By Esther Katz, Anthropologue, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
Eating insects is often seen as a last resort when people are starving, and yet, in the countries where they are widely consumed, they are often a rare delicacy, even a luxury.
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By Hannah Sarah Wauchope, Lecturer in Ecology & Conservation, University of Edinburgh
Gary David Powney, Quantitative Ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Nick Isaac, Macroecologist, Biodiversity Modelling & Analysis Group, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
The WWF’s Living Planet Index is one of our best measures of biodiversity loss. But the populations it counts may not be representative of wildlife as a whole.
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By Tony D Sampson, Reader in Digital Communication, University of Essex
In 2010, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Network charted the birth of social media. Sixteen years later his sequel, The Social Reckoning, is tracing the mutation of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg in the first film and Jeremy Strong in this sequel) from an awkward nerd into a sinister billionaire.
It’s a remarkable film. But Sorkin’s obsession with his monstrous characterisation of Zuckerberg at times obscures…
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By Gemma Ware, Head of Audio, The Conversation UK, The Conversation
From algae to a Nobel prize: listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast to hear Karl Deisseroth explain his brain science breakthrough.
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By Eoghan Kelly, Postdoctoral research fellow, Queen Mary University of London
For the first time in its history three of the four nations of the UK are led by parties that advocate holding referendums on breaking away from the UK.
Recently, the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed an agreement to work together on this agenda. (Michelle O'Neill did so in her capacity as vice president of Sinn Féin rather than as Northern Ireland’s first minister, as that office is held jointly with the DUP).
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made devolution one of his guiding principles, although at the Labour party conference he was clear…
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By Kezia Barker, Associate Professor of Environmental Futures, Liverpool John Moores University
In online “prepper” communities – where people discuss ways to prepare for potential emergencies and disruptions – members often jokingly refer to their “zombie apocalypse” skills.
These are the capabilities they would bring to catastrophic or post-apocalyptic worlds,…
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By C. Scott Watson, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, School of Geography, University of Leeds
Milan Shrestha, Teaching Professor and Senior Global Futures Scientist, Arizona State University
Satellite data shows roads, settlements and infrastructure are expanding into the same valleys that are vulnerable to floods and landslides.
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By Benedict Carpenter van Barthold, Lecturer, School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University
Robert Ryman: The Real Thing is the American artist’s first major retrospective in the UK for over 30 years.
The show, at London’s Barbican Centre, brings 68 works together from the mid-1950s to the early 2010s. It is arranged thematically, without traditional wall text. There are no labels, even to identify the paintings. The exhibition follows Ryman’s thought…
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By Richard Bloomfield, PhD Candidate, Geography and Environment, Western University
Evan Bowness, Assistant Professor, Geography and Environment
Tony Weis, Professor of Geography and Environment, Western University
The Canadian government launched its first-ever National Food Security Strategy in June 2026. The strategy aims to invest $750 million to increase year-round Canadian production of fruits and vegetables, including on so-called vertical farms.
These multi-storey towers and warehouses filled with fresh produce glowing under artificial light may seem like the future of food. Promoted as climate-resilient, land-saving and a positive form of urban…
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By Meredith Ralston, Professor of Women and Gender Studies and Political Studies, Mount Saint Vincent University
Three years ago, I wrote an article for The Conversation Canada about rape culture when actor Danny Masterson went to jail for sexual assault. His friends from That ’70s Show, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, had written letters of support for him because he was a such a great friend and they wanted the judge to be lenient in sentencing.
I argued this episode illustrated several elements of what is…
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