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Thought Leadership

Securing Scotland’s independence: Moving beyond process?

Aileen McHarg, Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School, discusses the paths to independence for Scotland following the First Minister's statement, including a new 'plan C' - the next UK General Election.
St Andrew's cross, flag of Scotland, blowing in the breeze

Higgs boson: 10 years after its discovery, why this particle could unlock new physics beyond the standard model

Dr Martin Bauer and and Dr Stephen Jones from our Department of Physics look back at the discovery of the Higgs boson, and discuss some of the questions still being explored by physicists 10 years on.
Peter Higgs standing in front of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN where the Higgs boson he theorised was discovered.

Roe v Wade: men benefit from abortion rights too – and should speak about them more

Stephen Burrell and Sandy Ruxton from our Department of Sociology respond to the US Supreme Court's vote to overturn abortion rights, and look at why it's important for men to recognise how much they gain from women’s right to an abortion.
A man holds a sign at a protest reading

Do optimists really live longer? Here’s what the research says

Fuschia Sirois, Professor in Social & Health Psychology, in our Department of Psychology, explains how looking on the bright side of life could be good for us.
Two girls skipping towards the sunset

Royal jubilees have always been surprisingly religious affairs

Professor Philip Williamson, from our Department of History, looks back at the history of royal jubilees and their connection with British religion.
Crowds of people waving Union Jack flags on Palace Green for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012

How our brains instantly recognise music

The recent Wordle spinoff, Heardle, challenges players to identify popular songs from short music clips. Dr Kelly Jakubowski from Music explains the science behind why people love this new game.
A girl listening to music through her headphones.

A history tour of jubilees

Her Majesty The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Historian Professor Philip Williamson takes a look at the changes around jubilees over the years.
Her Majesty The Queen of the United Kingdom waving

Why football needs a gender revolution

Dr Stacey Pope, Associate Professor in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, is exploring whether the visibility of the Euro's this summer will help boost gender equality in the game or give rise to a further backlash of anti-women attitudes and misogyny.
Football on pitch in arena

As mass extinctions loom, these philosophers could help us rediscover our place among other animals

Dr. Clare Mac Cumhaill from our Department of Philosophy and Dr. Rachael Wiseman from the University of Liverpool explore why it's only our imagination that stands in the way of us extending the moral concern that we have for humans to other kinds of animal.
A child at a petting zoo looking at two goats poking their heads between wooden fencing

Wayne Couzens: Sarah Everard’s killer is appealing his whole-life sentence – what does that mean?

Professor Nicole Westmarland, from our Department of Sociology, explains the recent appeals lodged with the UK's Court of Appeal and what the difference is between a whole-life sentence and a life sentence.
Blue sky and outline of Old Bailey Lady Justice banner

Ancient cave art: how new hi-tech archaeology is revealing the ghosts of human history

Professor Paul Pettitt, from our Department of Archaeology, and Professor Alistair Pike, from the University of Southampton, outline how various forms of digital analysis of rock surfaces can bring to light ancient cave art.
Paul Pettitt

Why many women with autism and ADHD aren’t diagnosed until adulthood – and what to do if you think you’re one of them

Dr Alokananda Rudra, from our Department of Psychology, addresses a number of reasons why autism and ADHD are both often missed or even misdiagnosed in girls and women and that the importance of a greater awareness of the symptoms and behaviour associated with autism and ADHD will be critical in changing how both are diagnosed.
Male hands holding clipboard assessing seated woman