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How hidden soil fungi ‘steal’ bacterial DNA to control the rain

How hidden soil fungi ‘steal’ bacterial DNA to control the rain

Soil fungi “borrow” bacterial genes to control the weather

latest 1

The Conversation

Diana r. andrade-linares

Turning debt into forests: the finance tool making a comeback

Turning debt into forests: the finance tool making a comeback

While Africa and Latin America have dominated these deals, Asia has lagged behind with just 13% of total global ‘debt-for-nature’ swaps.

latest 4

The Conversation

Alex Dryden

School is an important place for teens to learn about gender equality – but research overlooks it

School is an important place for teens to learn about gender equality – but research overlooks it

Young people spend a large part of their daily lives in school: learning, debating, forming friendships and imagining their futures.

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The Conversation

Natalia López-Hornickel

Greece’s new laws crack down on art fakes and forgeries – an expert in the market for shady art explains why they might backfire

Greece’s new laws crack down on art fakes and forgeries – an expert in the market for shady art explains why they might backfire

In Greece it is now less attractive to sell fishy objects, and riskier to do so repeatedly.

friday 7

The Conversation

Anja Shortland

Steroid injections for joint pain: everything you need to know about using them

Steroid injections for joint pain: everything you need to know about using them

While corticosteroid injections can be very effective at alleviating the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, they might not be for everyone.

friday 6

The Conversation

Sarah Golding

Cubans living abroad now hold the key to their country’s uncertain future

Cubans living abroad now hold the key to their country’s uncertain future

After decades of hostility, the Cuban government is allowing Cuban emigrants to return and invest in the private sector.

friday 7

The Conversation

Amalendu Misra

As Nasa’s Artemis II Moon mission ends, a new adventure for humanity beckons

As Nasa’s Artemis II Moon mission ends, a new adventure for humanity beckons

The successful mission marks the beginning of a new chapter in lunar exploration.

friday 6

The Conversation

Ed macaulay

The UK could make migrants wait up to 20 years before becoming settled – making it one of the longest waits in the world

The UK could make migrants wait up to 20 years before becoming settled – making it one of the longest waits in the world

New proposals would introduce a 10-year ‘baseline’ for settlement, with refugees and benefits claimants facing the highest wait times.

friday 8

The Conversation

Matilde Rosina

Five tips to make your memory work more effectively

Five tips to make your memory work more effectively

From putting your phone away to getting better at ‘chunking’, a neuroscience researcher explains how to make your memory better.

friday 6

The Conversation

Elva arulchelvan

Feeling distracted? How hobbies can help you find ‘flow state’ and save your brain

Feeling distracted? How hobbies can help you find ‘flow state’ and save your brain

Hobbies are a fun way to turn down the noise and increase focus.

friday 6

The Conversation

Valerie Van Mulukom

South Africa’s farmers aren’t yet replacing chemical fertilisers with sustainable alternatives – this is why

South Africa’s farmers aren’t yet replacing chemical fertilisers with sustainable alternatives – this is why

Rhizobia-based fertiliser technology is cost-effective, non-toxic and sustainable.

friday 7

The Conversation

Mokgadi miranda hlongwane

Does marriage prevent cancer? And who benefits the most?

Does marriage prevent cancer? And who benefits the most?

A large new study finds unmarried adults face significantly higher cancer rates, but the real story is about what marriage represents, not what it...

friday 5

The Conversation

Justin Stebbing

Bait sheds light on British‑Pakistani mental health struggles rarely seen on screen

Bait sheds light on British‑Pakistani mental health struggles rarely seen on screen

Bait is a quietly devastating study of the pressures placed upon British‑Pakistani men navigating identity, racism and aspiration.

friday 6

The Conversation

Jolel Miah

What can governments do when petrol prices rocket?

What can governments do when petrol prices rocket?

Price caps can cause supply problems – but there are other options.

friday 8

The Conversation

Christoph Siemroth

In The Stranger François Ozon captures the many ambiguities of Albert Camus’s novel

In The Stranger François Ozon captures the many ambiguities of Albert Camus’s novel

This film offers an invitation to return and reflect on Camus’ work.

friday 8

The Conversation

Debra kelly

A surrealist fashionista, a Nazi fantasist and the return of Atwood’s Handmaids – what to see, read and watch this week

A surrealist fashionista, a Nazi fantasist and the return of Atwood’s Handmaids – what to see, read and watch this week

Fashion, film, Nazi mythology and a film to scare the bejasus out of you this week.

friday 9

The Conversation

Jane Wright

Undertone: this creepy sound horror is utterly terrifying

Undertone: this creepy sound horror is utterly terrifying

Undertone crosses the boundary between listener and participant, resulting in a work which fulfils its promise of terror.

friday 8

The Conversation

Laura o'flanagan

I was in Georgia in the late 1980s: I observed how tradition survived harsh Sovietisation and rapid transformation

