The Conversation UK
9 Magazines | 1,799 Followers | @ConversationUK | An independent news and commentary website produced by academics and journalists. Free to read and republish.
Hajj: how globalisation transformed the market for pilgrimage to Mecca
More than 2m Muslims are currently gathering in Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj, which begins on August 19. As long as they are fit and financially …
Saudi ArabiaThe big BBQ debate: how best to fuel your outdoor feast
The smoky aroma of a barbecue is a familiar smell on warm sunny evenings around the world. In countries like Australia, the “barbie” is such an …
CookingTrump’s Space Force isn't as new or as dangerous as it seems
Donald Trump’s plans to create a “Space Force” have ruffled plenty of feathers and alarmed some commentators. Some argue it will merely cause a …
Space ForceDonald Trump’s Space Force isn't as new or as dangerous as it seems
Donald Trump’s plans to create a “Space Force” have ruffled plenty of feathers and alarmed some commentators. Some argue it will merely cause a …
Why there's been a boom in discovering new species despite a biodiversity crisis
Something of a boom in the discovery of new species is taking place right now. It is so significant that some say it is similar to the period of the …
Biodiversity'Cwtch': what the most famous Welsh-English word reveals about global dialects
“What is your favourite dialect word?”<p>This was a question that I should really have anticipated, but it took me by surprise. I had just talked to a …
LinguisticsIndonesia earthquake: how scrap tyres could stop buildings collapsing
At the time of writing, 436 people have died following an earthquake in the Indonesian island of Lombok. A further 2,500 people have been …
Natural DisastersMadonna: pop's superlative shapeshifter turns 60 with style
One of the first albums I owned was a tape of Madonna’s 1987 remix collection You Can Dance. I’m not sure where I got it from – and I’m not sure I …
Britney SpearsDarwin's theory of evolution owes more to his garden than the Galápagos
It’s one of the greatest stories in science, right up there with Neil Armstrong’s small step on the moon and Jane Goodall’s overhaul of ideas on …
I went to see Pussy Riot – if they're serious protesters, I'm Sid Vicious
Many years after my first punk concert, when I met Pete Shelley and the other Buzzcocks at the old Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, I was excited at the …
Pussy RiotAnaemia: why is it still affecting women?
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting both low- and high-income countries. Although it is an easy problem …
PregnancyWhat is nothing? Martin Rees Q&A
<i>Philosophers have debated the nature of “nothing” for thousands of years, but what has modern science got to say about it? In an interview with The</i> …
PhysicsA-level results: should universities lower entry grades for disadvantaged students?
Students from less advantaged backgrounds are grossly underrepresented in Britain’s top universities. This underrepresentation of certain groups is …
EducationWearing an ill-fitting bra isn't just uncomfortable, it's bad for your health
Wearing the wrong size bra is not only uncomfortable, it can cause a range of health problems. Research has shown that a lack of breast support often …
ClothingPregnancy loss: how to find the right words to talk about it
Pregnancy loss can be an isolating experience for women and their families. The grief experienced may be intense, but the feelings of the bereaved …
PregnancyWhy war evolved to be a man's game – and why that's only now changing
One pattern characterises every war that’s ever been fought. Frontline fighting in warfare is primarily and often almost exclusively a male activity. …
WarClimate models predict the world will be 'anomalously warm' until 2022
The next four years are going to be anomalously warm – even on top of regular climate change. That’s according to new research my colleague Sybren …
Climate ChangeCardiac screening saves footballers lives – but we can do more
Sudden cardiac death in young football players is a worrying phenomenon, and, according to our latest study, it is also more common than previously …
MedicineIt takes more than a house to make a home – and the UK is out of policy ideas on how to build more
What makes a home? A safe dwelling – a roof – is a good start, but it takes much more than bricks and mortar. Support for individuals and families, …
HousingDRC may provide model for containing future Ebola outbreaks
When the Ebola virus struck West Africa in 2014, it resisted early attempts at control. It took more than two years to overcome, claiming more than …
DiseaseHow to cut queues at immigration – with maths
When going on holiday to a foreign country, there’s one part of the journey that everybody dreads: border control. Everyone has to have their …
HeathrowMaking sunlight liquid – a brief history of sunflowers
Fields of sunflowers are now a common – and beautiful – sight all over the world. They have inspired artists from Van Gogh to Klimt, and continue to …
North AmericaA-levels: how to stop stressing over exam results
Exams are an almost unavoidable part of young people’s lives – and, inevitably, some people perform better than others. But what is more important …
Self-helpPakistani elections are flawed, but poor rural voters are taking control
Despite being dogged by allegations of electoral engineering and vote-rigging, this year’s hotly contested general election in Pakistan should be – …
VotingWhy universal basic income costs far less than you think
Want to get rid of poverty, lessen inequality and provide financial stability in a world of precarious work? Well, why not simply give everyone …
Income InequalityHere's a mental health workout that's as simple as ABC
While we take physical workouts very seriously, there is much less said about the “workouts” that help us remain mentally agile and healthy. But just …
Mental HealthBoris Johnson: is there really a grand plan behind his burqa comments?
Seeing a grand plan for power behind Boris Johnson’s “calculated outburst” on what women should wear is perhaps understandable, but possibly also …
Great BritainWales's tourism problem is down to a disconnect with its own people
Wales is a country bursting with ancient culture and beautiful landscapes. It is home to a vibrant people, who are intensely proud of their heritage. …
CastlesSyria's White Helmets and the long history of attacking wartime humanitarians
The evacuation of 422 White Helmet volunteers from Syria seemingly marks the end of a daring five-year humanitarian mission in one of the world’s …
Middle EastHow a Swiss bank was toppled by a financial scandal in Malaysia – and what can be learned from it
The world’s biggest financial scandal, over missing billions from Malaysian state-run development fund 1MDB, has left the country’s former prime …
Economic Development