Paul Keaveny

Can you really talk to the dead using AI? We tried out ‘deathbots’ so you don’t have to Chatbots and voice avatars are being used to preserve the voices of the deceased.

I was really fascinated by this story. Researchers Eva Nieto McAvoy and Jenny Kidd have been exploring what it’s like to use an AI “deathbot”, even creating digital versions of themselves that could live on after they’ve gone. theconversation.com/can-you-real...

The Conversation’s Curious Kids wins best kids podcast at British Podcast Awards Podcast series from The Conversation where children ask academics questions wins gold at the British Podcast Awards.

theconversation.com/the-conversa...

How to discover a planet In the 30 years since the discovery of 51 Pegasi b, more than 6,000 planets outside our Solar System have been catalogued. Two modern-day explorers explain how.

The latest Insights piece is in. theconversation.com/how-to-disco...

Synagogue attack: the Manchester I know – by antisemitism researcher and Mancunian Jew Manchester Jewry has maintained an extraordinarily strong local identity, but is notable in its diversity.

theconversation.com/synagogue-at...

Europe win Ryder Cup: Rory McIlroy hits out at 'unacceptable' behaviour after wife hit by drink Rory McIlroy hits out at the

It's a bit like the audience of Woodstock '99 all grew up and got tickets to the Ryder Cup. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/a...

Underground data fortresses: the nuclear bunkers, mines and mountains being transformed to protect our ‘new gold’ from attack Bunkers, bomb shelters, mines and mountains all play critical roles protecting against our latest existential threat: the terrifying prospect of data loss.

This piece was a joy to edit. Anthropologist Alexander Taylor goes deep underground to explore the former nuclear bunkers, mines and mountains that are being transformed into mega-data centres. theconversation.com/underground-...

Paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism, our study of 2.5 million children shows Our research provides strong evidence against the concerning claims made recently by US president Donald Trump.

theconversation.com/paracetamol-...

Paracetamol, pregnancy and autism: what the science really shows A study tracking 2.4 million children found no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism.

theconversation.com/paracetamol-...

Israeli doctors reveal their conflicted stories of treating Palestinian prisoners held in notorious ‘black site’ Sde Teiman Israeli medical staff who treated Palestinian captives in the wake of the October 7 attacks say they are haunted by their experiences.

theconversation.com/israeli-doct...

Racism isn’t innate – here are five psychological stages that may lead to it There is no genetic or biological basis for dividing the human race into distinct “races.”

theconversation.com/racism-isnt-...

The Leftovers...

No, Farage is not given more airtime than other politicians, new research finds A study by Cardiff University has challenged accusations Farage is given a disproportionate amount of coverage on political shows, although four in 10 Reform claims go unchecked

Does Reform UK and Nigel Farage feature more in TV news than Lib Dems and Ed Davey? Our new study in @theipaper.com shows they do which suggests broadcasters are applying more weight to the latest polls than no. of MPs in impartial news reporting (thread 1/5): inews.co.uk/culture/tele...

Over six years, researchers worked closely with 25 single-mother families living in the shadow of this policy – which even affects British citizens – and leaves families destitute and fearing starvation.

Homelessness, fear of starvation and racism – destitute migrant mothers and their children on the reality of life in the UK Over six years, researchers have worked closely with 25 single-mother families living in the shadow of this policy - which even affects British citizens.

Our latest Insights long read explores the harsh reality of life as a migrant in the UK with ‘no recourse to public’ funds.
theconversation.com/homelessness...

Our medieval murder maps reveal the surprising geography of violence in 14th-century English cities In the 14th century, Sundays were particularly deadly.

This project has pinpointed the locations of 355 homicides between 1296 and 1398. The maps detail where the body was found, when the attack happened, the weapon used, and sometimes the quarrels, rivalries or insults that were linked to the crime.
theconversation.com/our-medieval...

Vikings were captivated by silver – our new analysis of their precious loot reveals how far they travelled to get it New analysis of silver items in the Bedale hoard reveals Scandinavians travelled to the east to trade much earlier than previously thought.

Isotope analysis shows how Viking warriors travelled east in search of Islamic silver, far earlier than previously thought.
theconversation.com/vikings-were...

I got an AI to impersonate me and teach me my own course – here’s what I learned about the future of education Can AI agents superpower the classroom?

theconversation.com/i-got-an-ai-...

Life After the Atomic Blast, as Told by Hiroshima’s Survivors Eighty years after the dropping of the first atomic bomb, Hiroshima’s survivors and their descendants describe how health problems and stigma have echoed down the generations.

Great to see our Hiroshima piece republished in Wired. www.wired.com/story/life-a...

Her granddaughter, Kazumi Kuwahara, a third generation hibakusha, said:  "I'm not sure if it was the effect of the atomic bomb, but I have always had a weak body, and when I was born, the doctor said I wouldn't last more than three days."

A man pushed aside the debris and extended his arm to help her. "When I caught his hand, the skin of his hand stripped off and our hands slipped. He adjusted his hand and dragged me out of the debris grabbing my fingers…I felt a sense of relief, but I forgot to say thank you to him."

Speaking of the atomic bombings was considered "kanashii" (悲しい) "kowai" (怖い) and  "kurushimii" (苦しみい) - sad, scary and painful. Emiko Yamanaka, now aged 91, was 11 years old when she was exposed, just 1.4km from ground zero.

In Japan in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, people couldn’t even utter the phrase “atomic bomb” due to censorship rules. For decades the hibakusha faced discrimination due to a complex combination of suppression, stigma, ignorance and fear.

‘Then the city started to burn, the fires were chasing me’ – 80 years on, Hiroshima survivors describe how the atomic blast echoed down generations In August 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ever since, survivors have struggled with discrimination as well as illness.

80 years on, "hibakusha", or survivors of the atomic bombing on #Hiroshima and #Nagasaki, open up about "ano hi" (that day). #VJDay THREAD
theconversation.com/then-the-cit...

Starmer’s suspension of ‘rebel’ MPs risks alienating his party in a way he can’t afford Poor messaging and internal strife are undermining this government’s promise.

theconversation.com/starmers-sus...

Reposting this long read as the first report into Post Office scandal is published. theconversation.com/mr-bates-vs-...

Welcome to post-growth Europe – can anyone accept this new political reality? An expert in public policy asks if it will ever be possible for political parties in Europe to be honest about the limits of growth – and still get elected.

Since Labour came to power, one word has dominated their thinking: growth. But what if growth of any meaningful, sustained level is now just a pipe dream? That’s the question posed by policy and democracy expert Peter Bloom in our latest Insights long read. theconversation.com/welcome-to-p...

I survived the 7/7 London bombings, but as a British Muslim I still grew up being called a terrorist Four years on from the attacks on 9/11 - this was a time when, in the minds of many, Muslims were already associated with terrorism.

theconversation.com/i-survived-t...

Peter Sullivan murder conviction quashed after 38 years in jail – it would be a mistake to see his case as a bizarre one-off It is the longest miscarriage of justice experienced by a living inmate in the UK.

theconversation.com/peter-sulliv...

Mr Bates vs The Post Office depicts one of the UK’s worst miscarriages of justice: here’s why so many victims didn’t speak out Our research has identified four main barriers that stopped hundreds of sub-postmasters speaking out for so long.

theconversation.com/mr-bates-vs-...

Convicting the innocent: how a rotten system ensures miscarriages of justice will continue Why are so many innocent people still being convicted of crimes they did not commit?

theconversation.com/convicting-t...