UK Edition - Today's top story: What happens in your brain when you can’t stop laughing? October 14, 2026 UK Edition   Have you ever found yourself succumbing to helpless giggles in a formal or solemn setting? It’s a strange sensation, not to mention an awkward one. You just can’t seem to stop laughing. But research may help explain why this kind of uncontrollable chuckling is so hard to control, no matter how inappropriate the timing. Adults aren’t the only humans who benefit from a good chuckle. Education expert Rebekah Gear writes that children aren’t getting the opportunities for the messy, risky play that they need. It’s easy to get carried away protecting your precious little ones, but preventing outdoor adventures has its own hazards for child development. And we also examine how the invasion of Ukraine is starting to affect how ordinary Russians relate to their home country.   Jenna Whittlesea Commissioning Editor, Science   CREATISTA/Shutterstock What happens in your brain when you can’t stop laughing? Sophie Scott, UCL; Fausto Caruana, University of Parma When trying to study the brain networks that underlie the production of laughter, things can get very difficult very quickly. PeopleImages/Shutterstock Messy, risky outdoor play is important for children, but adults can stop them enjoying it Rebekah Gear, Nottingham Trent University Are adults unintentionally limiting children’s risk-taking outdoors? People go about their daily life in the Russian capital, Moscow, in 2023. Arnold O. A. Pinto / Shutterstock How the ‘geopolitical stigma’ associated with Putin’s Russia is affecting ordinary Russians Marina Yusupova-Ryder, Edinburgh Napier University The full-scale invasion of Ukraine changed more than Russia’s relations with the west – it changed the meaning of being Russian. World Life in Gaza after 12 months of ‘ceasefire’ Anne Irfan, UCL Gaza is still in ruins and its people are still being killed every day, while Israel continues to expand its occupation. Politics + Society Inside two prison systems: why Denmark and the UK punish so differently Julie Laursen, University of Copenhagen Punishment and trust: what prison systems in Denmark and the UK reveal about two different countries. Are the UK authorities letting down survivors of modern slavery? Marija Jovanovic, University of Oxford As the 100th anniversary of the Slavery Convention is marked, it’s time to assess the UK’s role in helping survivors. Arts + Culture Cecilia Vicuña’s radical eco-feminist vision comes to London Abby Moore, University of Exeter Visitor movement stirs the raw wool into a gentle dance. Spider-Man’s 1,000th issue: the enduring appeal of the tortured Hamlet of superheroes Roman Pavlyuchenko, University of Bath Spider-Man has survived 60 years of deaths, disasters and reinventions. His greatest superpower? The ability to keep his story going. Environment How electric vehicles could help pollinators find flowers again James Ryalls, University of Reading Diesel pollution can disrupt floral scents. Switching to electric would help. Air conditioners contribute to climate change – this 40-year-old treaty aims to limit the harm Matt Rigby, University of Bristol; Lucy Carpenter, University of York A decade ago, the international treaty that shapes what’s inside our cooling systems was amended to favour gases that contribute less to global warming. Health Chronic pelvic pain treatment should focus on quality of life, not pain alone Jasmine Hearn, Manchester Metropolitan University Chronic pelvic pain can affect sleep, work and relationships, so treatment may need to address more than pain intensity alone. First case of teeth growing out of an eye socket – what you need to know about ‘ectopic teeth’ Saroash Shahid, Queen Mary University of London Teeth can turn up in the nose, the sinuses and even the eye socket. Here’s how they end up there, and what happens when they need to come out. Can NAD+ supplements help us age more healthily? Here’s what the science shows Justin Roberts, Anglia Ruskin University The supplement industry has a new favourite molecule: NAD+. Scientists are interested too, but evidence of its anti-ageing benefits in humans remains limited. Science + Technology Here’s how to find the learning strategy that makes AI work for you Paul Jones, Aston University Generative AI can make learning faster and easier, but that does not necessarily mean we are learning better. Podcasts Cottage cheese, sunscreen and pimple popping: Strange Health is back for season two Katie Edwards, The Conversation; Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol The Strange Health podcast is back for season two, investigating cottage cheese, sunscreen scares, pimple popping and the health questions you want answered. More newsletters from The Conversation for you: World Affairs Briefing • Imagine climate action • Global Economy & Business • Europe newsletter • Something Good • Politics Weekly • Education Focus About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organisation dedicated to helping academic experts share ideas with the public. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of universities and readers like you. 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