Category: Academic Analysis
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World’s first known butt-drag fossil trace was left by a rock hyrax in South Africa 126,000 years ago
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University Rock hyraxes, known in southern Africa more often as “dassies”, are furry, thickset creatures with short legs and no discernible tails. They spend much of their time sunning themselves on rocky outcrops. Another…
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Hamas has run out of options – survival now rests on accepting Trump’s plan and political reform
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mkhaimar Abusada, Visiting Scholar of Global Affairs, Northwestern University Smoke billows following an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Oct. 2, 2025. Omar al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images Weakened militarily and facing declining Palestinian support, particularly among Gazans, Hamas was already a shadow of the militant group…
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How the government shutdown is hitting the health care system – and what the battle over ACA subsidies means
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Simon F. Haeder, Associate Professor of Public Health, The Ohio State University Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them on ACA subsidies and Medicaid cuts. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images News Major rifts over key health care issues are at the heart of the federal government shutdown…
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Why we need more Jane Goodalls
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ben Garrod, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement, University of East Anglia The pant-hoot of a chimpanzee is one of the most visceral sounds in nature – a rolling call that rises to a crescendo. I once heard the call cutting through the heavy silence…
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Six everyday habits that could be sabotaging your bladder health
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University CGN089/Shutterstock The bladder is easy to overlook – until it starts causing trouble. This small, balloon-like organ in the lower urinary tract quietly stores and releases urine, helping the body eliminate waste and maintain fluid balance. But…
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Dynasties still dominate south-east Asian politics – in democracies and more authoritarian systems
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Neil Loughlin, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, City St George’s, University of London Paetongtarn Shinawatra walks with her father and prominent Thai political figure, Thaksin Shinawatra, before her endorsement as Thailand’s prime minister in 2024. SPhotograph / Shutterstock Dynasties are central to south-east Asian politics as parties…
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The pre-Raphaelite muse who inspired Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Serena Trowbridge, Reader in Victorian Literature, Birmingham City University As a professor of pre-Raphaelite studies, I was excited to see that the track list for Taylor Swift’s 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl includes a song called The Fate of Ophelia. Ahead of the album’s…
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Could life exist on Mars today? Here’s what the latest evidence says
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Seán Jordan, Associate Professor in Chemistry, Dublin City University Part of the ancient lake delta in Jezero Crater on Mars. JPL-Caltech Recently, Nasa revealed exciting details of new findings from Mars. Scientists have discovered tiny patterns of unusual minerals in the clay-rich rocks on the edge…
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Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Moss, Professor in the History of Art and Architecture, Trinity College Dublin Writing in the early 20th century, the celebrated author James Joyce noted that the Book of Kells – an illuminated manuscript depicting the four gospels of the New Testament in Latin – was…
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European countries are now turning to landmines to create new deadly defensive barriers from Russia
Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rod Thornton, Senior Lecturer in International Studies, Defence and Security., King’s College London Five Nato countries neighbouring Russia or its ally, Belarus, have announced that they are to opt out of the Ottawa treaty of 1997. This treaty bans the use by signatories of anti-personnel (AP)…