Newsletters
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

What is Françafrique? The taboo word that reveals the shifting influence of France in Africa

Christophe Premat, Stockholm University

An African man and a European man raise their arms in the air surrounded by a jubilant crowd of African men, mostly in suits.
China’s new 5-year plan: A high-stakes bet on self-reliance that won’t fix an unbalanced economy

Shaoyu Yuan, New York University; Rutgers University

The shadow of a person obscures some Chinese writing and a hammer and sickle emblem.
Zohran Mamdani’s transformative child care plan builds on a history of NYC social innovations

Simon Black, Brock University

Several people hold signs supporting universal child care.
Seven albums to listen to during a breakup – from Lily Allen to Marvin Gaye

Charlotte Curran, University of Leeds

A painting of Lily Allen in a large blue puffer coat
All government shutdowns disrupt science − in 2025, the consequences extend far beyond a lapse in funding

Kenneth M. Evans, Rice University

The US capitol building shown from below at an angle, with a cloudy sky in the background.
Can a pro-federation win in Northern Cyprus revive the island’s stalled reunification?

Spyros A. Sofos, Simon Fraser University

A smiling man wearing glasses with short grey hair holds a microphone and waves.
Cyclists wait at a red light

Cyclists may be right to run stop signs and red lights. Here’s why

Steve Lorteau, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

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

Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex

Dick Cheney sat beside George W. Bush Jr.
Why do giraffes have such long legs? Animal simulations reveal a surprising answer

Roger S. Seymour, University of Adelaide and Edward Snelling, University of Pretoria

A giraffe's head against a blue sky
Trump-Xi talks will not have changed the priorities of the Chinese government
Donald Trump speaks with Xi Jinping.
Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’

Kate Cantrell, University of Southern Queensland

Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’
Congress has been dodging responsibility for tariffs for decades – now the Supreme Court will decide how far presidents can go alone

Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth

A photoillustration juxtaposes the Supreme Court building with hundred-dollar bills.
Peace in Sudan? 3 reasons why mediation hasn’t worked so far

Samir Ramzy, Helwan University

Women and children in the foreground sitting on the ground, with a man walking in the background with a sack on his head.
A man bows his head before a shrine.

‘Only death can protect us’: How the folk saint La Santa Muerte reflects violence in Mexico

Myriam Lamrani, Harvard University

Ukraine’s massive nature project is helping veterans and land recover

Ukraine’s massive nature project is helping veterans and land recover

Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex and James Canton, University of Essex

Beware the Anglo-Saxons! Why Russia likes to invoke a medieval tribe when talking about the West
A man lights a candle next to a statue and engraving.
How a ‘sewer socialism’ revival could see Zohran Mamdani become New York’s next mayor
How a ‘sewer socialism’ revival could see Zohran Mamdani become New York’s next mayor
Is it aliens? Why that’s the least important question about interstellar objects

Laura Nicole Driessen, University of Sydney

Shiny blue lights against a black void
What will Trump’s deal with Xi mean for the US economy and relations with China? Expert Q&A
A laptop screen displaying Donald Trump and Xi Jinping shaking hands.
A world map showing the extent of the British Empire in 1886.

The rise and fall of globalisation: the battle to be top dog

A digital map of the world with financial icons overlaid.

The rise and fall of globalisation: why the world’s next financial meltdown could be much worse with the US on the sidelines

US leaders view China as a ‘pacing threat’ − has Washington enough stamina to last the race?
Two sprinters compete on a track.
Adult ADHD is diagnosed when you are ‘functionally impaired’. But what does that mean?

