menu_open

The Conversation

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Prince Andrew and the British establishment’s ‘target-rich environment’ for spies

A ruling by the UK’s Special Immigration Appeals Commission has revealed that a Chinese businessman with links to King Charles’ younger...

friday 3

The Conversation

Philip Murphy

‘Yes, I am a human’: bot detection is no longer working – and just wait until AI agents come along

You’re running late at the airport and need to urgently access your account, only to be greeted by one of those frustrating tests — “Select all...

friday 10

The Conversation

Irfan Mehmood

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is encouraging people to share stories about their grandparents

Director Pat Boonnitipat’s How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies has become a sleeper hit since its release in south-east Asia in September...

friday 2

The Conversation

Maohui Deng

Could trusting each other more unlock economic growth?

Trust in Britain’s institutions is in bad shape, according to recent data from the European Social Survey. Trust is important because a good deal...

friday 2

The Conversation

Paul Whiteley

What the colour of your snot says about your immune health

Ever wondered why the colour of your snot is different when you’re sick? You’re probably not the first person to ask this question. There are...

friday 4

The Conversation

Samuel J. White

Perfect pet presents this Christmas, and ones to avoid – from an expert in animal welfare

Pets are increasingly viewed as integral family members. This often means owners want to offer their pets the same experiences as our human friends...

friday 5

The Conversation

Jacqueline Boyd

Saudi Arabia is a controversial choice to host the World Cup, but the spotlight and scrutiny might spark change

The official announcement that Saudi Arabia would host the 2024 Fifa men’s World Cup came as a surprise to nobody. Hosting rights have been on...

friday 2

The Conversation

Wasim Ahmed

Times journalists deemed ‘legitimate military targets’ – how Russia muzzles criticism at home and abroad

Russia’s former president and current deputy head of its security council, Dmitry Medvedev, has declared that the editors of the Times newspaper...

friday 5

The Conversation

Precious Chatterje-Doody

AI won’t take your job – but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it

Two influential tech CEOs have sparked a debate about AI’s effect on jobs. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski announced the buy-now, pay-later...

friday 1

The Conversation

Marcel Lukas

Climate, migration and conflict mix to create ‘deadly’ intense tropical storms like Chido

Cyclone Chido was an “intense tropical cyclone”, equivalent to a category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic. It made landfall in Mayotte, a small...

friday 2

The Conversation

Liz Stephens

What does the X exodus to Bluesky mean for journalism?

When Elon Musk took over Twitter and changed its name to X, many users vowed to move to another platform. First was talk of a shift to Mastodon...

friday 2

The Conversation

Craig Robertson

A short history of palm reading in the UK – and a guide to how it’s supposed to work

In August 1676, a court in Hertford heard a case of fraud against Joseph Haynes, James Domingo and Domingo’s “pretended wife” Sarah. The three...

friday 3

The Conversation

Martha Mcgill

How to detect more antimicrobial resistant bacteria in our waterways

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in waterways presents a critical threat. If commonly used antibiotics are deemed useless, decades of progress in...

friday 3

The Conversation

Zina Alfahl

Nurses need care too – how curbing self-sacrifice can prevent burnouts

Reflecting on my mother’s decade-long nursing career, I often wonder why so many nurses leave the profession after just a few years. In the UK,...

friday 5

The Conversation

Ester Ellen Trees Bolt

Christmas can be stressful for many people – here’s what can help you get through the festive season

Christmas is a season of joy and togetherness. But for many, it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year. Stress arises from an...

friday 1

The Conversation

Jolel Miah

Who chooses to work, and who is forced to, after retirement?

