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Dispatches from a year of global conflict and uncertainty

Over a turbulent year, all roads have led to Doald Trump.

latest 5

Jonathan Este

Christmas Comes to Moominvalley: a magical show that honours Tove Jansson and her creations

Christmas can be a bit of a performance. It often involves harassed people doing a lot. But for many of us, alongside all the stressful...

yesterday 20

Kiera Vaclavik

People with personality disorders often use language differently – our research reveals how

Is it possible to spot personality dysfunction from someone’s everyday word use? My colleagues and I have conducted research that suggests you can,...

yesterday 10

Charlotte Entwistle

Bird flu warnings are being ignored. I’ve seen this pattern before

There’s an unwritten rule in publishing, or so I’ve been told: don’t write about COVID. Our collective attention span has been saturated by those...

yesterday 10

Nikki Ikani

Jane Austen celebrated Christmas with dancing, dinner parties and dangerous games

Would you dare to play Snapdragon and pluck a flaming raisin from a fiery bowl of brandy? Or don the costume of a comedic character on Twelfth...

yesterday 7

Meg Kobza

Earth’s frozen regions are sending a clear warning about climate change – but politicians are ignoring it

“We cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice.” That’s the message from more than 50 leading scientists who study the Earth’s frozen regions,...

yesterday 7

Chris Stokes

Why public views of terrorism don’t match the evidence, and what the government needs to do to keep people safe

The mass shooting during Hanukkah in Bondi Beach is a horrific reminder that contemporary terrorism can affect the places where we meet others,...

yesterday 7

Sara Fregonese

How Venezuela has been preparing for a US invasion for more than two decades

In the latest escalation of tensions between the US and Venezuela, on December 17 US President Donald Trump ordered a “complete blockade” of...

yesterday 6

Gemma Ware

Christmas food poisoning and how to avoid it – by a microbiologist

Food poisoning affects millions of people in the UK every year, and the risk rises during the Christmas period. Large family meals, raw poultry,...

yesterday 7

Primrose Freestone

The truth about ‘miracle’ heaters and wood stoves

This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine. Each year,...

yesterday 5

Will De Freitas

South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam show that economic statecraft is not just the preserve of great powers

Make American shipbuilding great again (Masga) may sound like an effort by the US to bolster its economic strength and project power...

yesterday 5

Robyn Klingler-Vidra

To feel lonely is to be human: here’s how to handle it at Christmas

Christmas is often considered a time of connection, warmth and belonging. That’s the script, anyway. But for many people, the reality feels...

yesterday 6

Paul Jones

Many shoppers take a strange comfort of buying now and paying later – but it can come with a sting after Christmas

It’s that time of year again, and retailers are pulling out all the stops to get us spending – from Black Friday to new year’s sales. The average...

yesterday 6

Anita Lifen Zhao

Study shows views of British empire shape voting behaviour – but in subtle ways

If you wander through Glasgow Green, you’ll encounter the Doulton fountain, a gaudy terracotta tribute to empire that features “native” and...

yesterday 3

Christopher Claassen

How Europe’s new carbon tax on imported goods will change global trade – and our shopping habits

For people living in the EU, the price of their next car, home renovation and even local produce may soon reflect a climate policy that many have...

yesterday 3

Simona Sagone

The 12 ways Christmas wrecks your sleep – and how to fix it

Christmas is supposed to be restful, yet somehow it ends up being one of the worst times of year for sleep. Between late nights, travel, one too...

yesterday 3

Clare Anderson

How open-water swimming can transform midlife wellbeing – new research

Across the UK, a quiet shift in midlife exercise is underway. A decade ago, the cultural image of midlife fitness was the Lycra-clad cyclist...

previous day 20

James Beale

How figures like Joey Barton could fuel a culture of online hostility toward female athletes – new research

A criminal court recently pored over the social media posts of the ex-footballer Joey Barton and found them to be “grossly offensive”. So much so...

previous day 10

Wasim Ahmed

Digital detox: how to switch off without paying the price – new research

Switching off can be surprisingly expensive. Much like the smoking cessation boom of the 1990s, the digital detox business – spanning hardware,...

previous day 8

Quynh Hoang

The Housemaid: this dark, sexy thriller is a seriously satisfying watch

Based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid is a dark, sexy and satisfying thriller with plenty of twists to enjoy along the...

previous day 5

Harriet Fletcher

Five family Christmas games that reveal how we think, communicate and connect

For many families at Christmas, the one time of year when everyone finally ends up in the same room, suggesting a game is often the best strategic...

previous day 6

Paul Jones

China and Mongolia are battling to control massive dust storms

Dust storms regularly affect northern China, including its capital Beijing. In recent years, Chinese scientists and officials have traced the...

