The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers.

Democratic election wins send Trump – and Republicans – a message: Americans blame them for government shutdown

Democratic election wins send Trump – and Republicans – a message: Americans blame them for government shutdown

Democratic election wins send Trump – and Republicans – a message: Americans blame them for government shutdown

Bruce Wolpe, University of Sydney

Should police reveal a suspect’s racial identity and immigration status in serious crimes?

Should police reveal a suspect’s racial identity and immigration status in serious crimes?

Should police reveal a suspect’s racial identity and immigration status in serious crimes?

Australia is facing an ‘AI divide’, new national survey shows

A train platform with the words, "Mind the gap", painted in yellow.

A train platform with the words, "Mind the gap", painted in yellow.

Dick Cheney dies: giant of the US conservative movement whose legacy was defined by the Iraq war

Dick Cheney sat beside George W. Bush Jr.

Dick Cheney sat beside George W. Bush Jr.

View from The Hill: fractured Liberals drown net zero and themselves in a torrent of verbiage

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

$View from The Hill: fractured Liberals drown net zero and themselves in a torrent of verbiage$

$View from The Hill: fractured Liberals drown net zero and themselves in a torrent of verbiage$

A man at the races, watching through binoculars

A man at the races, watching through binoculars

RBA keeps interest rates on hold, leaving borrowers looking further ahead for relief

A man in a suit answering a question at a public hearing at Parliament House in Canberra.

A man in a suit answering a question at a public hearing at Parliament House in Canberra.

Even if heads roll at Optus, we may not know much about their executive payouts

Former Prince Andrew’s biographer predicts ‘lots more to come’, after years charting his vices

Former Prince Andrew’s biographer predicts ‘lots more to come’, after years charting his vices

Former Prince Andrew’s biographer predicts ‘lots more to come’, after years charting his vices

Could a ‘grey swan’ event bring down the AI revolution? Here are 3 risks we should be preparing for

Swans on a lake, city skyline in the background

Swans on a lake, city skyline in the background

Earning more doesn’t lighten mothers’ mental loads – they do more regardless

Earning more doesn’t lighten mothers’ mental loads – they do more regardless

Earning more doesn’t lighten mothers’ mental loads – they do more regardless

Lonely? Here’s how to connect with old friends – and make new ones

Two ature women in hats talk over a fence.

Two ature women in hats talk over a fence.

Close-up of a tabby cat receiving pats on the face.

Close-up of a tabby cat receiving pats on the face.

Do you speak cat? Take this quiz to find out

It will take more than the new Children’s Booker Prize to arrest the dramatic decline in reading enjoyment

It will take more than the new Children’s Booker Prize to arrest the dramatic decline in reading enjoyment

It will take more than the new Children’s Booker Prize to arrest the dramatic decline in reading enjoyment

After 2 years of devastating war, will Arab countries now turn their backs on Israel?

After 2 years of devastating war, will Arab countries now turn their backs on Israel?

After 2 years of devastating war, will Arab countries now turn their backs on Israel?

Ancient Greeks and Romans knew harming the environment could change the climate

Pliny the Elder in discussion with emperor Vespasian.

Pliny the Elder in discussion with emperor Vespasian.

Why do some of us love AI, while others hate it? The answer is in how our brains perceive risk and trust

Eye

Eye

ASIO boss warns of ‘realistic possibility’ foreign government could attempt to kill a dissident in Australia

ASIO boss warns of ‘realistic possibility’ foreign government could attempt to kill a dissident in Australia

ASIO boss warns of ‘realistic possibility’ foreign government could attempt to kill a dissident in Australia

The ABC gives true crime the comedy panel show treatment – with expectedly mixed results

Five people on a panel in a studio.

Five people on a panel in a studio.

An illustration of an space view of north America, with satellite connections and rocket launch sites

An illustration of an space view of north America, with satellite connections and rocket launch sites

The threat of space terrorism is no longer science fiction, but we’re ill-prepared to combat it

The ‘doorman fallacy’: why careless adoption of AI backfires so easily

A man in uniform waves from an old school trolley at a passing customer.

A man in uniform waves from an old school trolley at a passing customer.

Vaping has slowed progress in cutting teen smoking in NZ – new study

A young person vaping, with a cloud of vapour covering their face

A young person vaping, with a cloud of vapour covering their face

Cuts to key research facilities threaten Australia’s ability to be a global scientific leader

A copper tube.

A copper tube.

Yes, you can be intolerant to fruit and veg

Slices of watermelon

Slices of watermelon

Is it healthier to only eat until you’re 80% full? The Japanese philosophy of hara hachi bu

A white plate with a few bites of bread and vegetables leftover.

A white plate with a few bites of bread and vegetables leftover.