The state pension age in the UK is currently 66. Yet 9.5% of people aged 66 and older (1.12 million people) were still working, according to the...

friday 4

The Conversation

Takao Maruyama

What next for Syria? The danger of violence in post-war transitions

Images emerging from Syria over the past week have shown jubilation on the streets, as millions celebrate the end of 24 years of repression under...

friday 3

The Conversation

Chelsea Johnson

Weight loss drugs help with fat loss – but they cause bone and muscle loss too

For a long time, dieting and exercise were the only realistic options for many people who wanted to lose weight, but recent pharmaceutical advances...

friday 1

The Conversation

Jennifer James

How conflict makes oil spills in the Black Sea so much more toxic

Two old Russian tankers, carrying thousands of tonnes of oil, have been severely damaged in a storm in the Kerch Strait. The Volgoneft-212 tanker...

friday 1

The Conversation

Rebecca Morris

The Mirror and the Light: the series takes Hilary Mantel’s manifesto for historical fiction to heart

“Talk to me before you believe anything!”, Thomas Cromwell (played by Mark Rylance) tells his monarch and master Henry VIII (played by Damien...

friday 2

The Conversation

James Clark

Carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, and it’s killing people

Drug overdose deaths in the US have finally begun to abate. Between June 2023 and June 2024, they fell by 14%. However, deaths from a drug used to...

19.12.2024 20

The Conversation

Michael Cole

Most ‘words of the year’ don’t actually tell us about the state of the world – here’s what I’d pick instead

It seems to come earlier every year: publishers and dictionaries choosing their “word of the year”. Initially intended to sum up a meaningful...

19.12.2024 30

The Conversation

Tony Thorne

K-pop hits become anthems of South Korea’s protests against President Yoon

When South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, attempted to institute martial law in early December, the public responded with massive protests....

19.12.2024 10

The Conversation

Hyun Kyong Hannah Chang

Yoga has many health benefits as you age – but is it also the secret to longevity?

Yoga has been linked to numerous health benefits. But is it also the secret to a long life? This is what Daisy Taylor, a centenarian from...

19.12.2024 10

The Conversation

Holger Cramer

Gregg Wallace: why it’s so hard to challenge ‘cheeky chaps’ and ‘loveable rogues’ (even for middle-class women of a certain age)

Food critic Grace Dent is to replace Gregg Wallace as host of Celebrity MasterChef after he “stepped back” in the wake of allegations over his...

19.12.2024 10

The Conversation

Carolyn Jackson

Five ways to cut your risk of cancer – by an oncology consultant

Cancer is a complex disease with many causes – and sometimes none. For some patients, getting cancer is down to plain bad luck. As an oncology...

19.12.2024 5

The Conversation

Justin Stebbing

Billionaires bankroll US politics, but voters could demand a fairer system

Billionaires played an unprecedented role in the 2024 US elections, with 150 of the world’s wealthiest families contributing nearly US$2 billion...

19.12.2024 10

The Conversation

João V. Ferreira

People already live alongside predators in India and Kenya – here’s how it could work in Scotland

On my way to the Scottish Highlands for the first time, I was mesmerised by the beauty of the landscapes and struck by its resemblance to the North...

19.12.2024 6

The Conversation

Yann Prisner-Levyne

Valencia floods showed why coastal cities should restore their wetlands

Valencia, a city and province in south-east Spain, became synonymous with disaster in October 2024 when floods killed at least 231 people. Extreme...

19.12.2024 6

The Conversation

Francisco García Sánchez

Peace on earth doesn’t look very likely any time soon

They don’t make world leaders like they used to, as far as Vladimir Putin is concerned. Talking to a Kremlin-friendly gathering of journalists at...

19.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Jonathan Este

Ukraine war: as 2025 approaches, Kyiv is left with few good options and allies in a Trump 2.0 world

As the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, held his carefully stage-managed annual phone-in and press conference to answer questions from...

19.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Stefan Wolff

Death penalty: how Zimbabwe reached the point of abolition – podcast

 Zimbabwe is on the cusp of abolishing the death penalty after its Death Penalty Abolition Bill was approved by the Senate on December 12. The bill...

19.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Gemma Ware

How the children’s wellbeing and schools bill shifts power to local authorities

The UK government is making a radical departure from its predecessor’s education policy, with plans for big changes in the national curriculum,...

