|
|
|
|
We all know the feeling. A Zoom call freezing in the middle of an important meeting. A movie hitting a snag in the streaming at the crucial plot point. Or just staring at a screen, waiting for a webpage to load, when you almost certainly have better things to be doing.
As “fibre to the premises”, the newest generation of internet infrastructure, rolls out in the UK, many people had thought the frustrations of a slow or unstable internet connection would be behind them. But some people living in areas with fibre internet are still complaining of the same hiccups. So what’s going on? As two computer science experts explain, there could be a number of possible reasons for the connection being slower than you’d hoped with fibre to the premises. But the good news is there are some simple things you can do which might help speed things up.
A more serious concern for UK households is the recent announcement that we can expect a huge jump in energy costs this year. A lecturer in economics explains the role COVID has played in the price surge and why, unfortunately, we can’t expect a reprieve any time soon. And as household budgets come under strain, so too does support for governments, as historical evidence reveals.
|
|
Phoebe Roth
Commissioning Editor
|
|
Inside Creative House/Shutterstock
Omprakash Kaiwartya, Nottingham Trent University; Mufti Mahmud, Nottingham Trent University
There are a few factors that might explain why your internet connection isn’t as consistently fast as you’d hoped. But there are some things you can do.
|
Prices heating up.
Shutterstock/chromatos
Bruce Morley, University of Bath
When entire sectors shut down, the demand for energy plummets.
|
Rishi Sunak: the lightbulbs are coming for you.
HM Treasury/ Flickr
Paul Whiteley, University of Essex
As household budgets come under strain, so does support for governments, as Boris Johnson should note.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Richard Carr, Anglia Ruskin University
The types of people who gathered daily to watch Neighbours are the same who backed Tony Blair in 1997.
-
Craig Prescott, Bangor University
The Queen has expressed her wish that when Prince Charles becomes king, his wife will be known as queen consort.
-
Melissa Fothergill, Newcastle University
Being a fan can be good for you – even in defeat.
|
|
Health
|
-
Hassan Vally, Deakin University
We can’t say whether longer Omicron survivability on surfaces relates to a greater risk of infection.
-
Laura Brown, Teesside University
Diets high in legumes, whole grains, nuts and less red and processed meat were shown to be more beneficial for longevity.
-
Paul Mansell, University of Birmingham
Accepting and embracing stress may just help us improve our mental health.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Shweta Singh, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
The Chinese platform has become a major thorn in Mark Zuckerberg’s side.
-
Stavroula Karapapa, University of Essex; Alexandros Antoniou, University of Essex
Trademarking a shape of a product, or proving that a competitor is passing off their product as your own, is not easy. A high-profile settlement, though, is marketing gold.
|
|
Environment
|
-
Iwa Salami, University of East London
Blockchain technology can be made greener if we change the way transactions happen.
|
|
| |
Featured events
|
|
— Online, Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Southampton
|
|
— Russell Square, London , London, WC1H 0XG, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — SOAS, University of London
|
|
— PO Box 217, Reading , Reading, RG6 6AH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Reading
|
|
— The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Manchester, M139PL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Manchester
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
