All posts tagged: Emma

Dr Emma Byrne awarded the Rosalind Franklin Lecture medal

Dr Emma Byrne awarded the Rosalind Franklin Lecture medal

Published by skeptic

On Thursday evening, scientist, author, and broadcaster Dr Emma Byrne delivered the Humanists UK Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2024 on ‘The amazing science of bad language’. Her lecture explored the fascinating and often misunderstood role of swearing in human psychology and society, and its potential evolutionary basis. The lecture was chaired by journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed. Celebrating  International Women’s Day, the lecture series honours the legacy of humanist and pioneering X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin, whose groundbreaking contributions to science were long overlooked because she was a woman. Swearing: a fundamental part of human expression In a captivating and thought-provoking talk, Emma explored the psychological and social functions of swearing, challenging taboos and revealing its surprising benefits. She demonstrated how swearing can enhance pain tolerance, with studies showing that using expletives can help people endure physical pain, as well as strengthen social bonds by fostering trust and camaraderie. Swearing also serves as an emotional release, helping individuals process frustration, stress, and even grief. Additionally, she examined how gender and class biases influence attitudes toward swearing and …

Emma Heming delivers ‘heavy’ message amid husband Bruce Willis’ health battle

Emma Heming delivers ‘heavy’ message amid husband Bruce Willis’ health battle

Published by skeptic

Emma Heming is truly a superwoman, with raising two daughters, becoming a published author, and caring for her husband, Bruce Willis, amid his battle with frontotemporal dementia. The Die Hard actor was diagnosed with the illness in February 2023, a year after his family revealed he was suffering from aphasia.  Since then, Emma has been incredibly open about the joys and pitfalls of being a caregiver and is on a mission to help others in the same position. WATCH: Emma Hemming delivers ‘heavy’ message amid husband Bruce Willis’ health battle The former model took to Instagram to deliver a “heavy” message about the importance of supporting a caregiver, ahead of National Caregivers Day on February 21.  “So many of you want to know how you can best support someone who is a caregiver in your life,” she began, addressing her audience of almost a million followers.  “I was thinking about it, and instead of saying to the caregiver, ‘If there’s anything I can do, please let me know’, which is so kind and comes from such a loving …

Dr Emma Byrne to deliver the 2025 Rosalind Franklin Lecture, chaired by Samira Ahmed

Dr Emma Byrne to deliver the 2025 Rosalind Franklin Lecture, chaired by Samira Ahmed

Published by skeptic

Dr Emma Byrne will deliver the Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2025, taking place on 6 March, in the week of International Women’s Day. The event, a highlight of the humanist calendar, will be chaired by Samira Ahmed. Early bird tickets are on sale now. Often censored, always emotive, swearing is the part of language that speaks when other words fail us. In the Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2025, Emma Byrne will unpack the power of strong language. Using data from medicine and neuroscience, she will demonstrate why swearing has such a potent effect on both the speaker and their audience. She will draw on her own research, which shows that swearing is used in sympathy and in excitement far more than it is used in anger. She’ll also look at pleas for civility and ask: do these make for better discourse, or do they just preserve the status quo? Whether you try not to swear, or you have a ‘broad and lively’ swearing vocabulary, the Rosalind Franklin Lecture 2025 will challenge the still-pervasive myths that surround this …

Who Was Sarah Emma Edmonds?

Who Was Sarah Emma Edmonds?

Published by skeptic

  Sarah Emma Edmonds was one of the most well-documented female soldiers in the American Civil War (1861-1865). While women were forbidden from fighting on the front line, she took up the role by masquerading as a man. Most women served their country or cause by registering as nurses, or taking on other caring, cleaning, and administrative roles. Female family members of fighting soldiers often came with them to help mend the clothes, cook food, clean laundry and even cannons, roles which were seen as typical for woman to carry out.   Women in War – When Did They Take Part? Emma’s portrait as Frank. Source: public domain   Women were not officially allowed to be soldiers until 1948. On June 12, 1948, US President Harry S. Truman signed a bill allowing women to enlist in the Army, although it was longer until they were involved in active combat. It wasn’t until 1993 that they were allowed to be fully involved in all roles and units.   However, that didn’t stop women from serving. Edmonds …

