UNBELIEVABLE: 39 | History Defined

How ‘positive’ stress could improve the welfare of zoo animals

Pelicans have resided in St James’s Park, London for 360 years. But the current flock have been a summer sensation due to the first hatching of chicks in the park’s history.

The Conversation · Sep 9

What Patriot Platform tells us about how the far right in the UK is changing its tactics

Anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth may look like another manifestation of a familiar phenomenon. In recent years, the UK has seen repeated demonstrations and rioting over asylum hotels, small-boat crossings and immigration. This time though, the gatherings consisted of black-clad men in balaclavas, organised by a man who calls…

The Conversation · Sep 9

A journalist coined ‘the Bible Belt’ 100 years ago – it’s been oversimplifying the South ever since

“Look No Further!” a billboard on the side of the highway beckons, drawing my gaze toward the red cover of a Bible. “You Are Worthy of Redemption!”

The Conversation · Sep 9

People with Tourette syndrome, like Billie Eilish, use everything in their power to suppress tics – this exhausting process is key to treatment

Imagine trying not to blink, resisting the urge to sneeze or refusing to scratch an intense itch. For a short time, you can probably succeed, but the effort becomes increasingly untenable until the urge eventually wins.

The Conversation · Sep 9

American women in communities with ample broadband access lose less time waiting for services, reducing time poverty

Drawing on 14 years of data, we examined whether access to broadband internet could improve Americans’ use of time and found that a 10% increase in broadband adoption across a community corresponds to a 1.19% reduction in waiting time.

The Conversation · Sep 9

Space weather can cause both beautiful auroras and infrastructure challenges – 5 essential reads on protecting life and technology

Most days, you can look up and see the Sun shining above. Even if it’s hidden behind clouds, you know it’s there, lighting up the sky. But while the Sun’s light might be relatively constant, its surface is surprisingly active. If you hopped on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe for a…

The Conversation · Sep 9

The race for a new UN chief comes at a historically fraught time – the choice will be vital and significant, just don’t expect a savior

When António Guterres steps down as United Nations secretary-general at the end of 2026, he will leave his successor with plenty to do.

The Conversation · Sep 9

Place-name politics: Why outrage alone won’t erase Trump’s name

Local leaders in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa have initiated a process to rename Trump Avenue in response to United States President Donald Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

The Conversation · Sep 9

UK plan to sanction Israel’s illegal West Bank settlements is a historic shift in tone and policy

The UK, which in 1917 issued the Balfour Declaration supporting the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, is now initiating a historic and consequential shift in its foreign policy.

The Conversation · Sep 9

The weight-loss drug divide: private prescribing is lowest where need is greatest

For many people living with obesity, Wegovy and Mounjaro offer the possibility of substantial weight loss without surgery. Yet data from one private provider points to a troubling divide: prescription rates of these drugs in England are lowest in communities where obesity is most common.

The Conversation · Sep 9