Bringing Care Home: Redefining Healthcare with Empathy and Connection
By Kenny Au
Healthcare today is a lifeline, but for many elderly and chronically ill individuals, accessing it feels like an uphill battle. I have witnessed people going through cancer firsthand. The constant trips to hospitals and...
Art as resistance: A digital archive documents how protest arts address police violence
By Taiwo Afolabi Et Al
Policing has become a contentious subject globally, with systemic injustices prompting diverse responses of resistance and revolt. In turn, protest movements around the world have increasingly turned to art as a dynamic...
The key takeaways from Donald Trump’s inauguration speech
By Dafydd Townley
Donald Trump has been sworn in as president of the US for a second term and this time there wont be any arguments about crowd sizes. The most glaringly obvious difference in optics this time round for both those in...
Social media rewires young minds – here’s how
By Laura Elin Pigott
Deliris/Shutterstock That satisfying feeling after doomscrolling through endless TikTok videos or impulsively shopping online mimics the relief of scratching an itch. This is dopamine at work a brain chemical...
Saving lives and limbs on the high seas: the extraordinary world of early modern ship’s surgeons
By Jasmine Kilburn-Toppin
Imagine you are at sea facing a violent battle with an enemy ship. The experienced 17th-century surgeon John Moyle asked his reader to do just that. In his printed guide of recommended practice, the reader was compelled to...
LA fires risk reinforcing the false idea that we’re all in this together
By Andrea Rigon
Sobering images of fires in Los Angeles highlight one of the few cases where some of those who contributed the most to climate change are also facing its consequences. And this is partly why these fires have been such a...
Climate change is fuelling Trump’s desire to tap into Canada’s water and Arctic resources
By Tricia Stadnyk
Rising temperatures, a melting Arctic and increasing global water and resource scarcity are behind United States President Donald Trumps threats to make Canada the 51st American state. A geopolitical storm is brewing in...
Urban studies: Doing research when every city is different
By Sandra Breux Et Al
Urban studies is sometimes considered a loosely defined interdisciplinary academic domain, lacking the scientific rigour needed to understand cities. In Canada, urban studies is a little more than 50 years old; a young...
Despite fears of falling trust in expert knowledge, a global survey shows New Zealanders value science highly
By John Kerr Et Al
Five years since the start of the COVID pandemic, it can feel as if trust in the knowledge of experts and scientific evidence is in crisis. But according to our new findings in a global survey of more than 70,000 people...
Fake podcast clips are misleading millions of people on social media. Here’s how to spot them
By Finley Watson
Podcasting is the medium of choice for millions of listeners looking for the latest commentary on almost any topic. In Australia, its estimated about 48% of people tune in to a podcast each month. However, the rise of...
With nuclear power on the rise, reducing conspiracies and increasing public education is key
By Grant Alexander Wilson
After years of public discourse related to its safety, costs and waste, nuclear power is making a comeback as a core energy solution. Across North America, nuclear power facilities are being started, rebooted and extended....
Trump’s executive orders can make change – but are limited and can be undone by the courts
By Sharece Thrower
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives for inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Before his inauguration, Donald Trump promised to issue a total of...
What the Opium Wars can tell us about China, the U.S. and fentanyl
By Martin Danahay
United States President Donald Trump recently threatened to impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods coming from China in response the illegal import into the U.S. of the opioid fentanyl. Fentanyl has become the...
Survey finds Canadians overwhelmingly support building Arctic infrastructure
By Mathieu Landriault Et Al
The Canadian Arctics vast landscape has always been a challenge when it comes to implementing and developing reliable Arctic infrastructure. Home to 150,000 people, with four of every 10 identifying as Indigenous, the...
Trump has few good options to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb
By Aniruddha Saha
The administration of new US president Donald Trump is reportedly considering various options to prevent Iran from being able to build a nuclear weapon. These include renegotiating a second nuclear deal, pursuing a policy...
The narratives of decadence, decline and apocalypse that link Elon Musk and all anti-democratic movements
By Felix Schilk
Its the birthrates. Its the birthrates. Its the birthrates, echoed the introduction line in the manifesto of the Christchurch shooter who killed 51 people in a mosque in 2019. His claim was that white people are being...
Five commercials that show how David Lynch elevated advertising to an art form
By Jonatan Sodergren
The late filmmaker David Lynchs unique approach to storytelling, with TV and films like Twin Peaks (1990-2017), Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001), combined dreamlike imagery with unsettling narratives. But his...
