Articles by Peter Morrell
Can You Guess the 1980s Musicians From Their Pins?
The 1980s gave us neon fashion, big hair, and music that defined a generation. Fans proudly wore buttons and pins to show their devotion to their favorite bands, a tradition that continues today with enamel pins celebrating the era’s icons. The WizardPins team has captured this spirit by putting together a collection of design concepts inspired by the decade’s most memorable acts. From synth-pop hits to arena rock anthems, these designs capture the essence of the decade in miniature form.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
This slideshow requires JavaScript. OVO, Cirque du Soleil’s exuberant and acrobatic celebration of the insect world recently returned in a brilliantly restaged format to London’s Royal Albert Hall where it is set to run until 1st March 2026. I’m a diehard fan of Cirque du Soleil and saw Ovo in its original form at the Royal Albert Hall in 2018, where the show became Cirque du Soleil’s most successful London run at the time.
Cheers and Cheese to EU
Celebrate Christmas with Prosecco PDO and Grana Padano PDO. Peter Morrell gets in the festive spirit Christmas is a time for coming together, raising a glass with loved ones and embracing the festive spirit – and few pairings embody the season better than Prosecco PDO and Grana Padano PDO. With its delicate bubbles, Prosecco PDO brings sparkle to any gathering at Christmas – the ideal aperitivo, festive toast or a versatile pairing for a festive meal.
The Rarest Pins in Existence
Pins have long served as small but powerful symbols, worn to show loyalty, commemorate milestones, and celebrate shared identity. Over time, they have evolved from handcrafted political tokens to mass-produced collectibles that define pop culture. Yet among the countless pins created across centuries, only a handful have reached legendary status. These rare artifacts symbolize stories of invention, courage, tragedy, and triumph and remind us why such small objects can hold such immense meaning.
Wright of Derby: From the Shadows
This slideshow requires JavaScript. There’s a lot going on in Joseph Wright’s “The Air Pump”, the 1768 centrepiece of the latest National Gallery exhibition, and though it’s stunning – 6ft by 8ft and full of faces – it needs a little explanation. For a start, its full name is “An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump” and while its intensity makes it feel like a baroque religious painting, it’s about science. A bird is writhing in a glass vessel.
Japanese Super-Diner from Chef Scott Hallsworth
Freak Momma now open in Parsons Green Chef Scott Hallsworth – the creative force behind Freak Scene and Kuroyoko – has transformed Freak Scene Parsons Green into his boldest concept yet: Freak Momma, which opened 21st November 2025 at 28 Parsons Green Lane, London SW6 4HS. Freak Momma takes Freak Scene’s rebellious streak and cranks it up to eleven. The space hums with big energy, creative freedom, and a menu built around bold, addictive flavour.
‘Tis the Season to Celebrate
Raise a Glass to Christmas and New Year with Festive Reds from California. Peter Morrell gets a taste of this year’s celebrations As autumn fades into evenings of frosty air, twinkling lights, and the joy of festive gatherings, the spirit of the season comes alive. Embrace the celebrations with a collection of festive reds crafted to suit every palate and occasion. After all, there’s no better way to gather, toast, and create lasting memories than with a glass of wine in hand.
Award-winning China Bistro finally arrives in London
Offering 50% off food until 14th November After building a cult following across India and Dubai, China Bistro is bringing its bold, spice-fuelled take on retro-Chinese cooking, also known as Tangra cuisine, to London, landing in Ealing Broadway this month. The 90-cover restaurant has officially opened its doors, with a 50% off food soft launch running until 14th November.
