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Beyond depression: surprising health conditions antidepressants can treat

Beyond depression: surprising health conditions antidepressants can treat

Antidepressants are typically prescribed to manage depression. But this isn’t the only reason you may be prescribed an antidepressant. In fact,...

friday 6

The Conversation

Dipa Kamdar

The weird psychology of airports

The weird psychology of airports

Many of us have witnessed unusual and even anti-social behaviour at an airport or on a flight. These may range from benign acts such as sleeping on...

friday 7

The Conversation

Steve Taylor

How should Keir Starmer handle Donald Trump – and how’s it going so far?

How should Keir Starmer handle Donald Trump – and how’s it going so far?

The pairing of British prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump connotes many imponderables. The only certainty happens to be the...

friday 3

The Conversation

Martin Farr

How Trump’s suggestion to ‘clean out’ Gaza sent shockwaves through the Middle East

How Trump’s suggestion to ‘clean out’ Gaza sent shockwaves through the Middle East

This article was first published as World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK. Click here to receive this newsletter every Thursday, direct...

friday 1

The Conversation

Sam Phelps

How the real murders behind the hit novel Butter exposed Japanese media misogyny

How the real murders behind the hit novel Butter exposed Japanese media misogyny

Japan, 2009. It is a morning in August and, in a parking lot in Saitama – a regional centre about 30kms north of Tokyo – a rental car is spotted...

friday 1

The Conversation

Martina Baradel

The sound of skateboarding offers skaters a therapeutic way to connect with the city

The sound of skateboarding offers skaters a therapeutic way to connect with the city

The sound of a skateboard trick communicates a world of sensory information to skateboarders. The power of “skatesound” – the noises of the...

friday 7

The Conversation

Paul O&39Connor

What happened in the German parliament and why is the far right hailing it as a ‘historic’ moment?

What happened in the German parliament and why is the far right hailing it as a ‘historic’ moment?

A vote in Germany’s national parliament (Bundestag) has led to fears that the firewall supposedly separating mainstream political parties and the...

friday 6

The Conversation

Ed Turner

DeepSeek, Nvidia and the AI race that’s shaping the future

DeepSeek, Nvidia and the AI race that’s shaping the future

The AI revolution is well under way and two companies – DeepSeek and Nvidia – stand out among those competing to lead it. Outside the financial...

friday 7

The Conversation

Daniele D&39Alvia

How satellites have become Earth’s new health and nature watchdogs

How satellites have become Earth’s new health and nature watchdogs

Satellite-derived Earth observation (EO) data helps researchers like me unlock new insights into monitoring both environmental and human health....

friday 1

The Conversation

Dhritiraj Sengupta

Scottish teachers to strike over pupil behaviour – my research shows what they’re dealing with

Scottish teachers to strike over pupil behaviour – my research shows what they’re dealing with

Teachers at a school in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, are planning industrial action – not over pay but the behaviour of their pupils. It’s not...

friday 8

The Conversation

Moira Hulme

DeepSeek: what you need to know about the Chinese firm disrupting the AI landscape

DeepSeek: what you need to know about the Chinese firm disrupting the AI landscape

Before January 27 2025, it’s fair to say that Chinese tech company DeepSeek was flying under the radar. And then it came dramatically into view....

friday 1

The Conversation

Stuart Mills

Exploring bacopa: the science behind the latest brain health trend

Exploring bacopa: the science behind the latest brain health trend

As I’ve grown older and experienced the vagaries of my ageing memory, I’ve often reflected on the possibility of a miracle cure that would...

friday 3

The Conversation

James Goodwin

Marianne Faithfull: the singer with an inimitable voice was a Romantic poet at heart

Marianne Faithfull: the singer with an inimitable voice was a Romantic poet at heart

Marianne Faithfull, the London-born singer with an inimitable voice, has passed away at the age of 78. She was known for many things: she was a pop...

friday 8

The Conversation

Stephanie Hernandez

The Austin 7 is back – a short history of the iconic British car that changed the automotive industry

The Austin 7 is back – a short history of the iconic British car that changed the automotive industry

In perhaps one of the greatest brand comeback stories in automotive since the Fiat 500 in 2007, British car company Austin announced the return of...

friday 1

The Conversation

Tom Stacey

Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible studies of human anatomy still don’t get the recognition they deserve

Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible studies of human anatomy still don’t get the recognition they deserve

The mere mention of Leonardo da Vinci evokes genius. We know him as a polymath whose interests spanned astronomy, geology, hydrology, engineering...

friday 10

The Conversation

Michael Carroll

Why bats need tunnels

Why bats need tunnels

Developers need not “worry about bats and newts” before they start building, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said in a speech that outlined her plans...

friday 1

The Conversation

Eleanor Harrison

DeepSeek claims to have cured AI’s environmental headache. The Jevons paradox suggests it might make things worse

DeepSeek claims to have cured AI’s environmental headache. The Jevons paradox suggests it might make things worse

AI burns through a lot of resources. And thanks to a paradox first identified way back in the 1860s, even a more energy-efficient AI is likely to...

friday 3

The Conversation

Peter Howson

Can aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate

Can aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate

For centuries, people have claimed that their aching joints can predict changes in the weather, often reporting increased discomfort before rain or...

friday 3

The Conversation

Michelle Spear

Rachel Reeves’ route to economic growth is a slow one – and there are no guarantees voters will be patient enough

Rachel Reeves’ route to economic growth is a slow one – and there are no guarantees voters will be patient enough

After six months of talking down the economy and warning of tough times ahead, the UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has changed her tune. She is now...

