A recent study has discovered that most children prefer to read adventure books compared to other genres. The genre is a go to for 52%, followed by fantasy at 39% and mystery at 38% – and there’s a huge benefit to it. According to the study two thirds of kids said reading an adventure book…
The Chase star Darragh Ennis has revealed he struggled to film the ITV gameshow after his dad died from dementia. Darragh, who is also known as The Menace, appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22) to discuss his father’s battle with the neurological disease. After losing his dad in July 2024, Darragh shared that…
As manager of the microscopy service at Uruguay’s Advanced Bioimaging Unit, Marcela Díaz has been able to develop her twin passions for teaching and microscopy.Credit: Sabrina CittadinoSince its establishment in 2021, Latin America Bioimaging (LABI) has significantly advanced the bioimaging community across the region. With 545 members from 31 countries, LABI aims to promote the development of this discipline in South and Central America. A key contributor to this progress is the Advanced Bioimaging Unit (UBA), founded in Uruguay in 2020 with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).Although Uruguay has only a modest research community — its 2,241 PhD-level scientists represent 0.06% of its population of 3.4 million — it has emerged as a bioimaging leader in the region. The UBA serves approximately 140 researchers annually, offering unrestricted access to state-of-the-art optical microscopy technologies and expertise.As a biologist transitioning into the role of an imaging scientist, my career path has been far from linear. It began during my master’s studies in neuroscience, while I was simultaneously working at a microscopy facility and teaching human physiology at a medical school. These experiences helped me to discover my dual passion for teaching and microscopy, although it took time to work out how to merge these interests.Nature collection: MentoringToday, I manage the UBA’s microscopy service. This role demands a diverse skill set, encompassing social skills, financial management, equipment and service coordination, and pedagogy — training researchers to use microscopes and design experiments — not to mention in-depth knowledge of the advanced microscopy techniques themselves.This position has provided the supportive environment I needed to shape my career. Collaborating with colleagues across Latin America revealed the demand for bioimaging education and training in the region. Many challenges persist, including the need for accessible microscopy training; a shortage of experienced trainers; and the limited time and resources available to develop tailored teaching materials.With the guidance of my mentors — Leonel Malacrida (head of the UBA) and Claire Brown (director of the Advanced BioImaging Facility at McGill University in Montreal, Canada) — I developed a strategic plan to transition from trainee to trainer, achieving this within a year.If you’re considering a career as an imaging scientist managing a facility and focusing on microscopy training, here’s how I did it.TrainingBecoming an imaging scientist requires proactive effort, combining relevant upskilling courses, interdisciplinary experience and job shadowing at established microscopy core facilities. Financial support from bioimaging networks such as Global Bioimaging (GBI), LABI and the CZI makes these activities more accessible. Through this support, I had the opportunity to participate in several training programmes, including the Montreal Light Microscopy Course Fundamentals, train-the-trainer (MLMC-TtT), developed by Claire Brown. This transformative programme is designed to create a multiplier effect by preparing trainers who, in turn, train more users, thereby efficiently expanding microscopy knowledge.Such programmes were instrumental in shaping my career path. They not only deepened my understanding of my role at the UBA but also strengthened my resolve to address the shortage of experienced trainers in Latin America capable of teaching specialized microscopy skills.Teach othersIn 2024, with the encouragement and support of my mentors, I developed a new training course on the fundamentals of optical microscopy. Launched in April 2024, Curso de Fundamentos en Microscopía Óptica (CFMO) was specifically designed for the Latin American microscopy community and is set to become a cornerstone of microscopy education in Uruguay. The response was overwhelming, with more than 100 applications from students and microscopy enthusiasts across the region, highlighting the demand for such training. Ultimately, we selected 17 participants, including postgraduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, university professors and regular UBA users.How to plug the female mentoring gap in Latin American scienceTo ensure the course’s success, I also mentored members of the UBA team, preparing them to assist with teaching the course content and leading hands-on activities. CFMO complements other training initiatives that my colleagues and I at the UBA have developed, such as the Annual Workshop in Advanced Microscopy and Biophotonics, which has trained hundreds of scientists across Latin America.