Does fasting dull your mental edge? We crunched the data for the best advice

Stylised image of a plate and cutlery drooping over a bar

Stylised image of a plate and cutlery drooping over a bar

Unpaid ‘women’s work’ is worth $427 billion, new research shows. See how much your unpaid labour is worth

A cutout of a woman with illustrations of laundry, a pram and caring for a grandparent in the background.

A cutout of a woman with illustrations of laundry, a pram and caring for a grandparent in the background.

Don’t dismiss kids’ sadness or anger. How to minimise family conflict over the social media ban

A boy looks glum, with his head in his hand.

A boy looks glum, with his head in his hand.

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Niki Savva and David Solomon on The Dismissal

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Niki Savva and David Solomon on The Dismissal

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Niki Savva and David Solomon on The Dismissal

‘How should I cast my soul?’ Patti Smith’s intimate new memoir is a quest for her true self

‘How should I cast my soul?’ Patti Smith’s intimate new memoir is a quest for her true self

‘How should I cast my soul?’ Patti Smith’s intimate new memoir is a quest for her true self

Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him

Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him

Tony Abbott’s history of Australia wants us to be proud of men like him

View from The Hill: Unmoored Ley has the appearance of a dead woman walking

View from The Hill: Unmoored Ley has the appearance of a dead woman walking

View from The Hill: Unmoored Ley has the appearance of a dead woman walking

View from The Hill: Nationals dump net zero – say Australia shouldn’t cut emissions faster than comparable countries

View from The Hill: Nationals dump net zero – say Australia shouldn’t cut emissions faster than comparable countries

View from The Hill: Nationals dump net zero – say Australia shouldn’t cut emissions faster than comparable countries

Seven albums to listen to during a breakup – from Lily Allen to Marvin Gaye

A painting of Lily Allen in a large blue puffer coat

A painting of Lily Allen in a large blue puffer coat

Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’

Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’

Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’

No longer ‘Prince Andrew’: an expert on how royals can be stripped of their titles

Prince Andrew walks in a street.

Prince Andrew walks in a street.

Is the Melbourne Cup losing its appeal? Here’s what the numbers reveal

Jockey Robbie Dolan rides Knights Choice to victory in race 7, the Lexus Melbourne Cup during the 2024 Melbourne Cup

Jockey Robbie Dolan rides Knights Choice to victory in race 7, the Lexus Melbourne Cup during the 2024 Melbourne Cup

More news + analysis

Unfair Futures

5 charts that show how young Australians are getting screwed

Composite image of a young person looking down at a phone in front of paper background

Composite image of a young person looking down at a phone in front of paper background

Taking from the young, giving to the old: how our tax system is letting us down

Taking from the young, giving to the old: how our tax system is letting us down

Taking from the young, giving to the old: how our tax system is letting us down

How much does it really cost to raise a child? An expert does the maths

A baby on a composite image backdrop of paper and money

A baby on a composite image backdrop of paper and money

Climate change is a crisis of intergenerational justice. It’s not too late to make it right

A composite image of a row of young people on their phones as the planet burns

A composite image of a row of young people on their phones as the planet burns

Subscribe for free, independent, evidence-based news in your inbox

Try our newsletter

New research

Why do giraffes have such long legs? Animal simulations reveal a surprising answer

A giraffe's head against a blue sky

A giraffe's head against a blue sky

New linguistics research casts doubt on decades-old murder conviction

The silhouette of a man in front of a black and white train station

The silhouette of a man in front of a black and white train station

Engineering crops to photosynthesise better just got one step closer to reality

Plants growing greenly in sunshine

Plants growing greenly in sunshine

Spiders inspired biologists to create artificial webs to capture airborne DNA for biodiversity monitoring

A spider in its web

A spider in its web

More new research

Federal politics

Coalition’s primary vote plunges to record low and One Nation surges to record high in Newspoll

Coalition’s primary vote plunges to record low and One Nation surges to record high in Newspoll

Coalition’s primary vote plunges to record low and One Nation surges to record high in Newspoll

Labor’s environmental law overhaul: a little progress and a lot of compromise

mangroves and river in foreground, town in the background.

mangroves and river in foreground, town in the background.

View from The Hill: pressure on embattled Ley to do a deal on EPBC reform

View from The Hill: pressure on embattled Ley to do a deal on EPBC reform

View from The Hill: pressure on embattled Ley to do a deal on EPBC reform

Grattan on Friday: Albanese government hasn’t walked its talk about accountability and integrity

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Grattan on Friday: Albanese government hasn’t walked its talk about accountability and integrity

Grattan on Friday: Albanese government hasn’t walked its talk about accountability and integrity

More Federal politics

World

Why was it ‘necessary’ for King Charles to take action on Andrew – and why now?

