Pi Online Archive
Portions of Pi #5: Dishoom, Borough
Hi again, it’s Hayley and I’m back with another food review! It’s been a while since I’ve been in London, but when I heard about Dishoom, Borough’s soft launch boasting half-off prices, I knew I had to be there.
Harry Potter, the Boycott Who Lived: Should we Cancel our Childhood Nostalgia?
Twenty-five years after Harry Potter became a worldwide phenomenon, a different question has emerged: should we stop reading it? Although concerns about J.K. Rowling's views are understandable, boycotting Harry Potter risks overlooking its positive impact on generations of readers.
Stevie’s Wonder and Madonna’s Missteps: Gendered Discourse and the Ageing Popstar
While Wonder is often celebrated as a musical legend whose longevity strengthens his legacy, Madonna continues to face scrutiny over her appearance, behaviour, and relevance, revealing how ageing under the scrutiny of the media remains a deeply gendered experience.
Brain Rot and Mental Clutter: How to Reclaim Your Attention
The weight of our own lives, of each busy day, has become so heavy that, to relax, we now need to shut our minds off completely, scrolling through endless content without really absorbing any of it. Our attention has simply been trained to haul hay bales in the infinite field of social media.
Comedy in Crisis: Why is Alejandro Iñárritu’s Digger So Divisive?
Political satire is under threat; reality keeps stealing its punchlines. When the absurdities of political life require little embellishment before spilling into complete lunacy, how far can comedy go before it stops being funny?
The Glass Ceiling in Publishing: Have We Broken It?
In a world dominated by men, the publishing industry has seemingly forged a matriarchy.
Sentenced by the Media: Lindsay Clancy and Christa Pike
Pike and Clancy have each faced a jury of twelve, but their real trial is being held before millions online. In a time of live-streamed court cases, each woman must endure her own cyber-courtroom before the face of the public, while an army of armchair sleuths (online “detectives”) rush to investigate their crimes and publish conspiracies, all without ever leaving their houses.
Let Them Eat Cake: Nigella Lawson puts the Body Positive back in GBBO
Ah, the Great British Bake Off. An indulgent way to sweeten the impending darkness of autumnal evenings. Nigella is a calm and thoughtful presence in the tent, a natural judging counterpart to fiery Paul Hollywood, and on the surface not much has changed. However, Nigella’s attitude is quietly setting a precedent that this show has been in desperate need of.
When Did Sounding Clever Become Embarrassing?
I recently came across a TikTok by Tilly Middlehurst, a Cambridge graduate who speaks out on social and political affairs. She was responding to people mocking her for using “big words” such as “norm” and “culture”, or commenting “word salad” under a video in which she mentioned “religion” and “economy”.
Gimme Gimme a Title for Kimi: Antonelli On the Brink of F1 Championship
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli could mathematically win the 2026 World Drivers Championship (WDC) in Austin this weekend, a feat that would make him the youngest world champion in the sport’s history. Would his title mark the start of an era of dominance, or merely the culmination of a season of good fortune?
The Rise of Adela: Rejection, Pink Hair, and Hometown Pride
Adéla’s lifelong dream is to become a household name. She told Nylon: “I don’t think my country will be proud of me until I’m certified the biggest thing in the world, where it’s just undeniable.”
Portions of Pi #4: Monohon Ramen
Seemingly overnight, the weather has dropped to a damp and chilly 8 degrees… it therefore feels timely for me to return to my personal favourite ramen spot and indulge in something hot and brothy, whilst the infamous English weather does its best to wear me down.
Public Execution: Have we Returned to the Middle Ages?
No country livestreams executions. Yet for one week in October, the United States planned to. On October 8th 2026, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the plan to livestream the death by firing squad of the Fort Hood mass shooter Nidal Hasan.
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Fired Five Days After Taking the Job
The White House’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired on Friday after facing scrutiny over her performance and legal credentials during her five days on the job.
A Single Seater at the Table: The Problem with F1 Academy
The tide has turned on F1 academy. What was initially celebrated as a groundbreaking step to increase female participation in the single seater racing world, is now being regarded as a failure.
Soft Power and Hard Lines: How Close Will Burnham Take the UK to the EU?
The door to the European Union (EU) may look open, but Britain cannot expect the same deal twice. Though Andy Burnham is looking towards Brussels, the cost of rejoining may prove too high.
What Art Remembers: Love, Law, and Apartheid
Renee Li attends UCL’s Faculty of Laws on 9 October, where the the audience heard South African poet Adam Small reading What abou’ de lô. Art need not reveal a new fact to change what a fact means to us.
The Role of Student Journalism in Unmasking the Cornell Story
Their ability to uncover the granular, otherwise swept-under-the-carpet pieces of this story, reminds us of the importance of student-led reporting: publicly holding institutions accountable.
New Sanctions Imposed by US Against the International Criminal Court
On 9 October, the United States imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), escalating its campaign against the institution responsible for prosecuting war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.