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Site URL: theconversation.com
Feed URL: theconversation.com/articles.atom?language=en
Posts: 263
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Boo! Feeling scared on Halloween can be fun for children but can sometimes push their limits
Published: October 23, 2026 23:59
A children’s literature author explains how some of her favorite Halloween-themed children’s books can help children prepare for the holiday ahead.
Ancestors all around – millions of dead people linger in Americans’ memories
Published: October 23, 2026 19:42
The shadow population of deceased relatives is more than three times as large as today’s living population.
UN peacekeepers prepare to exit Lebanon after 70 years – leaving behind a worrying security vacuum
Published: October 23, 2026 18:45
In August, the UN Security Council voted to end the decades-long peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. Blue helmets will leave by the end of the year.
PHP is in the foundation of 70% of websites – here’s what it is and why a flaw in the software is a major hacking threat
Published: October 23, 2026 17:43
A cybersecurity researcher explains how a flaw in widespread software makes millions of websites vulnerable to hackers – and underscores the role of AI in attacking and defending the internet.
Greener maternity care starts with changing hospitals, without putting pressure on pregnant women
Published: October 23, 2026 16:04
Birth involves emissions from travel, pain relief and disposable products, but system-level changes can reduce them without restricting choice.
US midterms: what a new Congress could – and could not – change for Europe
Published: October 23, 2026 15:26
A Democrat win in Congress won’t suddenly make Trump a reliable ally – especially when it comes to Russia and Ukraine.
Clayface tries to tap into the success of body horror but can’t reach the genre’s gory depths
Published: October 23, 2026 15:09
Clayface has some memorable moments, but can’t quite reach the brilliance of the body-horror classic, The Substance.
Why ultra-Orthodox parties hold so much sway in Israeli politics
https://theconversation.com/why-ultra-orthodox-parties-hold-so-much-sway-in-israeli-politics-294218
Published: October 23, 2026 14:52
Ultra-Orthodox Jews, often called Haredim, make up a small but growing percentage of Israel’s population. Still, their political parties wield significant influence.
London Film Festival round-up: a five-star weepie, a sweeping Spanish epic and a misspent youth in post-punk Manchester
Published: October 23, 2026 14:23
This year’s festival showcased a slate of exceptional films, but there were a few big director misfires too.
Two small Arab parties may decide Israel’s election
https://theconversation.com/two-small-arab-parties-may-decide-israels-election-294182
Published: October 23, 2026 14:11
Ra'am and the Joint List are predicted to win as many as 15 seats in parliament, providing the opposition with an opportunity to unseat Netanyahu.
How El Niño could push up your mortgage and grocery bills
https://theconversation.com/how-el-nino-could-push-up-your-mortgage-and-grocery-bills-294378
Published: October 23, 2026 13:54
A Pacific climate event has far reaching effects.
As flood risk rises, some communities question the idea of resilience
Published: October 23, 2026 13:53
People are increasingly urged to become resilient to flooding. Yet many question whether this shifts responsibility from institutions to residents.
Moths in art history: centuries of creativity reveal the beauty of a misunderstood insect
Published: October 23, 2026 13:45
Moths are much less weird and way more wonderful than most people think.
Diagnostic uncertainty: why losing a diagnosis can be as difficult as receiving one
Published: October 23, 2026 13:41
Being told you don’t have a serious disease is not always a relief. Research explains why: diagnoses shape how people experience and make sense of their suffering.
Scientists aim to give lung cells a memory of how to fight viruses
Published: October 23, 2026 13:11
Researchers are working on an off-the-shelf vaccine that trains natural killer cells to guard the nose and lungs against flu, COVID and RSV.
The Jackdaw gasfield passed the legal test for North Sea drilling – Rosebank will find it much harder
Published: October 23, 2026 13:11
A landmark 2024 Supreme Court ruling forced ministers to account for emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Fear-based campaign ads can grab attention, but whether they win votes is less clear
Published: October 23, 2026 11:38
Political campaigns often use fear to play on voters’ existing prejudices and stereotypes. What that means for your vote is less predictable.
Could lawfare become warfare between Brussels and Beijing?
https://theconversation.com/could-lawfare-become-warfare-between-brussels-and-beijing-294290
Published: October 23, 2026 10:29
In response to China, the EU is transforming its single market into a legal lever: employees, subsidies and forced labour are becoming new battlegrounds.
The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain struggles to challenge the enduring myths of Cool Britannia
Published: October 23, 2026 10:24
Provocation became a currency for profitability, but what did this rebellion actually change – who benefited and who remained excluded?