Celebrate Diwali in Style
Popular Chelsea Indian restaurant Kahani has designed special four-course menu for your festive enjoyment With Diwali around the corner, Kahani – the acclaimed Indian restaurant by Chef Peter Joseph (formerly Head Chef at Michelin-starred Tamarind) – is celebrating the festival of lights with an elegant week-long dining experience in the heart of Chelsea.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Davos will forever be associated with the World Economic Forum and bankers in suits with neighbouring Klosters firmly on the radar as the Royal’s favourite ski resort. However, with a total of six ski regions and just under 300 kilometres of slopes, the Swiss resorts in the heart of the Graubunden have so much more to offer, with ski enthusiasts truly spoilt for choice.
A Vintage Worth Waiting For
96 Months to mature Roebuck’s Rare Expressions No.96 Ahead of English Wine Week 2025, which takes place from 21-29 June, premium vintage English Sparkling Wine brand Roebuck Estates can announce the launch of a very special limited-edition vintage sparkling wine.
Hiroshige: artist of the open road
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Looking at Utagawa Hiroshige’s work, you can glimpse an early Instagram influencer, touring Japan 200 years ago and documenting the beauty spots he found, in the long established medium of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. He was born Ando Tokutaro in 1797 in Edo, now Tokyo, to a family with samurai connections.
Chassenay d’Arce Champagne
Chassenay d’Arce Chardonnay 2018 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut and Chassenay d’Arce Cuvée Expression Rosé Brut, two exciting new releases from this renown house. Peter Morrell samples both Champagnes The Champagne House Chassenay d’Arce is located at the heart of Côte des Bar, at the very south of the Champagne region, above Burgundy. Chassenay d’Arce, the largest Champagne coop by the size of its vineyard, situated in the Cote des Bar, specialized in Pinot noir.
Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350
Background detail from this glorious exhibition by Patricia Cleveland-Peck This slideshow requires JavaScript. At the National Gallery in London from 8th March until 22nd June 2025 it will be possible to see paintings and artefacts which influenced the development of art in the western world.
Tormek T-1 Kitchen Knife Sharpener Collection
For guaranteed perfect slices of Roast Lamb and Mushroom Wellington this Easter With Easter bringing family feasts and roast dinners, having sharp knives is essential. A well-sharpened knife ensures precision when carving roasts, slicing fresh bread and cakes, or prepping vegetables, making cooking smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. Dull knives require more force, increasing the risk of slips and accidents – whereas a sharp blade gives you better control and cleaner cuts.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
In time for 2025, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest incarnation of his hit musical Starlight Express is the type of musical that will immediately put you in the party mood. With loud music, singing and roller skating, this fantasy story takes you from a child’s bedroom into the world of trains. There’s even a love story thrown in with Rusty, the steam train competing against newer modernised trains while falling in love with Pearl, a first-class carriage.
Review of Castellore Salice Salentino Riserva DOP 2021 from Aldi
Another great value, quality Italian wine from this budget retailer Region and Grape Variety: Castellore’s Salice Salentino Riserva DOP 2021 hails from the sun-drenched region of Puglia, located in the heel of Italy’s boot. This wine is primarily crafted from Negroamaro grapes, a varietal renowned for its bold structure, dark fruit profile, and earthy undertones. Occasionally, a small percentage of Malvasia Nera may be blended to enhance the wine’s aromatic complexity.
Review of Aldi’s Castellore Aglianico del Vulture 2021
An exceptional, great value Italian red wine born in mineral rich volcanic soil Castellore Aglianico del Vulture is a delightful representation of one of Southern Italy’s most underrated red wines. Sourced from the volcanic soils of Mount Vulture in Basilicata, this wine offers a rich and complex profile that is both robust and elegant. Appearance: In the glass, it pours a deep garnet colour with ruby highlights, a sign of its aging potential and depth.
Discover the Perfect Gastronomic Pairings this Christmas with D.O. Cava
With the cold of winter finally starting to creep in there’s no better time to indulge in the refreshing delight that is Cava to bring some Spanish summer sunshine to the festive season Renowned for its exceptional quality, Cava perfectly complements the vibrant flavours of Christmas cuisine.
