People who lift weights live longer – new study

People who regularly strength trained had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and dementia. PeopleImages/ Shutterstock Strength training has long been seen as something you mainly do to build muscle or look good. But a new study adds to a growing body of evidence that shows lifting weights does far more than change […]

When climate pressures deepen, the fight against violence becomes harder

Andrzej Kubik/Shutterstock Climate-induced crop failures, death of livestock and water shortages increase food insecurity and malnutrition. This makes it harder for families to maintain stable incomes and consistent supplies of food. Climate-induced drought and flooding make agriculturally dependant communities poorer and more desperate for income. In some countries such as Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan and Kenya, […]

Keir Starmer resigns: can anyone survive as prime minister in today’s Britain?

Keir Starmer has resigned as leader of the Labour party, and so in time as the UK’s prime minister. In the end, despite his numerous assurances that he would fight on, after Andy Burnham’s resounding win in the Makerfield byelection, the pressure on Starmer became too great to withstand. It makes him the sixth British […]

How Donald Trump has changed the way diplomacy is done

The negotiations to end the US-Iran war, resulting in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 17, have been something of an acid test of Donald Trump’s approach to diplomacy. What does it tell us? And has this US president changed the way diplomacy is done? When Trump was inaugurated for his second […]

World Cup technology: from ref cams to AI analysts, cutting-edge research is changing the game

The men’s football World Cup presents a unique global opportunity to showcase new football technology – from boots and balls to digital systems designed to enhance both officiating accuracy and fan engagement. The process of bringing these technologies to the game often begins in universities and other research institutions. The academic journal Sports Engineering, of […]

Ten years after the referendum, how Brexit could have been done differently

Matt Gibson/Shutterstock A ten-year anniversary is a good opportunity to look back on an important decision. Whether that was a marriage, a career move or a decision to leave the EU, a decade feels like an important moment for reflection. When the UK voted (narrowly) for Brexit on June 23 2016, nobody really knew what […]

Andy Burnham needed a big win. The Makerfield result means Labour might have reason to hope

The possible nominative determinism of the Makerfield constituency may prove as significant to political historians as it has been a blessing to newspaper sub-editors crafting puns on “Makerfield or Breakerfield”. The immediate futures of Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer were decided in the historic happening of the first UK byelection to effectively elect a prime […]

How America came to love football – what you should listen, read and see this week

This curation of The Conversation UK’s arts and culture coverage was first published in our fortnightly newsletter, Something Good. The first round of the World Cup is over and despite this usually being the most sedate bit of the tournament, there have been some surprisingly gripping matches. I have been told that New Zealand and […]