The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

Your say: week beginning February 23

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 · Feb 22

Why Islamic finance could provide an ethical model for funding the green transition

In recent years, green finance has become a key policy in developed countries. The term refers to the loans and investments that fund the transition to a low-carbon economy. But one of the main challenges in this area is the gap between environmental claims and realities – so-called “greenwashing”.

The Conversation · Feb 20

How artists are tracking environmental change through poetry, film and sound

As Elaine, an artist in her 80s, stood at her window in north Manchester, she noticed new apartment blocks dominating the nighttime skyline: “The moon is no longer in view; I have to crane my neck out of the window in order to see it. Or to see the reflection…

The Conversation · Feb 20

Too many satellites? Earth’s orbit is on track for a catastrophe – but we can stop it

On January 30 2026, SpaceX filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for a megaconstellation of up to one million satellites to power data centres in space.

The Conversation · Feb 18

How shaming unethical brands makes companies improve their behaviour

Recent investigations have uncovered forced labour in agricultural supply chains, illegal fishing feeding supermarket freezers, deforestation embedded in everyday food products, and unsafe conditions in factories producing “sustainable” fashion. These harms were not visible on labels. They surfaced only when journalists, whistleblowers or activists exposed them.

The Conversation · Feb 17

How sailing voyages can inspire the next generation of ocean scientists and advocates

Setting sail from the busy port of Plymouth in Devon, the tall ship Pelican of London takes young people to sea, often for the first time.

The Conversation · Feb 17

Curious kids: why don’t humans have tails?

Why don’t humans have tails anymore?

The Conversation · Feb 17

You are covered in mites – and most of the time that’s completely normal

You are not alone in your own skin. Millions of microscopic creatures live there too.

The Conversation · Feb 17

Economists and environmental scientists see the world differently – here’s why that matters

Imagine someone has chronic pain. One doctor focuses on the body part that hurts and keeps trying to fix that single symptom. Another uses a more comprehensive brain-body approach and tries to understand what’s keeping the nervous system stuck in alarm mode – perhaps stress, fear of symptoms or learned…

The Conversation · Feb 16

Pregnancy and pre-eclampsia: is aspirin the answer for everyone?

A new study has ignited the debate over whether every pregnant woman should take low-dose aspirin.

The Conversation · Feb 13