How autumn changes animal sexual behaviour – including that of humans
Published: October 23, 2026 09:18
Some animals change sex altogether in the autumn.
For Andy Burnham, getting closer to the EU could prove as tricky as exiting it – an expert explains
Published: October 23, 2026 09:14
A short history of Brexit struggles over the years.
Four ways to help your body adjust to the autumn time change
https://theconversation.com/four-ways-to-help-your-body-adjust-to-the-autumn-time-change-294723
Published: October 23, 2026 09:13
Changing the time on a clock does not instantly reset our body’s internal system. But these strategies can help.
From aristocracy to ‘assetocracy’ – how wealth has transformed the House of Lords
Published: October 23, 2026 09:12
Hundreds of peers enjoy extraordinary wealth, new research has found.
Unlocking the secrets of the ‘Dragon Man’ skull – and what it reveals about human evolution
Published: October 23, 2026 09:03
Most of what we knew about early modern humans has been turned upside down in the past two decades – and many more questions remain.
The Crucible: Arthur Miller’s morality tale was as much a reaction to his own marital failings as it was to the ‘red scare’
Published: October 23, 2026 09:03
At the height of America’s ‘red scare’ witch-hunts, Miller, whose play makes a martyr hero of the husband, was having an affair with Marilyn Monroe.
Why Snowy Hydro’s $25 billion cost blowout is a warning sign for other megaprojects
Published: October 23, 2026 04:47
From the $93 billion High Speed Rail project to Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop, Australia needs a better approach on megaprojects – or history will keep repeating,
Michelle Landry announces retirement, opening path for Matt Canavan to switch to lower house
Published: October 23, 2026 03:54
Canavan did not announce his bid, but has made clear he would be open to a move from the Senate if there was a lower house vacancy.
In an age of AI, Wildwood is a film that reminds us human creativity is irreplaceable
Published: October 23, 2026 02:49
The latest stop-motion offering from Laika Studios was a 16-year-long labour of love.
Snowy 2.0 was never going to be cheap. But it will be much cheaper than relying on batteries for storage
Published: October 23, 2026 02:39
The original costings for Snowy 2.0 were wildly optimistic. But the troubled scheme is close to completion – and will help power the grid as coal exits.
Ruling out Opportunity only harms Luxon’s election chances, right? It’s not that simple
Published: October 23, 2026 01:06
National’s repeated refusal to work with potential king-making party Opportunity might appear self-sabotaging – but there’s a hidden logic at play.
Emma Cline is known for her troubled young women. In Switzy, she inhabits a man with dementia
Published: October 23, 2026 00:20
Switzy is an impressive, surprising novel that tackles a big topic: assisted dying, and how we might meet our own cognitive decline.
How Lula turned four lessons from the presidential elections in Colombia into a comeback in Brazil’s Sunday runoff
Published: October 22, 2026 23:58
Iván Cepeda’s defeat in Colombia served as a wake-up call for the left in Brazil. The campaign shifted its focus from rhetoric about sovereignty to issues that directly affect people’s daily lives, pushing foreign policy into the background
Brazil’s election puts at risk country’s role as a bulwark against Trump interventionism in the Americas
Published: October 22, 2026 23:58
A victory for Flávio Bolsonaro could keep Brazil trapped in a model of extractivism that has been part of the country’s history since the arrival of the Portuguese settlers in the 16th century.
Hughesy, Karl and co: what happens when celebrities turn political?
https://theconversation.com/hughesy-karl-and-co-what-happens-when-celebrities-turn-political-294566
Published: October 22, 2026 23:16
Celebrities may not directly sway people’s votes but they do shape conversations in the media. That is a significant form of political power.
Is Australia’s gas reservation scheme really aimed at Santos?
https://theconversation.com/is-australias-gas-reservation-scheme-really-aimed-at-santos-294467
Published: October 22, 2026 23:14
The success of the Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme relies on consistent enforcement and tangible benefits for Australian consumers.
The next government faces transport tests that new roads or cheap fares won’t solve
Published: October 22, 2026 18:50
Election promises focus on new roads and cheaper fares. But making transport affordable also means giving New Zealanders practical alternatives to driving.
Interned as ‘enemy aliens’ in Australia, these WWII refugees built their own universities
Published: October 22, 2026 18:35
A longer history of refugee-run schools and universities reveals the importance of scholarly camaraderie.
What’s the difference between green, yellow and red capsicums? It’s more than what you see
Published: October 22, 2026 18:34
The difference between the colours isn’t just superficial – it affects nutrition, flavour, and more.