30.01.2025 6

The Conversation

Steve Schifferes

How close are quantum computers to being really useful? Podcast

How close are quantum computers to being really useful? Podcast

Quantum computers have the potential to solve big scientific problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers, such as...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Gemma Ware

‘Sustainable’ aviation fuel and other myths about green airport expansion debunked

‘Sustainable’ aviation fuel and other myths about green airport expansion debunked

Environmentalists and locals have resisted a third runway at London’s Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, for more than two decades. Today, their...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Jack Marley

Air pollution may protect against skin cancer, finds new study – but the health risks are far more serious

Air pollution may protect against skin cancer, finds new study – but the health risks are far more serious

Air pollution might protect against the most dangerous type of skin cancer, melanoma, a new study finds. However, it’s crucial to approach these...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Justin Stebbing

Will Labour’s plan for growth actually work? Two economists respond

Will Labour’s plan for growth actually work? Two economists respond

The UK chancellor Rachel Reeves says the Labour government will go “further and faster” to kick-start the British economy. Economic growth – to...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Phil Tomlinson

The growing influence of Israel’s ultranationalist settler movement

The growing influence of Israel’s ultranationalist settler movement

Days after taking office, as he issued executive order after executive order to change the political face of America, Donald Trump also turned his...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Leonie Fleischmann

From YMCA to MAGA: why Trump plays Village People at his rallies

From YMCA to MAGA: why Trump plays Village People at his rallies

It was a bizarre sight watching a huge gay 1970s disco hit being performed at Donald Trump’s 2025 pre-inauguration rally. Many prominent artists...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

William Rees

Art, music and science combine at a new whale exhibition at Winchester Cathedral

Art, music and science combine at a new whale exhibition at Winchester Cathedral

The nave of Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire is, until February 26 2025, home to three monumental ambassadors from the sea, sculpted by artist...

30.01.2025 4

The Conversation

Ryan Reisinger

Growing ‘anti-gender ’ movements are trying to restrict equality and sex education in schools around the world

Growing ‘anti-gender ’ movements are trying to restrict equality and sex education in schools around the world

The start of a new Trump presidency in the US may well signal the introduction of policies that limit the knowledge children can access in schools....

30.01.2025 5

The Conversation

Rachel Marcus

Australia’s social media ban shows how extreme the technology debate has become – there’s a better way

Australia’s social media ban shows how extreme the technology debate has become – there’s a better way

The recent decision by the Australian government to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s has been received with both praise and...

30.01.2025 4

The Conversation

James Conroy

Bird flu cases surging in UK but risk to humans remains low

Bird flu cases surging in UK but risk to humans remains low

A human case of bird flu has recently been detected in England. This news comes just days after restrictions were put in place to curb the virus’s...

30.01.2025 3

The Conversation

Ed Hutchinson

Red Sea crisis: supply chain issues set to continue despite Gaza ceasefire

Red Sea crisis: supply chain issues set to continue despite Gaza ceasefire

The world’s major shipping companies say they won’t be sending vessels back to the Red Sea any time soon despite a pledge by Iran-backed Houthi...

30.01.2025 5

The Conversation

Gokcay Balci

If we listen to how Gen Z really feel about democracy they might stop telling us they prefer authoritarianism

If we listen to how Gen Z really feel about democracy they might stop telling us they prefer authoritarianism

New research from broadcaster Channel 4 reveals a troubling trend towards support for authoritarianism among young people in the UK. The report “Gen...

30.01.2025 7

The Conversation

Melissa Butcher

Trump inviting influencers to White House press briefings is likely to usher in a new era of fake news

Trump inviting influencers to White House press briefings is likely to usher in a new era of fake news

Just over a week after Donald Trump was sworn in as 47th president of the United States, his new press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, appeared in the...

30.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Steven Buckley

Swimming in the sweet spot: how marine animals save energy on long journeys

Swimming in the sweet spot: how marine animals save energy on long journeys

Competitive swimmers know that swimming underwater causes less drag resistance than swimming at the surface. Splashing around making waves isn’t...

30.01.2025 1

The Conversation

Kimberley Stokes

Why I loved the new Mussolini drama – by an expert in Italian fascism

Why I loved the new Mussolini drama – by an expert in Italian fascism

As a historian who has studied and taught courses on Italian fascism, I have spent many hours watching footage and listening to the speeches of...

