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As an American in London, I’ve become familiar with the look of amusement/horror on a Brit’s face when confronted with unashamed American enthusiasm. I saw it about a dozen times on King Charles, as his speech to Congress was interrupted with applause, cheers and standing ovations. Applause is, of course, not even allowed in the British parliament.

Much of the excitement came in response to the king’s subtle jabs at Donald Trump, stressing the value of Nato and the importance of checks and balances on executive power. Historian Philip Murphy explains how the king managed to yield such a positive reception while pushing the boundaries of what a British monarch might say in Trump’s America. And he looks back at the 1991 address by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who – even more pointedly than her son – remarked: “Some people believe that power grows from the barrel of a gun”.

If you’ve ever said something you regret, or reacted in a way you’re not proud of during an argument, you may have felt like your brain was working against you. As psychologist Trudy Meehan explains in this article, you’re not wrong – here’s what to do about it.

And the war in Iran has led to the rapid depletion of tungsten, a natural element key to military technology like armour-piercing munitions. This could open up an innovation opportunity for the UK.

Do you have a curious kid in your life? Season 2 of our award winning podcast The Conversation’s Curious Kids is coming soon, and we want to hear from you! We’re looking for children with intriguing questions about the world who want to pose them to an expert. Email curiouskids@theconversation.com with your kids’ questions.

Avery Anapol

Commissioning Editor, Politics + Society

Kylie Cooper/EPA-EFE

How King Charles charmed the US while taking digs at Trump

Philip Murphy, School of Advanced Study, University of London

The king’s speech pushed in interesting ways at the boundaries of what a British monarch might be expected to have said in Trump’s America.

DimaBerlin/Shutterstock.com

Why your brain turns against you during arguments – and what to do about it

Trudy Meehan, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

When we argue with people we love, our brains briefly get ‘flooded’. A clinical psychologist explains what’s happening, and how to stop it.

Sample of rough wolframite rock (tungsten ore) from Altai, Russia. vvoe / Shutterstock

The Iran war has depleted supplies of tungsten, a critical mineral for the world’s militaries

Gavin D. J. Harper, University of Birmingham

The element is used in everything from missiles to armoured vehicles.

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