TikTok users migrate to RedNote in an unexpected success for Chinese soft power
By Tom Harper
The new US president, Donald Trump, has given TikTok a reprieve one day after a law came into effect banning the Chinese-owned app in the US on national security grounds. Trump, who has previously expressed admiration for...
Kenya’s farmers have lots of digital tools to help boost productivity – how they can be made more effective
By Regina Birner Et Al
Digital agriculture is often hailed as an almost magical trigger for promoting successful farming, even among smallholder farmers in the developing world. Its proponents argue that using digital tools to, for instance,...
Why Africa’s young scientists should help check the quality of climate change research
By Vincent Hare Et Al
Scientific research is essential for addressing the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body, assesses the science on climate change through its regular assessment...
Neighbors and strangers pulled together to help LA fire survivors – 60 years of research shows these unsung heroes are crucial to disaster response
By Tricia Wachtendorf Et Al
As wildfires swept through neighborhoods on the outskirts of Los Angeles in January 2025, stories about residents there helping their neighbors and total strangers began trickling out on social media. Accounts of Hollywood...
Astronauts on NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon will need better boots − here’s why
By Jesse Rhoades Et Al
The U.S.s return to the Moon with NASAs Artemis program will not be a mere stroll in the park. Instead it will be a perilous journey to a lunar location representing one of the most extreme environments in the solar...
Why is the sky blue?
By Daniel Freedman
You might think that explaining why the sky is blue would be kind of simple. But even a brief explanation of it requires a lot of science. The colors of everything you see are produced in different ways. Some of those...
Trump’s idea to use military to deport over 10 million migrants faces legal, constitutional and practical hurdles
By Cassandra Burke Robertson Et Al
A sweeping crackdown on immigration was the centerpiece of Donald Trumps 2024 presidential campaign. On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America, Trump promised at a...
Food and medicine that can change your skin colour – sometimes permanently
By Michelle Spear
When an 84-year-old man in Hong Kong went to hospital with an enlarged prostate, doctors were startled to see that his skin and even the whites of his eyes had turned silver-grey. A deeper investigation revealed silver...
Why Kurds face an uncertain future in Ahmed Al-Shara’s rebel-led Syria
By Pinar Dinc
More than a month has passed since Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group, became the de facto leader of Syria. Since then, he has dropped his nom de guerre in favour of his...
Knowing less about AI makes people more open to having it in their lives – new research
By Chiara Longoni Et Al
The rapid spread of artificial intelligence has people wondering: whos most likely to embrace AI in their daily lives? Many assume its the tech-savvy those who understand how AI works who are most eager to adopt it....
How to fix democracy? Ancient philosopher Plato may have an answer
By Matthew Duncombe
The Republic, the best-known work of ancient Greek philosopher Plato, authored around 375BC, has shaped western political thought. Greece is now known as the cradle of democracy. Not only was the first democracy in the...
Three ways to assess how Liverpool’s tidal energy plan will affect the environment
By Kenneth Kang
A proposed tidal energy scheme on Liverpools River Mersey is entering an early assessment and consultation phase. This multi-billion pound infrastructure project, which could span several miles across the river and power...
Ethiopian earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: earth scientist explains the link
By Amdemichael Tadesse
Ethiopias Afar and Oromia regions have been hit by several earthquakes and tremors since the beginning of 2025. The strongest, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck on 4 January. The US Geological Survey and the German Research...
Most of us trust scientists, shows a survey of nearly 72,000 people worldwide
By Mathew Marques Et Al
Public trust in scientists is vital. It can help us with personal decisions on matters like health and provide evidence-based policymaking to assist governments with crises such as the COVID pandemic or climate change. In...
How is Antarctica melting, exactly? Crucial details are beginning to come into focus
By Catherine Vreugdenhil Et Al
The size of the Antarctic ice sheet can be hard to comprehend. Two kilometres thick on average and covering nearly twice the area of Australia, the ice sheet holds enough freshwater to raise global sea levels by 58 metres....
Why Alberta’s Danielle Smith is rejecting the Team Canada approach to Trump’s tariff threats
By Lisa Young
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith finds herself at the centre of controversy because of her refusal to be part of a Team Canada approach to Donald Trumps tariff threats. While other provincial premiers have signed on to a...
