Can aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate: For centuries, people have claimed that their aching joints can predict changes in the weather, often reporting increased discomfort before rain or cold fronts. Given the scale and duration, there is a sense of legitimacy to these anecdotes – but this …
How close are quantum computers to being really useful? Podcast: Audio und verbung/Shutterstock Quantum computers have the potential to solve big scientific problems that are beyond the reach of today’s most powerful supercomputers, such as discovering new antibiotics or developing new materials. But to achieve these breakthroughs, quantum computers will need to perform better than …
Does magic really exist? The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast: Seven-year-old Julia in London thinks that rainbows and the Northern Lights are magical. But if a scientist tells her how they work, will she still believe they are? Join us to find out on The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast! Featuring Partha Chowdhury, professor of physics at …
Does ‘whining’ really make you happier? A therapist gives his verdict: Motortion Films/Shutterstock A problem shared is a problem halved. Research by Age UK shows that only 29% of adults share their worries, but of these 36% feel brighter as a result; 26% feel relief having confided in someone, and 8% feel that the problem …
Matric results: South Africa’s record school pass rates aren’t what they seem – what’s really happening in the education system: South Africa's minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga. Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images via Getty Images South Africa’s matric (grade 12) class of 2023, which wrote final school-leaving exams late last year, has been hailed by the …
Can you really be allergic to alcohol?: guys who shoot/Shutterstock Some people get allergy-like symptoms when drinking alcohol, but can you really be allergic to alcohol? Alcohol allergies are rare, with documented cases primarily involving a rash. However, what often perplexes people are the symptoms that mimic allergies, such as wheezing, headaches and skin flushing. …
Spiders really may be more scared of you than you are of them: Spiders often act passively in response to humans. Jimmy_Chan/Shutterstock Spiders have evolved creative strategies to allow them to thrive in habitats across the globe. The one thing that seems to elude them though, is the ability to charm the humans that they …
Going for a walk wasn’t really a thing 300 years ago – the Victorians turned it into a popular pastime: Daniel Gale/Shutterstock Going for a walk is always a good idea. Perhaps, if you are lucky enough, this might be a hike along ragged cliffs or trudge along a chilly beach with family. Many of …
Google’s Gemini: is the new AI model really better than ChatGPT?: MeSSrro/Shutterstock Google Deepmind has recently announced Gemini, its new AI model to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While both models are examples of “generative AI”, which learn to find patterns of input training information to generate new data (pictures, words or other media), ChatGPT is …
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill: how much trouble is the prime minister really in as MPs threaten a parliamentary rebellion?: The legislative process in Britain consists of a series of discrete stages, each with its own purpose and function. A bill’s second reading is the discussion of, and vote on, the principle of the legislation. As …
Does exercise really do nothing for longevity, as a Finnish twins study suggests?: BGStock72/Shutterstock Surveys on lifestyle and longevity consistently find that people who do more exercise live longer. So it is surprising to see a report from the Finnish Twins Cohort Study that there is little direct effect of “leisure time physical activity” on …
Buvidal: is it really a ‘game changer’ in the treatment of problematic opioid use?: To overcome problematic opioid use, traditional forms of opioid substitution therapy, such as methadone and oral buprenorphine, have become valuable tools. Research shows that patients receiving substitution therapy are more likely to stay in treatment and stop using heroin than patients …
Did Napoleon really fire at the pyramids? A historian explains the truth behind the legends of Ridley Scott’s biopic: Directors of historical feature films face a difficult task. How can they make the characters familiar to an audience without reducing them to caricature? How can they make sure that knowledge of the outcome – battles …
Can ketchup really be used as a sports supplement, as a new advert suggests?: Yau Ming Low/Shutterstock In the world of endurance sports, how athletes fuel themselves can be the difference between success and struggle. Traditionally, athletes have relied on specialised energy gels for a quick and easily digestible source of carbohydrates during extended workouts. …
Is salt really a new culprit in type 2 diabetes?: shutterstock HandmadePictures/Shutterstock When people think of foods related to type 2 diabetes, they often think of sugar (even though the evidence for that is still not clear). Now, a new study from the US points the finger at salt. The study, conducted by researchers at …
Dumb Money really does show how the little guys won against Wall Street – a ‘meme stock mania’ expert explains: Drawing inspiration from the real-life 1,800% spike in the value of GameStop shares in 2021, Dumb Money deftly explains the drivers of “meme stock mania” – when groups of investors on social media herd together …
Anxiety and stress really can be lowered through colouring – here’s what our research has found: Colouring works in a similar way as mindfulness by helping people stay focused on the present moment. Jacob Lund/ Shutterstock When we think of the best ways to reduce stress, we might picture activities such as exercise or meditation. …
Wilko: what insolvency really means for the budget retailer and why its competitors are surviving (for now): Zeynep Demir Aslim/Shutterstock All 400 of Wilko’s shops are now expected to close over the next month, leaving 12,500 people without jobs across the UK. The budget retailer’s administrator PwC announced the news after it struggled to secure …