David Coghill, The University of Melbourne

Woman sits on a river wall
In 2024, the climate crisis worsened in all ways. But we can still limit warming with bold action
A raging bushfire behind black trees
Prince Andrew’s ‘one peppercorn’ lease exposes how little is known about royal finances
Andrwe standing in the arched doorway of a chapel
A marquee in the dark says 'The Rocky Horror Live Show'

How The Rocky Horror Picture Show reveals the magic of cult cinema

Amy Anderson, University of Victoria

ICJ tells Israel to let UN aid flow into Gaza – but UN’s own failures throughout the war loom large
Palestinians receive food from a charity kitchen.
New images reveal the Milky Way’s stunning galactic plane in more detail than ever before
New images reveal the Milky Way’s stunning galactic plane in more detail than ever before
Africa’s trade deal with the US was left in limbo: what exporters can do about it

Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth

A busy textile factory floor
Chinese controls on rare earths could create challenges for the west’s plans for green tech
An electric car being charged.
New study finds luxury tourism is a risky strategy for African economies
An aerial photo of a curved structure with large curved pool right on a beach and the sea, where a speedboat is seen.
The leader most capable of governing a future Palestinian state is languishing in an Israeli jail
The leader most capable of governing a future Palestinian state is languishing in an Israeli jail
Companies now own more than $100 billion in bitcoin – but the shine may be wearing off crypto treasury companies
The bitcoin symbol on a background with charts
Netflix’s A House of Dynamite sounds the nuclear alarm, but how worried should we be?
Rebecca Ferguson on the set of A House of Dynamite.
Two men in silk loincloths crouch on a dirt floor as another man in ornate red robes looks on.

Japan’s sumo association turns 100 – but the sport’s rituals have a much older role shaping ideas about the country

Syria’s new leader promised democracy. Then he excluded women from parliamentary elections
Syria’s new leader promised democracy. Then he excluded women from parliamentary elections
The lost history of Latin America’s role in averting catastrophe during the Cuban missile crisis
A picture of a map.
When it comes to Ukraine peace negotiations, it’s all over the map

Gerard Toal, Virginia Tech

A man sits at a desk talking to several other people. A map is behind him.
High-tech cameras capture the secrets of venomous snake bites

Alistair Evans, Monash University

High-tech cameras capture the secrets of venomous snake bites
New discovery reveals chimpanzees in Uganda use flying insects to tend their wounds
Chimpanzee in forest
In her revenue era: the economics behind Taylor Swift’s 34 versions of The Life of a Showgirl
A composite image showing Taylor Swift, US cash notes, and various Taylor Swift album covers
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines could unlock the next revolution in cancer treatment – new research
Scanning electron micrograph image of immune cells attached to cancer cells, against a purple background.
A Supreme Court showdown looms for Trump’s tariffs. Will it limit presidential power?
A Supreme Court showdown looms for Trump’s tariffs. Will it limit presidential power?

Voices from the sea

Voices from the sea, part one: people rescued in the Mediterranean tell their stories of survival in ‘onboard workshops’

Part one: people rescued in the Mediterranean tell their stories of survival in ‘onboard workshops’

Part two: using maps and drawings, survivors share the dangers they faced on their journeys to reach the ship
Cards and post-it notes used aboard the OV ship.
Part three: how do exiled people experience their moment of rescue?
Voices from the sea, part three: how do exiled people experience their moment of rescue?
Part four: when dreams reach land, what’s next?
Voices from the sea, part four: when dreams reach land, what’s next?

Understand what's going on in the world

Get the best of The Conversation in your inbox

Life and art

Is Halloween too scary for kids?
Two children in skeleton costumes and masks.
Lisztomania: why did women go gaga for 19th century pianist Franz Liszt?
A portrait of Franz Liszt by Henri Lehmann/Wikimedia Commons
Harper Lee’s unpublished stories are not ‘thrilling’ – but offer insight into a literary legend
Harper Lee’s unpublished stories are not ‘thrilling’ – but offer insight into a literary legend
Why ghosts wear clothes or white sheets instead of appearing in the nude
ghost of a woman playing piano

Environment

Why climate summits fail – and three ways to save them

Why climate summits fail – and three ways to save them

Francesco Grillo, Bocconi University

The great wildebeest migration, seen from space: satellites and AI are helping count Africa’s wildlife
Large herd of animals crossing a river
The hidden sources of forever chemicals leaking into rivers – and what to do about them
The River Mersey estuary.
What are climate tipping points? They sound scary, especially for ice sheets and oceans, but there’s still room for optimism
An aerial view of meltwater on the ice sheet
Trump’s words aren’t stopping China, Brazil and many other countries from setting higher climate goals, but progress is slow
An aerial view of an island filled with buildings. The ocean is a brilliant blue.

