Supreme Court appears open to Starbucks’ claims in labor-organizing case
By Michael Z. Green
What factors must a court consider when the National Labor Relations Board requests an order requiring an employer to rehire terminated workers before the completion of unfair labor practice proceedings?
Thats the...
Can a drug like Ozempic help treat addictions to alcohol, opioids or other substances?
By Shalini Arunogiri Et Al
Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? This month, The Conversations experts explore their rise, impact and potential...
Is it possible to ‘objectively’ judge music? We asked 5 experts
By Sam Whiting Et Al
Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current big hit, but you can only hear nails on a...
The high and mighty Himalayas: A biodiversity hotbed facing significant challenges
By Nita Dyola Et Al
The Himalayas are home to a vast diversity of species, consisting of 10,000 vascular plants, 979 birds and 300 mammals, including the snow leopard, the red panda, the Himalayan tahr and the Himalayan monal.
The region...
Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal – and why it won’t go back
By Trevelyan Wing
One year ago, Germany took its last three nuclear power stations offline. When it comes to energy, few events have baffled outsiders more.
In the face of climate change, calls to expedite the transition away from fossil...
Scotland’s hate crime law: the problem with using public order laws to govern online speech
By Laura Higson-Bliss
Scotlands new hate crime law came into force on April 1, sparking immediate controversy over its potential effects on freedom of speech and expression, especially online. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act...
A Nasa rover has reached a promising place to search for fossilised life on Mars
By Sean McMahon
While we go about our daily lives on Earth, a nuclear-powered robot the size of a small car is trundling around Mars looking for fossils. Unlike its predecessor Curiosity, Nasas Perseverance rover is explicitly intended to...
Does ejaculating often reduce your risk of prostate cancer?
By Daniel Kelly
In terms of mens health issues, prostate cancer features high on the agenda. Its the second most diagnosed cancer in men globally closely followed by lung cancer. And its the most common cancer in men in the UK.
As the...
Gaza war: artificial intelligence is changing the speed of targeting and scale of civilian harm in unprecedented ways
By Lauren Gould Et Al
As Israels air campaign in Gaza enters its sixth month after Hamass terrorist attacks on October 7, it has been described by experts as one of the most relentless and deadliest campaigns in recent history. It is also one...
Turkey’s suppression of the Kurdish political movement continues to fuel a deadly armed conflict
By Recep Onursal
The world has 91 democracies and 88 autocracies. Yet 71% of the worlds population (some 5.7 billion people) are living under autocratic rule, a big jump from 48% ten years ago.
This trend towards authoritarianism can...
TikTok and Instagram are full of misleading information about birth control
By Stephanie Alice Baker
Theres been an increase in content posted on TikTok and Instagram recently discussing the alleged dangers of birth control. Content creators have shared concerns about the pills side-effects ranging from weight gain to low...
Parliament passes bill declaring Rwanda safe – but can it really be called a law at all?
By Joshua Jowitt
After months of deadlock, the House of Lords withdrew its opposition to the safety of Rwanda (asylum and immigration) bill, meaning that it will become law upon receiving royal assent. This legislation declares in UK law...
Good for your health and the environment: why we should be eating oily fish
By Gumersindo Feijoo Costa
A range of economic, nutritional, religious and ideological factors influence our diets. The key, however, lies in finding a balance that cares for both our health and that of the planet.
The traditional Mediterranean...
Opening statements are the most important part of a trial – as lawyers in Trump’s hush money case know well
By Ronald S. Sullivan Jr.
Though Hollywood movies about courtroom dramas often glamorize the closing arguments given by lawyers, in reality the opening statement is likely the most important single event of a trial.
Such was the case in the hush...
Passover: The festival of freedom and the ambivalence of exile
By Nancy E. Berg
The Jewish holiday cycle is, to a large extent, an exploration and commemoration of the experience of exile. The fall festival of Sukkot, for example, is celebrated in small booths, temporary shelters that recall the...
What if flat feet were…normal? Debunking a myth about injuries
By Gabriel Moisan
For many decades, if not centuries, researchers, medical professionals and the general population have believed that people with flat feet are more prone to developing a variety of problems.
Specifically, having flat...
What if the Reserve Bank itself has been feeding inflation? An economist explains
By Matthew Crocker
Heres something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates.
