Ukraine war: inside the longstanding conflict between politicians and military commanders
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has dismissed the country’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi after a turbulent week in which he also removed his defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. The dismissal of the popular defence minister, who is credited by many as the brains behind Ukraine’s successful drone strategy, brought thousands on to the streets in protest. Despite […]
Drought, water shortages and crop failures: how does the medieval warm period compare with today?
A medieval illustration of a farm worker, part of an illuminated manuscript. Limbourg brothers (fl. 1402–1416) and Barthélemy d’Eyck (fl. 1444–1469) A heatwave lasting four months, followed by water shortages and crop failures. This is England in the 13th century, not the 21st. What is often called the Medieval warm period saw elevated temperatures in […]
Britain’s quarter century: Blair, populism and the battle over human rights
Summer 2001. Tony Blair had just won a second thumping election victory, promising opportunity for all. The new census showed a nation losing its religion, more inclined to live alone and more ethnically diverse. The maximum temperature was a tepid 32°C in west London in late June, while the twin towers rose tall and proud […]
Strange Health wins best health and wellbeing podcast award
The Conversation, CC BY Strange Health, a video podcast produced by The Conversation UK, has won the best health and wellbeing award at the Publisher Podcast Awards 2026. The judges said it was “an entertaining podcast with a winning combination of host discussion and academic specialists”. Hosted by Katie Edwards, a health and medicine editor […]
Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey reveals a darker, less triumphant heroism
Warning: this review contains spoilers for The Odyssey. Christopher Nolan’s US$250m (£187m), three-hour epic starring Matt Damon as the Greek king fighting his way home from Troy took more than $264m on its opening weekend – comfortably tripling the opening take of his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer in 2023. It has earned Nolan the best reviews of […]
Soft plastic recycling laws have been delayed – an expert explains why
RymanStudio/Shutterstock Mandatory kerbside collection of soft plastic (crisp packets, bread bags, plastic wrap) has just been pushed back from 2027 to 2030. On July 16, the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) quietly confirmed this change. The reason, according to Defra, is that the facilities and infrastructure just aren’t ready to […]
How young people make their politics heard in Manchester
Sibrapid/Shutterstock Back in early 2017, Greater Manchester was preparing to hold the inaugural elections for its first directly elected mayor. At the time, we were part of an EU funded research project exploring youth participation in politics. We attended mayoral youth hustings organised by members of local youth councils. Candidates for the position – including […]
What the lotus flower reveals about veteran PTSD in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. In Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Odysseus (played by Matt Damon) is lost not only at sea, but within his own memories. On the island of the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron), eating lotus flowers offers him relief from the trauma of Troy, allowing him to forget […]
Burnham and Trump – what the new prime minister should remember about UK-US ties
Michael Tubi/Shutterstock The hard work of government has begun for Andy Burnham. The new prime minister will be forced to confront a multitude of thorny issues, among which is the question of the UK’s partnership with the US. So what will the so-called “special relationship” look like in the Burnham-Trump era, and how can Burnham […]
Why Odysseus couldn’t just say: ‘I’m home’
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Ten years at Troy. Ten more lost at sea. When Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca – in Homer’s poem and again, played by Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan’s new film – he doesn’t walk through the door and say who he is. He lies. He invents […]