Women’s relationships have always shaped my life, whether I knew it or not. Growing up, my mam was a working mother, a nurse. I saw her travel around our county and help people, care for them. She cared for me. My mam turned me into a caring woman. In later years, her career changed slightly,…
Creative Writing
Birthdays
Darkness, warmth, then glittering cold and harsh lights. The sounds of a world unmuffled by water and flesh. A sharp hand descends on your buttock and you choke on fluid and air and the first piercing scream of your tiny life. Gently cradling hands and harsh latex gloves deliver you into the world, out of…
Science
Phosphine gas found on Venus suggests a ‘possible sign of life’
Mankind has often looked up at the night sky and wondered if we are alone in the universe. A recent discovery might just have found the answer to that age-old question in the clouds of Venus. Conditions on Venus have always been dismissed as incompatible with life. Its surface is hot enough to melt lead….
Comment
“Legalising assisted dying would be a ‘slippery slope’”
Imagine how it feels to know that you have six months left to live. The normal argument is euthanasia would end the suffering of the most vulnerable. Autonomy is important – we live in a society of choice. Why shouldn’t people decide when they die? No one wants to see others in pain, but the…
Creative Writing
Radicle
“I am the roots that grew where sari hems met England’s paved streets, Probing deeper, deeper for life, hope and, one day, belonging. I am the roots massaged with coconut oil and haldi paste by mother’s tired hands, Easing a mind knotted with sleepless nights and jobless days. I am fellow roots from distant lands…
Comment
We can’t afford for climate protesting to go extinct
In a YouGov survey, more than half the people said they disagreed to some extent with Extinction Rebellion’s protests. As someone who is part of this movement, I do not find this surprising. When discussing Extinction Rebellion, most people respond with something like: “I support the cause, but why disrupt people’s lives?” Because it works….
Features
The Great Rise of ‘Studytube’
The back to uni rush is coming to an end, marking the start of a new academic year, and the most popular time of year for the new YouTube phenomenon which has been dubbed ‘StudyTube’. In the same way that there are online communities for fans of make-up, games, and books, a community has sprung…
Arts, Venue
Life-changing books: Tin Man by Sarah Winman
This book had a significant influence on me, because of its dizzying, tender outlook on life and relationships, wrapped up in poetic prose. The novel is an unbearably human exploration of friends and lovers Ellis, Michael, and Annie as they navigate their messy lives, growing together and apart through the years. Tin Man is important…
TV
The philosophy of… Fleabag and Killing Eve
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s presentation of feminism is sensational, both Fleabag and Killing Eve are sophisticated works of art. They’re funny, emotional and moving. But they also dissolve stigma around sexual liberation. The presentation of female sexuality and agency in both Killing Eve and Fleabag is a welcome breath of fresh air. Debunking myths surrounding sexuality and…
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