It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its attempt to restrain inflation in May...
How corporate involvement in psychedelic research could threaten public safety
By Elena Koning Et Al
In the mid-20th century, psychedelics were deemed illegal substances with little medical purpose, a high potential for abuse and a lack of safety. However, emerging evidence suggests the opposite; a potential role for...
The use of AI in war games could change military strategy
By John Long Burnham
The rise of commercially viable generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform a vast range of sectors. This transformation will be particularly profound in contemporary military...
Nasa to overhaul mission returning samples from Mars – here’s why it must and will go ahead
By John Bridges
Nasa recently announced that it is seeking new ways to complete the return to Earth of rock cores drilled by the Perseverance Rover in the Jezero Crater on Mars. This has led to some anxiety among space scientists, who...
The language of insolvency: why getting it wrong can harm struggling firms
By John Tribe Et Al
Business failures are on the rise in Britain, with several high-profile names lost already this year. But since the 1980s, the UK has made it a priority to throw a lifeline to struggling companies. It appears, however,...
Ukraine war: $60 billion in US military aid a major morale boost but no certain path to victory
By Stefan Wolff
It took months of delays and desperate pleas from Ukraine, but the US House of Representatives has finally passed a bill authorising US$60 billion (50 billion) worth of military aid to Ukraine.
The bill is still subject...
Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents
By Ty Schepis
Eventually, most adults reach a point where we realize we are out of touch with those much younger than us.
Perhaps it is a pop culture reference that sparks the realization. For me, this moment happened when I was in...
EU migration overhaul stresses fast-track deportations and limited appeal rights for asylum seekers
By Nicholas R. Micinski
The European Parliament adopted its Pact on Migration and Asylum on April 10, 2024, clearing a major hurdle on its way to becoming European Union law. The package of regulations and directives seeks to update EU policies...
Vulture Capitalism: Grace Blakeley’s new book is smart on what has gone wrong since the 1980s
By Conor O'Kane
Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts and the Death of Freedom is the latest book from the English economic and political journalist and rising progressive star Grace Blakeley. The 30-year-old describes...
Georgia is sliding towards autocracy after government moves to force through bill on ‘foreign agents’
By Natasha Lindstaedt
Georgias ruling party attempted to pass a controversial bill on foreign agents in March 2023. The law would have required civil society groups and the media to register as being under foreign influence if they receive...
How will US foreign policy affect Joe Biden’s chances of re-election in November?
By Emma Shortis
When big questions about American foreign policy collide with an election, its rarely good news for a sitting president.
Like many leaders before him, US President Joe Biden has had some of these questions thrust on...
Unstable employment while you’re young can set you up for a wage gap later in life – even if you eventually land full-time work
By Irma Mooi-Reci
As they kick off their careers, young people often have to navigate a maze of short-term and casual jobs.
In Australia, many of them also wish to work more hours than their current jobs allow, leading to a situation...
Earth Day 2024: 4 effective strategies to reduce household food waste
By Amar Laila Et Al
The global food system produces enough food for everyone, yet, in 2023, 333 million people worldwide were food insecure and 783 million were chronically hungry. An estimated 1.3 billion tons of food 14 per cent of all...
Bitcoin is halving again – what does that mean for the cryptocurrency and the market?
By Andrew Urquhart
Bitcoin, the largest and most talked about digital asset, has been on a rollercoaster of a ride since its launch in January 2009. With a market capitalisation that reached a high of more than US$1.4 trillion (1.125...
South Korean President Yoon faces foreign policy challenges after the National Assembly election
By Jong Eun Lee
South Koreas parliamentary election of April 10, 2024, was widely seen as a referendum on President Yoon Suk Yeols first two years in office.
That being the case, the nation collectively expressed its strong...
China’s new world order: looking for clues from Xi’s recent meetings with foreign leaders
By Stefan Wolff
There is broad consensus that Chinese foreign policy has become more assertive and more centralised in the decade since Xi Jinping has ascended to the top of Chinas leadership. This has also meant that Chinese foreign...
Type 2 diabetes is not one-size-fits-all: Subtypes affect complications and treatment options
By Lili Grieco-St-Pierre Et Al
You may have heard of Ozempic, the miracle drug for weight loss, but did you know that it was actually designed as a new treatment to manage diabetes? In Canada, diabetes affects approximately 10 per cent of the general...
