Notebooks

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Sakharov and Oppenheimer: twin triumphs and tragedies

The Soviet dissident and the radical American were both scientific geniuses of independent thought who shared deep anxieties about the consequences of their work. Both lives are wo..

Paul Josephson August 8, 2023

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Democracy is no longer a ‘hurray-word’ in West Africa

What does the military takeover in Niger mean for the wider region?

Olayinka Ajala August 7, 2023

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The wit of Wes Anderson

The distinctive visual aesthetic of film director Wes Anderson easily lends itself to parody, but deeper qualities can be found at the heart of his work.

Alexander Larman August 2, 2023

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An ode to the ODNB

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is one of Britain’s cultural treasures.

Josh Mcloughlin August 1, 2023

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Super superconductors? Don’t believe the hype

Ambient superconductivity for the masses would be a multi-trillion dollar breakthrough but it is still some way off.

Bryan Appleyard July 31, 2023

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The ever-changing face of Istanbul

The architecture of the city that straddles Europe and Asia inhabits a precarious present.

Hannah Lucinda Smith July 31, 2023

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In the face of nature we are all too human

Pliny, the great Roman encyclopedist, urged people to respect the environment. We should heed his sage advice.

Daisy Dunn July 27, 2023

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Beyond Berlin

The rise of the AfD could be reversed if German politicians listened to the concerns of their electorate.

Katja Hoyer July 26, 2023

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The inexhaustible genius of classical music

Classical music doesn’t need to dumb down to make itself accessible: its genius is that it’s already accessible to people of every skill level. Which human pursuit can compete with..

Elisabeth Braw July 26, 2023