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Iran holds one of the world’s richest concentrations of historic architecture, with 29 Unesco world heritage sites spanning more than two millennia. But since joint US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on February 28, parts of Tehran and Isfahan’s historic landscape have been harmed.
As expert in Iranian art, Katayoun Shahandeh explains, shockwaves from nearby blasts can shatter fragile tiles, crack ancient masonry and destroy interiors that cannot truly be restored. This story is part of our ongoing coverage of the
US-Iran conflict.
Nasa has announced plans to have a permanent base on the moon by 2030. But as our experts explain, underlying the proposal is a deepening concern in Congress and the current administration about the challenge rival powers pose to US leadership in space.
And have we passed “peak sheep”?
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Anna Walker
Senior Arts + Culture Editor
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A man walks past debris scattered across the floor of Golestan Palace.
UPI/Alamy Live News
Katayoun Shahandeh, SOAS, University of London
When war damages historic monuments, more than architecture is lost.
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A lunar base concept released by Nasa in February 2026.
Nasa
Kevin Olsen, University of Oxford; Fiona Henderson, University of Oxford
Changes to Nasa’s Moon exploration programme may include a base on the lunar surface.
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Farmers are drastically reducing their sheep flocks.
EddieCloud/Shutterstock
Caroline Flanagan, Anglia Ruskin University; Harriet Wishart, Anglia Ruskin University
What is the future for Britain’s sheep? Farmers are choosing to keep fewer animals.
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World
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Richard Whitman, University of Kent; Royal United Services Institute; Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham
The two wars are forcing the EU to take a more assertive role in defence and security affairs, leading to arguments between senior officials.
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Bamo Nouri, City St George's, University of London; Inderjeet Parmar, City St George's, University of London
Whether framed as liberal, neocon or realist, US foreign policy has always been about sustaining American dominance.
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Luca Trenta, Swansea University; Arturo Jimenez-Bacardi, University of South Florida
Declassified documents reveal details about the long history of the US seeking allies willing to cooperate to kill.
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Politics + Society
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Ronja Heymann, University of Essex
More choice can also mean greater opportunity to be heard.
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Peter Squires, University of Brighton; Rachel Bolton-King, Nottingham Trent University; University of Staffordshire
All of Britain’s mass shootings have been perpetrated using licensed, legally owned firearms.
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Arts + Culture
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Annabel Hoare, Anglia Ruskin University
A highly stylised storyline around a handful of high-profile influencers risks painting a misleading portrait of the manosphere.
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Patrick Masters, University of Portsmouth
A series of confessions, obtained under torture have shaped the order’s legacy in film.
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Trish Reid, University of Reading
This vital documentary tells the story of a protest over the arrest of two immigrants on the southside of Glasgow in 2021.
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Malcolm Cook, University of Southampton
Arco shares an audio-visual heritage with Studio Ghibli films.
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Marius Kwint, University of Portsmouth; Alice Sanger, The Open University; Jen Harvie, Queen Mary University of London; Pragya Agarwal, Loughborough University; Samuel Shaw, The Open University
For Mother’s Day, we asked five experts to share their favourite painting of a mother or maternal figure.
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Environment
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Nicholas Beuret, University of Essex; Matilda Fitzmaurice, Lancaster University
But researchers say the system generates questionable climate benefits, while locking refugees into low-wage labour – new study.
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Chee Meng Tan, University of Nottingham
A focus on green energy growth could be a bonus for China’s economy.
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Health
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Alejandra Perotti, University of Reading
Healthy skin depends on balance, not eliminating its microscopic residents.
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Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University
Nicotine is being rebranded as a wellness tool – but does the science back the hype, or are we just dressing up an old addiction?
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Emma Broome, University of Nottingham
Hearing loss and dementia often occur together, but the link is complex.
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Science + Technology
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Pablo Martinez Mirave, University of Copenhagen
Ghost particles from ancient stellar explosions could be detected for the first time this year.
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Andrea Benucci, Queen Mary University of London
How psychedelics induce intense visuals.
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Podcasts
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Gemma Ware, The Conversation
Climate scientist Philippe Ciais speaks to The Conversation Weekly podcast about new research explaining why global levels of methane spiked during the pandemic.
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23 February - 12 March 2026
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Colchester
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