Matt and Emma Willis: ‘I cannot see any safe or logical way for a kid to have a smartphone’

Matt and Emma Willis: ‘I cannot see any safe or logical way for a kid to have a smartphone’

Published by skeptic

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter TV presenters, and husband and wife, Emma and Matt Willis have opened up about the driving force behind their involvement with the new Channel 4 documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones, and their key takeaways from it. The two-part documentary shines a light on the impact smartphones have on children’s behaviour with a landmark social experiment, where 30 Year 8 pupils from The Stanway School in Colchester are challenged to give up their phones and iPads for 21 days, and are monitored by researchers from the University of York. Matt and Emma revealed that their primary motivation to get involved with the programme and join in with the social experiment was to learn more about the digital world that their kids – Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and Trixie, eight – …

You Can’t Hurt Me by Emma Cook—Book Review by Bookish Elf

You Can’t Hurt Me by Emma Cook—Book Review by Bookish Elf

Published by skeptic

Emma Cook’s debut psychological thriller “You Can’t Hurt Me” is a masterfully crafted exploration of pain, both physical and emotional, woven into a complex tapestry of desire, deception, and deadly obsession. This riveting story delves deep into the human psyche, asking profound questions about the nature of suffering and the lengths people will go to either feel it or escape it. The Psychology of Pain and Power At the heart of this compelling narrative lies a fascinating premise: Eva Reid, a woman born with congenital analgesia—the inability to feel physical pain—and Anna Tate, a journalist whose life has been shaped by emotional trauma she can’t escape. Their stories intertwine through the mysterious figure of Dr. Nate Reid, Eva’s husband and a renowned neuroscientist obsessed with understanding pain. Cook’s background as an assistant editor for Observer Magazine shines through in her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to craft authentic characters whose psychological depths feel frighteningly real. The author’s extensive research into pain science and psychotherapy adds layers of credibility to the narrative, making the …

Sue Perkins Apologises After Accidentally Misgendering Emma D’Arcy

Sue Perkins Apologises After Accidentally Misgendering Emma D’Arcy

Published by Sam

Sue Perkins has apologised after accidentally misgendering Emma D’Arcy while presenting from the red carpet of the House Of The Dragon season two premiere. On Monday night, the former Great British Bake Off host interviewed the House Of The Dragon cast at a London screening, with one clip in particular capturing people’s attention. A widely-shared clip showed Sue using feminine pronouns to refer to Emma, who is non-binary, while interviewing their co-star Matt Smith. “Aren’t they brilliant?” the Emmy winner responded, later adding: “They are absolutely brilliant and you’re in for a real treat with Emma this year, I think.” With several media outlets having picked up on the clip, Sue quickly responded on X (formerly Twitter). “It was a shitty mistake,” she began, claiming she “had loads of stuff going on in my earpiece” and therefore “wasn’t as focussed as I should have been”. “No excuses though,” Sue continued. “These things matter and I feel terrible about it. Am a massive fan of their work and would never want to be disrespectful.” When one …

Joe Alwyn shares new picture with Emma Stone as Taylor Swift arrives in Europe

Joe Alwyn shares new picture with Emma Stone as Taylor Swift arrives in Europe

Published by skeptic

Joe Alwyn is getting ready for the highly-anticipated release of his new film, Kinds of Kindness, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.  As he reunites with his The Favourite co-star Emma Stone, close friend of his ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift, the 33-year-old shared a snap with the Oscar winner – and an endearing meme to show their close friendship. The photo showed Joe and Emma looking intensely at one another in close quarters outside of a motel, clearly a still from the upcoming movie. Emma donned a professional looking dark red suit, as she stood close to her co-star in the dark scene, who wore a more casual fit in the photo. On a less serious note, the actor shared a meme alongside the intense photo of two cats – one with Emma’s red chin-length bob, while the other cat had spiky hair – seemingly portraying himself – with an intense gaze.  © Nicholas HuntEmma Stone and Joe Alwyn worked together on The Favourite There’s clearly nothing but respect and admiration between the two co-stars, as Emma recently …