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UK holidaymakers in the Balearic Islands and Canaries have been encouraged to swap their usual tourist traps for a lesser-known Spanish town. As Spain grapples with local protests and discontent over overtourism, popular destinations like Tenerife, Lanzarote, Menorca and Majorca are becoming increasingly fraught. However, there’s good news for Brits sticking within the European Union,…
UK holidaymakers in the Balearic Islands and Canaries have been encouraged to swap their usual tourist traps for a lesser-known Spanish town. As Spain grapples with local protests and discontent over overtourism, popular destinations like Tenerife, Lanzarote, Menorca and Majorca are becoming increasingly fraught. However, there’s good news for Brits sticking within the European Union,…
NEW YORK (AP) — Barbra Streisand, Kate McKinnon and Elton John are among the nominees for the 30th annual Audie Awards, presented by the Audio Publishers Association.
Streisand’s self-narrated “My Name Is Barbra” is a finalist for best audio book and for best memoir/autobiography. Other best audiobook nominees include an ensemble adaptation of George Orwell’s “1984” that features Andrew Garfield and Cynthia Erivo; Dan Slepian’s self-narrated “The Sing-Sing Files”; Claire Oshetsky’s “Poor Deer,” narrated by Sophie Amoss; and Richard Powers’ “Playground,” with narrators including Robin Siegerman and Eunice Wong.
On Wednesday, the publishers association announced nominees in 28 categories, from drama to fantasy to humor. Winners will be revealed during a March 4 ceremony, hosted by Amy Sedaris.
This cover image released by Viking shows “My Name is Barbra” by Barbra Streisand. (Viking via AP)
“This year’s finalists represent the very best in storytelling, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate their achievements,” association president Sean McManus said in a statement. “We’re also thrilled to have Amy Sedaris as our host — her wit, charm, and unmistakable sense of humor will bring a unique spark to the evening.”
Memoir/autobiography nominees also include Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” Salman Rushdie’s self-narrated “Knife” and Kelly Bishop’s self-narrated “The Third Gilmore Girl.” McKinnon’s “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science,” narrated by McKinnon and Emily Lynne, is a humor nominee. The late Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir, “From Here to the Great Unknown,” narrated by Julia Roberts and Presley’s daughter Riley Keough is a finalist for multi-voiced performance.
Two Percival Everett novels were cited. “Erasure,” the publishing satire that was the basis for the Oscar-nominated “American Fiction,” is a humor finalist. Everett’s prize winning “James,” as read by Dominic Hoffman, is a nominee for best fiction narrator, and for literary fiction/classics.
Common’s self-narrated “And Then We Rise” is a finalist for business/personal development, while Erik Larson’s “The Demon of Unrest,” narrated by Larson and Will Patton, was cited for history/biography.
Mystery nominees include Lev AC Rosen’s “Rough Pages,” narrated by Vikas Adam; and Lisa Gardner’s “Still See You Everywhere,” as read by Hillary Huber. Dean Koontz’s “The Forest of Lost Souls,” narrated by January LaVoy, is a finalist for thriller/suspense, with others including Gregg Hurwitz’s “Lone Wolf,” narrated by Scott Brick.
Phil Hands | Wisconsin State Journal Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States of America on Monday, and before the day was over, he had already signed executive orders that clearly violate the U.S. Constitution. Trump wants to end birthright citizenship, which is clearly spelled out in the 14th Amendment.…
EnQuest will acquire Harbour’s stake in the Chim Sáo and Dua production fieldsThe overall tax rate on UK North Sea oil and gas production activities is 78%By HARRY WISE Updated: 08:46 EST, 22 January 2025
Wild Fictions brings together Amitav Ghosh’s exceptional writings over the past twenty-five years, covering themes that have long captured his interest: literature and language, climate change and the environment, and the human experience of travel and discovery. The ways in which we inhabit and interact with the spaces around us are a central thread running through this expansive collection.
From the impact of clove commodification to the diversity of Bengal’s mangrove forests and the fluid nature of multilingualism, Wild Fictions challenges imperial violence, explores the narratives we create to understand history, and underscores the need for sensitivity and empathy.