Christmas hampers by Sam’s Larder
West London deli Sam’s Larder is offering three decadent hampers in store and online this festive season Each making the perfect gift for the foodie lover. The team can also create a bespoke hamper to perfectly suit the lucky recipient. The ‘Jingle Bells’ Hamper (£130) offers a generous variety of artisan products from around the UK and beyond. These include the Ride & Grind Rocket Fuel Coffee, Fiona Cairns Vanilla Shortbread Hearts, The Emissary Rose Prosecco plus a Venchi Dark Chocolate Cigar.
Warm up with winter spiced drinks from Tesco
The pleasant aromas of winter spices can evoke a sense of warmth and comfort that’s ideal for embracing the cold weather With many festive traditions involving spices associated with Christmas, such as making gingerbread houses, sharing mulled wine with neighbours, or heating up spiced cider on the stove, the flavours of winter spices bring a sense of nostalgia and cosy warmth to those enjoying them.
Back to the Future: Environmental genomic selection to take advantage of polygenic local adaptation
Abstract The genetic basis of adaptation is a fundamental question in evolutionary genetics. Environmental association analysis (EAA) and various allele frequency comparisons in genomic environmental association (GEA) have become standard approaches for investigating the genetic basis of adaptation to natural environments. While these analyses provide insight into local adaptation, they have not been widely adopted in breeding or conservation programs.
Author Correction: Adaptive gene loss in the common bean pan-genome during range expansion and domestication - Nature Communications
Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51032-2, published online 07 August 2024 Both HTML and PDF versions of this Article previously published did not acknowledge Valérie Geffroy (valerie.geffroy@universite-paris-saclay.fr), Massimo Delledonne (massimo.delledonne@univr.it), and David Edwards (Dave.Edwards@uwa.edu.au) as corresponding authors. This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Four Days in Florence
An Insider’s Guide to this Beautiful Italian City by Adam Jacot de Boinod To get a proper sense of what Florence has to offer four days is what I’d suggest. To get away in a successful manner I need to change climate, language, culture and, perhaps most vitally, to change centuries. The secret, I find, is to surrender, to be transported in time, to sharpen my eyes and train myself to look, look and look again at all the detail and refinery. It’s so edifying and so reviving of my spirits.
Kinsbrook Vineyard opens evening restaurant
West Sussex vineyard Kinsbrook will open its restaurant late on Fridays and Saturdays from Friday 9th August 2024 Kinsbrook was granted consent to extend its evening hours by Horsham District Council on 22nd July 2024, following an eight-month application process. Visitors can expect the very best local produce and delicious seasonal dishes in a stunning rural vineyard setting.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
The characters who made up the Bloomsbury Group continue to fascinate the public which is not surprising as their colourful lives produced some great art and literature. The group contained, one might almost say was dominated by, some influential women and this exhibition features four of them, focusing on their relationship with their gardens.
Adaptive gene loss in the common bean pan-genome during range expansion and domestication - Nature Communications
Abstract The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a crucial legume crop and an ideal evolutionary model to study adaptive diversity in wild and domesticated populations. Here, we present a common bean pan-genome based on five high-quality genomes and whole-genome reads representing 339 genotypes. It reveals ~234 Mb of additional sequences containing 6,905 protein-coding genes missing from the reference, constituting 49% of all presence/absence variants (PAVs).
Aldi Launches New Nando’s Inspired Macaroni Cheese
Supermarket Aldi is rolling out its rich, ultra-creamy NEW Roosters Macaroni Cheese It’s part of its Roosters range which is back by popular demand to rival high street restaurant, Nando’s. Now in stock, shoppers’ hearts are sure to melt not only from the gooey goodness, but the un-cheddar-bly satisfying price as well.
