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David Attenborough’s Ocean reveals how bottom trawling is hurting sealife in horrifying detail

In one of the most powerful scenes of Sir David Attenborough’s new film Ocean, the audience sees industrial fishing from a fish’s perspective.

The Conversation · May 8, 2025

Could psychedelics help you to drink less alcohol? Our new study aims to find out

Psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are gaining increasing attention in psychiatry. Studies suggest they may offer therapeutic benefits for conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder, eating disorders and addiction.

The Conversation · May 8, 2025

Chinese research isn’t taken as seriously as papers from elsewhere – my new study

My new research suggests there is a stubborn pattern in academic publishing. My co-author and I examined some 8,000 articles published in the world’s most reputable economics journals to study citations, which are where academics cite previously published research in their papers. We found papers whose lead author had a…

The Conversation · May 8, 2025

A promising new approach to treating potentially deadly liver disease

An experimental new treatment is showing early promise in the fight against liver fibrosis – a serious and often silent condition that affects around 2 million people in the UK.

The Conversation · May 7, 2025

Bronze-age Britain traded tin with the Mediterranean, shows new study – settling a two-century debate

Tin was the critical mineral of the ancient world. It was essential to alloy with copper to make bronze, which for many centuries was the preferred metal for tools and weapons. Yet sources of tin are very scarce – and were especially so for the rapidly growing bronze age towns,…

The Conversation · May 7, 2025

Addiction isn’t just about brain chemistry – but nor is it just bad choices

Consider someone addicted to alcohol, drugs, or a behaviour like gambling. Why do they continue, even when they say they want to stop? It’s a question that highlights a fundamental disconnect: the gap between intention and action.

The Conversation · May 7, 2025

Can a 10- or 15-minute workout really help you get fit? A sports scientist explains

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for exercise can be challenging. This probably explains why short workouts continue to be so popular. But can workouts of only 10 or 15 minutes really help you get fit? The answer, according to research, is a resounding yes. Short workouts can be very…

The Conversation · May 7, 2025

Bone broth is hyped by celebrities and hailed as a wellness superfood – here’s what the science says

When someone tells you to “clean your plate”, bones usually aren’t included. But for some people, bones – or rather, what’s inside them – are the best part of a meal. Bone broth, once a humble kitchen staple, has surged in popularity in recent years, championed as a superfood by…

The Conversation · May 7, 2025

Europe is moving to reposition itself in Donald Trump’s new global order

The term that perhaps best describes the international impact of the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term is “disruption”. His tariff policy, his abolition of USAID, his questioning of the transatlantic alliance, and his attempted rapprochement with Russia have neither destroyed the liberal international order nor established anything…

The Conversation · May 7, 2025

Your fridge might be a breeding ground for bacteria – here’s how to fix it

The kitchen is often the heart of the home – a place where families gather and meals begin. And at the start of it all? The fridge. This is where we safely store much of our food, and as technology advances, fridges are getting smarter: being able to track inventory,…

The Conversation · May 7, 2025