Gaming
GTA 6 hasn’t even arrived, but workers are already planning time off to play it. With one estimate suggesting its launch could cost the US economy $1 billion in lost productivity, we explore the phenomenon and what it reveals about the growing influence of entertainment on our working lives.
politics
What exactly are the US midterms? And how does American politics actually work? From the President and Congress to the Senate and Supreme Court, we explain how America’s political system is structured, how power is divided and why midterm elections matter.
Mogging has gone from niche internet slang to Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2026. But what does it actually mean, where did it come from, and why has the idea of outshining someone become such a recognisable part of online culture?
Discover the top Gen Z trends for 2026, including cultural shifts, digital behaviour, and emerging platforms. Learn how Gen Z is reshaping culture, identity, and influence in a rapidly changing landscape.
Public feeds once defined cultural relevance. Now the real signal is elsewhere. Messaging platforms, closed networks and paid communities are quietly reshaping how influence is built and trust is earned.
Do women who wear makeup earn more at work? Research reveals a measurable “beauty premium” shaping income, perception, and opportunity. Here’s what the data says—and what it means for power in the modern workplace.
Nostalgia Core 2025: How 90s & Y2K Aesthetics Are Shaping Gen Z Culture
Hyperpop is noisy, ironic, and impossibly online. Here’s the origin story of music’s most chaotic genre and why it matters now.
The Context
Get the ideas, people and cultural shifts shaping our world — thoughtfully explained, without the noise.
Hackers reportedly targeted supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe, raising questions about the security of the connected technology running our everyday lives.
Anthropic’s proposed IPO could mark a defining moment for the AI industry. Discover what an IPO is, why the Claude creator wants to go public, and what it could mean for the future of artificial intelligence.
As AI transforms creative production, human originality, craftsmanship and artistic intention may become more valuable. Explore the rise of the human premium.
Humanoid robots dominate headlines, but the real robotics revolution is already here — in warehouses, factories and hospitals. Here’s what most people miss.
Search behaviour is becoming one of the most valuable tools for understanding culture. These five emerging search signals reveal how consumers are thinking, spending and navigating an increasingly complex world.
Soft productivity is replacing hustle culture as the dominant work ethic, shifting focus from constant output to intentional, high-quality work driven by attention, balance, and control.
Gen Z is moving away from hyper-individuality toward uniform dressing. From quiet luxury to archetypal aesthetics, this shift reveals how identity is becoming structured, optimised, and socially legible in the digital age.
Gen Alpha is embracing vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. This shift signals a deeper cultural move toward analogue experiences, screen-free childhoods, and a post-digital future where physical media reshapes how music is discovered, owned, and valued.
Gen Alpha is driving a shift back to physical retail, favouring immersive, in-store experiences over digital shopping. Discover how sensory design and experiential retail are shaping the future of consumer behaviour.
Gen Z is replacing endless scrolling with curated “analog bags” filled with books, cameras, and notebooks. This shift signals a deeper cultural pivot: digital detox is no longer aspirational, but essential to everyday life.
Gen Z is turning skincare into performance. From visible pimple patches to wearable wellness, beauty is shifting from private ritual to public identity and cultural expression.
Jellycat’s £333M success is more than a toy story. Adults are driving a surge in “comfort consumption,” signalling a shift in how identity, status, and emotional needs are expressed in 2026.