Everything is coming up Rosés
Peter Morrell recommends three outstanding wines in this rapidly growing segment of the drinks market Celebrities namechecking Whispering Angel Rosé has put a literal rocket under the interest in Rosé wines. A chilled glass or two of Rosé with friends is the ideal tipple when you are lounging on the patio on a sunny day or having a laid-back drink in the evening.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
This slideshow requires JavaScript. If you fancy a not-quite-15-minutes of fame then try and get an aisle seat at the Arts Theatre. It’s from there that you might be pulled on stage by a member of the cast of The Choir of Man. And even if you don’t get picked to join the ensemble you might be serenaded under a spotlight, handed a free beer or at least catch a beer mat or a bag of crisps as they are hurled into the audience. They even use catapults to reach to the circle.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
Natasha Blair was impressed the venue and the performance of this Agatha Christie classic This slideshow requires JavaScript. Witness for the Prosecution is an absorbing play in a spectacular setting that promises twists and turns with a totally unexpected ending. The performance is staged in the Council Chamber of what was originally the headquarters of the London County Council, later the Greater London Council.
Chassenay d’Arce Champagne
New vintages and new packaging for their Les Caractères Range announced. Peter Morrell gets a taste Founded in Ville-sur-Arce in 1956 by five pioneers, the Chassenay d’Arce House now counts some 130 families and three generations of winemakers producing Champagne. The original operations continue with the same spirit of cooperation, solidarity, and knowledge sharing. The Chassenay d’Arce wine region covers 315 hectares and 12 villages in the heart of the Côte des Bar, along the Arce River.
Much Ado About Something
Liz Gill spends a very entertaining day with the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon This slideshow requires JavaScript. If you’re going to be insulted it may as well be by a genius. So if you sit in the ‘Insult Chair’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, instead of today’s dreary and unimaginative abuse you will hear the Bard’s inventive invective. You’ll be hailed as ‘a boil, a foot licker, a dunghill, a carbuncle and a blockhead’.
New Microplane Universal Mill
The latest addition to the Microplane mill collection (already including both the famous Spice Mill and Chilli Mill) The bigger and wider NEW Microplane Universal Mill, an ingenious tool for grating larger quantities with not one, not two, but three, photo-etched, long-lasting, ultra-sharp, stainless-steel blades, made in the USA; fine, coarse and ribbon.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Undeniably the most iconic Cirque du Soleil, Alegría is an all-time classic having mesmerised over 14 million spectators in 255 cities across 40 countries in over 19 years of touring. Now reimagined for a new generation to fall in love with, I recently caught the latest production, Alegria: In a New Light at London’s Royal Albert Hall, 30 years after I saw the original production when in premiered in 1994.
Cirque du Soleil - Alegría
After seeing the original production in 1994 Petra Shepherd is still inthralled by the magnificence of this wonderful show This slideshow requires JavaScript. Undeniably the most iconic Cirque du Soleil, Alegría is an all-time classic having mesmerised over 14 million spectators in 255 cities across 40 countries in over 19 years of touring.
Award Winning Website for Cultural Travellers
This slideshow requires JavaScript. Originally premiered on Broadway in 1950, and winner of five Tony Award including Best Musical, the latest production of Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre in London has maintained all its magic. Seating is on all four sides of the auditorium, and is wrapped around the action. Immersive tickets are available for those who are happy to stand, but with the fun element of being part of the audience circumnavigating the stage.
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Sustainable Luxury in the Algarve, Portugal
Rupert Parker enjoys a 5* hotel and explores sustainability in the Algarve This slideshow requires JavaScript. There’s a wide variety of accommodation ranging in the Algarve from simple chalets to high end hotels. The Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa offers 5* luxury right by the sea, with excellent food including a two star Michelin restaurant. It’s also been recognised as a Sustainability Leader by “The Leading Hotels of the World”, only one of 50 hotels worldwide.
Countless Ways and Reasons To Explore Cognac In 2024
The lively spirit of Cognac is everywhere – in its renowned eau-de-vie and in its namesake area, where the elegant elixir is lovingly cultivated and produced. This slideshow requires JavaScript. What better way to enjoy next year’s National Cognac Day on 4 June 2024 than to explore the region of its origin? The exceptional area of Cognac lies between land and sea, proudly boasting a rich gastronomic and cultural heritage as well as a multitude of experiences to enjoy.