From ‘gentle’ and ‘graceful’ to the ‘cane toad of the sky’: how Australia turned on the common myna
Published: October 22, 2026 18:32
Australians now loathe the common myna. But the bird was introduced for a reason – and was often liked and admired for most of its 164 years here.
How much autonomy do women actually have when giving birth?
https://theconversation.com/how-much-autonomy-do-women-actually-have-when-giving-birth-288267
Published: October 22, 2026 18:32
You spend your pregnancy researching and planning for when your baby finally arrives. But how much autonomy do women have?
‘It’s pretty toxic… but just a little, I want to be like that’: what young men think of manosphere content
Published: October 22, 2026 18:32
New research surveying 142 young men in Australia, the US and UK reveals their mixed views of masculinity content online.
Friday essay: AI is devastating higher education, but the system was already broken
Published: October 22, 2026 18:31
AI is a project of the powerful, implemented in the name of an efficiency that has nothing to do with the good, writes Jeff Sparrow.
Fewer and fewer parents will smack their children – but it’s still legal. Should that change?
Published: October 22, 2026 18:31
Some might worry prohibiting physical punishment would lead to parents suddenly being convicted of assault,. But data from overseas shows this doesn’t happen.
Making small changes to roadsides can help pollinators
https://theconversation.com/making-small-changes-to-roadsides-can-help-pollinators-293912
Published: October 22, 2026 16:36
Less frequent mowing and pesticide use can create environments that are more welcoming for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Threats to a strong Canada? Universities are also a national emergency
Published: October 22, 2026 16:15
Elbows up might work for hockey, but we desperately need to retain and expand our capacity to be an independent, democratic nation, and for this, universities are critical.
Jackdaw decision could haunt the UK at future climate summits
https://theconversation.com/jackdaw-decision-could-haunt-the-uk-at-future-climate-summits-294981
Published: October 22, 2026 15:46
The UK can’t champion a fossil fuel phase-out while approving new gas fields.
Surviving cancer starts at diagnosis and continues after treatment – earlier survivorship care can help patients feel better and live longer
Published: October 22, 2026 15:06
Cancer survivorship is often thought to begin after a patient receives their last treatment. But planning for life after cancer is critical to effective care.
Health progress in Africa leaves more people living with disabilities: rehabilitation is the next challenge
Published: October 22, 2026 15:06
Health systems are saving lives, but they have not expanded rehabilitation services at the same pace.
How K-dramas use Africa as a backdrop to boost South Korea’s image
https://theconversation.com/how-k-dramas-use-africa-as-a-backdrop-to-boost-south-koreas-image-292171
Published: October 22, 2026 15:05
Africa constantly appears as a ‘country’ full of savage danger or childish rebellion, in need of a saviour.
Power cuts and sleep: students link loadshedding to anxiety, disrupted rest and lower marks
Published: October 22, 2026 15:05
Poor sleep and poor studying went together. Students who slept worse were more likely to report lower grades and to arrive late for class.
America’s death penalty: why executions are rising again
https://theconversation.com/americas-death-penalty-why-executions-are-rising-again-294709
Published: October 22, 2026 15:03
Death penalty expert Carolyn Strange tracks the modern history of executions in the United States on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
Youth protests across Europe: the overlapping crises facing Gen Z
https://theconversation.com/youth-protests-across-europe-the-overlapping-crises-facing-gen-z-294754
Published: October 22, 2026 14:56
Young people appear to be facing increasing demands while some of the social resources that help them cope are weakening.
Women who changed science missing from GCSE and A-level courses – new study
Published: October 22, 2026 14:18
Despite social, economic and institutional barriers limiting women’s formal participation in science, they made numerous key breakthroughs.
Indian Gen Z ‘cockroach’ protesters aim to upend assumptions about democracy – and populism – in Modi’s India
Published: October 22, 2026 14:16
The protests challenge the government’s view of who “the people” are, what democracy means, and who speaks for youth, women and the politically marginalized.
Hokusai’s Great Wave is one of 46 prints of Mount Fuji – seeing them together changes everything
Published: October 22, 2026 13:52
The prints create a story that expands our understanding of the now famous Great Wave.
Young people need more than qualifications to prepare them for work
Published: October 22, 2026 13:49
As more young people become detached from education and employment, schools must look beyond academic results to the skills that connect us.
Why using AI saves doctors time but won’t fix physician burnout
https://theconversation.com/why-using-ai-saves-doctors-time-but-wont-fix-physician-burnout-291250
Published: October 22, 2026 12:46
AI can save physicians time, but time saved is not the same as burnout prevented. The fix is organizational.
