The Conversation

By Michael Timothy Bennett & Elija Perrier A new artificial intelligence (AI) model has just achieved human-level results on a test designed to measure “general intelligence”. On December 20, OpenAI’s ...

By Dan Baumgardt Maria, the new biopic being released in cinemas and on Netflix, is the third in Pablo Larraín’s cinematic trilogy of remarkable women. The equally astounding ...

Jack Jiang, The New School In the first few days after Donald Trump’s election in November 2024, purchases of emergency contraceptives spiked, with two companies reporting sales about 1,000% higher than ...

By James Clark “Talk to me before you believe anything!”, Thomas Cromwell (played by Mark Rylance) tells his monarch and master Henry VIII (played by Damien Lewis) in a pivotal ...

By Olaya Moldes Andrés Over the past year, books like Less by Patrick Grant and documentaries like Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy have encouraged consumers to rethink their internalised ...

By Katherine Gwyther There are almost no words to describe the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift. From curating the highest-grossing tour to date and releasing at least five original ...

By Jonathan Landay and Ted Hesson As investigators learn more about the man who pledged allegiance to Islamic State and killed 14 people with a truck on New Year’s Day ...

By Delphine Dion For several months, Chanel, one of the most iconic luxury houses, has found itself at a crossroads. Following the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019, Virginie Viard, his ...

Scott Morgenstern, University of Pittsburgh Donald Trump has made clear his intent to supercharge his “America First” approach to foreign policy in his second term – and Mexico looks set to ...

By Roger J. Kreuz Ever since the American Dialect Society selected a Word of the Year at its conference in 1990, over half a dozen English dictionaries have anointed an annual ...

Former US president Jimmy Carter, a man defined by his humility and idealism, has died at 100. Many US presidents come from modest upbringings. Born in Plains, Georgia, Jimmy Carter’s ...

By Caleb Ferguson and Sabine Allida It’s the time of year for workplace Christmas parties, and gatherings with family and friends. Maybe you’ll drink a lot in one ...

By Lindsay Middleton A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was published in 1843. Over the course of the 19th century, his depictions of the Christmas turkey and charitable spirit were reprinted ...

By Rosie Nelson What is it like to move through the world when everyone tries to change who and what you are? This is the fundamental experience that the graphic ...

By Julie Old At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t ...

By Tom Whyman I have a vivid memory of the moment I realised Santa didn’t exist. I was around six years old, it was the height of summer, and ...

By Marcus Harmes and Meredith Harmes Sending a letter to Santa can be difficult as no one can agree on where exactly Santa lives. Several countries are competing to claim ...

By Joana Jacob Ramalho Studies suggest that sad music may alleviate the impact of seasonal stress. It can offer solace, mitigate loneliness and promote good mental health by providing an ...

By Adam Taylor It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Yes, it’s that time of year when preparations begin for the arrival of that favourite festive visitor: ...

By Hunter Bennett and Lewis Ingram Picture this: you’ve just woken up and rolled out of bed. Your feet hit the floor, and your legs buckle. They are in ...

By Patrick Maundu Baobab trees grow in arid and semi-arid parts of Africa, and have deep cultural and ecological significance. Some of these trees are thousands of years old. Global ...

Julia Felton, Michigan State University and Crystal Cederna, Michigan State University Holidays are often depicted as picture-perfect moments: families blissfully united around a table filled with seasonal food favorites against ...

By Ben Voyer and Perrine Desmichel The reopening of Notre-Dame in Paris has recalled debate over the €200 million contribution of France’s Bernard Arnault, the CEO of the LVMH luxury ...

By Glenn Fosbraey Many of us assume that everything a musician sings emerges from some autobiographical impulse. Pop music lyrics in particular are often read literally by fans as transparent ...