Dr Alex Brown from our Department of History and our Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies looks back on the devastating impact of volcano eruptions through time.

Dr Kaweh Kerami of our School of Government and International Affairs reflects on whether Afghanistan has found the peace that the Taliban claim, five years after the group seized power.

Professor Glenn McGregor from our Geography Department shares his insights on how Japan’s earthquake response reveals the dangers of compound disasters, where extreme heat can intensify the effects of an earthquake and create a second crisis. He highlights why disaster planning must account for overlapping climate and natural hazards, rather than treating each emergency in isolation.

Professor Jonathan Darling of our Department of Geography is among a group of experts explaining the statistics and language around small boat crossings into the UK, as well as what needs to change for immigration policies to succeed.

Co-authored by Durham’s Professor Jon Gluyas, a leading expert in geoenergy and carbon capture and storage, this article explores the often-confusing landscape of carbon capture technologies and explains why different approaches are needed to tackle climate change.

Reputation mattered deeply in medieval England. Dr Alex Brown, Associate Professor in Durham University's Department of History and a member of IMEMS, examines how people turned to the courts to defend themselves against rumours, slander and damaging accusations.

Dr Andrew Crossland, Associate Professor in Practice in our Department of Engineering, explores how AI data centres could evolve from major energy users into valuable assets that support a cleaner, more flexible electricity grid.