Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
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Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
@kayaburgess.bsky.social
Science Correspondent & Religious Affairs Correspondent at The Times of London | Shortlisted for Specialist Journalist of the Year for religion coverage at the 2024 Press Awards and for Science Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Press Awards | My account
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Hello, I have the unique joy of being both Science Correspondent 𝘢𝘯𝘥 Religious Affairs Correspondent at @TheTimes.com in London ⚛️🛐

Here's a collection of my crossover stories that combine both!

(Includes a link to all my other work too)

Click here ➡️ wakelet.com/wake/zY8Zi_V...
NEW: Your step-by-step guide to making a saint 👼

Miracles and money - @thetimes.com gets a rare glimpse inside the campaigns to canonise seven new British saints

A journey through the divine intervention, cash, publicity... and mountains of paperwork required
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Inside the hard-fought campaigns to create British saints
A rare glimpse of the miracles, money and divine intervention needed to convince the Vatican to canonise candidates
www.thetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
EXCLUSIVE: Justin Welby has returned to preaching for first time since resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury, delivering sermons (and some jokes) at two services in the US

He's in the US doing reconciliation work and was invited to preach by a local bishop:
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Justin Welby returns to preaching with sermons — and jokes — in US
The former Archbishop of Canterbury cannot preach in England, after he resigned over his handling of abuse allegations against John Smyth
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Justin Welby has returned to preaching for first time since resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury, delivering sermons (and some jokes) at two services in the US

He's in the US doing reconciliation work and was invited to preach by a local bishop:
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Justin Welby returns to preaching with sermons — and jokes — in US
The former Archbishop of Canterbury cannot preach in England, after he resigned over his handling of abuse allegations against John Smyth
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
NEW: First interview with one of Britain's richest men, Lord Edmiston, on the £30m+ donation from his company to build a gigantic Christian monument in the Midlands countryside...

He also funded Brexit and gave millions to the Tories. Does he anymore?:
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
‘We need hope in chaos’ says tycoon funding £30m prayer monument
Lord Edmiston, once a major Tory supporter, speaks about how witnessing faith-healing led him to back a towering Christian sculpture in the West Midlands
www.thetimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
Religion is no longer something inherited from parents, but more of a lifestyle choice for under-35s, study by @IIFL_uk finds

They feel freer to adopt - and abandon - a faith depending on how it benefits their wellbeing

Read here:
edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn...
Under-35s more likely to adopt (and drop) religion - The Times
edition.pagesuite.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
This chimes with what I am seeing (have met several parents/grandparents in recent weeks who were invite to church by their children/grandchildren rather than other way round). It also raises important questions for churches @churchofengland.org
Religion is no longer something inherited from parents, but more of a lifestyle choice for under-35s, study by @IIFL_uk finds

They feel freer to adopt - and abandon - a faith depending on how it benefits their wellbeing

Read here:
edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn...
Under-35s more likely to adopt (and drop) religion - The Times
edition.pagesuite.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Religion is no longer something inherited from parents, but more of a lifestyle choice for under-35s, study by @IIFL_uk finds

They feel freer to adopt - and abandon - a faith depending on how it benefits their wellbeing

Read here:
edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn...
Under-35s more likely to adopt (and drop) religion - The Times
edition.pagesuite.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reflection in the Regent's Canal looking a lot like an impressionist painting today
November 2, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Could the Middle East ceasefire help bring peace further afield?

Muslim and Jewish women gather over shared cups of tea to be the "antidote" to tensions between their communities

While accepting they have to have "difficult conversations" about the war:
edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn...
Muslims and Jews told: Break Gaza taboo - The Times
edition.pagesuite.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:50 AM
A 200-year-old mystery over what destroyed Napoleon's armies as they retreated from their disastrous invasion of Russia may finally have been solved...

Read here:

edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dyn...
Microscopic enemy routed Napoleon - The Times
edition.pagesuite.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
For centuries it would've been *unthinkable* for a British monarch to pray with a Pope

On 'The Royals' podcast I chat with @RoyaNikkhah + @GeorgeGreenwood about the King's trip to the Vatican...

...amid the mushrooming fallout from Prince Andrew's scandals
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
The Royals
Society & Culture Podcast · Updated weekly · The latest news on the upstairs-downstairs drama that is the British royal family. Providing the inside scoop on Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, H...
podcasts.apple.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Were dinosaurs already in decline, even sliding towards extinction, when an asteroid came in to finish them off?

NOPE 🚫

Remarkable new evidence shows they were "thriving" when a huge space rock abruptly ended their 180-million-year reign atop the food chain:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Dinosaurs were ‘thriving’ when asteroid hit — not in decline
The last of the dinosaurs were far from extinction, with fossils showing they were ‘doing great’ when a meteor brought their world to an end
www.thetimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
How late will a pregnancy test work? Can it still give a positive result 1,000 years after conception?

