Laura Hood

Politics Editor, Assistant Editor

We all read much more than we give ourselves credit for. GoodStudio/Shuttertsock

Five tips to get reading again if you’ve struggled during the pandemic

Alexandra Paddock, University of Oxford; Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, University of Oxford

Want to read more but feel overwhelmed or struggle to find the time? Here are five tips to help you on your way.

Max Topchii/Shutterstock

What to feed ducks – according to science

Ronald Jan Corbee, Utrecht University; Sara Burt, Utrecht University

Your local ducks (and other wild birds) will thank you.

Trashed equipment for media outlets at the Capitol … but not reputations? Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The insurrection at the Capitol challenged how US media frames unrest and shapes public opinion

Danielle K. Kilgo, University of Minnesota

The insurrection at the Capitol was unprecedented. So too was the coverage, according to a scholar who monitors how media reports on protests

By - https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/emotions/self.html , , Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1684469. Elaine and Arthur Shapiro/Wikimedia Commons

The fascinating story of placebos – and why doctors should use them more often

Jeremy Howick, University of Oxford

A whistle-stop tour of the history of placebos.

Breeds with exaggerated features include the Scottish fold. Andrey Tairov/Shutterstock

Cats with round faces and big eyes might be cute, but you can’t tell how they’re feeling – new research

Lauren Finka, Nottingham Trent University

Breeding cats for exaggerated facial features might have hindered our ability to understand them.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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