The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

In Colorado and elsewhere, sexual assault peaks on campuses at the beginning of the school year – here’s what students should know

With the start of the new fall semester, students are gearing up for football season, homecoming celebrations and a new round of academic coursework. Yet the first weeks of the fall term are also a time for caution.

The Conversation · Sep 3

AI skin cancer detection tools are getting better – but only for people with light skin

Imagine you’re getting out of the shower one morning and you notice a mole on your thigh that you’ve never seen before. It’s reddish brown, bumpy and surprisingly large. Is it a benign mole, or is it melanoma?

The Conversation · Sep 3

From the Freedom Caucus to the democratic socialists, small groups inside parties can wreak havoc with leaders’ agenda in Congress

The Democratic Party’s coalition headed into the 2026 midterms is as broad as it’s been in years. That seems likely to help them pick up dozens of seats in Congress and win majorities back from Republicans in either or both chambers.

The Conversation · Sep 3

AI agents can now remember and hackers can ‘poison’ their memories — a new cybersecurity threat

Artificial intelligence systems are starting to do more than answer questions. New AI “agents” can remember information from previous interactions, plan a series of steps and use digital tools to complete tasks.

The Conversation · Sep 3

Grattan on Friday: economic life won’t get much better until Australians climb that productivity mountain

Treasurer Jim Chalmers would have sighed with relief at this week’s economic growth figures. Despite some preview talk of possible stagnation, we saw modest growth of 2.1% in the year to the end of June.

The Conversation · Sep 3

Are petting zoos safe?

A three-year-old girl has died from a rare illness after visiting a petting zoo in Victoria. She had developed brain damage and kidney failure after spending weeks in intensive care.

The Conversation · Sep 3

The Pacific’s cocaine highway: will Australia’s $600m deal really help?

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $600 million program to strengthen aerial and maritime surveillance across the Pacific, targeting the narco-submarines and small vessels used to move drugs through the region.

The Conversation · Sep 3

Your house may be a haven for wildlife. It’s time we design homes with nature in mind

Ever found a bare-nosed wombat napping under your house or heard a possum thumping around in your roof?

The Conversation · Sep 3

A Tasmanian man allegedly murdered his mother, but it’s not legally considered family violence. Why?

Last week, another Australian community was left grappling with the death of a woman, allegedly at the hands of a man.

The Conversation · Sep 3

Our pay is called a ‘salary’, but were Roman soldiers really paid in salt?

Every second Wednesday, like clockwork, my salary arrives in my bank account. By Thursday, most of it is gone.

The Conversation · Sep 3