With his trademark combination of moral urgency, intellectual curiosity, and literary grace, Ghosh offers fresh perspectives on the world. The essays in this collection guide readers toward mending relationships and restoring harmony with the ever-changing landscapes to which we all belong.
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Published by HarperCollins India, ‘Wild Fictions’ will be released on 27 January on SoftCover, ThePrint’s online platform for launching non-fiction books.
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Amitav Ghosh was born in Calcutta and grew up in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka; he studied in Delhi, Oxford, and Alexandria. He is the author of several acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction, including The Shadow Lines, The Glass Palace, The Hungry Tide, the Ibis Trilogy (comprising the novels Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire), The Great Derangement, Gun Island, The Nutmeg’s Curse, Jungle Nama, The Living Mountain, and Smoke and Ashes.Amitav Ghosh’s work has been translated into more than thirty languages. He has been awarded and felicitated across the world. In 2019, Foreign Policy magazine named him one of the most important global thinkers of the past decade. The same year, the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, was conferred on him: he was the first English-language writer to receive it. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Erasmus Prize for his writings on the planetary crisis and climate change.
Also Read: New book presents Ghalib’s couplet to modern audiences
The 2025 movie season is about to begin as the Sundance Film Festival kicks off, bringing a fresh crop of premieres in TV and film. With an online component, you don’t need to trek to the snowy mountains of Park City, Utah, to get in on the fun. But with so many titles being showcased, it can be confounding to know where to begin. Fret not, movie buddies! Mashable has got you covered, having surveyed the cinematic landscape for the films most likely to have you shocked, awed, and entertained. Whether you relish a probing and poignant documentary, a gnarly horror story, a deeply quirky comedy, or a big, star-studded swing, there’s something sure to intrigue. Last year, Sundance debuted such gems as I Saw the TV Glow, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, Kneecap, Thelma, and Will & Harper. This year, what treasures might you find? Pee-wee as Himself
Paul Reubens in “Pee-wee as Himself” by director Matt Wolf, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: HBO
Pee-wee Herman is an icon, not only of children’s television but also of movies, theater, and counterculture performance art. Love him or hate him, everyone knows Pee-wee. But behind the goofy laugh and the signature gray suit, the late Paul Reubens was himself mysterious…until now. Pee-wee as Himself, a two-part HBO docuseries from director Matt Wolf, takes audiences behind the scenes of Pee-wee’s Playhouse and into Reubens’ home and personal life to create the fullest portrait ever seen of this fascinating figure.
Through extensive interviews with the man himself and his loved ones — including Debi Mazar, David Arquette, and Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) — Pee-wee as Himself charts Reuben’s youth through his rise to fame as Pee-wee, including the tabloid-fodder scandals that threatened to derail his career, his Buffy the Vampire Slayer return, and beyond. While rich with intriguing personal stories and funny anecdotes, the most fascinating element of this doc is how Reubens himself interacts with Wolf, vying for control of the project and its perspective, even though he is its subject. Complex, poignant, and challenging, Pee-wee as Himself is a must-see for fans. The Secret Word is “Outstanding.” Pee-wee as Himself premieres in the Episodic section of Sundance on Jan. 23; a release on HBO will follow.Zodiac Killer Project
A still from “Zodiac Killer Project” by Charlie Shackleton, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute
If you’re addicted to true crime, you’ll want to catch Zodiac Killer Project, a self-reflexive documentary that calls the genre’s tropes into question even as it relishes in them. Curiously, this is less a movie about a criminal case, and more a doc about a movie that was not made. Director Charlie Shackleton set out to make an epic true crime documentary about a cop who spent decades trying to convince the world that he’d identified the true Zodiac Killer. But before production began on this would-be film, the late officer’s family declined to sell the required rights. So Shackleton pivoted, making a doc that’s essentially a salty pitch of what his film would have been. Over “evocative b-roll” of desolate landscapes and eerie interiors, Shackleton delivers his own narration on what he would have done, describing production design, graphic treatments, and shot choices. He’ll note how these decisions have been influenced by the standards of true crime docs, unfurling unnerving montages that show no matter how different the stories are, their onscreen tellings are eerily similar. It’s enough to send a chill of recognition down the spine of this true-crime addict. Through it all, Shackleton forces his audience to question what it is we expect — or even demand — from this genre, and how “truth” factors in. Zodiac Killer Project premieres in the Next section of Sundance on Jan. 27.Sally
