A rollercoaster of weather extremes: drought and heatwaves are creating UK’s climate whiplash
Paul Maguire/Shutterstock The UK is bouncing from one type of extreme weather to another this year. This is climate whiplash. Caused by changes in the fast-moving body of air high up in our atmosphere called the jet stream, climate whiplash has increased in likelihood with climate change. This constant changing of extreme weather makes it […]
Social care reform must start with the workforce – here’s why
koldo_studio/ Shutterstock For three decades, successive governments have attempted (and failed) to reform the social care system. Most debates have focused on finances: who should pay for social care and how much should each person be expected to contribute? These are of course important questions – but if we’re serious about fixing the adult social […]
Medieval England had a defamation problem: how people used the law to fight rumours, insults and rivals
A tapestry from the 16th century showing legal matters being discussed. Musée de Cluny For medieval people, reputation was paramount. To be considered reliable, reputable and respectable was important at all levels of society, from the king to the peasantry. Being of “ill fame” (bad reputation) had serious consequences, which might include social ostracising, legal […]
Poochmaxxing: the wellness industry is coming for your pets
Pixel Shot/Shutterstock.com I am a runner who loves being active alongside my dogs. Actually, I am more of a plodder – and one with very bad knees. Those knees benefit from regular physiotherapy and sports massage. You might not be surprised, then, to hear that I have regular physiotherapy appointments. The slight curveball is that […]
Why the questions about Reform UK and its wealthy donors won’t go away
There have been more claims about Reform UK and its finances. In fact, it has become so complicated that it’s easy to forget party leader Nigel Farage has a byelection battle on his hands. A £5 million undeclared gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne was the catalyst for Farage’s resignation as MP for Clacton – which […]
Why bad health information can seem so convincing – and five ways to resist it
Shyntartanya/Shutterstock Recent reports have highlighted AI-generated “doctors” spreading dubious health advice to millions of social media users. Fabricated wellness trends can travel just as quickly. A supposed “pink jelly” weight-loss treatment, for example, reportedly fooled at least one celebrity. These examples gain credibility in different ways. Influencers can appear familiar and sincere, while AI-generated doctors […]
Diplomacy after death at Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu sat on the same row in Washington National Cathedral this week to bid farewell to Republican US senator Lindsey Graham. But, for the two leaders, Graham’s funeral was also an opportunity for private talks at the White House with Donald Trump. Graham was a passionate […]
Wildfires, wombats and wake-up calls – what to read, rethink and act on this week
This roundup of The Conversation’s environment coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine. The world is burning. As ferocious wildfires spread across Europe, some people continue to fly off to the continent on their holidays, seemingly unaware of the extreme dangers facing thousands of people. Better climate reporting could help […]
Why Andy Burnham is right to want for-profit firms out of social care
For-profit organisations actually worsen many of the core problems with England’s social care systems. Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock Prime minister Andy Burnham announced on Wednesday his commitment to improving England’s social care system. If the new prime minister has his way, England will legislate a new national care service within the next two years. Burnham […]
As Larry the cat welcomes yet another prime minister, an expert explains how pets adapt to change
Larry, the Downing Street cat, has had to adapt to seven different prime ministers moving into No 10 over the past decade. Yet while the nation’s attention is fixed on the departing and incoming political leaders, who is thinking about the effect these upheavals might have on one of the property’s most enduring residents? Cats […]