New niche search engines catering for minority groups are growing in popularity

Churches in England have lost about 50,000 women every year from their congregations since 1989, says a Derby sociologist.

If your boss starts talking about nudges, blinks, captainitis or flipstars - don't worry. We've digested those "explain everything" books so you can push the envelope with the best.

Caricatured as low-brow and smutty, Carry On films were never much rated by movie critics. But do they tell us something more profound about the huge social changes in post-war Britain? The BBC's Carolyn Quinn thinks so.

People are subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them, researchers suggest.

Mike Baker looks at the choices facing those might wish to reform A-levels.

England's exams watchdog wants experts to debate evidence that some subjects are harder to get good grades than others.

Celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the 1968 riots show France is still haunted by the spirit of the uprising.

The threat of nuclear attack may have lessened but many reasonable people are now stocking up on essential supplies in preparation for a new cataclysm.

The speaker of the House of Commons has been accused of using his air miles for his family, but this is a dilemma many of us face daily: is it fair to use corporate perks in our personal lives?

England's exams watchdog finds some subjects are harder than others in a comparison of exams.

As a man who posted video online of himself speeding at 130mph has been handed a four-month suspended prison term, police are increasingly relying on YouTube as a crime fighting weapon.

An Aberdeen University student is aiming for an MA in sociology - at the impressive age of 90.

Sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh explains how he befriended the leader of a notorious Chicago crack gang for his ground-breaking research on US poverty.

The ties that people make and break through social sites are helping academics understand relationships.

Attempts are being stepped up in Russia to end a stand-off between the authorities and members of a doomsday religious group awaiting the end of the world.

The BBC's Charles Haviland travels to Balkh in Afghanistan, the birthplace of 13-century Sufi mystic, Rumi.

As the rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris, Nicolas Sarkozy and his government are hoping to benefit from the inevitable feel-good factor.

Taiwan celebrates the 20th anniversary of the lifting of martial law