The CIA and the new cold war: what history tells us about its influence today – podcast: Powerful politicians in the US once called for the dissolution of the CIA. How relevant is it today? Anelo via Shutterstock This episode of The Conversation’s In Depth Out Loud podcast tells the inside story of the CIA …
The power of swearing: how obscene words influence your mind, body and relationships: Fida Olga/Shutterstock Swearing was long dismissed as a topic of serious research because it was assumed to be simply a sign of aggression, weak language proficiency or even low intelligence. We now have quite a lot of evidence that challenges this view, …
Swedish election: what we know so far about the influence the nationalist right will have in the new government: With final election results announced, it is now clear that Sweden is to have a new government. Magdalena Andersson, the Social Democratic leader and prime minister, has resigned and Ulf Kristersson, party leader for the centre-right …
GCSEs: how gender norms influence what young people choose to study at school: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock There is a gender divide in the subjects teenagers choose to study. In 2022, 63% of UK GCSE candidates taking full-course Physical Education (PE) for GCSE were male. For Art and Design subjects, though, boys made up only 35% …
Russia’s influence in the Balkans is growing just as the region’s fragile peace is threatened: The Serb leader in Bosnia & Herzogovina, Milorad Dodik, has been an outspoken supporter of Russia's president Vladimir Putin. RSplaneta/Shutterstock The EU continues to keep Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia on the waiting list to …
Climate change: wildfire risk has grown nearly everywhere – but we can still influence where and how fires strike: Stefan Doerr, Author provided Humans have raised CO? levels in the atmosphere to 50% above what they were before the industrial revolution. As a result, the world has already warmed by 1.1°C over the past century …
Behind the scenes of Westminster – how government whips are losing their influence: Drop of Light / Shutterstock The confidence vote against Boris Johnson has dealt a blow to the prime minister’s leadership, revealing the level of opposition he faces within his own party. For those of us who research Parliament, situations like this one …
The Quad: US efforts to counter China’s influence in Asia mark a new era of micro alliances: US president Joe Biden recently visited Asia in an effort to strengthen relationships in the region, most notably meeting with leaders of the “Quad” alliance of America, Japan, India and Australia. This group of like-minded states represents a …
Love Island ditches fast fashion: how reality celebrities influence young shoppers’ habits: The cast of Love Island will be dressed in secondhand clothing as they look for love in the villa. ITV Plc This year, contestants on the TV show Love Island will be scantily clad in secondhand rather than new clothing – a pivot …
Three imperial policies that still influence life in Britain today: Dennis Sylvester Hurd / Wikimedia Commons The revelation that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty claimed non-dom status in the UK for years has drawn renewed attention to an imperialist policy that still holds today. Non-doms may live in the UK, but are considered by …
How shops use psychology to influence your buying decisions: LADO/shutterstock You might think that you only buy what you need, when you need it. But whether you are shopping for food, clothes or gadgets, the retailers are using the power of psychological persuasion to influence your decisions – and help you part with your cash. …
Money, influence and heroism: the allure of political power in Kenya: A crowd witnesses Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing-in as Kenya's president after his re-election in 2017. Andrew Wasike/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images In recent years, the start of Kenya’s electioneering period has often been marked by a wave of resignations by men and women seeking high office as …
Ukraine war: fresh warning that Africa needs to be vigilant against Russia’s destabilising influence: Russian president Vladimir Putin and African leaders at the 2019 Russia-Africa Summit and Economic Forum in Sochi in 2019. Photo by Alexei Druzhinin / SPUTNIK / AFP via Getty Images It’s commonly held that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s objective for invading …
How Russia-Ukraine conflict could influence Africa’s food supplies: Winter wheat being harvested in the fields of the Tersky Konny Zavod collective farm in the North Caucuses. Photo by Anton Podgaiko\TASS via Getty Images No man qualifies as a statesman who is entirely ignorant of the problems of wheat. The words of the ancient Greek philosopher, …
Dennis the Menace lives on: the influence of this 70-year-old on everything from darts to raves: The current Somerset House exhibition in London, Beano: The Art of Breaking the Rules, revels in the joyful impudence of the 83-year-old comic magazine’s characters. A tribute to the publication’s impact seems long overdue; as curator Andy Holden says: …
Offences committed under the influence of alcohol and drugs: what the Nigerian law says: The consumption of alcohol and drugs can be linked with the increase in crime, violence and public disorder. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images) There is a great deal of evidence showing a link between drug use and abuse and a range of violent …
How your genes influence whether a certain type of exercise works for you – new research: Some people may adapt to certain types of exercises more quickly than others. NDAB Creativity/ Shutterstock Genetics have a significant influence on many aspects of our life – from our height and eye colour, our weight, and even whether …
Liz Truss: three areas where the new foreign secretary will have the most influence: In naming her as the new foreign secretary, Boris Johnson has handed Liz Truss a bewildering array of global problems and relationships to manage. Foreign secretary is a difficult role, quite distinct from other posts in government. Many occupants are criticised …