Sally Ride in “Sally” by Cristina Costantini, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by NASA
You might know that Sally Ride was the first American woman to be launched into space. But do you know who she was beyond the NASA poster girl and role model to millions? Documentarian Cristina Costantini, who previously helmed Science Fair and Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, explores the life, loves, and times of the groundbreaking astronaut in Sally. Interviewing the late physicist’s mother, sister, friends, ex-husband, former colleagues, and lesbian partner of 27 years, Costantini pieces together the path that led Ride to space, and to becoming a reluctant LGBTQ+ icon. Archival interviews of Ride clearly show the sexist approach the media took to female astronauts, asking about their beauty routines, how often they cry, and if they plan to have children — all topics Ride discouraged or insisted they ask of her male coworkers. However, the personal interviews with her loved ones reveal a side of Sally that was fiercely private, showing why that was, and how it changed. Informative, heartfelt, and occasionally funny, Sally is a compelling portrait of an American pioneer who proved the stars are for everyone. Sally premieres in the Premiere section of Sundance on Jan. 28. NatGeo will release the film thereafter. The Ugly Stepsister
Lea Myren appears in “The Ugly Stepsister” by Emilie Blichfeldt, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Marcel Zyskind
You might think you know the story of Cinderella, her evil stepmother, and her ugly stepsisters. But we live in a post-Wicked age, and The Ugly Stepsister is here to hold space for the vilified girl who just wanted a prince of her own. Writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt takes a hard look at this classic fairytale, re-imagining what Cinderella’s story might have been like for her elder stepsister Elvira (Lea Myren), who isn’t as naturally pretty, graceful, or confident as the future princess. With a mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, poor Elvira will be subjected to an array of brutal beauty treatments, from a medieval nose job to a stomach-churning diet hack. Relishing the chance to satirize a beauty industry that thrives on telling girls they’re not enough (or are too much), Blichfeldt employs blistering gore to make her audience not only gag but also really feel Elvira’s pain as if it were their own. With a dizzying mix of fairy tale fantasy and body horror, it’s little wonder The Ugly Stepsister has secured the coveted Opening Night spot of the Midnight section.
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The Ugly Stepsister premieres in the Midnight section of Sundance on Jan. 23; Shudder will release the film thereafter. The Legend of Ochi
Helena Zengel appears in “The Legend of Ochi” by Isaiah Saxon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
A24 movies are often defined by being visually striking and shocking. But the biggest shock with The Legend of Ochi — which will premiere in Sundance’s Family Matinee section — is that it’s an A24 movie made for kids! Fantasy with a tinge of horror is promised in the first trailer, where Nosferatu’s Willem Dafoe is armored up and armed to the teeth to take on some mysterious monster. In a remote village, children are trained to protect their people from the Ochi, colorful primates that rule the wilderness. But when a brave young girl named Yuri (Helena Zengel) crosses paths with a baby of this species, she begins to question the fearmongering of her kinfolk. Could this friendship between girl and beast change the fate their world forever? From its first look, Isaiah Saxon’s feature-length directorial debut boasts an immersive fantasy world, compelling characters, an adorable fanged monster to love, and Dafoe. What more do you need?*Starring: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Emily Watson, and Willem DafoeThe Legend of Ochi premieres at Sundance on Jan. 26; The Legend of Ochi opens in theaters Feb. 28.Bubble & Squeak
Himesh Patel and Sarah Goldberg appear in “Bubble & Squeak” by Evan Twohy, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute
The cast alone was enough to get this Sundance entry on our highlights list: Matt Berry, Dave Franco, Steven Yeun, Himesh Patel, and Sarah Goldberg star in a marital drama about cabbages. Yes, cabbages. With Bubble & Squeak, writer-director Evan Twohy makes his feature directorial debut adapting his acclaimed comedic play. Patel and Goldberg star as bickering newlyweds whose blissful honeymoon abroad is derailed when they’re accused of smuggling cabbages into a foreign nation in which they are strictly forbidden. If that’s not enough to entice you, what if we reveal that the dogged customs officer on their trail is played by What We Do in the Shadows’ very own Matt Berry? Yeah. We thought so. Bubble & Squeak premiers in the U.S. Dramatic Competition of Sundance on Jan 24.
