Page 18 - The Conversation

Why Turkey doesn't want Finland, Sweden to join NATO and why it matters

The increasingly autocratic and anti-democratic president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said he will not agree to the entry of Finland and Sweden in NATO

What's it like to be on Venus or Pluto? Sand dunes give some clues

For dunes to even exist, there are a pair of "Goldilocks" criteria that must be satisfied. First is a supply of erodible but durable grains.

5 technologies that will help make the food system carbon neutral

Agriculture is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change and, as the conflict in Ukraine demonstrates, food systems can be exposed to geopolitics

Firms leaving Russia caving to public pressure, not making a difference

Many companies cut ties with Russia in response to the pressure to support Ukraine from governments, investors, consumers, competitors and the general public. Some even made hefty financial sacrifices

Haven't been infected with Covid yet? It could be more than just luck

The simplest explanation is that these people have never come into contact with the virus. This could certainly be the case for people who have been shielding during the pandemic.

Crypto price collapse offers hope for slowing climate change: Here's how

Prices for the largest cryptocurrencies, bitcoin and ethereum, have both dropped by over 55% in six months, leading some to suggest that regulation is needed to contain the turmoil.

WEF 2022: What electric car supplies' shortage mean for net-zero targets

Current supply issues have been brought on in part by Covid-19 affecting global supply chains and a shortage of semiconductors

Wealthy nations carve up space and its riches, leave others behind

In the not-so-distant future, the ability to extract resources from the Moon and asteroids could become a major point of difference between the space haves and have-nots.

Liam Gallagher is 'in pain': Hip arthritis doesn't just affect older adults

Osteoarthritis is common in older people, but it is possible for it to develop in younger people.

Why Bulgaria and Poland can withstand Russia cutting off their gas supply

By cutting off gas supplies, Russia has landed its latest economic blow against Poland and Bulgaria. But with international support, it is a blow that can be withstood.

Elon Musk's plans for Twitter may cause more algorithmic harms than before

Musk's description of a platform free from content moderation issues is troubling in light of the algorithmic harms caused by social media platforms.

No board to watch over Musk when he takes Twitter private. Does it matter?

Musk, who on April 25, 2022, sealed a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion, criticised board members for owning almost no shares of the company they oversee.

Offers, discounts, impulse: How retailers use psychology to make you shop

Studies suggest that as much as 50% of all groceries are sold because of impulsiveness - and over 87% of shoppers make impulse buys.

Fatigue after Covid is more than just feeling tired. 5 tips on what to do

The term fatigue can mean different things to different people

Ukraine war: Inside the web of Russia's warring intelligence agencies

The presidential administration, Putin's primary information source, is a secretive organisation and has been feeding him a controlled information flow for over a decade

Ukraine peace negotiations: How far are the two sides from a settlement?

The current Ukrainian position is centred around two main issues: neutrality and territorial integrity.

The war in Ukraine ruins Russia's academic ties with the West

Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, Western and Russian higher education institutions have formed hundreds of partnerships and cooperated on different initiatives.

A matter of trust: Why a peace deal in Ukraine talks will be hard to get

Having been part of the Soviet Union until 1991, Ukraine's relations with Russia have ebbed and flowed over the years

As Ukraine is bombed, should Russian tennis players be allowed at Wimbledon

The British sports minister, Nigel Huddleston, recently suggested that for any Russian to play at Wimbledon, 'assurances' might be needed about their position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Russian 'palace coup': Could Putin be ousted from office over Ukraine war?

A new law makes speaking out against the government narrative, and even using the word 'war' to describe the so-called 'special operation,' a criminal offence and subject to up to 15 years in prison