UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently set off a furious debate by suggesting that COVID-19 vaccines had been developed because of “capitalism” and “greed”. David Whyte disagrees, and sets about debunking the notion, arguing that the idea that private ingenuity and naked competition produced the vaccines is a complete fantasy.

A deadly fire which swept through a camp for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh last week left many people without shelter. In The Conversation Weekly podcast, Rubayat Jesmin explains what the situation is like for those in the camps. Listen from 26 minutes here.

Gemma Ware

Editor and Co-Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast
Universities are the unsung heroes of vaccine development. Cultura Creative RF / Alamy Stock Photo

COVID-19 vaccines are a victory for public research, not ‘greed’ and ‘capitalism’

David Whyte, University of Liverpool

The development of the COVID-19 vaccines is part of a vast system of public subsidies and universities, not corporate ambition.
Scientists think they may have found a new clue about the subatomic world around us. Ezume Images via Shutterstock

A new force of nature? The inside story of fresh evidence from Cern that’s exciting physicists – podcast

Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation

Plus why the situation for Rohingya Muslims living in Bangladesh has gone from bad to worse. Listen to episode 9 of The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Energy + Environment

Sleeping octopuses might experience fleeting dreams – new study

Alexandra Schnell, University of Cambridge

Colour-changing patterns in snoozing octopuses are characteristic of two alternating sleep states.

New decisions by global conservation group bolster efforts to save Africa’s elephants

Robin Whytock, University of Stirling; Fiona Maisels, University of Stirling

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has made two big decisions related to the conservation of the African elephant.

Health + Medicine

Curious Kids: why are some kids left-handed and others are right-handed?

Matthew Barton, Griffith University; Michael Todorovic, Griffith University

It's a mixture of your genes which you get from your parents, and also your life experience.

The WHO report into the origin of the coronavirus is out. Here’s what happens next, says the Australian doctor who went to China

Dominic Dwyer, University of Sydney

We need to re-analyse data from China and look further afield if we are to have a more complete picture of what happened in 2019. Just keep the politics out of it.

Politics + Society

Suez Canal blockage: how cargo ships like Ever Given became so huge, and why they’re causing problems

Evangelos Boulougouris, University of Strathclyde

Driven by the promise of efficiency, container ships have grown to monstrous proportions over the past 15 years.

Has ECOWAS made West Africa a safer place? Yes, but its track record is lumpy

Benjamin Maiangwa, Durham University

ECOWAS needs to be decisive in enforcing its protocols and sanctioning members that flout the provisions of its protocols and policies.