Opus
Celebrity cults are about to get the A24 treatment in Mark Anthony Green’s directorial Opus. Playing in the Midnight section of Sundance, this curious thriller stars The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri as a young and ambitious journalist who’s given the rare opportunity to interview a legendary pop star (John Malkovich) who disappeared from the public eye 30 years before. But this isn’t some fluffy “where are they now” piece. As teased in the recently unveiled trailer, Opus plunges its heroine into a sycophantic cult, involving a notorious TV star (Juliette Lewis), blue wardrobes, and the requirement of a shaved “lady garden.” What’s going on in this chic and shady compound? What secrets will be unveiled? What’s the deal with the dolls and the puppets and the promise of this new musical opus? It’s A24, baby. It’s gonna get wild. Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means co-star. Opus premieres in the Midnight section of Sundance on Jan. 27; the film opens in theaters March 14. LUZ
Xiao Dong Guo and Sandrine Pinna appear in “LUZ” by Flora Lau, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Virtual reality is the neon-lit world that binds two stories of parent-child estrangement in LUZ. Written and directed by Flora Lau, this intriguing drama travels from the streets of Chongqing to the art galleries of Paris, chasing the heartache of two very different people. Wei (Xiao Dong Guo) is a formerly incarcerated family man, looking to get his life back together — including reconnecting with his lost daughter (Enxi Deng), who works as a cam girl. Ren (Sandrine Pinna) is the mournful daughter of a renowned but deceased painter, who pines for him and her far-flung stepmother (Isabelle Huppert). Dealing with regret, grief, and resentment, these families find face-to-face conversation too real. So could the virtual world, where an iridescent deer is endlessly hunted, be their salvation? Pensive and poetic, this family drama is sure to find devotees enchanted by Lau’s unique vision. LUZ premieres in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of Sundance on Jan 23.Touch Me
Olivia Taylor Dudley appears in “Touch Me” by Addison Heimann, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Dustin Supencheck
If you miss the chaotic and caustic comedy of Difficult People, you’ll cherish Touch Me. Playing in the Midnight section, this sci-fi comedy involves an invading alien who’s all about hooking up with human hotties — in ways that veer swiftly into tentacle porn territory. And yes, because his sexual touch is basically a drug for his Earthling lovers, the visuals get all trippy in the erotica of it all. But at its core, Touch Me is about two codependent friends who bring out the best and worst in each other. Joey (Olivia Taylor Dudley) and Craig (Lou Taylor Pucci) are roommates and besties; they are deeply devoted to each other but also live for cheap thrills and drama. So, on one hand, they are totally committed to breaking ties with Joey’s man-bunned and muscular ex, who besides being a literal shape-shifting extraterrestrial is also cringingly into self-care spiritualism. But they also want to take advantage of his lush pad, its amenities, and that sensual touch that is basically “heroin.” Gloppy, gory, and goofy as hell, Touch Me is a sublime Midnight Movie, made to be cackled over with friends and give way too-vivid nightmares (or sex dreams?). Touch Me premieres in the Midnight section of Sundance on Jan 28.Kiss of the Spider-Woman
Tonatiuh and Diego Luna appear in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” by Bill Condon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute
One of the most intriguing titles of Sundance 2025 is undoubtedly Bill Condon’s return to cinema. The director behind such heralded dramas as Gods and Monsters, Kinsey, and Dreamgirls, as well as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 & 2, offers a fascinating adaptation of Kiss of the Spider-Woman, a Tony-sweeping Broadway musical based on Manuel Puig’s 1967 novel. Set in Argentina’s Dirty War of the 1980s, this musical centers on a pair of prisoners, one held on political grounds, the other arrested for indecent exposure. They bond as the latter recounts the plot of his favorite musical, painting a world beyond their grim walls. Featuring a star-studded cast of Diego Luna, Tonatiuh, and Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman is a tale of art and politics that could hit hard in 2025. Kiss of the Spider Woman premieres in the Premieres section of Sundance on Jan. 26.
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