19.12.2024 5

The Conversation

Colin Diamond

How to deal with narcissistic relatives over the holidays

The holiday season is here, and streets are filled with festive sparkles, twinkling lights and cheerful Christmas songs. While many of us are...

19.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Ava Green

Three Victorian Christmas recipes to try at home – including a potato pudding

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was published in 1843 – the same year as the first Christmas card. Over the course of the 19th century, his...

19.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Lindsay Middleton

Why don’t more women choose to propose to their male partners?

The Christmas period isn’t just for presents, sparkling lights and too much festive food – it’s also prime time for couples to get engaged. And...

19.12.2024 5

The Conversation

Daniela Pirani

Astro Bot wins big at The Game Awards 2024: a little robot who celebrates Playstation’s 30-year history

Many critically acclaimed video games were launched in 2024, but the judges of the video game industry’s biggest awards ceremony didn’t have a...

19.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Jaimie Ditchfield

A lack of childcare keeps the gender pay gap wider than it should be

Although the gender pay gap is not as big as it used to be, women still earn less than men. In the UK, it currently stands at 7% for full-time...

19.12.2024 6

The Conversation

Sabine D&39Costa

The 12 crimes of Christmas – the legal woes of being Santa Claus

It’s the start of the Christmas holidays and we will soon be settling down to excitedly unpacking the contents of our stockings and unwrapping...

18.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Peter Vaughan

Sweden is a nearly cashless society – here’s how it affects people who are left out

Around the world, cards and apps are the default way to pay – but nowhere is the transition away from cash more obvious than in Sweden. The Bank...

18.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Moa Petersén

How Trump’s plan to surround himself with inexperienced loyalists could backfire

The incoming US president, Donald Trump, is clearly committed to bringing loyal allies into his top team, even if they have little political...

18.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Barbara Yoxon

The five best non-fiction books of 2024 – according to our experts

With Something Good, the arts and culture newsletter from The Conversation UK, we aim to cut through the noise and recommend the very best in new...

18.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Jay Prosser

Forbidden Territories at The Hepworth Wakefield: a bold celebration of surrealism’s 100th birthday

Forbidden Territories: 100 years of Surreal Landscapes, a new exhibition showing at The Hepworth Wakefield, is a bold and engaging exploration of...

18.12.2024 4

The Conversation

Joanne Crawford

Seven ways to be a successful remote-working manager

Remote work has become the norm for many organisations, but its impact on work outcomes has been mixed. On the one hand, the increased flexibility...

18.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Olga Epitropaki

Mobile payments used to be less ‘painful’ than using cash. That might be changing

The act of handing over hard-earned cash has long been associated with pain. And historically, research has also found that consumers tended to...

18.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Carin Rehncrona

Play for the planet: five climate change games for the festive season

Although most people in the UK are worried about climate change, disagreement about what to do can be polarising, especially at Christmas when...

18.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Lynda Dunlop

What medical history can teach us about reports of personality changes after organ transplants

From vegetarians craving meat to changes in sexual preference, some organ transplant patients report changes to their personality reflecting those...

18.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Fay Bound Alberti

Gaza: why it’s difficult to reach a legal judgment of genocide against Israel

Israel recently closed its embassy in Ireland, blaming its decision on Ireland’s allegedly “extreme anti-Israel policies”. This followed the...

18.12.2024 3

The Conversation

James Sweeney

Before buying a voice assistant for Christmas, you should worry about misinformation

Smart speakers with voice assistants like Alexa are a popular Christmas gift, and due to the recent development of generative AI, conversations...

18.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Sonja Utz

Scalds and burns are common holiday injuries – a burns nurse explains how to avoid and treat them

As the temperature drops and the evenings become darker, we may be more worried about the possibility of slipping on ice than sustaining burn...

18.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Chinenye Anetekhai

Meldonium: the drug allegedly found in Mykhailo Mudryk’s doping test explained

Chelsea Football Club revealed today that one of their players, Mykhailo Mudryk, has tested positive for a banned substance in a routine drug test....