It is industry, not government, that is getting in the way of a ‘just transition’ for oil and gas workers
By Emily Eaton Et Al
What comes to mind when you read the slogan I love Canadian Oil and Gas? Energy independence? Royalties for government coffers? Good jobs for Canadian workers?
Canadas oil and gas sector is in the throes of profound...
Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt it
By Tim Tenbensel
Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy.
However, in the health sector this need for speed entails policy risks that could come back...
Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after dark
By Mark Wong Et Al
Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day?
We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific literature. We searched for meaningful comparisons of insect...
Low pay and few contracts make freelance journalism a bleak prospect in 2024
By Amy Thomas
Over the past two decades in the news industry, weve witnessed shrinking newsrooms, mass redundancies and the steady decline of regional news on a global scale. With fewer opportunities for steady employment in this...
How India’s economy has fared under ten years of Narendra Modi
By Kunal Sen
More than 960 million Indians will head to the polls in the worlds biggest election between April 19 and early June. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking a third...
Understanding AI outputs: study shows pro-western cultural bias in the way AI decisions are explained
By Mary Carman Et Al
Humans are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to inform decisions about our lives. AI is, for instance, helping to make hiring choices and offer medical diagnoses.
If you were affected, you might want an...
Why luck plays such a big role in hockey
By Mark Robert Rank
The NHL playoffs are almost like a second season two months of bruising, relentless play, as the top teams compete for the chance to hoist Lord Stanleys Cup.
The 16 hockey teams that have made it into the postseason...
London Marathon: how visually impaired people run
By Jessica Louise Macbeth Et Al
In this weekends London Marathon, nearly 50,000 runners will hit the capitals streets in one of the worlds most iconic races. For the visually impaired (VI) runners on the start line, their approach to this famous route...
Oman serves as a crucial back channel between Iran and the US as tensions flare in the Middle East
By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen
Prior to launching a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel on April 13, 2024, Iran reportedly got word to Washington that its response to an earlier strike on its embassy compound in Syria would seek to avoid major...
Modern pentathlon is invoking a fictional Pierre de Coubertin to justify its controversial politics
By Jörg Krieger Et Al
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) recently published two articles involving the long-dead founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin.
In one article, Coubertin is quoted several times as a...
Gym hygiene guide: the dangerous bacteria that lurk in dirty fitness equipment and clothes
By Dan Baumgardt
A friend of mine, on a recent trip to the gym, declined to use the machine for drying his trunks that gym equivalent of a salad spinner which removes excess water from your swimming costume. His reason? The amount of...
‘They don’t have enough’ – schools in England are running food banks for families
By Will Baker
The peak of the cost-of-living crisis may have passed, but millions of families are struggling to buy enough food to feed their children. Experiencing food insecurity can be deeply damaging for children and negatively...
EU enlargement: What does the future hold?
By Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera de Prat
To widen or to deepen. This has been one of the longstanding dilemmas throughout European Union (EU) history, and a perennial sticking point in the unending process of European integration.
In its time, the UK...
UK’s creative industries bring in more revenue than cars, oil and gas – so why is arts education facing cuts?
By Adam Behr
Recent guidance issued by the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, to the Office for Students reveals conflicting priorities in government and pours fuel on fires burning in an already troubled higher education...
Why doesn’t my digital music feel like ‘mine’? Three ways digital possessions reduce our sense of ownership
By Rebecca Mardon
Our possessions the things we view as mine play an important role in our lives. Beyond their functionality, they can serve as poignant reminders of cherished memories. They can symbolise not only who we are, but also who...
Ireland at the crossroads: Can the ancient Brehon laws guide the republic away from anti-immigrant sentiment
By Christine Kinealy
Irelands new prime minister is a relatively young man leading a comparatively young republic that is experiencing several unprecedented challenges.
Simon Harris was confirmed as taoiseach, or prime minister, on April 9,...
Fermented foods sustain both microbiomes and cultural heritage
By Andrew Flachs Et Al
Many people around the world make and eat fermented foods. Millions in Korea alone make kimchi. The cultural heritage of these picklers shape not only what they eat every time they crack open a jar but also something much,...