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It was a smaller inauguration crowd than usual – and for good reasons. But countless millions around the world watched as Joseph Robinette Biden Jr was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States of America. His first speech in office confirmed what those millions have been hoping for since Joe Biden won the election in November: that he will strive to bring normality back to the US. He promised to seek healing and unity at home and
engagement abroad, to restore America’s damaged soul.
His predecessor was not there, having boarded Air Force One hours before to fly to an uncertain future in Florida. But Donald Trump’s absence in no way diminished the power of the Inauguration Day ritual. Now Biden will need all his skill to forge a bipartisan approach to the many huge issues in the Oval Office in-tray, most urgently a new, more serious approach to the COVID pandemic and a strategy to rebuild an economy that has been savaged by the virus. Follow the coverage with our team of academic experts around the world here.
Meanwhile, scientists have long argued over whether there are male and female brain characteristics, but a new study suggests many people have a mix of both – and advantages that come with it. And a
lockdown sound map has revealed what we’ve been hearing in the absence of normal everyday noise.
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Jonathan Este
Associate Editor, International Affairs Editor
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Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021.
(Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)
Thomas Klassen, York University, Canada
After four tumultuous years under Donald Trump, Joe Biden becomes president and pledges to advocate for unity and healing.
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How androgynous are you?
Thomas Piercy, University of Cambridge.
Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, University of Cambridge; Christelle Langley, University of Cambridge; Qiang Luo, Fudan University; Yi Zhang, University of Cambridge
While there are small differences between male and female brains, most of us have a mix of both.
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Shutterstock
Pete Stollery, University of Aberdeen
A lockdown sound map project asked people to actively listen to the sounds being revealed in the absence of normal everyday noise.
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Health + Medicine
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Lynn Williams, University of Strathclyde
Stay-at-home measures allowed many people to slow down, reflect and invest more time in themselves.
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Tom Heffernan, Northumbria University, Newcastle
We are still only beginning to understand the psychological effects that pandemic restrictions are having on us.
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Sarah Steeg, University of Manchester
During the first lockdown, the number of people seeking help for depression, anxiety and self-harm dropped by up to 48% in some cases.
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Agnes Arnold-Forster, University of Bristol
History tells us that delays, administrative hurdles, messiness and complexity are the norm.
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Politics + Society
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Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham
Biden's inaugural speech focused mainly on healing domestic rifts and a new kind of politics at home. But he also signalled a return to engagement with the outside world.
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Daniel McNeil, Carleton University
Joe Biden has said he wants to create a cabinet that "looks like America." But getting racialized people into powerful positions should be a means to tackle structural inequalities, not a goal in and of itself.
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Freya O'Brien, University of Liverpool; Craig Collie, University of Portsmouth; Susan Giles, University of Liverpool
In the face of stricter rules, the police and government need to clarify messaging around sanctions
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Business + Economy
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Malcolm James, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Rate rises appear to be coming back into fashion amid speculation that Rishi Sunak and the Biden administration are changing tack.
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Environment + Energy
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Matthew Shupler, University of Liverpool
Replacing wood stoves is essential but won't solve the indoor air pollution epidemic on its own.
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Science + Technology
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Ramy Hammady, Solent University; Carl Strathearn, Edinburgh Napier University
Emerging 'mixed reality' technology promises to bring history back to life.
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Featured events
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Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
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Cardiff University, CUBRIC, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, CF14 0UP, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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East Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB11PT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Anglia Ruskin University
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Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
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