18.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Tom Bassindale

Ukraine war: what chemical weapons is Russia accused of using and why?

An arrest has reportedly been made after the killing of Igor Kirillov, a Russian general, in Moscow on December 17. Kirillov was the commander of...

18.12.2024 8

The Conversation

Anneleen Van Der Meer

Biological computers could use far less energy than current technology – by working more slowly

Modern computers are a triumph of technology. A single computer chip contains billions of nanometre-scaled transistors that operate extremely...

18.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Heiner Linke

Wolves with a taste for nectar? How we discovered the first large carnivore that pollinates flowers

Every year in the highlands of Ethiopia, when the rain returns after a parched dry season, a dazzling sight unfolds. Vast fields of a plant known...

18.12.2024 4

The Conversation

Sandra Lai

How to cope with food anxiety during the festive season

Christmas can be a time of togetherness, fun and relaxation. Yet, it can also bring unique challenges – particularly for those who may struggle...

18.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Alison Fixsen

How religion helped the radical right take the lead in Romania’s now-cancelled election

The role and symbolic use of the Romanian Orthodox Church and religious rhetoric, in the recently cancelled Romanian election was significant. The...

17.12.2024 8

The Conversation

Sergiu Gherghina

South Korea at a crossroads after president is impeached – here’s what will happen next

South Korea’s National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday, December 14. The vote marks the third time...

17.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Yoon Hwa Walker

Five Christmas story elements that don’t appear in the Bible, from the little donkey to the inn keeper

Despite the secularisation of Christmas, biblical symbolism seems to be everywhere at this time of year. From images of the Virgin Mary on...

17.12.2024 5

The Conversation

Chris Greenough

Climate change could overwhelm our sewers – here’s how green infrastructure could help

Aside from hotter summers and melting glaciers, climate change is transforming how, when and where rain falls. This challenges much of the...

17.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Mayra Rodriguez

The ten best albums of 2024 – according to music experts

With Something Good, the arts and culture newsletter from The Conversation, we aim to cut through the noise and recommend the very best in new...

17.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Alastair Gordon

How to avoid some of the most common holiday health hazards this Christmas – from a practising GP

It’s become a custom at our office Christmas party to do a team quiz, followed by a jolly round of The Twelve Days of Christmas. It typically ends...

17.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Dan Baumgardt

Good sex and relationships education can help teens understand when behaviour is abusive or controlling

Nearly half of young people aged between 13 and 17 who have been in a relationship in the past year have experienced violent or controlling...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Sophie King-Hill

Multilingual people may be more likely to take a vaccine if they read about it in English – new research

Even before COVID turned the world upside down, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified reluctance to take vaccines as one of the ten...

17.12.2024 5

The Conversation

Monika Schmid

English councils and planning set to be transformed under ambitious devolution plan – an expert explains

The UK government has outlined its plans for English devolution and local government reform in a landmark white paper. These are some of the most...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Jack Newman

Three possible futures for the global economy if Trump brings in new trade tariffs

The last time Donald Trump was US president, he entered trade wars with China and Europe. But despite his bravado and tariffs, the US trade deficit...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Agelos Delis

What Christmas looked like in the middle ages for one grieving family – from carols to charity and chess

The experience of a Christmas in many countries today owes a great deal to the modern era. The Christmas tree, Christmas cards and the image of...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Diane Watt

Gavin and Stacey’s final episode: why it’s so hard for fans to say goodbye

The much-loved BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey is gearing up for its final episode on Christmas Day. The series, which initially aired between 2007 and...

17.12.2024 10

The Conversation

Rebecca Williams

New stadiums, airports and oil links: the environmental cost of Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup

Fifa has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 men’s World Cup, meaning the biggest football event on the planet will return to the...

