The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

India shows how urban forests can help cool cities – as long as planners understand what nature and people need

For many years, I lived in the Indian city of Chennai where the summer temperatures can reach up to 44°C. With a population of 4.5 million, this coastal city is humid and hot.

The Conversation · Jan 14

Indoor air pollution is a global health issue, not just a domestic heating one

When indoor air pollution makes the news in western countries, it often feels like a local issue. One week it focuses on wood-burning stoves. Another it is gas cookers or the question of whether people should open their windows more often in winter.

The Conversation · Jan 13

‘Masterclass in poor governance’: what was the board’s role in the end of Adelaide Writers Week?

This afternoon, Adelaide Writers Week was cancelled for 2026 – less than a week after Palestinian-Australian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited by the Adelaide Festival board. This came despite the “strongest opposition” from Writers Week director Louise Adler, who resigned this morning. The board has announced its remaining members will…

The Conversation · Jan 13

Greenland, Venezuela and the ‘Donroe doctrine’

This newsletter was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

The Conversation · Jan 8

A few reasons to feel hopeful about the climate in 2026

This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage was first published in our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter, Imagine.

The Conversation · Jan 8

How medieval monks tried to stay warm in the winter

The best location for a monastery was one that was close to water and wood. Many monastic chroniclers mention this.

The Conversation · Jan 8

Older people are more vulnerable in heatwaves. Here’s why – and how to stay safe

Southeast Australia is enduring a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures rising above 40ºC in many areas.

The Conversation · Jan 8

Maduro’s capture: ‘Trump has taken an unprecedented and very risky gamble,’ according to a historian

The United States military recently carried out a covert operation to capture and then remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, transporting them from Caracas to New York. The pair is accused of narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The Conversation · Jan 7

Introducing Strange Health – a new video podcast from The Conversation

I have a confession.

The Conversation · Jan 7

Surprising number of foods contain microplastics. Here’s how to reduce the amount you consume

The public is starting to understand that they can find microplastics in their food, particularly seafood, but exposure from other foods is far more common than most people realise.

The Conversation · Jan 7