I was in Georgia in the late 1980s: I observed how tradition survived harsh Sovietisation and rapid transformation

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union came rapid societal shifts. In Georgia, people called for the end of the Russification of their country and...

friday 3

The Conversation

Karina vamling

May elections: what five politics experts are looking out for

May elections: what five politics experts are looking out for

Five experts tell us what they will be keeping their eye on during the May elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

friday 9

The Conversation

Jonathan Tonge

Five warning signs that rivers are polluted – even when they look clean

Five warning signs that rivers are polluted – even when they look clean

River water is not expected to prove to be less polluted when results are published later this year.

friday 10

The Conversation

Jess neumann

Children going through family courts face increased risk of self‑harm, new research finds

Children going through family courts face increased risk of self‑harm, new research finds

Children in family court cases face higher self-harm risk, but these moments could be opportunities to offer support and prevent harm.

friday 4

The Conversation

Amanda marchant

Hands off my hat! The hidden power of headwear and ‘hatiquette’ in early modern England – new study

Hands off my hat! The hidden power of headwear and ‘hatiquette’ in early modern England – new study

For any respectable man in Tudor, Stuart and Hanoverian England, to go hatless was almost unthinkable.

friday 2

The Conversation

Bernard capp

Can the Middle East ceasefire hold?

Can the Middle East ceasefire hold?

As Israel continues to pound Lebanon, the chances of a Middle East ceasefire lasting 14 days seem remote.

09.04.2026 7

The Conversation

Jonathan Este

Drinking water contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’ during pregnancy linked to an increased risk of childhood asthma – new study

Drinking water contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’ during pregnancy linked to an increased risk of childhood asthma – new study

This study is one of the first to identify a link between Pfas exposure and asthma in childhood.

09.04.2026 9

The Conversation

Annelise blomberg

Why is Israel continuing to attack Lebanon, despite the ceasefire? Expert Q&A

Why is Israel continuing to attack Lebanon, despite the ceasefire? Expert Q&A

Israel has upped the intensity of its campaign in Lebanon, despite the signing of a ceasefire in the Middle East.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Scott Lucas

Three reasons Donald Trump won’t pull the US out of Nato

Three reasons Donald Trump won’t pull the US out of Nato

The US president has been bitterly criticising the alliance in recent weeks over its reluctance to join the war in Iran.

09.04.2026 8

The Conversation

Paul Whiteley

Hungarian election exposes tensions at the heart of Donald Trump’s plans to boost the far‑right in Europe

Hungarian election exposes tensions at the heart of Donald Trump’s plans to boost the far‑right in Europe

Washington has been championing long-time incumbent, Viktor Orbán. But there’s a good chance that Donald Trump’s endorsement might prove a handicap.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Stefan Wolff

My Undesirable Friends: Part I – an extraordinary portrait of young Russian journalists fighting to report the truth

My Undesirable Friends: Part I – an extraordinary portrait of young Russian journalists fighting to report the truth

An expansive and intimate look at the lives of Russian journalists trying to their job in an increasingly challenging climate.

09.04.2026 8

The Conversation

Julie Curtis

You Are the Führer’s Unrequited Love by Jean‑Noël Orengo is a masterful take on Nazi memory, myth and moral reckoning

You Are the Führer’s Unrequited Love by Jean‑Noël Orengo is a masterful take on Nazi memory, myth and moral reckoning

For a decade the architect Albert Speer enjoyed a unique position as courtier and protege to Adolf Hitler. A new novel examines the man, and his lies.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Barry Langford

Fashion Becomes Art: a deliciously decadent journey through the surrealist world of Elsa Schiaparelli

Fashion Becomes Art: a deliciously decadent journey through the surrealist world of Elsa Schiaparelli

A protagonist of surrealism, Schiaparelli was an extraordinary couturier who pushed the bounds of creativity, leaving her mark on Paris fashion and...

09.04.2026 9

The Conversation

Naomi Braithwaite

Some countries in Asia are rationing energy – why they’ve been hit hardest by the crisis in the Gulf

Some countries in Asia are rationing energy – why they’ve been hit hardest by the crisis in the Gulf

The current energy market disruption has exposed structural vulnerabilities in Asia’s energy systems.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Gokcay Balci

How Nasa’s Artemis II mission rediscovered the majesty and mystery of the Moon

How Nasa’s Artemis II mission rediscovered the majesty and mystery of the Moon

Viewers on Earth have experienced the Moon’s awe-inspiring beauty through the eyes of the Artemis II astronauts.

