The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

Just politics or the ‘opposite of clever’? The risks and rewards of strategic voting

As the pitch of the election campaign intensifies in New Zealand, a very particular species of political phenomenon has emerged: so-called strategic (or tactical) voting and its potential consequence, a parliamentary overhang.

The Conversation · Oct 13

From Melbourne to Madrid, housing is shaping modern politics. But who benefits?

Spain is in the middle of a political reckoning over housing. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called an early election for November 29, after parliament rejected his government’s emergency housing measures amid widespread anger over rising rents and housing insecurity.

The Conversation · Oct 13

Doing end-of-year exams? 5 foods that are good for brain health – and what to avoid

Your brain influences your appetite, how you respond to food and whether you feel full. And the relationship also works the other way around: what you eat can directly influence how your brain works.

The Conversation · Oct 13

Possessed nuns and sexual deviance: the history behind Ken Russell’s highly-censored film The Devils

The long-awaited director’s cut of the late Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils will be released this month, featuring previously unseen censored material such as the notorious “rape of Christ” sequence.

The Conversation · Oct 12

Your say: week beginning October 12

Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at [email protected].

The Conversation · Oct 12

California is taking a beating from an unusually destructive 2026 Pacific hurricane season

California isn’t a place most Americans associate with tropical weather, but it’s taking a beating in 2026 from one of the most active eastern Pacific hurricane seasons in modern history.

The Conversation · Oct 12

Reading alone, together is all the rage at book doofs and reading parties. What makes it social?

It’s called a doof, but it’s actually all about quiet reading. There are beanbags, some chairs and a few shared tables, where readers sit (or lie) down and read their separate books. Maybe some music playing in the background. Book Doof’s founder calls it a social experience. But can people…

The Conversation · Oct 12

Hooked on tuna: People have been harvesting these ocean predators for 44,000 years

From a humble mayonnaise-laden sandwich to an expensive piece of sashimi, tuna is a prized source of food for people around the world. Once an inexpensive, easily shipped canned protein source, today’s bluefin tunas can fetch millions of dollars at auction. Millions of tons of tuna are harvested every year,…

The Conversation · Oct 12

How does a honeybee stinger actually pump venom? First-ever video shows it in action

If you’ve ever been stung by a honeybee, you might know they have a special trick: they insert the stinger into your skin and leave it behind. As they fly away, the needle-like appendage keeps stinging you.

The Conversation · Oct 12

Deadly fungi are harming Australia’s wild reptiles. This is how to stop the spread

With spring underway and the weather warming, reptiles are on the move in suburbs, parks and bushland across Australia. Snake catchers and wildlife carers are responding to calls for help, and reptile enthusiasts – known as “herpers” – are heading outdoors in search of their next sighting.

The Conversation · Oct 12