Four volcanic hotspots in the Solar System

Io has volcanism. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona Evidence for current volcanic activity on the planet Venus has recently made the news. But Venus is far from the only world beyond Earth to exhibit signs of volcanic activity. In fact, having volcanic activity (volcanism) on planets is quite common. Here are fourContinue Reading

Casey review: key steps the Met police must take to address its institutional racism and sexism

Ian_Stewart/Shutterstock Baroness Louise Casey has found that London’s Metropolitan police force is institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic. We heard similar 24 years ago when, after the incompetent investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, Sir William MacPherson reported that the Met was institutionally racist. The Met’s commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley,Continue Reading

A child's handwriting on a form.

The 15-minute city has, in recent months, become the focus of conspiracy theories. Politicians and pundits have described it variously as “an international socialist concept”, a “dystopian plan” and a surveillance tool “that would make Pyongyang envious”. Quite what this longstanding urban planning idea actually results in, however, has beenContinue Reading

Iraq war 20 years on: how the role of empire and imperialism in the Middle East has been misconstrued

Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo Before the US-led coalition’s occupation of Iraq starting in March 2003, there was at least one subject upon which certain advocates and opponents of the war agreed: that the invasion was imperialistic. Both sides weaponised the historical role western imperialism played in theContinue Reading