Lady of the Grapes unveils Festive Tasting Menu
Opened in 2018 by Carole Bryon, Lady of the Grapes shines a light on women winemakers offering only organic, biodynamic and natural wines. The Festive Tasting Menu features six enticing wine-matched dishes prepared by new Head Chef Matyas Plzak. To start, a glass of Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne produced by Marie-Noëlle of Henriet-Bazin is paired with langoustine tartare featuring salt baked white beetroot and lime gel.
Diamonds in the not-so-rough: Wild relative diversity hidden in crop genomes
Introduction Plant domestication is a process that began with cultures around the world experimenting with alternative means of food production. These experiments have expanded, undoubtedly, beyond the imaginations of their originators. Much of the planet’s surface is now involved, and most of human sustenance derives from experiments that originated among fewer than 1,000,000 humans starting 10 to 12,000 years before present.
Roberts & Zuckerman’s Criminal Evidence - 3rd edition
Roberts & Zuckerman’s Criminal Evidence — 3rd edition Paul Roberts £140, Oxford University Press ★★★★★ The third edition of Roberts & Zuckerman’s Criminal Evidence, now authored by Paul Roberts, is most welcome. Roberts has comprehensively revised the 2010 edition, while aiming to retain important historical material to show the evolution of law, and to facilitate before-and-after comparisons of pivotal legislative reforms.
Sexual Violence and Restorative Justice
Sexual Violence and Restorative Justice Maria Keenan and Estelle Zinsstag £80, Oxford University Press ★★★★★ This somewhat academic book critically examines the various models of restorative justice used for crimes of sexual violence. It examines the role and benefits of restorative justice and whether it can bridge the ‘justice gap’ in cases of sexual violence. The book has an international remit and offers practice guidelines for the application of restorative justice to sexual violence cases.
Selection and adaptive introgression guided the complex evolutionary history of the European common bean - Nature Communications
Plant materials Original seeds for 218 common bean accessions (P. vulgaris) were collected from international gene banks or individual institutional collections. We produced 199 single seed descent (SSD) lines by performing at least three cycles of self-fertilisation. For the remaining 19 accessions, one seed per accession was sampled directly from original seeds provided by the donor.
Response to Regent Sviggum
I am writing in response to the article published Oct. 26 entitled "UMN Regent Sviggum resigns as board vice chair." In Regent Steven Sviggum's question about the University of Minnesota-Morris campus being "too diverse," the two words "too diverse" are doing a lot of work. Sviggum noted concern with decreased enrollment at the campus and that his question was prompted by two letters from parents of potential University students.
The familiarity principle hiring issue
This letter to the editor was written in response to a July 12 Minnesota Daily article and a July 18 Letter to the Editor.
Book Review: The Passenger Has Gone Digital and Mobile by Nawal Taneja
Book Review: The Passenger Has Gone Digital and Mobile by Nawal Taneja The internet revolution in mid 1990s has made the customer “king”. But actually this claim has not been realized as effectively as in the recent years as mobile technologies gathered pace along with social media applications. The aviation guru Nawal Taneja successfully explains this phenomenon in his book, which is the 7th of a series began in 2002.
Genetic costs of domestication and improvement
Genetic costs of domestication and improvement Brook T Moyers, Peter L Morrell, John K McKay bioRxiv 122093; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/122093
ANGSD-wrapper: utilities for analyzing next generation sequencing data
High throughput sequencing has changed many aspects of population genetics, molecular ecology, and related fields, affecting both experimental design and data analysis. The software package ANGSD allows users to perform a number of population genetic analyses on high-throughput sequencing data. ANGSD uses probabilistic approaches to calculate genome-wide descriptive statistics.
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