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor in a black suit and tie

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor in a black suit and tie

Trump is repeating the long, painful history of US ‘policing’ of Latin America

Trump is repeating the long, painful history of US ‘policing’ of Latin America

Trump is repeating the long, painful history of US ‘policing’ of Latin America

If the US resumes nuclear weapons testing, this would be extremely dangerous for humanity

If the US resumes nuclear weapons testing, this would be extremely dangerous for humanity

If the US resumes nuclear weapons testing, this would be extremely dangerous for humanity

Milei’s win should lock in financial backing from Trump. But at what cost to Argentinians?

argentinian president javier milei gives a celebratory speech in front of a backdrop reading 'gracias'

argentinian president javier milei gives a celebratory speech in front of a backdrop reading 'gracias'

Climate

COP30: NZ’s lack of climate ambition undermines global goals and free-trade agreements

Climate change minister Simon Watts at a media briefing.

Climate change minister Simon Watts at a media briefing.

In 2024, the climate crisis worsened in all ways. But we can still limit warming with bold action

A raging bushfire behind black trees

A raging bushfire behind black trees

Climate change is a crisis of intergenerational justice. It’s not too late to make it right

A composite image of a row of young people on their phones as the planet burns

A composite image of a row of young people on their phones as the planet burns

White elephant? Hardly – Snowy 2.0 will last 150 years and work with batteries to push out gas

reservoir with tree covered hills

reservoir with tree covered hills

Sport

Could a cheetah win the Melbourne Cup?

Different animal species 'race' along Flemington racetrack in a hypothetical Melbourne Cup.

Different animal species 'race' along Flemington racetrack in a hypothetical Melbourne Cup.

Running ‘super shoes’ may make you faster – but at what cost?

Chimdessa Debele of Ethiopia poses with his shoe after coming third in the 2025 Berlin Marathon.

Chimdessa Debele of Ethiopia poses with his shoe after coming third in the 2025 Berlin Marathon.

Pro-cycling crashes can be bad, but evidence suggests slower bikes aren’t the answer

Pro-cycling crashes can be bad, but evidence suggests slower bikes aren’t the answer

Pro-cycling crashes can be bad, but evidence suggests slower bikes aren’t the answer

Ange Postecoglou’s sackings may say more about the Premier League’s attention span than him

Ange Postecoglou reacts during Nottingham Forest's loss to Chelsea

Ange Postecoglou reacts during Nottingham Forest's loss to Chelsea

Podcasts

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sam Rae on big changes to aged care

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sam Rae on big changes to aged care

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sam Rae on big changes to aged care

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tony Abbott on Australia’s past and the opposition’s future

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tony Abbott on Australia’s past and the opposition’s future

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tony Abbott on Australia’s past and the opposition’s future

Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Tony Barry on why the Coalition can’t risk ‘lurching to the right’

Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Tony Barry on why the Coalition can’t risk ‘lurching to the right’

Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Tony Barry on why the Coalition can’t risk ‘lurching to the right’

The hidden sources of forever chemicals leaking into rivers – and what to do about them

The River Mersey estuary.

The River Mersey estuary.

All episodes of Politics with Michelle Grattan

All episodes of The Conversation Weekly

Reviews

A stage adaptation of Dying: A Memoir asks the big questions about death – but ends up strangely unmoving

Genevieve Morris

Genevieve Morris

Nobody Wants This: season two tries to push beyond stereotyping Jewish women, but doesn’t get very far

Joanne and Noah in front of his synagogue.

Joanne and Noah in front of his synagogue.

Why do we think hard work is virtuous? Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic gives a sharp answer

Why do we think hard work is virtuous? Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic gives a sharp answer

Why do we think hard work is virtuous? Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic gives a sharp answer

Kiran Desai’s first novel in nearly 20 years is shortlisted for the Booker. Last time, she won it

Kiran Desai’s first novel in nearly 20 years is shortlisted for the Booker. Last time, she won it

Kiran Desai’s first novel in nearly 20 years is shortlisted for the Booker. Last time, she won it

Your say

Your say: week beginning November 3

Your say: week beginning November 3

Your say: week beginning November 3

Your say: week beginning October 27

Your say: week beginning October 27

Your say: week beginning October 27

Your say: week beginning October 20

Your say: week beginning October 20

Your say: week beginning October 20

Your say: week beginning October 13

Your say: week beginning October 13

Your say: week beginning October 13

Are you an academic expert who wants to share your knowledge?

Pitch an article

Most read this week

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Newsletters

Subscribe to The Conversation Daily

Subscribe to Science newsletter

Stars

Stars

Subscribe to NZ Weekly

Mountain

Mountain

Subscribe to Books & Ideas Weekly

Lightbulb

Lightbulb

Jobs Board

Editorial Internship

Applications close 21 November 2025

Melbourne Victoria, Australia

Professional Clinician in Nursing

Applications close 04 December 2025

Wellington, New Zealand

Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Conversation UK

Applications close 04 December 2025

PhD opportunity: Using metagenomics to study wildlife and disease risk on northern Australian islands

Applications close 03 December 2025

Darwin NT, Australia

Events

Safeguarding in Sport Course

University of Technology Sydney