17.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Matthew Hutchinson

Children of parents not in a romantic relationship are just as happy as those in nuclear families – new research

It’s become completely normal to find a romantic partner through a bit of swiping on your phone. But could the same be about to happen for...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Sarah Foley

Alcohol prescribing for severe withdrawal – what the research shows

In rare and severe cases of alcohol withdrawal, one NHS trust is prescribing alcohol to treat patients. A specialised team at Sandwell and West...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Darren Quelch

Coughing won’t save you if you’re having a heart attack, despite what people claim on social media

A recent trend on social media has revived a curious technique from the late 1970s called cough CPR. A post claims that this method can help...

17.12.2024 1

The Conversation

David C. Gaze

Personalised gifts really do mean that little bit more to your loved ones, says research

Shopping for Christmas presents can be tricky. How do you find the perfect presents for all of your loved ones, with all of their different...

16.12.2024 40

The Conversation

Diletta Acuti

Building with earth could transform sustainable construction – here’s how

Imagine you are standing in front of a multimillion-pound building in the centre of the French city, Lyon. It radiates warmth and history with its...

16.12.2024 20

The Conversation

Rabia Charef

International Criminal Court goes after Myanmar military chief after nearly five years of war

Nearly five years after Myanmar’s civil war began, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has requested an...

16.12.2024 10

The Conversation

Alan Reid

The ten best novels of 2024 – according to literary experts

With Something Good, the arts and culture newsletter from The Conversation UK, we aim to cut through the noise and recommend the very best in new...

16.12.2024 6

The Conversation

Manjeet Ridon

Academy trusts have been central to UK government vision for schools for years – but that may be changing

The transformation of a local authority school into an academy is supposed to lead to school improvement. This seemed to be the case at Mossbourne...

16.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Mark Boylan

Mistletoe: a Christmas symbol with a hidden gift of healing

It’s a cold December evening. The air is filled with laughter and carols, and homes glow with festive lights. Amid the seasonal decorations, sprigs...

16.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Lokesh Joshi

‘Mirror life forms’ may sound like science fiction, but scientists warn they could be deadly to humans and destroy the environment

When you look in a mirror, the reflection is fundamentally you, but with a perfect reversal of all your features. This illustrates a phenomenon we...

16.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Mark Lorch

Why you should avoid doing the exact same workout everyday if you want to get fit

Consistency is key when it comes to getting in shape. After all, you can’t get fit if you don’t put the work in at the gym. But are there any...

16.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Dan Gordon

The Conservatives have had a terrible few years – these are the three first steps to recovery in 2025

The Conservatives have faced a number of crises since emerging as one of the largest parties in British politics. These crises, which are well...

16.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Andrew S. Roe-Crines

Gladiator II: a historian on the real north African kingdom of Numidia – and the men who ruled it

Gladiator II opens with a Roman fleet brutally laying siege to a city in the north African kingdom of Numidia. On the big screen we see ships set...

16.12.2024 5

The Conversation

Andrew Kenrick

Consider The Turkey: philosopher’s new book might put you off your festive bird – and that’s exactly what he would want

Australian philosopher Peter Singer has been a champion of animal rights for more than 50 years. His basic philosophical position has remained the...

16.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Benjamin Curtis

Why Romania’s election was annulled – and what happens next?

The Romanian constitutional court annulled the country’s presidential election on December 6. A runoff was due to take place just 48 hours later...

16.12.2024 3

The Conversation

Anda Iulia Solea

Will AI save the planet? Why the evidence is flawed

Optimistic advocates for AI say this environmentally costly technology will become more sustainable with time. We can use AI more efficiently, and...

16.12.2024 1

The Conversation

Jo Lindsay Walton

Early pregnancy endings are an overlooked workplace issue – here’s how that could change

In the UK, early pregnancy endings are defined as pregnancies that end before 24 weeks’ gestation. These include miscarriages, abortions...

16.12.2024 2

The Conversation

Jo Brewis

My research on the politics of smell divided the internet – here’s what it’s actually about

In November, I celebrated finishing my PhD. After three and a half years of writing and research, it was an occasion I wanted to share with my...

16.12.2024 8

The Conversation

Amelia Louks

4052294c32a6c0fec4b3434985616bac