Entries now open! The Conversation Prize for writers 2026 – in partnership with Faber and Curtis Brown
We’re delighted to announce that The Conversation Prize for writers is back for another year. This annual competition invites academics and researchers to bring their work to life for a wider audience. It’s an opportunity to turn your research, expertise and insights into a compelling longform story that also has the potential to be developed […]
Chernobyl’s wildlife: the real story isn’t the presence of radiation – it’s the absence of humans
Anton Yuhimenko / shutterstock “Dogs at Chernobyl are now genetically distinct … thanks to years of exposure to ionizing radiation, study finds.” That’s just one of many similar headlines that appeared in response to a scientific study published a few years back. They present a compelling story of radiation, mutation and survival against the odds. […]
The Strait of Hormuz shows how everything is now about leverage
lavizzara//Shutterstock Iran’s military might was never going to be a match for the US and Israel. So instead it turned to the highly effective weapon it has at its disposal – geography. Blocking off the Strait of Hormuz has shaken the global economy. It has doubled the price of a barrel of crude oil, which […]
How Bafta helped elevate the video game to a respected art form worthy of celebration
To receive a nomination at the Bafta Game Awards is to be placed amongst the very best video games developed each year. This year’s ceremony saw 42 games nominated, demonstrating a wide range of gaming excellence. Among the nominees were designers, voice actors and composers, each contributing to the validation of video games as a […]
Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability
Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the vetting process. Top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins was sacked over these revelations. Mandelson was controversial long […]
Understanding incel culture – and how schools can address it
New Africa/Shutterstock Incels – involuntary celibates – believe they have been unconditionally excluded from the dating market and are doomed to remain virgins. This has negative implications for their mood and self-esteem, as well as the women and girls they grow to resent. For this reason, schools in England are now required to address incel […]
Our unsung hero of science: Friedrich Miescher, the man who discovered DNA
Wellcome Collection via Wikimedia, CC BY-NC Whether through TV crime dramas or cinema blockbusters about dinosaur theme parks, DNA is a staple of modern popular culture – its double-helix structure one of science’s most iconic visualisations. Yet remarkably, the young Swiss scientist who discovered DNA in the first place is largely forgotten. Born in Basel […]
Five health conditions mothers can develop after giving birth
Postpartum pre-eclampsia can affect as many as 27% of mums. antoniodiaz/ Shutterstock During pregnancy, a mother’s body undergoes vast structural and functional changes. But what many might not know is that the after-effects of these changes can last long after giving birth – and can even result in the development of new health conditions. Here […]
Microplastics have been found to interact with the gut microbiome – here’s what health effects they might have
Microplastics have increasingly been linked to a range of health harms. SIVStockStudio/ Shutterstock Through the air we breathe and the food we eat, we can’t help but inhale and ingest tiny bits of plastic every day. These microplastics, as they’re known, have been found in many parts of the human body – including the lungs, […]
Middle East conflict: how the US and Iran could step back from the brink
Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face a renewal of American bombardment was due to expire this week, but was extended at the last moment, this time with no defined time limit. But the risk of renewed escalation remains real, as both sides continue to block traffic through the […]