Naomi Alderman and Adam Rutherford in conversation

Three of the year’s most acclaimed novels ask fundamental questions of the United States

This is an edited transcript of a talk that took place at Birmingham’s Think Tank in November 2016 as part of Little Atoms’ Two Cultures series, supported by Arts Council England.

Benjamin Creme did not live to see Maitreya reveal himself to the world. The herald of the Cosmic Christ died peacefully as his home in Tufnell Park, north London in October 2016, at the age of 93.

A conversation between scientist Lucie Green and poet Simon Barraclough 

Robbie Williams denies targeting the Russian president but his lyrics say otherwise 

From James Bond to Jack Reacher, we’re suckers for an uncomplicated hero. But there is an art to the action novel, writes Nick Cohen

Most pubs are not vibrant community centres: they are places lonely people go to drink

An internet sleuth has uncovered a murky world of stolen lines and rhymes, raising big questions about identity and authenticity