Napoleon can be partly blamed for Gen Z’s weightlifting obsession – here’s why
Published: October 22, 2026 12:37
Just as fitness trends have changed, so too have the reasons behind why people exercise.
Democrats are raising far more money than Republicans in the US midterms campaign – here’s why that matters
Published: October 22, 2026 12:31
History tells us that money talks when it comes to US elections. Regardless of who you support, this can’t be good for democracy.
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs change how people eat, but nausea needs closer study
Published: October 22, 2026 12:00
Nausea can affect how much people eat, but studies rarely examine its contribution to appetite changes during weight-loss treatment.
Dehydration, UTIs and cognitive health: Getting enough to drink is complicated for people with brain disorders
Published: October 22, 2026 11:53
Drinking is partly a brain-regulated behaviour: the brain detects changes in the body’s fluid balance, generates thirst and helps translate that signal into seeking and drinking water.
What Fernando Botero’s exaggerated figures reveal about sex, power and violence
Published: October 22, 2026 11:17
Botero realised that changing the proportions of an object altered how it was perceived.
Four ways cities can help protect democratic values
https://theconversation.com/four-ways-cities-can-help-protect-democratic-values-294418
Published: October 22, 2026 11:16
Cities can provide a place for citizens to assert their democratic values.
How we mark our ballot paper can affect how we feel about voting. Here’s why
Published: October 22, 2026 11:16
Some systems leave voters feeling more positive about their choices than others.
How long until wearable brain-computer interfaces become mainstream?
Published: October 22, 2026 11:08
Wearable consumer neurotechnology is here – but a lot needs to happen before availability leads to widespread adoption.
From elite spies to ‘gig-economy’ operatives: the changing face of Russian sabotage
Published: October 22, 2026 11:07
Across domains, Russia has turned unpredictability and disruption into its strategic weapon of choice.
Autumn wreaths and ‘doorscaping’: why we need more life in our front gardens
Published: October 22, 2026 10:57
Autumn wreaths are now decorating many front doors, as part of a new trend.
When climate data is transformed into visuals some people and places get overlooked
Published: October 22, 2026 10:56
Data visualisation can change how people see, feel and relate to climate disasters.
The psychology that can lead investors to make bad financial decisions
Published: October 22, 2026 10:55
Recent research suggests even people training for careers in finance can fall prey to overconfidence, loss aversion and other psychological biases.
Grattan on Friday: Politics reflects society, and our society is in poor shape on many fronts
Published: October 22, 2026 07:09
As the national political conversation descended into fear and loathing after the attack on Helen Haines, two politicians stepped back from instances of offensive behaviour.
Shares in this data centre company are down 40% as investors lose faith in the AI story
Published: October 22, 2026 04:35
While AI hype is strong, the business models are coming under increasing scrutiny.
A critical flaw affecting 70% of all websites has the cybersecurity world panicked
Published: October 22, 2026 00:43
Millions of websites and online tools have relied on the PHP language for decades – but newly disclosed bugs could let hackers easily take them over.
Chiricahua is the nation’s newest national park – what does that mean?
Published: October 21, 2026 21:08
What comes next for Chiricahua, now that is has been officially redesignated as America’s 64th national park?
Corporate ‘orbital data centre’ proposals are dangerous for humanity
Published: October 21, 2026 20:33
Orbital data centre proposals involve thousands of satellites, each one twice the size of the International Space Station.
The government wants to reward better GP care. But what happens when targets take priority?
Published: October 21, 2026 19:43
A $40 million scheme aims to improve health outcomes, but differences between practices could leave some struggling to qualify for funding.
How does fake tan work, and why does it sometimes smell ‘biscuity’?
https://theconversation.com/how-does-fake-tan-work-and-why-does-it-sometimes-smell-biscuity-283685
Published: October 21, 2026 19:12
The sugar-plus-amino acids combination involved in fake tanning is the same broad class of chemistry that happens in cooking. You are, in a sense, toast.
Want to take leave or call in sick to play Grand Theft Auto 6? Here’s how not to break the law
Published: October 21, 2026 19:12
Australians and New Zealanders will be the world’s first gamers to play the new R-rated video game – which could see employees not turn up to work on November 20.
Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, the ultimate shapeshifter, is now a madcap graphic novel
Published: October 21, 2026 19:12
Orlando is nearly 100 years old – but its ideas about gender and identity are strikingly contemporary.
Could thoughtful ‘AI art’ counter the rise of ‘AI slop’? Why creatives today face a paradox
Published: October 21, 2026 19:12
The poster for the National Gallery of Victoria’s upcoming triennial features artwork made with AI. But the artist’s work is critical of our AI future.