previous day 6

Thomas White

Home Alone’s ‘Wet Bandits’ are medical miracles

The festive movie season is upon us, and one of my perennial favourites is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I will die on this hill: it is better...

previous day 2

Adam Taylor

How a healthy gut could help your baby sleep better

When babies struggle with poor sleep, parents often suffer right alongside them. Growing evidence shows that a baby’s gut health plays a key role...

previous day 2

Manal Mohammed

UK to re-join Erasmus+ – here are six benefits of the European exchange scheme

The government has announced that the UK will be re-joining the Erasmus programme. Young people will be able to participate in the scheme again...

previous day 2

Sascha Stollhans

AI tools are being used to subject women in public life to online violence

The era of AI-assisted online violence is no longer looming. It has arrived. And it is reshaping the threat landscape for women who work in the...

previous day 2

Julie Posetti

Can ‘miracle’ heaters really warm your home for pennies? The physics says no

The internet is awash with adverts for various portable heaters, with claims that they will heat your house for pennies. Some are marketed as the “...

previous day 2

Dylan Ryan

Russia’s war economy is not collapsing, but neither is it stable

Russia’s wartime economy is getting weaker as the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, according to a recent report by PeaceRep, a...

previous day 2

Yerzhan Tokbolat

Which countries people are fleeing from – and why

The US government halted all applications for green cards, citizenship and asylum from 19 mostly African and Middle Eastern countries on December...

previous day 1

Sanwal Hussain

Bright, flickering and flashing lights really can be bad for you – here’s how to have a visually comfortable Christmas

It is the time of year when decorations appear everywhere and everyone has a preferred style, from bright flashing lights to something more...

previous day 2

Catherine Manning

Why do so many love a good ghost story at Christmas? A psychologist explains

Christmas is usually seen as a time of light, warmth, and happiness. However, in Europe there is a long tradition of people embracing the darker...

previous day 2

Juliet Wakefield

Child poverty: how bad is it in the UK?

The UK government recently unveiled its child poverty strategy, with the removal of the two-child limit on benefits payments as the centrepiece....

previous day 3

Regina Murphy Keith

Christmas at the end of the world: the curious allure of festive apocalypse films and TV

Navigating the chaos of Christmas celebrations can feel a bit like fighting through the battle of Armageddon. Yet while it might be tempting to...

tuesday 6

Andrew Crome

The twelve viruses of Christmas, and how to make your own – out of paper

Viruses, as we all know, are invisibly small things that make us sick. But is that the whole story? Zoom in close enough and you’ll discover the...

tuesday 3

Ed Hutchinson

The Congregation: Brixton tube station’s mural of joy, resistance and community

Rudy Loewe’s arresting mural The Congregation sits above the entrance to Brixton Underground station in London. The large-scale painting highlights...

tuesday 2

Wanja Kimani

Why mistletoe is thriving, even as its traditional orchards are lost

Mistletoe is a richly symbolic winter plant with an unusual life cycle. With more than half of England’s traditional orchards lost since the...

tuesday 3

Adele Julier

Your blood proteins could predict your risk of an early death

Imagine if a simple blood test could offer a glimpse into your future health. Not just whether you have heart disease or cancer today, but whether...

tuesday 3

Nophar Geifman

How family gatherings unlock forgotten childhood memories that help us understand who we really are

If you’re driving home for Christmas (insert Chris Rea earworm here) – and by that I mean the old family home – you’re likely to be experiencing a...

tuesday 2

Jane Aspell

Could your boss be lonely? Here’s why it matters more than you think

Loneliness is the pain we feel when our social connections fall short of fulfilling our needs. At its core, it reflects a fundamental human need:...

tuesday 2

Karolina Nieberle

In defence of sprouts, Christmas pudding and duck fat – by a doctor

There are few things I look forward to more each year than an excellent Christmas lunch. In fact, I deliberately avoid roast dinners in the run-up...

tuesday 3

Dan Baumgardt

How cranberries can be a Christmas cracker for health this festive season

From festive sauces to brightly coloured juices, cranberries have long been part of our diets. Beyond their tart flavour and seasonal appeal, these...

tuesday 2

Dipa Kamdar

With UK unemployment rising, will the goverment’s plan for young people pay off? An economist’s view

There are nearly one million young people in the UK who are not in employment, education or training (so-called Neets). After falling in number...

tuesday 3

Rachel Scarfe

Could your boss be lonely? Here’s why it matters more than you might think

Loneliness is the pain we feel when our social connections fall short of fulfilling our needs. At its core, it reflects a fundamental human need:...

tuesday 2

Karolina Nieberle

Teenagers are preparing for the jobs of 25 years ago – and schools are missing the AI revolution

The government has recently released its national youth strategy, which promises better career advice for young people in England. It’s sorely...

