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When you say someone is tall, you mean they are long of body or leg, right? Lanky, towering, Brobdingnagian? Well, that might be true now, but the word “tall” used to mean something completely different. To be tall in the 15th century was to be “handsome”, “elegant” or even sometimes “skillful”. And the word “sad” used to mean “firm” or “resolute” long before we started to use it to describe feeling blue. These are two of five common words that have evolved over time to mean something completely different. Find out the others here.
We’ve got the lowdown on two new shots that are about to be included in the UK vaccination programme. You’ve met Pfizer and AstraZeneca but you might soon get a dose of Moderna or Novavax. After a flying start, there have lately been some concerns that the supply chain could face disruption, so will the addition of these two players ensure the rollout stays on track?
This time of year is cherry blossom viewing season in Japan. As trees briefly bloom across the country, it’s traditional to gather with friends and family to have viewing parties and picnics. Since there’s no chance of travelling to take part this year, we thought we’d bring the viewing season to you with a look at the history behind this joyful practice. You could even go out to find your own cherry blossom this weekend.
Also this week, how the pandemic changed sex lives, why music algorithms recommend more male artists and what your selfie angle says about you.
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Laura Hood
Politics Editor, Assistant Editor
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Benoit Daoust/Shutterstock
Simon Horobin, University of Oxford
How words are used change over time and insisting that their original meaning be adhered to is pretty silly.
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The end is in sight.
Neil Hall/EPA
Liz Breen, University of Bradford; Sarah Schiffling, Liverpool John Moores University
The anticipated arrival of two new vaccines can boost the morale of those worried about the wait for their dose.
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Blue Sky imagery/Shutterstock
Nozomi Uematsu, University of Sheffield
Eagerly anticipated every year, the sakura season in Japan is a time to appreciate change.
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IndiaPicture/Alamy Stock Image
Liam Wignall, Bournemouth University; Mark McCormack, University of Roehampton
Sexual behaviour of UK young adults changed during social lockdown.
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Algorithms help lots of people discover new music.
Shutterstock/WAYHOME studio
Christine Bauer, Utrecht University; Andrés Ferraro, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Music recommendation algorithms are more likely to suggest music by male than female artists.
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Camera angles and selfie composition are proxies for how you might position yourself in a room
PxHere
Alessandro Soranzo, Sheffield Hallam University
Selfie takers often choose to shoot the left side of their face, from above. But why exactly is that thought to make you look better?
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Agnes Arnold-Forster, University of Bristol
History tells us that the end of pandemics are rarely – if ever – neat, uncomplicated, or even easy to date.
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Christian Brand, University of Oxford
Active travel can help tackle the climate crisis earlier than electric vehicles – even if you swap the car for a bike for just one trip a day.
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Caitlin Clark, Colorado State University
Sauerkraut, sourdough, beer...and chocolate? They're all fermented foods that rely on microbes of various types to transform the flavor of their raw ingredients into something totally different.
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Matt Parker, University of Portsmouth
You share the same drug habits, the same age-related memory problems and are similarly impatient when forced to wait for food.
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Jonathan Parry, University of Cambridge
Britain's preoccupation with the canal was as much about controlling Egypt as it was about global trade.
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Featured events
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Virtual, York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of York
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Online, Online, Oxfordshire, Online, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Oxford
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Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Cardiff [Caerdydd GB-CRD], CF10 3BA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Cardiff [Caerdydd GB-CRD], CF10 3BA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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