COVID modelling reveals new insights into ancient social distancing – podcast: lindasky76/Shutterstock Five years since COVID emerged, not only has the pandemic affected the way we live and work, it’s also influencing the way researchers are thinking about the past. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, archaeologist Alex Bentley explains how the pandemic …
Inside an urban terror network: book reveals how police finally cracked Pagad gang violence in Cape Town: A campaign against gangsterism in Cape Town, South Africa led by the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) turned violent in the mid-1990s when a group known as Pagad G-Force began what became known as an urban terrorism …
Ancient DNA reveals Maghreb communities preserved their culture and genes, even in a time of human migration: Doukanet el Khoutifa, Tunisia, where some of the remains were found. Giulio Lucarini, CC BY-NC-ND The Neolithic period began in southwest Asia around 12,000 years ago. It marked a major shift in human history as societies transitioned from …
Bottlenose dolphins smile at each other when they play – new study reveals how and why: Dolphins have an irresistible charm for people. They are extremely playful at all ages and often play alone, surfing the waves, leaping into the air, performing flips and striking the water with their tail flukes. They also play with …
Most food waste happens at home – new research reveals the best ways to reduce it: Kmpzzz/Shutterstock The EU and UK pledged to reduce food waste, in line with the UN’s goal to halve global food waste by 2030. With most (approximately 53%) of total food waste in European countries occurring in homes, this stage …
Baobab trees all come from Madagascar – new study reveals that their seeds and seedlings floated to mainland Africa and all the way to Australia: There are eight species of baobab in the world, and they have a surprising distribution. Six are found in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean; one is found on …
Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet: Benefits and appeals were recently launched to support the medical costs of veteran South African guitarist Madala Kunene. It’s not the first time such initiatives have been necessary, nor the first time that media and politicians have expressed astonishment that …
Discovering Degas: new exhibition in Glasgow reveals boldness and foresight of early British collectors: In 1891, an exhibition titled A Small Collection of Works by Degas and Others opened in London, before travelling up to Glasgow. It was organised by the Scottish art dealer Alexander Reid, who had recently returned from Paris. During the entire …
Panda diplomacy: what China’s decision to send bears to the US reveals about its economy: A deal was signed between San Diego Zoo and China’s Wildlife Conservation Association in February 2024 that paved the way for Chinese giant pandas to return to the US by the end of the summer. But this is far more …
UK urged to get ready for disaster with new national crises plan – but our research reveals the dark side of prepping: What would you do if everyday life was suddenly turned upside down? Thanks to recent Hollywood blockbusters, the increasing popularity of everyday survivalism and a climate of volatile, uncertain times (war, weather, accelerating …
Firearms officers: new report reveals the ‘toxic culture’ keeping women and ethnic minorities out of specialist squads: Svet foto/Shutterstock Hundreds of London’s Metropolitan police officers temporarily turned in their firearms in September after the Crown Prosecution Service charged an officer with the murder of unarmed 24-year-old Chris Kaba. Up to 300 of the force’s 2,500 …
Ghana: Akosombo Dam disaster reveals a history of negligence that continues to this day: Recent heavy downpours in the Lower Volta area of Ghana led to the worst flooding in the region’s history. The flooding was caused by a spillage (a deliberate release of water) from the Akosombo Dam, the country’s biggest hydroelectric dam. Over …
Birds of east Africa: new book reveals their extraordinary diversity and changing behaviour: 101 Curious Tales of East African Birds is a new book that uses academic research to tell fascinating stories about the tropical birds of east Africa, from well-known species to rare ones. It also explores changing bird behaviour in the region. Its …
Our new map reveals the effects of 20th century land-use and climate change on Britain’s wild species: Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock Under the stewardship of geographer Sir Dudley Stamp, thousands of volunteers (including many schoolchildren) came together in the 1930s on a mission that sounds relatively simple on paper: to record how British land was being …
Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation – collaborative approach reveals the people behind the paintings: Scotland’s first Black professor, Sir Godfrey Palmer, described the Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation exhibition as “an acknowledgement that we are the same people from the past … who wouldn’t have [had] our portrait put up in this way”, …
Osiris-Rex: Nasa reveals evidence of water and carbon in sample delivered to Earth from an asteroid: The "coal-like" material from Bennu. Nasa / Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebers On September 24 this year, a Nasa capsule parachuted down to Earth carrying a precious cache of material grabbed from an asteroid. The space agency has now …
Fair Play: Netflix drama reveals the dark side of being a woman in the financial services industry: Warning: this article contains minor spoilers for Fair Play. Fair Play follows a young couple working as analysts at a high-flying, ruthless asset management firm in New York. They work hard and play hard while appearing to support …
Breast cancer: new study reveals real risk of the disease if you have genetic mutation: There are numerous consumer tests available that look for BRCA gene mutations. Photoroyalty/ Shutterstock In 2013, actress Angelina Jolie wrote an op-ed where she revealed she’d undergone a double mastectomy. Although Jolie didn’t have breast cancer, a genetic test had …