By Sarah Pucill, Reader, School of Arts, University of Westminster
Queer Art, by curators Mollie E. Barnes and Gemma Rolls-Bentley, isn’t afraid to ask questions: what queerness is, what queer art can be, and why queer art matters.
The book’s introduction states that “queer art is not a genre but a gesture; a refusal to be pinned down by fixed identity categories”. Queerness in art can appear both openly and subtly, often through coded, abstract or unconventional forms that challenge heteronormative expectations.
The opening chapter asks “why talk about queer art?”,…
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By Anja Shortland, Professor in Political Economy, King's College London
Federico Varese, Professor of Criminology and Senior Research Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford
On the evening of April 26, the Egyptian merchant vessel Sward was hijacked by armed men a few miles off the Somali coast. It was steered towards an anchorage near the port of Garacad in Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in north-eastern Somalia.
Over the following days, further armed men joined the Sward as well as an interpreter tasked with negotiating a ransom with the shipowner. At the time of writing, the ship remains under
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By Jennifer Murphy, Associate Professor in Psychology, University of Surrey
Millions of people use a wearable health and fitness tracker. These devices can be useful for monitoring activity levels, sleep quality and heart rate. But for some, wearables can have unintended consequences on wellbeing.
This is something I encountered recently. At a public talk, I got to chatting with a man who told me a story that stayed with me.
He’d just finished a long hike and felt great. Then he glanced at his smartwatch. Heart rate: 130 bpm. Instant panic.
About 30 minutes later he realised the cause: the altitude. Yet in that moment, he’d gone from…
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
New Liberal federal president Tony Abbott has sought to rally the party at “this time of existential crisis”, labelling it “the patriot party” and declaring it must boost its membership.
While not directly mentioning the threat from Pauline Hanson, One Nation’s surge was clearly in Abbott’s mind when he addressed the Liberal federal council in Melbourne after being elected president unopposed on Friday.
“My fellow Liberals, our challenge is to persuade the sceptical public that we remain the most credible alternative party of government in this country,” he said.
…
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By Rachael Jolley, Environment Editor, The Conversation
This roundup of The Conversation’s environment coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine.
I’m thinking of painting my roof white. It’s not about making it look prettier, it’s because my bedroom is right underneath a flat roof and every summer it gets unbelievably hot. Last summer I ended up hugging a hot water bottle filled with cold water in bed, and even that was not enough to help me nod off.
As those who live in Mediterranean countries know, painting your home white helps keep it cooler by reflecting back the…
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By Kirk McClure, Professor Emeritus of Urban Planning, University of Kansas
Alex Schwartz, Emeritus Professor of Urban Policy, The New School
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed what could become the most significant housing legislation in decades. But even supporters say it doesn’t do enough to ease America’s housing affordability crunch.
On May 20, 2026, the House passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a lopsided, bipartisan vote of 396 to 13. The vote took place 10 weeks after the Senate overwhelmingly…
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By Adam James Fenton, Assistant Professor, Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University
Chris Shannahan, Associate Professor in Political Theology, Coventry University
Researchers interviewed almost 30 religious leaders across all six major religious faiths in the UK to find out how AI was affecting them.
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By Julia Bowling, Senior Research Associate, City University of New York
Colorado voters passed Amendment A, a ballot measure touted as an end to slavery in state prisons in 2018. The amendment eliminated the penal exception clause, which allowed the state to use forced labor in addition to incarceration as a punishment for crime.
Colorado was the first of eight states to repeal its penal exception clause. Advocates…
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By Melanie Cree, Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Colorado Anschutz
Polycystic ovary syndrome is an inaccurate name for a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Its new name can help address missed diagnoses and fragmented care.
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By Chloe N. East, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Colorado Boulder
Elizabeth Cox, Professional Research Assistant, Economics Department, University of Colorado Boulder
Contrary to the belief that an immigration crackdown would lead to more jobs for US-born workers, ICE enforcement hasn’t produced economic gains for Americans.
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