30.01.2025 3

The Conversation

John Foot

Central India’s indigenous forests are falling victim to bullets and bulldozers

Central India’s indigenous forests are falling victim to bullets and bulldozers

The state of Chhattisgarh in India’s tribal heartland has been the epicentre of a violent conflict for more than 30 years. This struggle has pit a...

30.01.2025 7

The Conversation

Bulbul Prakash

The best exercises to do while taking weight loss drugs

The best exercises to do while taking weight loss drugs

Weight loss drugs, such as those containing GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy and Mounjaro, have emerged as effective tools for people struggling to lose...

30.01.2025 1

The Conversation

Jack Mcnamara

Most of Britain’s peat bogs could stop forming new peat as the climate changes – new study

Most of Britain’s peat bogs could stop forming new peat as the climate changes – new study

By the 2080s, climate change will mean most of Britain’s peatlands could be too dry to form new peat. That’s the stark warning from a new academic...

30.01.2025 4

The Conversation

Jonathan Ritson

Brics: growth of China-led bloc raises questions about a rapidly shifting world order

Brics: growth of China-led bloc raises questions about a rapidly shifting world order

Brics has emerged as a significant international force since 2009 when it was established at a summit in Russia. What began as a five-member group...

29.01.2025 10

The Conversation

Gabriel Huland

How Pakistani media misses stories about solutions during smog season

How Pakistani media misses stories about solutions during smog season

It isn’t just hazy — it’s suffocating. During smog season in Lahore, Pakistan, something as simple as breathing can become a major health risk....

29.01.2025 10

The Conversation

Rabia Qusien

How 19th-century melodrama turned the sweet music of gothic into something dark and sinister

How 19th-century melodrama turned the sweet music of gothic into something dark and sinister

In 1764, Horace Walpole published the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, set in a labyrinthine castle surrounded by woods. The novel...

29.01.2025 8

The Conversation

Emma Mcevoy

Pharmacies sell some products that have little or no evidence of working – so why do they do it?

Pharmacies sell some products that have little or no evidence of working – so why do they do it?

Under the UK’s Pharmacy First initiative, people are encouraged to see their pharmacist before consulting their GP – especially for minor...

29.01.2025 1

The Conversation

Colin Davidson

How Victorian melodrama turned the sweet music of gothic into something dark and sinister

How Victorian melodrama turned the sweet music of gothic into something dark and sinister

In 1764, Horace Walpole published the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, set in a labyrinthine castle surrounded by woods. The novel...

29.01.2025 8

The Conversation

Emma Mcevoy

AI could help overcome the hurdles to making nuclear fusion a practical energy source

AI could help overcome the hurdles to making nuclear fusion a practical energy source

The pursuit of nuclear fusion as a clean, sustainable energy source represents one of the most challenging scientific and engineering goals of our...

29.01.2025 8

The Conversation

Tan Sui

Tonsils can grow back after they’ve been removed – here’s which other body parts can regenerate

Tonsils can grow back after they’ve been removed – here’s which other body parts can regenerate

The human body is composed of over 37 trillion cells, each with a limited lifespan. These cells are continuously replaced to maintain organ and...

29.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Adam Taylor

Will the US get to Mars quicker if it drops or delays plans to visit the Moon?

Will the US get to Mars quicker if it drops or delays plans to visit the Moon?

The Artemis program has been Nasa’s best chance to get “boots on the Moon” again. But with the new US administration taking guidance from tech...

29.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Ian Whittaker

Trump’s method for repatriating migrants risks undermining US interests in Latin America

Trump’s method for repatriating migrants risks undermining US interests in Latin America

Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan hit a brief stumbling block on January 26 when Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, refused to allow two US...

29.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Amalendu Misra

The scale of England’s special educational needs crisis

The scale of England’s special educational needs crisis

A group of MPs has delivered a blistering verdict on the state special educational needs in England. In a new report, the public accounts committee...

29.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Jonathan Glazzard

Why Village People’s YMCA is actually a great fit for team Trump

Why Village People’s YMCA is actually a great fit for team Trump

It was a bizarre sight watching a huge gay 1970s disco hit being performed at Donald Trump’s 2025 pre-inauguration rally. Many prominent artists...

29.01.2025 3

The Conversation

William Rees

Workplace diversity schemes have a problem – but that doesn’t mean Trump is right to axe them

Workplace diversity schemes have a problem – but that doesn’t mean Trump is right to axe them

Donald Trump’s inauguration was marked by a doubling down against programmes of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Among the executive orders...

29.01.2025 10

The Conversation

Louise Ashley

The global plant trade is spreading invasive species to Europe

The global plant trade is spreading invasive species to Europe

Back in 2016, one of us (Silviu Petrovan) was asked to identify a live frog found in a shipment of roses in Sheffield, England. It certainly wasn’t...

29.01.2025 2

The Conversation

Amy Hinsley