Why the Australian Open’s online tennis coverage looks like a Wii sports game
By Marc C-Scott
The 2025 Australian Open (AO) broadcast may seem similar to previous years if youre watching on the television. However, if youre watching online via the official Australian Open TV YouTube channel youll encounter a...
While Hollywood ignored stories of Black resistance, Cuban filmmakers celebrated Black power
By Philip Kaisary
In recent years, there has been an increased push for more diversity and representation on our entertainment screens. The #OscarsSoWhite campaign of 2015 and the enduring social justice movement it generated increased...
From dog whistles to blaring horns, Poilievre makes his case
By Noah Fry
Pierre Poilievres recent 100-minute interview with the psychologist and right-wing media commentator Jordan Peterson provided some clues about the Conservative leaders political ideology heading into a federal election...
Ontario’s high-stakes bet on iGaming: Province profiting from online betting but at what cost to problem gambling?
By Nassim Tabri Et Al
In April 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate online gambling and sports. This opened the door to an industry that brought in $1.4 billion in revenue over the next year, making Ontario one of North...
Student unions: Warnings of toxic problems fuelling disillusionment need to be dealt with
By Justin Patrick
Almost every post-secondary student in Canada must live under some form of democratic student government known as a student union. They are largely incorporated under provincial or federal non-profit legislation. Student...
How constitutional guardrails have always contained presidential ambitions
By Victor Menaldo
As Donald Trumps second inauguration fast approaches, concerns he threatens American democracy are rising yet again. Some warnings have cited Trumps authoritarian rhetoric, willingness to undermine or malign institutions...
Gaza ceasefire: fragile deal offers hope for peace but could still fall apart
By Jonathan Este
This article was first published as World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK. Click here to receive this newsletter every Thursday, direct to your inbox. Waiting for news this week of whether a ceasefire deal...
AI-based technology could reduce the number of controversial decisions in boxing
By Kamran Mahroof Et Al
Boxing, the sweet science, is a theatre of skill, power and drama that has captivated audiences for centuries. Yet, behind the allure of championship nights and historic rivalries lies a persistent shadow controversial...
The hidden health risk of having your hair washed
By Maria Ashioti
Going to the hairdresser is often considered a relaxing, pampering experience, but a rare condition known as beauty parlor stroke syndrome (BPSS) can, for a small number of people, make a shampoo at the hairdressers a...
How the UK’s plans for AI could derail net zero – the numbers explained
By Tom Jackson Et Al
The UK governments goal to increase public-controlled artificial intelligence computing power twentyfold by 2030 would significantly raise electricity demand. Can renewable energy supply meet it and still have enough left...
All change! Why the UK’s public transport system could look very different very quickly
By Marcus Mayers Et Al
The UKs public transport system has been in a state of flux since the arrival of COVID. Lockdowns, social distancing and working from home all made customer demand for buses and trains dramatically different from...
How Trump could try to stay in power after his second term ends
By Philip Klinkner
Think Donald Trump cant be president after his second term is up in January 2029? Think again. When President-elect Donald Trump met with congressional Republicans shortly after his November 2024 election victory, he...
Civil servants brace for a second Trump presidency
By Jaime L Kucinskas
On the eve of Donald Trumps inauguration as the 47th president of the United States, some people who work for the federal government are concerned. Trump and his allies have repeatedly promised to dismantle the...
African countries need more PhD graduates but students are held back by a lack of money and support
By Oluwatomilayo Omoya Et Al
Over the past 15 years theres been an increasing demand from within and outside the higher education sector for African countries to produce more PhD graduates. For this to happen, its important to know whats holding...
Gaza: seven big issues affecting the delivery of humanitarian aid
By Sarah Schiffling
If the new Israel-Hamas deal holds and their ceasefire begins on Sunday, the first stage includes a commitment to allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. Announcing the deal to the US public, the outgoing...
How America courted increasingly destructive wildfires − and what that means for protecting homes today
By Justin Angle
The fires burning in the Los Angeles area are a powerful example of why humans have learned to fear wildfire. Fires can level entire neighborhoods in an instant. They can destroy communities, torch pristine forests and...
Joe Biden leaves a complicated legacy on the federal courts
By Paul M. Collins Jr.
President Joe Bidens farewell to elected office on Jan. 20, 2025, presents an opportunity to reflect on the legacy he left on the federal courts. Many will perceive Bidens influence on the courts primarily based on his...
