By Amnesty International
Responding to the deaths of at least 26 people during protests that erupted across Pakistan on 1 March following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli attacks on Iran, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, said: “The killing of protesters and reports of the use of lethal ammunition by security forces against these assemblies raises serious concerns about unlawful use of force. Protesters have a right to gather peacefully and express dissent, even in moments of heightened tension. During such crises, security forces must demonstrate their…
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By Angus Atkinson, Professor of Marine Ecology, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Bob Brewin, Associate Professor, Earth & Environmental Science, University of Exeter
Victor Martinez Vicente, Principal Investigator, Bio-optical Oceanography, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Melting ice is an emblem of climate change. For sea ice, the Arctic has been grabbing most of the headlines for its truly alarming rate of decline. But recently Antarctica has followed suit.
Around ten years ago everything changed. After decades of stability and within just a few years, an ocean area nearly the size of Greenland suddenly became sea-ice free. At first, scientists thought this could be a blip, but now it is described as a step change, with large ocean areas remaining ice free ever since.
This has dramatic consequences for the marine life of Antarctica. The…
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By Darius Wainwright, Lecturer in Modern History, University of Bristol
The joint US-Israeli combat operation against Iran, and the killing of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a watershed moment in the US-Iran relationship. Bilateral interactions have been tense since 1979 when a revolution ousted Iran’s pro-American Shah, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, and replaced him with an Islamic theocracy opposed to the US.
However, these tensions have now bubbled over into direct conflict. The US and Israel have bombed Iranian cities, which Tehran has responded to by launching strikes…
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By Chris Waiting, Chief Executive Officer, The Conversation
The Conversation UK is delighted to announce that Professor Paul Boyle, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, will be the new Chair of its Board of Trustees.
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By Anna Swartwood House, Associate Professor of Art History, University of South Carolina
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 are so many statues naked? – Artie, age 12, Astoria, New York
We are all born naked, and sculptures of the human body in its natural state are as old as humankind.
In the history of art, nudity…
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By Susan E. Collins, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
Many cities are considering involuntary substance use treatment as a solution to drug use among the homeless. But research doesn’t support this strategy.
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By Benjamin Kaveladze, Postdoctoral Fellow in Mental Health Resources, Dartmouth College
A well-designed 10-minute online exercise can spark small reductions in depression. That’s the key finding of my team’s paper, published in Nature Human Behaviour.
Many people believe that to start overcoming depression, they need a therapist, medication or a radical change in their environment. However, our study shows that taking small steps to learn practical skills can lead to measurable improvements in depressive symptoms.
…
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By Kevin B. Smith, Professor of Political Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
At least 20 million Americans have served time. Most of them can’t or don’t vote, and that may distort some election outcomes, a political scientist argues.
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By Gabriele Aroni, Senior Lecturer in Games Art at the School of Digital Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University
Hironobu Sakaguci, one of the creators of the long-running Final Fantasy game series, once observed: “The game itself is fun to play, but its strongest characteristic is the visual entertainment the game provides.”
This aesthetic appeal is a big part of the enjoyment players take from their favourite games. Far from the simple graphics of early games, players can now explore photorealistic forests in Kingdom…
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By Tony Roberts, Digital Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies
Across Africa, governments are introducing digital systems that use individuals’ unique physical measurements to identify them. These systems collect citizens’ biometric and personal data and use it to give people access to essential public services like voting, healthcare, education and social protection. Biometric digital identification systems are often promoted as tools to improve efficiency, inclusion and service delivery.
But a new report…
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