What happens in your brain when you can’t stop laughing?
When trying to study the brain networks that underlie the production of laughter, things can get very difficult very quickly.
URSY.NEWS / Publisher
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How the ‘geopolitical stigma’ associated with Putin’s Russia is affecting ordinary Russians
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed more than Russia’s relations with the west – it changed the meaning of being Russian.
Here’s how to find the learning strategy that makes AI work for you
Generative AI can make learning faster and easier, but that does not necessarily mean we are learning better.
Chronic pelvic pain treatment should focus on quality of life, not pain alone
Chronic pelvic pain can affect sleep, work and relationships, so treatment may need to address more than pain intensity alone.
Cecilia Vicuña’s radical eco-feminist vision comes to London
Visitor movement stirs the raw wool into a gentle dance.
Spider-Man’s 1,000th issue: the enduring appeal of the tortured Hamlet of superheroes
Spider-Man has survived 60 years of deaths, disasters and reinventions. His greatest superpower? The ability to keep his story going.
Life in Gaza after 12 months of ‘ceasefire’
Gaza is still in ruins and its people are still being killed every day, while Israel continues to expand its occupation.
How electric vehicles could help pollinators find flowers again
Diesel pollution can disrupt floral scents. Switching to electric would help.
Air conditioners contribute to climate change – this 40-year-old treaty aims to limit the harm
A decade ago, the international treaty that shapes what’s inside our cooling systems was amended to favour gases that contribute less to global warming.
First case of teeth growing out of an eye socket – what you need to know about ‘ectopic teeth’
Teeth can turn up in the nose, the sinuses and even the eye socket. Here’s how they end up there, and what happens when they need to come out.
Inside two prison systems: why Denmark and the UK punish so differently
Punishment and trust: what prison systems in Denmark and the UK reveal about two different countries.
Can NAD+ supplements help us age more healthily? Here’s what the science shows
The supplement industry has a new favourite molecule: NAD+. Scientists are interested too, but evidence of its anti-ageing benefits in humans remains limited.
Messy, risky outdoor play is important for children, but adults can stop them enjoying it
Are adults unintentionally limiting children’s risk-taking outdoors?
Are the UK authorities letting down survivors of modern slavery?
As the 100th anniversary of the Slavery Convention is marked, it’s time to assess the UK’s role in helping survivors.
Cottage cheese, sunscreen and pimple popping: Strange Health is back for season two
The Strange Health podcast is back for season two, investigating cottage cheese, sunscreen scares, pimple popping and the health questions you want answered.
Economics Nobel: how this year’s winners helped to smooth the cycle of economic peaks and troughs
Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford were announced as this year’s winners.
Escape rooms give healthcare students a safe place to get things wrong
Healthcare students need more than knowledge. Learning through play can give them a safe place to make decisions, get things wrong and try again.
An overlooked sci-fi movie shows how disruption by AI could be positive for society
The message in the film Annihilation is that disruption by AI needn’t be disastrous for humanity.
Empathy can help make maternity care safer – here’s how
Poppy Russell’s death was preventable. Her parents’ campaign shows why listening to women and supporting empathy is essential to safer maternity care.
Why do some children become seriously ill with COVID? The answer may lie in their genes
Many of the genes our study identified were involved with immune responses.
Unpicking the pensions triple lock: where it came from, and what might happen next
Labour has said it will adjust the pensions triple lock by 2030.
China and the EU could turn Morocco into a surprise global hub for electric vehicles
The north African country has attracted huge amounts of investment.
Donald Trump aligns with Vladimir Putin yet again, leaving Ukraine – and US relations with Europe – under pressure
The US president appears to have made an abrupt about-turn in US policy towards Russia and the Ukraine war.
What Andy Burnham can learn from Sweden about defending against Russian disinformation
Sweden’s ‘psychological defence’ approach sees an informed public as a key protection against foreign manipulation.
Animals: Ben Affleck stars in this thriller about a politician who can’t hide his ugly side
When a politician’s son is kidnapped, he is forced to make decisions that could ruin his campaign.
When Europe’s monastic libraries were looted, Britain’s richest book collectors went hunting
The forgotten story of how Britain acquired Europe’s rarest books.
How dyspraxia can exhaust children and exclude them from social activities
Tasks such as writing, dressing and PE can demand far more effort, leaving some children tired, anxious and less active.
Will AI be good or bad for the climate? Here’s what the latest evidence on energy use suggests
AI data centres are using vast amounts of energy, but that is expected to grow fast.
China’s panda diplomacy: how Beijing combines conservation and trade
China has pursued a policy of using its panda conservation project as a trade and diplomacy tool.
How bionic eyes are becoming a reality
Researchers are steadily developing more and more capable devices for restoring vision to people with blindness.