tuesday 10

Irina Rets

Slop, vibe coding and glazing: AI dominates 2025’s words of the year

For us linguists, the flurry of “word of the year” announcements from dictionaries and publishers is a holiday tradition as anticipated as mince...

tuesday 2

Gail Flanagan

Your next puffer jacket could be made from bullrushes, as carbon-storing peat farming takes off

Have you ever wondered what keeps you warm in your winter jacket? Most jacket insulation is made from human made synthetic fibres (polyester) or...

tuesday 2

Zoe Lipkens

With UK unemployment rising, will the government’s plan for young people pay off? An economist’s view

There are nearly one million young people in the UK who are not in employment, education or training (so-called Neets). After falling in number...

tuesday 1

Rachel Scarfe

Spotify Wrapped reminds us even our leisure time is being surveilled and sold

Each year as Spotify Wrapped drops, social media timelines fill with neon slides declaring who we “really” are. We trade our top artists and most-...

tuesday 3

John Singleton

Humans aren’t the only animals that gather to hunker down together at Christmas

Just as humans have historically gathered during winter, many animals do the same. Animals may not be exchanging presents or decorating their nests...

tuesday 2

Anna Champneys

How Europe could use billions in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort – and why it’s so risky

Most people outside of banking won’t have heard of Euroclear. It’s a Brussels-based settlement provider that enables the transfer of ownership of...

tuesday 3

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Newspaper Columnists

Dispatches from a year of global conflict and uncertainty

Jonathan Este

Christmas Comes to Moominvalley: a magical show that honours Tove Jansson and her creations

Kiera Vaclavik

People with personality disorders often use language differently – our research reveals how

Charlotte Entwistle

Bird flu warnings are being ignored. I’ve seen this pattern before

Nikki Ikani

Jane Austen celebrated Christmas with dancing, dinner parties and dangerous games

Meg Kobza

Earth’s frozen regions are sending a clear warning about climate change – but politicians are ignoring it

Chris Stokes

Why public views of terrorism don’t match the evidence, and what the government needs to do to keep people safe

Sara Fregonese

How Venezuela has been preparing for a US invasion for more than two decades

Gemma Ware

Christmas food poisoning and how to avoid it – by a microbiologist

Primrose Freestone

The truth about ‘miracle’ heaters and wood stoves

Will De Freitas

South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam show that economic statecraft is not just the preserve of great powers

Robyn Klingler-Vidra

To feel lonely is to be human: here’s how to handle it at Christmas

Paul Jones

Many shoppers take a strange comfort of buying now and paying later – but it can come with a sting after Christmas

Anita Lifen Zhao

Study shows views of British empire shape voting behaviour – but in subtle ways

Christopher Claassen

How Europe’s new carbon tax on imported goods will change global trade – and our shopping habits

Simona Sagone

​The ​1​2 ways Christmas wrecks your sleep​ – and how to fix it

Clare Anderson

How open-water swimming can transform midlife wellbeing – new research

James Beale

How figures like Joey Barton could fuel a culture of online hostility toward female athletes – new research

Wasim Ahmed

Digital detox: how to switch off without paying the price – new research

Quynh Hoang

The Housemaid: this dark, sexy thriller is a seriously satisfying watch

Harriet Fletcher

Five family Christmas games that reveal how we think, communicate and connect

Paul Jones

China and Mongolia are battling to control massive dust storms

Thomas White

Home Alone’s ‘Wet Bandits’ are medical miracles

Adam Taylor

How a healthy gut could help your baby sleep better

Manal Mohammed

UK to re-join Erasmus+ – here are six benefits of the European exchange scheme

Sascha Stollhans

AI tools are being used to subject women in public life to online violence

Julie Posetti

Can ‘miracle’ heaters really warm your home for pennies? The physics says no

Dylan Ryan

Russia’s war economy is not collapsing, but neither is it stable

Yerzhan Tokbolat

Which countries people are fleeing from – and why

Sanwal Hussain

Bright, flickering and flashing lights really can be bad for you – here’s how to have a visually comfortable Christmas

Catherine Manning

Why do so many love a good ghost story at Christmas? A psychologist explains

Juliet Wakefield

Child poverty: how bad is it in the UK?

Regina Murphy Keith

Christmas at the end of the world: the curious allure of festive apocalypse films and TV

Andrew Crome

The twelve viruses of Christmas, and how to make your own – out of paper

Ed Hutchinson

The Congregation: Brixton tube station’s mural of joy, resistance and community

Wanja Kimani

Why mistletoe is thriving, even as its traditional orchards are lost

Adele Julier

Your blood proteins could predict your risk of an early death

Nophar Geifman

How family gatherings unlock forgotten childhood memories that help us understand who we really are

Jane Aspell

Could your boss be lonely? Here’s why it matters more than you think

The 12 ways Christmas wrecks your sleep – and how to fix it