The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

‘Buy now, pay later’ doesn’t feel like debt. For young people, that can be a big problem

The way a product is labelled can change how consumers think about it. “No added sugar” or “99% fat free” can make food sound healthier than it really is.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Poetry is popular with young Australians, from pop-up readings to poetry slams

In a world of doomscrolling and the prescriptive responses of AI, young people are increasingly turning to poetry: a form that is raw, honest and authentic. Poetry also invites the absurd and the experimental, making it a truly flexible way of facing both intimate and global complexity.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Skipping showers is the latest trend. But is there any science to ‘pheromone’ maxxing?

Across parts of the internet where young men trade tips on self-improvement, the latest project is scent. Deodorant is out and washing less is in.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Australia’s digital duty of care bill needs these three changes to tackle online child sexual exploitation

On September 10, the Australian Federal Police announced the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation received 100,194 reports of online child sexual exploitation in 2025–26. That is about 275 a day – a 21% rise over the year before, and up from 36,600 four years ago.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Unsustainable – or manageable? We don’t yet know how data centres will impact Australia’s environment

Australia’s pipeline of huge data centre projects has raised questions about how much energy and water these giant server farms will use.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Five years into AUKUS, what do we have to show for it? We’ve measured progress on three key metrics

This week marks five years since US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership composed of two parts: Pillar I, the nuclear-powered submarine program, and Pillar II, a collaboration on advanced defence capabilities.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Why does your brain mix up memories? A new study examines how memories are misplaced in your brain’s filing cabinets

Old age and forgetfulness seem to go hand in hand. But my colleagues and I found that memories actually becomes less precise, not entirely forgotten. Our study, published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, shows how the brain blends related experiences as you age rather than replaying the exact one you…

The Conversation · Sep 14

Banking scandal rocks Brazil’s politics and the country’s presidential election in October

On the night of November 17 2025, Brazilian federal agents pulled banker Daniel Vorcaro off the tarmac at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos airport as he prepared to board a private jet. He was initially detained as a flight risk and arrested a few months later on multiple charges of bank fraud,…

The Conversation · Sep 14

Democracy needs its champions. Here’s a proposal on how to fund them

Democracy means more than just holding regular elections. Among other things, it needs a public sphere where citizens can inform themselves about pressing issues, engage in dialogue and form public opinion.

The Conversation · Sep 14

Antisemitism in Canada, 3 years after Oct. 7: What the alarming numbers show, and what Ottawa hasn’t done

Since Hamas’s terror attack on the Supernova Sukkot Gathering (known as the Nova Music Festival) and on residents of several kibbutzim in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage — incidents of antisemitism in Canada rose dramatically.

The Conversation · Sep 14