The Latest Breaking News from Sulawesi

Humans used betel nuts as drugs 25,000 years ago: Ancient teeth reveal the surprising psychoactive habit that began around the Ice Age

Ancient teeth from Sulawesi show betel nut use 25,000 years ago. This habit predates early farming and represents habitual drug use. Researchers found chemical traces and unusual tooth wear patterns. Betel nut use may have begun to relieve tooth pain and discomfort. This discovery pushes back the known history of…

The Economic Times · Sep 10

How a research program in Sulawesi is narrowing Indonesia’s research-policy gap

Silakan baca versi bahasa Indonesia di sini

The Conversation · Jul 31

Strong quake shakes Indonesia's Palu, scattered damage

A strong earthquake has struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island and damaged several buildings, officials say.

AAP · Jun 16

The hidden power of grief rituals

In Tana Toraja, a mountainous region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, villagers pour massive resources into funeral rituals: lavish feasts, ornate effigies and prized water buffaloes for sacrifice.

The Conversation · Jan 15

Magnitude 5.8 earthquake rocks Indonesia's Sulawesi island

The quake was followed by at least 15 aftershocks. Local authorities say they’re conducting rapid assessments to determine the initial impact of the earthquake.

Euronews · Aug 17, 2025

Powerful earthquake strikes Indonesia leaving dozens injured and two critical

Strong shaking from shallow 6.0-magnitude earthquake causes panic in central Sulawesi

The Independent UK · Aug 17, 2025

No land, no future: The dilemma facing rural youth in Indonesia

Every morning, Indah (18 years old) wakes early to catch the company bus from her coastal village in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi. She travels for over one hour to a shrimp manufacturing warehouse in the urban outskirts of Makassar City—the capital of the province.

The Conversation · May 27, 2025

Weighing the green cost: How nickel mining in Indonesia impacts forests and local communities

Indonesia produced nearly four times the amount of nickel in recent years compared to a decade earlier — following the global push for a low-carbon revolution that drives the mining for the mineral essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and stainless-steel production.

The Conversation · Jan 16, 2025

Deadly Landslide Hits Unauthorized Gold Mining Area In Indonesia

Tragic landslide in Sulawesi, Indonesia's unauthorized gold mining area claims lives, with rescue efforts ongoing amidst challenging conditions.

Top News · Jul 9, 2024

Wallacea is a living laboratory of Earth's evolution – and its wildlife, forests and reefs will be devastated unless we all act

This article is part of a series of analyses presented by The Conversation Indonesia to celebrate the 2023 Wallacea Science Symposium at Hasanuddin University in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, from 13th to 15th August.

The Conversation · Aug 11, 2023