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The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

Architecture isn’t neutral. It’s been shaping political power for millennia

Among his other ongoing projects, US President Donald Trump has spent much of his second term on a renovation. The Oval Office has been converted into a miniature palace festooned with gold bling, the rose garden has been paved over, a triumphal arch is planned and the new ballroom will…

The Conversation

Babblers, cops and quacks: the sometimes dark – but often amusing – origins of nicknames for jobs

These days, human resources (HR) departments want us to use official titles for jobs. But we know the social truths of a job — how well that job gets done, whether we like the person doing it — are much more complex.

The Conversation

West Coast levee failures show growing risks from America’s aging flood defenses

In recent weeks, powerful atmospheric river storms have swept across Washington, Oregon and California, unloading enormous amounts of rain. As rivers surged, they overtopped or breached multiple levees – those long, often unnoticed barriers holding floodwaters back from homes and towns.

The Conversation

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LA fires showed how much neighborliness matters for wildfire safety – schools can do much more to teach it

On Jan. 7, 2025, people across the Los Angeles area watched in horror as powerful winds began spreading wildfires through neighborhood after neighborhood. Over three weeks, the fires destroyed more than 16,000 homes and businesses. At least 31 people died, and studies suggest the smoke and stress likely contributed to…

The Conversation

Has the Fed fixed the economy yet? And other burning economic questions for 2026

The U.S. economy heads into 2026 in an unusual place: Inflation is down from its peak in mid-2022, growth has held up better than many expected, and yet American households say that things still feel shaky. Uncertainty is the watchword, especially with a major Supreme Court ruling on tariffs on…

The Conversation

The ‘sacred’ pledge that will power the relaunch of far-right militia Oath Keepers

Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia, announced in November 2025 that he will relaunch the group after it disbanded following his prison sentence in 2023.

The Conversation

What loving-kindness meditation is and how to practice it in the new year

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AI agents arrived in 2025 – here’s what happened and the challenges ahead in 2026

In artificial intelligence, 2025 marked a decisive shift. Systems once confined to research labs and prototypes began to appear as everyday tools. At the center of this transition was the rise of AI agents – AI systems that can use other software tools and act on their own.

The Conversation

More women, same inequalities: How symbolic violence quietly persists in Indonesian diplomacy

Although the world of diplomacy often seen as glamorous and progressive, women and men continue to operate within a gender order that privileges masculine norms, while women still struggle to be recognised fully as diplomats and as independent subjects, beyond their social roles as wives or mothers.

The Conversation

Are we the Martians? The intriguing idea that life on Earth began on the red planet

How did life begin on Earth? While scientists have theories, they don’t yet fully understand the precise chemical steps that led to biology, or when the first primitive life forms appeared.

The Conversation

The health benefits of swearing

You stub your toe on the bedpost. Before your brain even registers the pain, a word explodes from your mouth – sharp, loud and oddly satisfying.

The Conversation

How to combat the post-Christmas slump

For many people, the run-up to Christmas is filled with excitement and anticipation. For others, it can quietly tip into something more difficult. A drop in mood is particularly common after Christmas, especially in the final week of the year and the first days of the new one. Understanding why…

The Conversation

Biophobia: why some people hate nature – and what you can do about it

We’re constantly told that spending time in nature is good for the body and the mind alike. A large body of research shows multiple health benefits from contact with nature, ranging from stress reduction to an improved immune system and even improved academic achievement in children.

The Conversation

Five myths about learning a new language – busted

Language learning is often a daunting prospect. Many of us wish we had learned a language to a higher level at school. But even though adults of all ages can do well in acquiring a new language, fear – or the memory of struggling to memorise grammar at school –…

The Conversation

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The Conversation

Festive maths puzzles – answers and explanations

Here are the answers to the festive maths quiz I set on December 23. I hope you enjoyed it.

The Conversation

Choosing a career? In a fast-changing job market, listen to your inner self – counsellor

The world of work today, in the 21st century, is far more unpredictable than it was in the 20th century. Jobs come and go, roles change constantly, and automation and digital disruption are the only constants. Many young people will one day do jobs that don’t yet exist or did…

The Conversation

Emma Johnston was a visionary scientist, environmentalist and leader, with an abiding hope for humanity

Emma Johnston, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne who has died aged 52, was a marine ecologist, a visionary leader in science and research, a passionate champion of the environment, a brilliant and engaging communicator, and a caring mentor. Emma was also our friend.

The Conversation

5 lessons about misinformation from ancient Greek and Roman scientists

Ancient scientists can be easy to dismiss.

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The Conversation

Music can affect your driving – but not always how you’d expect

For many of us, listening to music is simply part of the driving routine – as ordinary as wearing a seatbelt. We build playlists for road trips, pick songs to stay awake, and even turn the volume up when traffic gets stressful.

The Conversation

NZ report card 2025: how the country fared in 28 key global and domestic rankings

Standardised testing and regular progress assessment became key features of the education system this year, so why not apply those same principles to New Zealand as a whole?

The Conversation

Deep in holiday debt? How to start repaying overdue credit and buy now, pay later bills

Christmas lunch is over, all the presents are unwrapped. Now comes the hard part: paying for it all.

The Conversation

How did Australian laws change in 2025? Here are 6 you need to know

Some people take heart in the idea that the law is resistant to change, arguing that this reinforces its stability. Others delight in its ability to adapt to change, as that reflects its flexibility. In our eyes, the latter view is rapidly gaining ascendancy.

The Conversation

I love my friends … I do not love their kids

At this time of the year, with lots of parties, family catch-ups and holiday plans, you might be reminded of how much you love your friends.

The Conversation

With every extinction, we lose not just a species but a treasure trove of knowledge

The millions of species humans share the world with are valuable in their own right. When one species is lost, it has a ripple effect throughout the ecosystems it existed within.

The Conversation

Donald Trump’s first step to becoming a would-be autocrat – hijacking a party

We used to have a pretty clear idea of what an autocrat was. History is full of examples: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, along with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping today. The list goes on.

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