09.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Gareth Dorrian

The pseudoscientific attractiveness scale that grew out of incel forums and is now making money for looksmaxxing influencers

The pseudoscientific attractiveness scale that grew out of incel forums and is now making money for looksmaxxing influencers

Sociologist Jordan Foster explains the origins of the PSL scale on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

09.04.2026 9

The Conversation

Gemma Ware

Hungary election: how a new opponent has forced Viktor Orbán into the first genuinely competitive race in 16 years

Hungary election: how a new opponent has forced Viktor Orbán into the first genuinely competitive race in 16 years

For the first time since Victor Orbán came to power in 2010, the Hungarian electorate has been faced with a genuinely competitive campaign

09.04.2026 4

The Conversation

Zsofia bocskay

The more commodified your job, the more likely AI can do it – lessons from online freelancing

The more commodified your job, the more likely AI can do it – lessons from online freelancing

It’s not all bad news – some freelancers are earning more than ever since generative AI came on the scene.

09.04.2026 3

The Conversation

Fabian Stephany

The human body isn’t a masterpiece of design – it’s a patchwork of evolutionary compromise

The human body isn’t a masterpiece of design – it’s a patchwork of evolutionary compromise

Many aspects of human anatomy are just “good enough” solutions – functional, but far from perfect.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Lucy E. Hyde

Could revisiting Asimov’s laws help us avoid AI’s ‘Chernobyl moment’?

Could revisiting Asimov’s laws help us avoid AI’s ‘Chernobyl moment’?

As AI usage in conflicts increases, a strategy will be needed to protect humans from ‘autonomous robots’.

09.04.2026 9

The Conversation

Francesco Grillo

Outside academia, people aren’t well informed about PhD research – and that’s a problem

Outside academia, people aren’t well informed about PhD research – and that’s a problem

There’s low public awareness of how research is funded.

09.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Rachel handforth

Why small discoveries (as well as big ones) have the power to inspire

Why small discoveries (as well as big ones) have the power to inspire

Scientific discoveries can bring a sense of awe and wonder, and give people an emotional boost.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Rachael Jolley

How AI’s language barrier limits climate disaster responses

How AI’s language barrier limits climate disaster responses

AI tools can help communities respond to floods, heatwaves and other climate emergencies – but only once trained to interpret the nuance of everyday...

09.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Ifeoluwa wuraola

Kanye West banned from UK: legal expert explains why

Kanye West banned from UK: legal expert explains why

The home secretary can exclude individuals from the UK on the basis that their presence is ‘not conducive to the public good’.

08.04.2026 7

The Conversation

Jonathan collinson

Long COVID associated with higher risk of heart disease

Long COVID associated with higher risk of heart disease

As the number of people living with long COVID continues to grow, understanding its broader health consequences will be essential.

08.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Pia lindberg

The Testaments: female friendship fuels resistance in this Handmaid’s Tale sequel

The Testaments: female friendship fuels resistance in this Handmaid’s Tale sequel

The Testaments has to resolve the plot dilemmas established in The Handmaid’s Tale.

08.04.2026 5

The Conversation

Debra Ferreday

Babies: raw, nuanced, real – what this BBC drama gets right about recurrent miscarriage

Babies: raw, nuanced, real – what this BBC drama gets right about recurrent miscarriage

Despite some limitations, Babies is a welcome and important contribution that explores the realities of miscarriage with honesty and compassion.

08.04.2026 6

The Conversation

Susie Kilshaw

Europe needs affordable, low‑carbon homes – here’s how Barcelona is reimagining its housing system

Europe needs affordable, low‑carbon homes – here’s how Barcelona is reimagining its housing system

Across Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, an alternative housing system is emerging

08.04.2026 7

The Conversation

Adriana allen

Why windfarms and electricity pylons have become a major issue in the Welsh election

Why windfarms and electricity pylons have become a major issue in the Welsh election

Green policies including wind farms are turning into a battleground for the Welsh election.

08.04.2026 9

The Conversation

Michael Woods

Why some children with learning difficulties get identified – and others don’t

Why some children with learning difficulties get identified – and others don’t

Boys were twice as likely as girls to be identified with specific learning difficulties

08.04.2026 8

The Conversation

Johny Daniel

Wildflower once used to treat wounds and sore throats shows promise in fighting dangerous superbugs

Wildflower once used to treat wounds and sore throats shows promise in fighting dangerous superbugs

The root of tormentil was used in Irish folklore and European traditional medicine to treat wounds, sore throats, diarrhoea and gum disease.

08.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Ronan Mccarthy

Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia emerge as a new regional power bloc amid Iran war

Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia emerge as a new regional power bloc amid Iran war

Pakistan played a leading role in negotiating the ceasefire in Iran.

08.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Natasha Lindstaedt

Iran ceasefire has brought a sudden fall in oil prices – but this pause underscores the volatility in the market

Iran ceasefire has brought a sudden fall in oil prices – but this pause underscores the volatility in the market

Even in more peaceful times, oil is considered to be one of the world’s most volatile commodities.

08.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Adi Imsirovic