By Michal Kowalewski, Thompson Chair of Invertebrate Paleontology, University of Florida
Thomas K. Frazer, Professor of Biological Oceanography, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida
During a day at the beach, it’s common to see people walking up and down the shore collecting seashells.
As a paleontologist and marine ecologist, we look at shells a bit differently than the average beachcomber. Most people dig up shells in the sand and see beautiful color patterns or unusual shapes. But we tend to focus on how old these shells are and what they tell us about the habitat they come…
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By Pragya Agarwal, Visiting Professor of Social Inequities and Injustice, Loughborough University
Thirteen artists with ancestral lands in south Asia, Africa and the Caribbean are subverting the role drawing has played in conquest and colonialism.
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By Theo Stanley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Geography, University of Southampton
Until the end of October, China had refused to purchase a single soya bean from the US’s 2025 harvest. It usually spends tens of billions of dollars on the crop, which is a key ingredient in animal feed, so the boycott hit US farmers hard – and affected food systems far beyond US and Chinese borders.
Since then, a meeting between the countries’ two presidents has meant that the soya bean trade is back on for the time being. But the stand-off is yet another reminder of the vulnerability of global trade to…
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By Jamie Thompson, Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading
Every mind-bending molecule in nature has an evolutionary origin; a defence against being eaten, a lure for pollinators, or perhaps a happy biochemical accident. Though they seem extraordinary, life has evolved psychedelic molecules that alter consciousness across almost every ecosystem.
Let’s take a tour of our surprisingly psychedelic planet.
The tropical rainforests hum with chemical diversity. Among the 10,000 tree species living in the Amazon are several which produce dimethyltryptamine…
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By Mark Boylan, Professor of Education, Sheffield Hallam University
Proposed changes to England’s national curriculum aim to ensure it is fit for the future, writes Professor Becky Francis in her introduction to the final report of the government’s independent curriculum review. The panel that conducted the review sought to address the “rich knowledge and skills young people need to thrive in our fast-changing world”.
From the outset, the review limited itself to “evolution not revolution”, and in the…
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By Jeremiah Stanley, Postdoctoral Researcher, Viral and Cancer Genes, University of Limerick
Serotonin is often described as the happiness chemical because of its well-known role in regulating mood. However, recent research suggests this familiar molecule may play an unexpected role in cancer development. Not through its effects on the brain, but through a completely different mechanism in other parts of the body.
Despite serotonin being commonly associated with the brain, almost 95% of the body’s…
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By Abdallah Abdallah
...AI is forecast to contribute USD 15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with the majority of benefits going to high-income nations. This disparity underscores the need for inclusive AI development and governance.
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Most observers believe Ley will be forced out by her party – the only issue now is how long it will take.
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By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor, The Conversation
This newsletter was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox…
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By Cynthia Ebot Takang
A social uprising in Cameroon’s English speaking regions degenerated into a profitable business: Armed groups now sustain this crisis through a brutal system of kidnappings, extorting at least USD 7,884,000 from civilians in 2023 alone.
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