The Conversation UK

9 Magazines | 722 Followers | @ConversationUK | An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. Free to read and republish.

Wales's schools urgently need political participation lessons

After 20 years of devolved politics, one would assume that Wales’s government and parliament would have solidified its place in the country, and the …

Education

Giant penguin find: remains suggest huge bird was taller than a human

Scientists have discovered a now-extinct species of giant penguin that was taller than most humans. The remains of the bird, perhaps the tallest …

Dinosaurs

Our survey reveals that even Republicans want a fairer tax deal for America

The American Republican party is about to pass a massive tax bill that almost no one – including their own voters – really wants. While many people …

Equality

Could Scotland really be seen as a Northern nation? A view from Denmark

Faced with the uncertainty of Brexit and many other challenges, Scotland seems to be looking towards the Arctic region for new opportunities. With …

Faroe Islands

How crashing neutron stars killed off some of our best ideas about what 'dark energy' is

There was much excitement when scientists witnessed the violent collision of two ultra-dense, massive stars more than 100m light years from the Earth …

Physics

EU law expert: how binding is the Brexit 'deal'?

The question of whether the deal that broke the deadlock in Brexit talks is legally binding has been the subject of much discussion since the …

Brexit

Nine out of ten children in Bangladesh exposed to secondhand smoke

Bangladesh outlawed smoking in public places in 2013. However, our survey of primary school children in the capital, Dhaka, found that 95% had …

Public Health

Record numbers of children are now homeschooled, but who's keeping an eye on the parents?

Nearly 30,000 children in the UK were educated at home in the 2016 to 2017 academic year. This is an almost 100% increase from 2011 – when just over …

Parenting

The two Koreas have tried to make peace before – and they could do so again

With tension on the Korean Peninsula higher than it’s been for years and fears are surging on all sides that a full-blown conflict is nearer than …

North Korea

German 'grand coalition' talks give hope to refugees who want to reunite with their families

Germany’s two biggest political parties are heading back to the negotiating table in search of a new “grand coalition”. The talks between Angela …

Germany

'Ethics dumping' – the dark side of international research

Knowingly inflicting severe harm on human beings for the purpose of research is one of the most serious human rights abuses possible. Cases of …

Research

Growing food from mattresses: what experts can learn from working in refugee camps

I am a scientist who has spent his career working with industry at the interface of science, engineering and medicine. I have served on many advisory …

Refugees

Offering vouchers to breastfeed improves breastfeeding rates

Human breast milk is perfectly constituted for human babies. Not only does it provide balanced nutrition tailored to each baby’s needs, it also …

Pregnancy

PrEP takers are risking their lives by not using condoms with HIV+ partners

In the film, The Matrix, lead character Neo is given the choice to take one of two pills that will determine his fate. The red pill promises to open …

Public Health

Why PrEP takers should still use condoms with HIV+ partners

In the film, The Matrix, lead character Neo is given the choice to take one of two pills that will determine his fate. The red pill promises to open …

Public Health

Three ways to avoid being lonely this Christmas

As the population ages and growing numbers of people are living alone, loneliness is emerging as a major public health issue. Many older people are …

British Red Cross

Ocean plastic: clean it up, but avoid the mistakes of global climate policy

In early December 2017 the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi announced a resolution on marine litter and microplastics. The move was …

Climate

How virtual reality is opening up some of the world’s most inaccessible archaeological sites

We often associate virtual reality (VR) with thrilling experiences we may never be able to have in real life – such as flying a jet fighter, …

Archaeology

The speculum finally gets redesigned – by women

The vaginal speculum – that creepy looking metal device used to examine the vagina and cervix – has remained largely unchanged since the 19th …

Gender

All I want for Christmas is You: Mariah Carey number one for UK's favourite festive song

For me, one of the best bits about the Christmas season is hearing a favourite Christmas songs on the radio or while out shopping. Together with the …

Mariah Carey

Endless reports on rising poverty do little to change government policy – there's another way

Over the past four years, 700,000 more young people and pensioners in Britain have been “plunged into poverty”, according to the findings of a major …

Margaret Thatcher

Changes to controversial police Mental Health Act powers may only be a sideways step

Worldwide, someone dies by suicide every 40 seconds. More than 6,000 people ended their own lives in the UK last year and it is estimated that for …

Mental Health

When crime pays: mobsters who spent more time at school earned more money

When it comes to education, you may not think of a mobster or gang member as top of the class, but it turns out that even criminals benefit from more …

Crime

Bed bugs are back – here's how one neighbourhood is learning to live with them

When it came to managing bed bugs in the early 1900s, the world took its lead from an approach developed in the slums of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest …

Bedbugs

Lessons from Sweden in sustainable business

There is an increasing trend among companies across the globe to report on their sustainability. As well as information on the company’s economic …

Sustainability

Religious faith can help people to build better cities – here's how

Religious faith is deeply ingrained in the way cities look and function. In the past, cities were often built with places of worship at their centre, …

Cities

Forget Mark Zuckerberg's charity – we need corporate tax reform

Mark Zuckerberg is the philanthrocapitalist poster boy, pledging to give away virtally all his wealth during his lifetime – but tax reform should …

Mark Zuckerberg

Brexit negotiations phase two – here's what happens next

The European Commission will advise the leaders of the 27 EU member states meeting at the European Council on December 15 to proceed with the second …

Brexit

How to spot fake news – an expert's guide for young people

Every time you go online, people are competing for your attention. Friends, strangers, businesses, political organisations, charities and news …

Viral