By Karl Matikonis, Assistant Professor, University College Dublin
Lithuania is entering 2026 with a tax shift that brings its system closer to countries like Ireland and the UK. From January 1, the long-standing flat 15% personal income-tax rate for self-employed people is being abolished for higher earners. These workers will now be integrated into the same new progressive bands that apply to employment income.
On the surface, it’s a technical adjustment. But politically, economically and symbolically it captures a moment in Europe’s history. That is to say, higher…
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By Samantha Garrard, Senior Marine Ecosystem Services Researcher, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Tropical coral reefs cover less than 1% of the seafloor, yet support 25% of all marine species. They are also incredibly vulnerable. Over the past few decades, an estimated 30%-50% have already been lost.
Yet we are approaching a terrifying threshold. After record-breaking ocean heatwaves of 2023-24, which saw coral “bleaching” in at least 83 countries, scientists are looking towards 2026 with growing dread.
The question is whether this will be the year a global tipping point is reached…
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By Daniel McNeil, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair, University of Birmingham
Arguments about diversity in Britain often get stuck on the surface. Instead of talking about who holds power or how resources are distributed, many politicians and culture warriors obsess over the colour of faces in adverts, media and public spaces.
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin claimed that adverts “full of black people, full of Asian people” drove her “mad”, before apologising for the wording. Conservative…
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By Lila Maladesky, PhD candidate in Biology, Lund University
Humans like plants. We like seeing them change the colour of their leaves throughout the year. They connect us to nature even if we live in a big city. But most people don’t think that much about the lives of plants, and least of all, about their sex life.
Because plants don’t move around much, it is common to think they lead boring lives. But today I want to convince you that they can be more interesting than you give them credit for. And for that, I will focus on people’s usual favourite plants: the ones that flower.
Many people think of plants as nice-looking…
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By Karol Mullaney Dignam, Associate Professor, School of History and Geography, University of Limerick
Long before meteorology and climate science, Irish people looked to the natural world to forecast the weather and make sense of their surroundings. They read the skies, the seas and the behaviour of animals for signs of change: a halo around the moon meant rain was near; swallows flying low foretold a storm.
This weather lore – known as seanchas i dtaobh na haimsire in Irish – was grounded in generations of observation and shared through memorable sayings or rhymes. One familiar example is: “Red sky…
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By Mamokete Modiba, Senior Researcher, Gauteng City-Region Observatory
Claire Benit-Gbaffou, Associate Professor at Aix-Marseille University, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU)
Sarah Charlton, Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand
Tanya Zack, Visiting senior lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg’s inner city is a bustling hub of economic life – a dense, dynamic web of informal traders, adjacent businesses and other users. Informal trading remains an essential survival strategy for many households. It is also a key source of affordable goods and services.
Managing this activity, however, is not straightforward. The city authorities face legitimate pressures to maintain order, safety, hygiene and accessibility in highly contested urban spaces. At the same time, they have a mandate to support livelihoods and encourage inclusive economic participation.
Balancing…
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By Linda Bartoshuk, Research Professor of Psychology, George Washington University
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.
Why does orange juice taste bad after you brush your teeth? – Seth G., age 10, Bloomington, Indiana
It’s a mistake you hopefully only make once. In your morning rush to get ready, you brush your teeth…
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By Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum and CoLab Studio, Michigan State University
Across the United States, political polarization has deepened to historic levels. In a report published in May 2025, the Pew Research Center found that Americans are more divided and less trusting of one another than at any point in recent decades. Yet museums remain among the few places where curiosity still draws people across political and cultural lines.
Ninety-two percent of adults view museums as nonpartisan sources of education, according to a report…
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By James Salzman, Professor of Environmental Law, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara; University of California, Los Angeles
Growing up in the 1970s, I took for granted the trash piles along the highway, tires washed up on beaches, and smog fouling city air. The famed “Crying Indian” commercial of 1971 became a symbol of widespread environmental damage across the United States.
That’s why the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, energized the nation. In the largest single-day public demonstration…
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By Yifang Zhu, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles
When cities burn, plastics, electronics, cleaning chemicals and much more create a toxic brew. Studies underway after the LA fires show exposure is often strongest inside homes.
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