Why ‘psychopath’ is a dangerous label when it comes to criminal justice
Hari Sucahyo/Shutterstock A defendant stands in the dock. An expert describes them as a “psychopath”. In an instant, one word threatens to eclipse their history, circumstances and the crime itself. In Ireland, England and Wales, judges are not supposed to add years to a sentence because someone has been described as a psychopath. But the […]
Britain’s reading revival may be failing to reach those most disconnected from books
Plenty of adults think of themselves as readers. They remember the books they loved as children, the novels they stayed up late to finish, and the periods of life when reading felt natural and routine. Yet many have not finished a book in months, or even years. The National Year of Reading 2026 has placed […]
A new reuse symbol aims to be as recognisable as the recycling logo – and make more of a difference
New reuse networks will include collection points like this. Rebrand Reuse, CC BY-NC-ND A new universal symbol for reuse aims to encourage the switch from single-use to reusable packaging and the development of a more integrated reuse systems worldwide. Reuse systems reduce the use of virgin material, retain packaging materials within the economy for as […]
Pain shouldn’t be judged with a lie detector test – here’s why
Peopleimages/Shutterstock.com In 2006, Carl Koch sued his employer for damages after burn injuries during a workplace accident that left him with chronic pain. The employer accused him of malingering, so the judge admitted a neuroscientist as an expert witness, who testified that he could see Koch’s pain on a brain scan. The case was settled […]
How methane policy will make or break the climate crisis
While some countries are introducing abatement policies, key gaps remain in current policies. Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock There’s no sign that methane emissions are declining globally. That’s according to the International Energy Agency’s latest report on methane, which revealed a worrying implementation gap in current policies. The UN has warned repeatedly that getting methane emissions under […]
What Kevin Keegan’s cancer diagnosis reveals about how we find disease
When the former England and Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan recently revealed that he had stage 4 cancer, the footballing world responded with an overwhelming show of support. But hidden within his story is a surprising lesson about how cancer is often discovered – not through symptoms, but by chance. Keegan was in a car crash […]
Mariana Martines: the infuriating reason you’ve never heard of this brilliant 18th-century composer
Imagine if the only musical artists from the 1980s you had access to were Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson. Others, such as David Bowie, Whitney Houston or George Michael are not available because, we’re told, these artists fail to exhibit the same type of creativity as the other three “geniuses”. It’s clearly madness, yet this […]
Gulf expat reactions to Iran war show us how countries like UAE instil loyalty in western migrants
When the US and Israel launched their strikes on Iran on February 28 and Iran retaliated by targeting the Gulf Arab states, I was closely monitoring social media accounts from the region. I research Middle East politics, with a focus on the Gulf, and the social media platforms I use are full of people living […]
New season of The Conversation’s award-winning Curious Kids podcast launching this June
Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast is back for a second season to answer some of the fantastic questions sent in by listeners around the world! Each episode, a curious kid joins host Eloise to ask a top researcher their burning question, such as: why do your fingers and toes go wrinkly in the […]
When satire could destroy a career: the scandals of Georgian politician Charles James Fox
Political satire has mocked the powerful for centuries. But in an age of endless headlines, rolling news and social media outrage, satire can often feel strangely powerless. In Georgian Britain, satire had the power not just to entertain the public, but to shape reputations and destroy careers. Satire meant a scandal could define a politician […]