Imagine newsletter: penguins, satellites and pink poo
This roundup of The Conversation’s environment coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine. Through the winter months, emperor penguins lay their eggs, hatch their chicks, and huddle together for warmth. They do much of this in darkness, as the Antarctic sun disappears below the horizon for months on end. That […]
Is England right to introduce a tourism tax?
Bath in Somerset is a favourite with tourists. Denny Friday Studio/Shutterstock Supporters tend to call it a “visitor levy”. Detractors prefer to call it a “tourist tax”. Whether you agree with it or not, an extra charge for overnight stays has become a common feature of modern travel. Recent visitors to New York, Prague, Milan […]
When prepping for disaster, don’t forget to pack your teddy bear
Would Ted be coming with you in an emergency? 4_17amdani/Shutterstock Imagine it’s the dead of night. Your phone pings with a text – it’s a government emergency alert: “Leave your home immediately! Only take with you enough supplies for the next three days.” What would you want in your go-bag? Our new survey of UK […]
Driving through water is the biggest cause of death during floods – here’s how it can happen
Tim Large/Shutterstock With climate change leading to more extreme and prolonged heavy rainfall across the northern hemisphere, flooding is a risk, especially in autumn and winter. While concerns typically consider travel disruption and damage to housing, the top cause of death during flooding occurs from driving through floodwater. In England alone, there have been with […]
Decades of male-focused medical research could bias healthcare AI
MarcoPace68/Shutterstock Many people will learn CPR using a flat-chested manikin. A 2024 study of 20 models of CPR manikins sold worldwide found that three quarters were described as male or had no sex specified. Of the 20, only one offered a breast overlay. The manikins reflect a wider tendency in medical teaching and research to […]
Tons of fishing gear and plastic are washing up on Seychelles beaches. We tracked where it was coming from
Plastic waste from shipping is causing pollution on many beaches. Hiromi Ito Ame/Shutterstock Vast quantities of plastic and fishing gear are washing up along the shores of the Seychelles, destroying fragile ecosystems and causing significant economic problems. Aldabra Atoll, a Unesco world heritage site in this archipelago nation of 115 islands, is estimated to have […]
Electoral reform is back on the agenda – here’s why things could genuinely be different this time
Euan Cherry/Shutterstock Electoral reform is a perennial debate in UK politics. But it never comes to fruition – arguably because it’s never in the interests of the governing party to change the voting rules that got it into power. Now though, there are reasons to believe things could be about to change. Labour won the […]
Using ‘neurodivergent’ as a catch-all term is problematic – here’s why
Lightspring/ Shutterstock The term “neurodivergent” is being used more and more often in everyday conversation, on social media and even in scientific research. Neurodivergent is usually used to described a brain that works differently from what is seen as typical. For instance, it is often used to describe someone with a diagnosis of autism or […]
The Disappearers: Marlon James’s new novel gives voice to the gay men Jamaica erased
Marlon James’s 2026 novel, The Disappearers, has already been hailed as the novel of the century by The New York Times, and it is certainly magnificent and explosive in equal measure. Its success lies in the way its artistic execution dovetails with its highly charged subject matter. The Disappearers pulls the reader into a seemingly […]
Nato is concerned about the threat from Russia. But it isn’t panicking – yet
Over the past few weeks, a striking theme has emerged in discussions surrounding Nato. Senior political figures and former Nato officials have raised the possibility of invoking article 5 in response to severe cyber-attacks. Military leaders have warned that Russia may seek opportunities to test the alliance’s resolve. These developments have prompted an obvious question: […]