Modern slave trade: how to count a 'hidden' population of 46 million

Jun 07, 2016 09:07 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

In 1860, just before the outbreak of the American Civil War, the United States carried out a national census. One result was the very precise count of 3,953,761 slaves in the country, amounting to 12.6% of the total...

Are toys becoming more violent ... and should we be worried?

Jun 03, 2016 08:21 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

A New Zealand study has reported that Lego has become more violent since the late 1970s. Debates about levels of violence within childrens media are not new, so is this significant? When we consider that Lego is famous for...

Lethal injections and the tragedy of America's execution addiction

Jun 03, 2016 08:19 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Law

It began in Utah back in 1977. On January 17 of that year, Gary Gilmore became the first man to be executed in the US for more than a decade, ending a national moratorium on the death penalty. Gilmore, guilty of murdering...

The trolley dilemma: would you kill one person to save five?

Jun 03, 2016 08:14 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

Imagine you are standing beside some tram tracks. In the distance, you spot a runaway trolley hurtling down the tracks towards five workers who cannot hear it coming. Even if they do spot it, they wont be able to move out...

Ageing in harmony: why the third act of life should be musical

Jun 01, 2016 08:20 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Health

Its never too late to pick up a musical instrument. In fact there are many reasons why its a great idea, particularly in old age. We normally hear about reasons to increase music education for children, and for good...

Evolution of moral outrage: I'll punish your bad behavior to make me look good

Jun 01, 2016 02:19 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

What makes human morality unique? One important answer is that we care when other people are harmed. While many animals retaliate when directly mistreated, humans also get outraged at transgressions against others. And...

Harambe the gorilla put zoo in a lose-lose situation – by being himself

May 31, 2016 13:45 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life

A gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo has been shot dead after a boy fell into his enclosure. When I told my wife, a former vice director of a zoo, she first asked if the boy was okay and then said how terrible for the keeper who...