The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

What helps children feel safe at school?

The issue of children missing school in England remains an urgent problem. New data shows that in the 2024-25 academic year, 18% of pupils were persistently absent, meaning that they missed 10% of their morning and afternoon sessions at school – around 19 days.

The Conversation · Oct 6

Medicine and God: how medieval people faced the deadly pneumonic plague

There have been conflicting reports about the death of an employee at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute in Russia, including the claim that she contracted the pneumonic plague.

The Conversation · Oct 6

The death of a Russian plague researcher, explained by a microbiologist

Conflicting information about the death of a lab worker at a Russian plague research institute has fuelled fears about the possibility of pneumonic plague spreading.

The Conversation · Oct 6

How to build an expansion club: the challenges and opportunities for the new NRL and AFL teams

The 2026 Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) seasons have finished in a blaze of glory for the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Roosters.

The Conversation · Oct 6

Where are the best places for life in the cosmos? A universe in a supercomputer yields the answer

Earth seems like a troubled place right now, but at least our cosmic surroundings appear peaceful. But this is not universally true, as explosions, collisions and other dangers lurk in other places and times.

The Conversation · Oct 6

Cheap Chinese EVs could soon shake up NZ’s used car market. Are we ready?

BYD’s electric Atto 1 looks much like any other modern city car. It has a five-star safety rating, a touchscreen-equipped interior and, by most accounts, is surprisingly refined to drive.

The Conversation · Oct 5

You’ve probably never heard of synchronous condensers. But they’re essential in the push for renewables

Australia’s power grid is changing quickly. Coal-fired power stations are gradually shutting down as renewables such as solar and wind grow.

The Conversation · Oct 5

Optogenetics wins the Nobel – one neuroscience breakthrough in a line of technological innovations helping scientists map and control the brain

The brain is unbelievably complicated, which is both daunting and fascinating for neuroscientists like me. In the space of a cubic millimeter – about the size of a single poppy seed – there are tens of thousands of neurons and other brain support cells, all influencing each other’s function.

The Conversation · Oct 5

Albertans disapprove of Donald Trump — and his brand is weakening separatism, too

American interest in Alberta separatism over the last 18 months has ranged from overt statements of support from cabinet officials and congressional allies to backing of the sovereignty movement by the wider MAGA media ecosystem online.

The Conversation · Oct 5

Brazil election: Authoritarian right gain an edge, fueled by voter apathy and discontent

The far-right bubble that has seen populist rightist figures elected across Latin America spilled over and flooded the ballot box in Brazil’s general elections held on Oct. 4, 2026 – fueled by a discontented and distrustful public. In spite of voting being mandatory in the country for literate citizens aged…

The Conversation · Oct 5