|
3D-printed firearms are popping up in odd places around the world. From neo-nazis in Finland, to paramilitaries in Northern Ireland and anti-junta rebels in Myanmar. One of the most popular models is the FGC-9, designed in 2020 by a man calling himself JStark.
JStark kept himself anonymous. His moniker alludes to the American revolutionary general John Stark, who is attributed with the slogan “Live free or die”. Similarly, JStark cast himself as someone dedicated to protecting people’s right to bear arms to defend themselves against tyranny and oppression.
So who is he really? Rajan Basra, who researches terrorism, went hunting for the gun designer’s real identity by following a trail of online breadcrumbs and delving into the field of forensic linguistics. In contrast to JStark’s public persona, he uncovered a lonely incel who appeared to condone and encourage right-wing terrorism. To find out more, listen to an interview with Basra on The Conversation Weekly podcast, or read our latest Insights article that he’s written about how he unmasked the designer of the FGC-9.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Supreme Court decided this week that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men can be conscripted into the army after formerly being exempt. A legal expert looks at what this means for Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition.
And new research analysing mammoth genomes – including one called Lonely Boy known as the last mammoth on Earth – challenges the idea they went extinct because of inbreeding.
Before I finish, I wanted to let you know that we will be staying up all night after polling day to bring you election analysis as the results come in. We’ll be posting exclusive updates to our new UK WhatsApp channel into the small hours. Join us on this link.
All the best.
|
|
Gemma Ware
Head of Audio
|
|
This anonymised image of FGC-9 creator ‘JStark1809’ was posted online with the gun’s designs in 2020.
JStark1809/Deterrence Dispensed via Wikimedia
Rajan Basra, King's College London
Growing numbers of insurgents, terrorists and extremists are using the FGC-9 3D-printed gun. Here’s what I learned about the man who created it, and the dark world he inhabited
|
Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest against compulsory military service.
EPA-EFE/Abir Sultan
John Strawson, University of East London
Haredi Jews have been exempt from military service for all of Israel’s history, so this ruling will be deeply divisive. An Israel scholar explains.
|
ishibashi seiichi/Shutterstock
Marianne Dehasque, Uppsala University; Love Dalén, Stockholm University
Scientists have long wondered if the wooly mammoth went extinct due to high levels of inbreeding.
|
World
|
-
Jonathan Este, The Conversation
A selection of our coverage of the conflict in Gaza from the past fortnight.
-
Scott Lucas, University College Dublin
The IDF says Hamas is an idea that is rooted in the hearts of Palestinians and trying to eradicate it is impossible.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Peter John McLoughlin, Queen's University Belfast
Sinn Féin won in 2019 by just 57 votes and the Ulster Unionist Party hopes to overturn that tiny majority.
-
Tony D Sampson, University of Essex; Andrew Branch, University of East London
Its golden age as a seaside town may be over, but left behind places like Clacton are not lacking in pride.
-
Christian Schemmel, University of Manchester
Children’s interests need to be represented in politics – here’s how that could happen.
-
Jonathan Parker, University of Glasgow
With independence’s waning relevance, Labour is set to sweep up disillusioned SNP voters.
-
Imogen Tyler, Lancaster University
The ‘skivers against strivers’ view of welfare keeps people in poverty feeling ashamed and isolated.
-
Vladimir Bortun, University of Oxford
Interviews with former MPs show the party machine can end up crushing their dreams of representing working-class voters.
-
Matthew Slater, Staffordshire University
Sunak referred to “I” and “me” while Starmer was more likely to say “we” and “us”.
-
Adam Webster, University of Oxford
The Conservatives campaigned against changing the voting system in 2011, but it could have saved them from a potential wipeout at this election.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
L. Holland, University of Bristol
The word lesbian is being reclaimed by two standout stars among a new generation of queer pop stars.
-
Jamie Medhurst, Aberystwyth University
There is no doubt that there is mounting pressure for control over broadcasting to be devolved to Wales.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Steve Schifferes, City, University of London; Stewart Lansley, University of Bristol
Decades of privatisation have left the UK asset-poor – but a national wealth fund as proposed by Labour could help to future-proof the country’s finances.
-
Amr Saber Algarhi, Sheffield Hallam University; Konstantinos Lagos, Sheffield Hallam University
The Conservatives are traditionally viewed as a safe pair of hands on the economy, but does the evidence support this, or are Labour just as good?
|
|
Education
|
-
Stephen Gorard, Durham University
If schools raise fees, parents may choose to send their children to state schools instead.
|
|
Environment
|
-
Víctor Fernández García, Université de Lausanne; Cristina Santín, Swansea University
Satellites used satellite sensors to identify the 0.01% ‘most extreme’ fires worldwide.
-
Peter JS Jones, UCL
Experts have interviewed fishers, tourism operators and recreational sea users in 50 marine protected areas to see how well any negative human impacts are being reduced.
-
Shashi Kant Yadav, University of Surrey; Rosalind Malcolm, University of Surrey
Regardless of where in the world the oil would be burnt, local authorities must consider the greenhouse gas emissions before granting the planning permission.
|
|
Health
|
-
Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol
Keep an eye on your health while at a summer festival - you don’t want falling ill to be the headline event
-
Kat Ford, Bangor University
New research finds a link between childhood trauma and a reduced engagement with healthcare services later in life.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Sharon Lemac-Vincere, University of Strathclyde
Cyberattacks are a growing threat to government and commercial spacecraft.
|
|
Podcasts
|
-
Gemma Ware, The Conversation
Rajan Basra explains the backstory to the FGC-9, the world’s most popular 3D printed gun - and his search for its anonymous creator. Listen on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
