Just over a decade ago, on 2 July 2015, a U.S dentist shot a lion called Cecil. The lion had been part of a long-running study by the University of Oxford. Cecil was shot to be a trophy, to be displayed

It’s not often you come across a political thriller that combines a gripping high-concept, action-packed plot with a genuinely thought-provoking premise, but new novel Elixir by Phil Cleary is one such book.  This prescient page-turner takes the real-world field of life-extension research—which continues

A few decades ago, I remember watching Star Trek and marvelling at Captain Kirk’s wristwatch communicator.  Back then, it felt like a fantasy. Fast forward to today and not only do we wear phones on our wrists but we are also on the

Britain has long prided itself on upholding free speech as a democratic pillar, so public disquiet over arrests for so-called ‘offensive tweets’ is hardly surprising. With the UK facing scrutiny for its high rate of speech-related prosecutions among democracies, the

For both amateur stargazers and seasoned astronomers, few events are as breathtaking as a total solar eclipse. I still remember my first experience with a partial solar eclipse as a student. It sparked my curiosity and led me to explore

Across the world – from Africa to the Americas, Asia to Indonesia – the ruins of ancient civilisations continue to amaze. Even with our state-of-the-art technology, we still cannot fully explain their sophisticated infrastructures or replicate their architectural feats. These enduring

With spring here and warmer nights inviting us outdoors, it’s the ideal time to learn a few simple tricks to spot astronomical wonders and earn yourself a gold star from friends and family. While there are many helpful stargazing apps like Sky

Step outside on a clear night this spring and face the southern sky. Look overhead and you’ll see one of the most familiar shapes in the heavens: the Big Dipper. It’s not a constellation but an asterism — a recognisable pattern

As summer approaches, the night sky becomes a dazzling stage for some of the year’s most striking celestial displays. Once again, we can use the Big Dipper as our starting point to explore the June skies and locate the distinctive

July brings long, warm nights and excellent conditions for stargazing. This month, we focus on the northeastern sky, where the Milky Way rises in a sweeping arc above the horizon. Using the Big Dipper as our guide, we’ll trace a