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The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

Five warning signs that rivers are polluted – even when they look clean

After months of relentlessly miserable weather for most of the UK, spring brings renewed enthusiasm for spending time outdoors hiking, wild swimming, paddling or on walks.

The Conversation

May elections: what five politics experts are looking out for

On May 7 2026, voters in England, Scotland and Wales will head to the polls. Parliamentary elections are taking place in the devolved Welsh Senedd Cymru and Scottish Parliament, and local elections for over 4,850 councillor roles could have huge implications for local governments throughout England. With all to play…

The Conversation

I was in Georgia in the late 1980s: I observed how tradition survived harsh Sovietisation and rapid transformation

When Soviet president and Communist party secretary Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the policies of perestroika (reconstruction) and glasnost (openness) in the mid-1980s, it marked the beginning of cautious reforms of the Soviet Union. Georgia, or the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, to give it its full name at the time, was on…

The Conversation

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Embryo fossil found in South Africa is world’s oldest proof that mammal ancestors laid eggs

Between 280 and 200 million years ago, a group of animals evolved which would eventually give rise to mammals, including humans: the therapsids. They were first described more than 150 years ago, based on fossils from South Africa. Since then, many more fossils have been discovered.

The Conversation

Pope Leo’s visit to Africa: theology scholar outlines 3 realities the Catholic church must face

Pope Leo’s decision to make Africa one of the early destinations of his young papacy signals the continent’s importance in global Catholicism. His April 2026 visit reflects both his personal ties to Africa and the rapid rise of Christianity across the continent.

The Conversation

Hands off my hat! The hidden power of headwear and ‘hatiquette’ in early modern England – new study

Around 8pm on a cold February evening in 1733, a gentleman named Francis Peters was returning to his home near Knightsbridge, London, in a hackney cab, when someone knocked on the wooden shutters of the door. An armed horseman thrust a pistol inside, demanded Peters’s money and valuables and snatched…

The Conversation

What is andrographis, the cold and flu ingredient the TGA says can be fatal?

A herb commonly sold in cold and flu supplements may no longer be classified as “low-risk”, after Australia’s therapeutic goods regulator found it can cause severe allergic reactions and even death.

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More Australian LNG to Singapore flagged as Albanese looks to strengthen oil supply chain

Increased exports of Australian LNG to Singapore are in prospect, after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in Friday talks to shore up Australia’s oil supply chain.

The Conversation

Who checks Australian theme park rides and roller coasters are safe? A risk expert explains

As thousands of people packed into the Gold Coast’s Warner Bros Movie World theme park for the school holidays on Wednesday, one of Australia’s biggest roller coaster rides ground to a halt.

The Conversation

What actually is ‘civilisation’? The dark and loaded history behind Trump’s threat against Iran

In the midst of a war of his own choosing, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, recently tried to threaten his way out of it. On April 7, he posted on Truth Social that unless Iran buckled to his will, “a whole civilization will die tonight”.

The Conversation

Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb, has genuine warmth – but doesn’t quite work as a musical

The Deb is finally here. The film has been plagued by unresolved legal troubles and repeated delays. But here it is – and for the most part, it’s an enjoyable Australian comedy with characteristically crude humour, but aimed squarely at a young, female audience.

The Conversation

Artemis II: as humans return to the Moon, which of these 4 futures will we choose?

The four Artemis II astronauts who looped around the Moon this week are expected to splash down soon. NASA’s grand mission spells a return to human deep-space travel, with renewed interest in building a long-term Moon base.

The Conversation

Poetry for an anxious world: 5 experts share poems of grief, hope and restoration

Tumultuous times create heightened, often complex, emotions. It can be hard to voice or even identify our feelings when faced with war, illness, worry, or great changes of any kind.

The Conversation

What will it take to get ships going through the Strait of Hormuz again?

Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump, linked to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prompted immediate optimism shipping would quickly resume. It didn’t.

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NZ is surrounded by ocean energy. Just what would it take to tap it?

“Same as it ever was” is a phrase that continues to resonate in 2026.

The Conversation

‘First contact’ that may have led to complex life on Earth finally witnessed by scientists

On the shores of the west coast of Australia lies a window to our past: the stromatolites and microbial mats of Gathaagudu (Shark Bay).

The Conversation

After ceasefire, negotiating a lasting deal with Iran would require overcoming regional rivalries and strategic incoherence

President Donald Trump’s rapid and dramatic turn from threatening to kill “an entire civilization” in Iran on the morning of April 7, 2026, to announcing a two-week ceasefire later that day left many observers with a sense of whiplash.

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Can the Middle East ceasefire hold?

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Drinking water contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’ during pregnancy linked to an increased risk of childhood asthma – new study

Pfas, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals found in everything from food packaging to firefighting foam. Often called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, they can affect our health and disrupt our immune system.

The Conversation

Friday essay: Bollywood helped make me – now, it projects Modi’s Indian nationalism

My earliest memories are of Methodist Mission quarters in the diocese of Dilkusha, Fiji. Dilkusha, the name of a minor Indian principality, was mentioned in E.M. Forster’s classic novel A Passage to India: its name literally means “Heart’s Delight” in Hindi–Urdu.

The Conversation

Will knee injections help your osteoarthritis? Here’s what the evidence says

Knee osteoarthritis is a complex disease that affects the whole joint, including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and movement difficulty, affecting 8.3% of people in Australia.

The Conversation

Meet Diocletian – the Roman emperor who retired to grow cabbages

Very few Roman emperors died natural deaths. Most were assassinated, some died in battle and one was even struck by lightning. Some emperors sensed the danger and got out of Rome altogether.

The Conversation

Fixating on a ‘magic number’ of childcare hours misses what’s most important for kids’ development

Families with kids juggling full-time work may have been alarmed by media reporting this week, suggesting “too much” time in early childhood education and care could harm their child’s development.

The Conversation

Is Australia at risk of a recession? Here’s what the data actually shows

Talk of a recession in Australia has picked up in recent weeks. Rising fuel prices, a sharp fall in consumer confidence, and signs of softer spending have all added to concerns the economy may be losing momentum.

The Conversation

Pauline Hanson has a long list of enemies. It’s intentional

Pretty much everyone of a certain age remembers this line in Pauline Hanson’s maiden speech: “I’m afraid we’re in danger of being swamped by Asians.”

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