Autism and ADHD: people need support before diagnosis, but getting one can change their lives
An autism or ADHD diagnosis can transform how people understand themselves. But better mental health support is needed both before and after diagnosis.
What was going on with the dancing in Sense and Sensibility? A Regency expert explains
The two dance sequences – a hop and a ball – capture the spirits of Dashwoods more than they evoke the atmosphere of the period.
Art imitates art in Barbara Kingsolver’s new book – what to read, see and watch this week
From a book about a musician and an exhibition that demands your attention to classic art and two stories of corruption and lies.
The gut-muscle link: why fermented foods could boost muscle health
This connection could explain why foods which are good for gut health can also be beneficial for our muscles.
The Holborn and St Pancras byelection doesn’t answer the big questions about British politics – but it provides hints
The result showed that Andy Burnham can appeal to voters in the capital.
Mecca pact: Pakistan and Turkey have answered Saudi Arabia’s call for help – but don’t expect them to fight the Houthis
Pakistan and Turkey have answered Saudi Arabia’s call against the Houthis with a shield rather than a sword.
Jane Eyre: a Musical – an intimate Brontë adaptation that misses the novel’s darkness
Despite the verve of the ensemble cast and the vocal crescendos, the heart rarely skips a beat.
When Burnham went to Berlin: Germany the key to future UK-EU relationship
The UK and Germany’s relationship is on an upward trajectory, with the EU remaining a focal point in these ties.
Loved The Uprising? Discover the real story of the peasants’ revolt in these ten reads
This curated reading list includes gripping narrative histories, immersive fiction and digital archives.
England made organ donation the default, so why are fewer families saying yes?
Opt-out organ donation was meant to boost the supply of organs for transplant. New figures suggest that isn’t the case.
Zack Polanski loses his byelection bid – and the Green party’s Zionism motion has outraged its closest allies in Europe
Polanski came under pressure from within his party and beyond it.
‘Tenzing biopic made me wonder what he would think if he could return to the mountain today’ – glaciologist and mountaineer
A glaciologist reviews a new film covering the ascent of Tenzing Norgay (played by Genden Phuntsok) to the top of Everest in 1953.
How military exercises help the UK and its allies prepare for a future war
Military exercises are vital for joined-up defence. But they are also very expensive.
American military bases in the UK – controversial, but seen as vital
There are different figures for how many American military bases there are in the UK.
Women are more emotionally intelligent than men, and that’s a problem – landmark study
New research - it’s one of the largest studies of emotional intelligence to date
Some climate tipping points are being studied far more than others – new research
Scientists aren’t focusing on the systems that may be closest to tipping.
How much noise should we put up with? London and Copenhagen have different answers
A noise researcher compares London and Copenhagen and takes a closer look at what the countries’ different regulations say about how much noise we accept in cities.
How to meal prep safely: a microbiologist’s step-by-step guide
Meal prep can be useful. By following these tips, you can also ensure your meals are safe.
Robert Ryman: The Real Thing at the Barbican – these mesmerising paintings must be seen in person
Don’t let the images accompanying this review guide your expectations.
Almost 300,000 people now live in flood-prone areas in the Nepalese Himalayas – new research
Satellite data shows roads, settlements and infrastructure are expanding into the same valleys that are vulnerable to floods and landslides.
What’s your apocalypse skill? Finding a future-proof hobby can bring fulfilment today
Take inspiration from Doomsday preppers with the idea of learning practical skills.
Three of the UK’s four nations are led by parties advocating a split. Which is most likely to go?
New prime minister Andy Burnham is facing renewed calls for independence votes.
Nobel laureate Karl Deisseroth on how light is changing what we know about the brain
From algae to a Nobel prize: listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast to hear Karl Deisseroth explain his brain science breakthrough.
The Social Reckoning is a true American horror story
The Social Reckoning follows Zuck to the Valley, but summons a very different beast.
Wildlife populations have declined 73% since 1970 – but many of the world’s animals still aren’t being counted
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.
School protests focus attention on the chequered history of public order policing in France
An analysis of the policing of protests by high-school students in France.
‘Airport malaria’ is rare, but can be deadly when doctors don’t expect it
Doctors outside malaria zones often don’t think to test for it, while symptoms, rapid tests and drug resistance can all complicate diagnosis and treatment.
Florence Buchanan: the pioneering physiologist whose face was lost to history
Florence Buchanan helped transform the study of the nervous system, yet no authenticated portrait of her was known until now.
Israel’s political rivals play the blame game as country marks years since October 7
Accountability for the Hamas attacks and security are emerging as key issues in the election campaign.
Israel marks three years since October 7 attacks as nation prepares to vote in divisive election
Accountability for the Hamas attacks and security are emerging as key issues in the election campaign.