Are you using AI to study? Here’s how to do it well
https://theconversation.com/are-you-using-ai-to-study-heres-how-to-do-it-well-294453
Published: October 21, 2026 19:11
A good principle when studying with artificial intelligence is: think first, use AI second (or, in some cases, not at all).
We must prepare entire cities for extreme heat. Our new study reveals how
Published: October 21, 2026 19:11
One Australian city has formed a taskforce to better protect its residents from sweltering temperatures.
Seeing a psychologist is becoming more unequal – and our map shows the gap
Published: October 21, 2026 19:10
Medicare rebates are meant to make psychologist visits cheaper and more accessible. But data shows those on the lowest incomes are missing out.
WA has less gambling harm than the rest of Australia. There’s one simple reason
Published: October 21, 2026 19:10
Western Australians spend about the same as people in other states when it comes to gambling, but gambling problems in WA are much, much lower.
The problem with Shane Gillis’s joke isn’t just sexism, it’s sex work stigma
Published: October 21, 2026 15:37
The problem isn’t just that women at the gym were called ‘whores’ recently by a comic, it’s also that ‘whore’ still works as an insult.
More young people are being recruited as ‘money mules’ by organised crime groups, new analysis reveals
Published: October 21, 2026 15:14
Analysis of police data highlights the scale of youth involvement and concerns over recruitment of students as money mules.
How Argentina’s Javier Milei hopes to exploit a dispute over Falklands oil in next year’s election
Published: October 21, 2026 15:10
It may not win sovereignty but the law of the sea may enable the Argentina government to score a small win over the UK.
How 39 young people experience climate education in a rapidly changing world
Published: October 21, 2026 15:02
Youth described wanting a politicized form of climate education rooted in emotion and relationality. They also want conversations in their immediate communities.
French students are showing us what protest looks like in the age of viral spectacle
Published: October 21, 2026 14:47
Words and images will shape the outcome of Europe’s Gen Z uprisings.
The new battleground: the UK’s disinformation centre faces threats on multiple fronts
Published: October 21, 2026 14:42
Russia has been described as ‘aggressor number one’.
Celebrity Traitors: neuroscientist on whether you can really make someone yawn by faking it
Published: October 21, 2026 14:41
James Acaster, Maya Jama and King Kenny must make another contestant yawn. Is that possible?
France’s ‘casseurs’: why the term fails to do justice to the extent of looting and spiralling unrest
Published: October 21, 2026 13:58
The term the French media are using to describe the people behind the chaos on the fringes of legitimate protests seems to be raising more questions than answers.
Africa’s bats could survive climate change – if they can find somewhere to live
Published: October 21, 2026 13:27
As the climate changes, bats will need both suitable foraging landscapes and caves for roosting.
Africans reuse, repair, recycle and resell waste: what’s needed to build on the circular economy basics
Published: October 21, 2026 13:27
Africa’s circular economy is already at work in repair shops and scrap yards. Backing the people who keep goods in use could cut waste and create better jobs.
How can African schools support children’s mental health? Research shows what works and what doesn’t
Published: October 21, 2026 13:27
Mental health should be treated as part of education quality, learner safety and inclusion.
Hot and cold climate extremes push UK’s energy system to its limits, new report reveals
Published: October 21, 2026 13:25
The Royal Meteorological Society’s annual report highlights how weather and climate affect the UK’s energy sector. Both winter and summer extremes pose challenges.
COVID inquiry: four ways to improve support for people with intellectual disabilities
Published: October 21, 2026 13:23
Researchers who advised the Covid inquiry explain why protecting people with intellectual disabilities requires planning beyond care homes.
An AI model’s false tip to Philadelphia police reveals how digital agents can do as they’re told and still cause trouble
Published: October 21, 2026 12:48
An expert on AI governance explains why these rare mistakes may soon be common, and with much higher stakes.
Offering cash for votes is quite common – but here’s why it doesn’t work
Published: October 21, 2026 12:47
Money or other material benefits are often not enough to override a voter’s preferences and partisanship.
El Niño is threatening California’s fragile coast again – the 1982-83 El Niño opened eyes to the serious erosion risks
Published: October 21, 2026 12:47
The destructive 1982-83 El Niño, then the strongest on record, eroded cliffs, leaving homes hanging precariously over the edges. A coastal scientist explains the escalating risks.
Human rights could improve – or worsen – based on how nations use the UN treaty against cybercrime
Published: October 21, 2026 12:47
If the treaty enters into force, responsible nations will have to carefully monitor how other countries use it.
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