A test to see if the skeletons of ancient women were in the early stages of pregnancy, or had recently given birth, when they died is being developed: www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Pregnancy test created … for 1,000-year-old skeletons
It has been very tricky for archaeologists to identify women who died while carrying a baby or in childbirth — until now
www.thetimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Before even starting as Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally is facing rejection and a boycott from a faction of conservative Anglican churches

Remains to be seen how many will heed Archbishop of Rwanda's call to sever ties with the Church of England:
www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
Powerful Anglican faction rejects next Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Rwanda has spoken out against Dame Sarah Mullally in a ‘power play’ that raises the risk of a global schism
www.thetimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
BREAKING:

King Charles and Pope Leo will pray together in the Sistine Chapel next week

First time a British monarch and pontiff have done so publicly since Reformation

King also to be given own special chair bearing his coat of arms in a papal basilica
www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-fam...
King and Pope to make history with prayers together at Vatican
Charles and Leo will be the first British monarch and pontiff since Henry VIII was excommunicated to join together for a holy service
www.thetimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
BREAKING:

King Charles and Pope Leo will pray together in the Sistine Chapel next week

First time a British monarch and pontiff have done so publicly since Reformation

King also to be given own special chair bearing his coat of arms in a papal basilica
www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-fam...
King and Pope to make history with prayers together at Vatican
Charles and Leo will be the first British monarch and pontiff since Henry VIII was excommunicated to join together for a holy service
www.thetimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Saw the legendary Al Stewart at the London Palladium on his farewell UK tour

A rendition of the stunning song 'Roads to Moscow' was a highlight, 'Broadway Hotel' sounded brilliant...

Wonderful show, great performer, top night

Very sad he won't be returning!

alstewart.com/shows
October 17, 2025 at 10:11 AM
🚨 Imposter alert 🚨

Studies into everything from cancer and HIV being plagued by "fraudulent" participants

Includes people pretending to have the diseases

It's undermining the reliability of trials and potentially harming patients

Stark warning here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Is this response real? Imposters are putting health studies at risk
Automated bots and people lying about their conditions risk skewing the results of medical research, Oxford academics have warned
www.thetimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:44 AM
BREAKING:

CofE bishops won't give their green light for 'standalone' blessing services for gay couples, or for gay priests to have civil same-sex marriages, @thetimes.com understands

Will say both would need formal rewrite of church law

Trial of blessing ceremonies can't go ahead
October 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The next Archbishop of Canterbury was not named via white smoke from a chapel chimney...

...but via a press release on the Downing Street website

Not much ceremony to it!

But there *will* be some proper pomp as Sarah Mullally takes up the job

Read our ⚡️ guide: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
What happens now that a new Archbishop of Canterbury has been chosen?
The surprise election of Sarah Mullally as Justin Welby’s successor was shrouded in secrecy. Here’s our visual guide to the process
www.thetimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
Last night I wrote in @thetimes.com about Canterbury Cathedral covering its walls with graffiti-style artwork

Today, US vice-president JD Vance and Elon Musk have weighed in with their views

Read their comments, and the cathedral's response, here: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
JD Vance and Elon Musk call Canterbury Cathedral graffiti ‘shameful’
Art installation that has covered walls and pillars with street-style spray-painting has drawn a mixed response
www.thetimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Last night I wrote in @thetimes.com about Canterbury Cathedral covering its walls with graffiti-style artwork

Today, US vice-president JD Vance and Elon Musk have weighed in with their views

Read their comments, and the cathedral's response, here: www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/...
JD Vance and Elon Musk call Canterbury Cathedral graffiti ‘shameful’
Art installation that has covered walls and pillars with street-style spray-painting has drawn a mixed response
www.thetimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Bishop of Birmingham hits back at Robert Jenrick

Open letter expresses "dismay and disappointment" at Jenrick's comments about not seeing "another white face" in "worst-integrated" Handsworth

Bishop Michael Volland says Jenrick's claims are "entirely wrong and I reject them"
October 7, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Sherlock and Watson are on their biggest case yet... is there life on Mars? 🔴🦠

The Perseverance rover may have found the clearest signs yet of Martian microbes. The lead scientist told me why:

Click here:🔽
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Sherlock and Watson aim to crack case of finding life on Mars
Instruments on the Mars rover have found unique ‘poppy seeds’ and ‘leopard spots’ on the red planet, hinting at the strongest signs of alien life yet
www.thetimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Kaya Burgess | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
138 years after first teaming up, Sherlock and Watson are cracking their biggest case yet ...

Is there life on Mars? 🔴🦠

I spoke to the scientist analysing the strongest hint ever found of Martian microbes

With a big nod to Conan Doyle's detective duo

Read here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Sherlock and Watson aim to crack case of finding life on Mars
Instruments on the Mars rover have found unique ‘poppy seeds’ and ‘leopard spots’ on the red planet, hinting at the strongest signs of alien life yet
www.thetimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:51 AM