From painkillers to antibiotics: five medicines that could harm your hearing: DC Studio/Shutterstock When we think about the side effects of medicines, we might think of nausea, fatigue or dizziness. But there’s another, lesser-known risk that can have lasting – and sometimes permanent – consequences: hearing loss. A wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs …
How a popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences – new study: Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – with potentially …
How UK-France ‘one in, one out’ migration deal will work – and what the challenges could be: After weeks of rising Channel crossing figures, the UK government has agreed on a long-awaited migration deal with France. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announced a “one in, one out” pilot – and the UK prime minister said …
Egypt needs more drinkable water – how windy coastal resorts could help: Egypt is facing a growing water crisis due to its arid climate, limited water resources, and rapidly increasing population. The country of 114 million people depends heavily on the longest river in the world, the Nile, for fresh water. But rising demand for …
Could electric brain stimulation lead to better maths skills?: Triff/Shutterstock A painless, non-invasive brain stimulation technique can significantly improve how young adults learn maths, my colleagues and I found in a recent study. In a paper in PLOS Biology, we describe how this might be most helpful for those who are likely to struggle with …
Battery swapping stations powered by solar and wind: we show how this could work for electric vehicles in South Africa: Petrol and diesel vehicles are being phased out globally and replaced with electric vehicles so that countries can meet their commitments to zero human-caused carbon emissions by 2050. But electric vehicles’ batteries run down quickly …
Why flattering Donald Trump could be dangerous: This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox. Once again Donald Trump and his senior team are unhappy with their press coverage. Here’s the US …
G20 countries could produce enough renewable energy for the whole world – what needs to happen: The world’s most developed economies have also burnt the most oil and coal (fossil fuels) over the years, causing the most climate change damage. Preventing further climate change means a global fossil fuel phase-out must happen by 2050. Climate …
Linguistics could make language learning more relevant – and attractive – for school pupils: BearFotos/Shutterstock A 2023 YouGov poll found that only 21% of UK adults can hold a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue. About half of the other 79% regretted not engaging more with languages at school, and more than …
Insect protein could support healthy ageing and fight climate change: Charoen Krung Photography/Shutterstock When we think about the future of food, it’s unlikely that crickets, meal worms or grasshoppers come to mind. But believe it or not, insects might just be one of the most promising answers to two big global problems: feeding a growing …
Somaliland’s 30-year quest for recognition: could US interests make the difference?: More than three decades after unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia, Somaliland still seeks international recognition as a sovereign state. Despite a lack of formal acknowledgement, the breakaway state has built a relatively stable system of governance. This has drawn increasing interest from global powers, …
US-China trade war could hurt Nigerian entrepreneurs: why, and how they should prepare: As China and the United States lock horns in a trade war, slamming tariffs on each other, entrepreneurs in Nigeria are vulnerable to the fallout. In 2024, 27.8% of imports into Nigeria came from China. In the same year, US exports to …
Fossil fuels are still subsidised: G20 could push for the funds to be shifted to cleaner energy: As the G20 presiding nation, South Africa has an opportunity to champion issues relevant to emerging economies. One of these issues is government subsidisation of privately owned fossil fuel corporations. Fossil fuel subsidies are paid when a government …
Wave energy’s huge potential could finally be unlocked by the power of sound – new research: Water good idea. Andrei Armiagov Ocean waves have long been seen as having huge potential as a source of renewable energy. Waves produce an estimated 50 trillion to 80 trillion watts of power worldwide – nearly two to three …
Tourists are cancelling trips to the US – here’s how this could affect its economy: The United States is one of the top three most visited countries in the world. The big draw cards – cities such as San Francisco, New York and Chicago and national parks such as Yosemite – have attracted international tourists …
Why morning blue light therapy could improve sleep and daily activity in older adults: 4 PM production/Shutterstock What if a simple change in your morning light exposure could help you sleep better? Our sleep patterns change across our lifespan, and, as we get older, we tend to have difficulty getting a good night’s sleep and …
How virtual reality could help revive endangered language and culture: Every two weeks, a language is at risk of disappearing. According to the UN, at least 50% of the 7,000 different languages spoken around the world today could either disappear or become seriously endangered by the end of this century, leading to a significant loss …
Climate change could make more turtles female – but some are starting to adapt: A loggerhead turtle nesting. Mollie Rickwood, CC BY-NC-ND Rising global temperatures are a particularly acute threat for the world’s sea turtles. That’s because the temperature of a turtle’s nest controls the sex of their offspring. Coming ashore onto a beach (often …