Health

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

Aisling Pigott, Cardiff Metropolitan University

A white plate with a few bites of bread and vegetables leftover.
Your gluten sensitivity might be something else entirely, new study shows
Shop or cafe assistant placing 'gluten free' label on chocolate brownies
Should I take a magnesium supplement? Will it help me sleep or prevent muscle cramps?
African-Australian woman wearing a yellow jumper takes a magnesium supplement
The dark history of medical illustrations and the question of consent

Lucy E. Hyde, University of Bristol

Various anatomical drawings.

Science and Technology

Why industry-standard labels for AI in music could change how we listen
Different music apps on a smartphone.
An Amazon outage has rattled the internet. A computer scientist explains why the ‘cloud’ needs to change
A purple exhibition stand with a white sign above it featuring the letters "AWS".
The world wide web was meant to unite us, but is tearing us apart instead. Is there another way?
The world wide web was meant to unite us, but is tearing us apart instead. Is there another way?
How we sharpened the James Webb telescope’s vision from a million kilometres away
How we sharpened the James Webb telescope’s vision from a million kilometres away

Business and economy

The price of gold is skyrocketing. Why, and will it continue?
Gold and silver bullion are seen at Pallion in Marrickville, Sydney
Cuba’s leaders see their options dim amid blackouts and a shrinking economy
The silhouettes of men and women are seen in a dark street.
US economy is already on the edge – a prolonged government shutdown could send it tumbling over
a far horizon can be seen in the desert at the edge of a high cliff that juts out
Why Argentina is looking to the Trump administration for a bailout − and what the US Treasury can do to help
Two men in suits shake hands.

The Conversation Weekly Podcast

How trafficked American guns fuel Mexico’s cartel violence – podcast
Guns on a table in Mexico.
Three scientists speak about what it’s like to have research funding cut by the Trump administration
A sign saying science helps you held up by a protestor.
Birkin v Wirkin: the backlash against the global elite and their luxury bags – podcast
A Hermes bag with a view of a city skyline behind
How AI could influence the evolution of humanity – podcast
Illustration of evolution of humanity from primates to an unknown future with a blue light.
Subscribe to The Conversation Weekly podcast

Most read this weekas

1.
Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’

Kate Cantrell, University of Southern Queensland

Prince Andrew stripped of all titles after Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. Her family declares ‘victory’
2.
Earthshot prize’s request for a vegan menu for Prince William leaves a bitter taste in the Amazon

Belinda Zakrzewska, University of Birmingham; Flavia Cardoso, and Maria-Carolina Zanette, Neoma Business School

Earthshot prize’s request for a vegan menu for Prince William leaves a bitter taste in the Amazon
3.
Sex with 1,000 men in 12 hours: why Bonnie Blue is neither a feminist nor a monster

Lexi Eikelboom, Australian Catholic University

Sex with 1,000 men in 12 hours: why Bonnie Blue is neither a feminist nor a monster
4.
The rise and fall of globalisation: why the world’s next financial meltdown could be much worse with the US on the sidelines

Steve Schifferes, City St George's, University of London

The rise and fall of globalisation: why the world’s next financial meltdown could be much worse with the US on the sidelines
5.
If the US resumes nuclear weapons testing, this would be extremely dangerous for humanity

Tilman Ruff, The University of Melbourne

If the US resumes nuclear weapons testing, this would be extremely dangerous for humanity
6.
Creativity is good for the brain and might even slow down its ageing – new study

Carlos Coronel, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez and Agustín Ibáñez, Trinity College

Creativity is good for the brain and might even slow down its ageing – new study