The Conversation Weekly

The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is one of many bodies of ice that are melting, but this massive glacier is uniquely important when it comes to sea level rise. In this episode we talk to three experts studying the glacier in Antarctica to find out what's happening and why it's so significant.Featuring Yixi Zheng, a PhD candidate in Oceanography at the University of East Anglia in the UK, Ted Scambos, a senior research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder and Paul Holland, an ocean and ice scientist at the British Antarctic Survey.This episode was produced by Mend Mariwany, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is also available. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.Further reading:Ice world: Antarctica’s riskiest glacier is under assault from below and losing its gripAntarctica’s ‘doomsday’ glacier: how its collapse could trigger global floods and swallow islandsIce shelves hold back Antarctica’s glaciers from adding to sea levels – but they’re crumbling

For thousands of years, people living in parts of the world used to high temperatures have deployed traditional passive cooling techniques in the way they design their buildings. But "modern" styles of architecture using concrete and glass often usurped local building techniques better suited to hotter climates. In this episode, we explore why that happened, and how some architects are championing traditional techniques to help keep buildings cool.Featuring Anthony Ogbuokiri, senior lecturer in architectural design at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, Vyta Pivo, assistant professor of architecture at the University of Michigan in the US and Susan Abed Hassan, professor of architectural engineering at Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad, Iraq.This episode was produced by Mend Mariwany, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is available here. Sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.Further reading:Cities like Lagos need building designs that don’t just copy global stylesTiny algae could help fix concrete’s dirty little climate secret – 4 innovative ways to clean up this notoriously hard to decarbonize industryHow to keep buildings cool without air conditioning – according to an expert in sustainable design

M was a double agent during the cold war, working on the side of the west. But when the Iron Curtain fell, he felt abandoned by the secret services he risked his life for. M's story is told by Eleni Braat, associate professor of international history at Utrecht University and Ben de Jong, research fellow at Leiden University. They've been interviewing him in depth for their research on what happens to spies when their secret service days come to an end. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Gemma Ware and Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. Further reading:John Le Carré: authentic spy fiction that wrote the wrongs of post-war British intelligenceHow ordinary people are convinced to become spiesRevealed: the panic that followed the defection of the Cambridge spies

As the latest Jurassic World Dominion film hits cinemas, we’re re-running a story originally aired in 2021 about what dinosaurs really looked liked – and how scientists' understanding of their appearance keeps evolving. Featuring Maria McNamara, professor of palaeobiology at University College Cork in Ireland and Nicolas Campione, senior lecturer in paleaobiology at the University of New England in Australia.The Conversation Weekly is produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. Read a transcript of the original version of this story.Further reading:Jurassic World Dominion: a palaeontologist on what the film gets wrong about dinosaursDinosaur embryo discovery: rare fossil suggests dinosaurs had similar pre-hatching posture to modern birdsNocturnal dinosaurs: Night vision and superb hearing in a small theropod suggest it was a moonlight predatorThe discovery of two giant dinosaur species solves the mystery of missing apex predators in North America and Asia

A little update about The Conversation Weekly podcast and what we'll be up to over the next few months.If you've not yet completed our listener survey, we'd love to hear what you think about the show. It should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you!

India and Pakistan have been sweltering under an unprecedented heatwave, the severity of which scientists attribute to climate change. In this episode we explore how much worse heatwaves in the region could get and how farmers can prepare for it.Featuring Alan Thomas Kennedy-Asser, a research associate in climate science at the University of Bristol in the UK, Andrew King, a senior Lecturer in climate science at the University of Melbourne in Australia and Shruti Bhogal, who's just finished working as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge in the UK. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available shortly.  Further readingIndia heatwave: why the region should prepare for even more extreme heat in the near future How to survive a heatwave A climate scientist on India and Pakistan’s horror heatwave, and the surprising consequences of better air qualityYoung Indian farmers are turning to an ancient crop to fight water stress and climate change

As Australians prepare to vote in federal elections on May 21, in this episode we explore how the country’s political landscape is shifting – and why it's not looking good for Prime Minister Scott Morrison.Featuring Michelle Grattan, a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra and political correspondent for The Conversation in Australia. Grattan, who is one of Australia's most respected political journalists, also hosts the Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast for The Conversation.We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, which should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you!This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. Further readingHow does Australia’s voting system work?In a year of endless floods, why isn’t disaster governance front and centre in the election campaign?If the polls are right, he may soon be the next Australian prime minister. So who is Anthony Albanese?‘His beating heart is a focus group’: what makes Scott Morrison tick?

We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, which should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you!Parents and doctors have known about childhood ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – for decades, but it is only recently that the medical field has started to recognise, diagnose and seriously study ADHD in adults. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we explore what adult ADHD looks like, how it is diagnosed today and the many new treatments available to help those with the disorder live better lives.Featuring Laura E Knouse an associate professor of psychology a the University of Richmond in the US, and Tamara May, senior research fellow at Monash University in Australia. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here.You can also read a full transcript of this episode too.  Further readingADHD looks different in adults. Here are 4 signs to watch forWhy many women with autism and ADHD aren’t diagnosed until adulthood – and what to do if you think you’re one of themADHD in adults: what it’s like living with the condition – and why many still struggle to get diagnosedThese strategies and life hacks can help anyone with ADHD, as well as those who struggle with attention problems but don’t have a diagnosis

We'd love to hear what you think about The Conversation Weekly. Please let us know via our listener survey, which should take about five minutes to complete. Thank you!When war breaks out, what does it mean for a country to remain neutral? In this episode we explore the advantages and disadvantages of neutrality – and what responsibilities come with the choice not to take sides. We talk to an historian about how an age of neutrality emerged in the 19th century and what lessons it has for the war in Ukraine. And we dig down into the reasons why one country – India – has decided to remain neutral on the conflict. Featuring Maartje Abbenhuis, professor of history at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and Swaran Singh, professor of diplomacy and disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Gemma Ware and Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. You can read a transcript on The Conversation's website. Further readingWhy India chose a path of ‘proactive neutrality’ on UkraineWhat does it mean to be ‘neutral’ over Ukraine – and what responsibilities come with it?As Ukraine war deepens great-power divisions, a revitalized non-aligned movement could emergeRussia’s war with Ukraine: Five reasons why many African countries choose to be ‘neutral’History may explain South Africa’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is challenging the structures of international collaboration in space. In this episode, we talk to two experts about how space is entering a new era of international competition – and whether the existing laws are ready for what comes next. Featuring Kuan-Wei (David) Chen, executive director of the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law at McGill University in Canada and Svetla Ben-Itzhak, assistant professor of space and international relations at Air University in the US.This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced by Gemma Ware. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode available here. A transcript is also available to read. Further readingSpace Blocs: The future of international cooperation in space is splitting along lines of power on EarthRussia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens space co-operation, business and securityUkraine war: how it could play out in space – with potentially dangerous consequencesRussian invasion of Ukraine and resulting US sanctions threaten the future of the International Space Station