MYSTERIOUS: 46 | Mind Blowing Facts

UK government’s new ‘class unit’ promises to tackle inequalities – but it’s a risky strategy

Inequality has been debated in British politics for decades, often with a reluctance to address class issues. Bridget Phillipson, the minister for women and equalities, thinks this needs to change. Announcing the government’s new class unit, she argued that Britain has been “squeamish about class for too long”.

The Conversation · Sep 16

The domestic goddess enters the tent: Nigella Lawson and Bake Off thrive on the same fantasy

When The Great British Bake Off returns for its 17th series this autumn, viewers will be greeted by a new judge – Nigella Lawson. There are connections between Lawson’s domestic goddess persona and the world of Bake Off, which make her a logical choice for the show’s new judge.

The Conversation · Sep 16

Many Jewish faculty and staff say university EDI is failing them

In 2025, Jewish people were the target of 70 per cent of all police-reported hate crimes in Canada targeting a religious group. Jews make up about one per cent of the Canadian population.

The Conversation · Sep 16

Pardoned by Trump and escaping charges at home, ex-Honduran leader’s case shows a nation’s struggle for sovereignty

A Honduran judge on Sept. 1, 2026, dismissed a sprawling money-laundering and fraud case against the country’s former president, Juan Orlando Hernández. It was the latest stroke of good fortune for Hernández.

The Conversation · Sep 16

Even the Buddha experienced challenges with meditation: Historical texts reveal its potential downsides

As a scholar of “Buddhist medicine,” I have studied the connections between Buddhism and well-being since the late 1990s. During the course of that research, I would periodically run into sources claiming that meditation could sometimes have unexpected or adverse health effects. When I discovered in 2020 that psychologists were…

The Conversation · Sep 16

Why an overactive immune system attacks the bodies of people with lupus but still leaves them vulnerable to infection

Despite having an overactive immune system, people with lupus may still struggle to fight bacterial infections. My team and I found that this paradox may be because chronic inflammation pushes their immune cells toward the wrong kind of response.

The Conversation · Sep 16

How the American revolt against Flock cameras mirrors the Boston Tea Party of 1773

A grassroots revolt against automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, has gained momentum across the United States.

The Conversation · Sep 16

Lockdown or active shooter drill? The distinction matters for children’s safety and well-being

School shooting preparedness drills have been a routine though uncomfortable part of the back-to-school experience. Since the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, various kinds of preparedness drills have been mandatory in most schools.

The Conversation · Sep 16

8 rules to help you understand what campaign finance reporting reveals about influence and support – or doesn’t

News stories about campaign finance are frequent in any election season, and this year is no exception.

The Conversation · Sep 16

Britain’s most artificial landscape may not survive climate change

Stretching across much of eastern England, the Fens produce a third of the country’s vegetables and support tens of thousands of jobs. Yet around 33% of the region lies below average sea level, while 87% is below the highest spring tides

The Conversation · Sep 16