Claire Tomalin on her recent biography of H.G Wells, and the relationship he forged over a richly lived life.
The quiet subversiveness of A Christmas Carol
The redemption story of Scrooge is a deeply humanistic one, and in it, Dickens was constructing a broad and subversive church.
In the US, ‘civil religion’ ensures church and state remain tied at the hip
President Biden’s administration may present as less outwardly religious than others. But even so, US politics remains decidedly “Christian”.
“We need to correct the view that refugees are an economic burden”
Refugees are often perceived as a burden on host countries. But new research provides evidence for their economic value.
Is the new Galleri Test a major step in the battle against cancer?
The Galleri Test holds the potential to detect more than 50 different types of cancer before symptoms appear. It could prove to be revolutionary.
Humans: a special species? New Humanist winter 2021 is out now
The winter 2021 issue of New Humanist is on sale now! Subscribe here for as little as £10 a year. Humans: a special species? Of beasts and men Animal sentience is likely to be legally recognised in the UK. But, asks Julian Baggini, does that mean we should now stop killing other creatures? Our human […]
A world in which everyone sounds the same
Does newly developed “accent matching” technology risk fuelling a homogenisation of accents, if not worse?
The hidden costs of the CO₂ shortage
Europe’s CO₂ shortage has left us low on anaesthetic, fizz for soft drinks and various other supplies. So what is the solution?
A funny old island
The British government seems to believe that we Brits have a “unique” sense of humour. But is such a notion even worth humouring?
Modelling mayhem
Modelling randomness and disorder is no easy feat. But this year, it proved to be Nobel Prize-worthy.