The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers.

A photo of an oil tanker unloading fuel.

A photo of an oil tanker unloading fuel.

China’s ban on fuel exports is deeply worrying for Australian air travellers

Desperate to flee abuse in Cambodian scam compounds, these young Indonesians are now facing suspicion back home

It’s not hoarding: farmers need to buy huge amounts of diesel to keep our food secure

silhouette of a farmer and a tractor against the sky

silhouette of a farmer and a tractor against the sky

New ban on dangerous rodent poisons is lifeline for our native animals

An owl lying dead on the ground

An owl lying dead on the ground

We can’t coerce our way to social cohesion. Here’s what else governments should be doing

Australian flag superimposed over an image of people walking on a crowded street

Australian flag superimposed over an image of people walking on a crowded street

Nations will release an extra 400 million barrels of oil to the market. All we need to do now is not panic at the pump

woman looks at price of petrol on petrol pump.

woman looks at price of petrol on petrol pump.

How the menstrual cycle can make or break an athlete’s performance

Mary Fowler of Australia takes on Jaclyn Sawicki of the Philippines during the Asian Women's Cup.

Mary Fowler of Australia takes on Jaclyn Sawicki of the Philippines during the Asian Women's Cup.

Secrets, sexism and hypocrisy: Bonfire of the Murdochs reveals the family’s real succession drama

A deadly strike, or Call of Duty clip? How the US government is trying to memeify the war on Iran

An aerial view shows a mass grave site, with some people looking over the rows of empty graves.

An aerial view shows a mass grave site, with some people looking over the rows of empty graves.

A closeup shot of a thick, black liquid.

A closeup shot of a thick, black liquid.

Oil, petrol, gasoline: a chemical engineer explains how crude turns into fuel

an angry Pete Hegseth at podium, Donald Trump behind him

an angry Pete Hegseth at podium, Donald Trump behind him

Friday essay: ‘epic fury’ – the men of MAGA might be the most emotional US leaders ever

Grattan on Friday: Dennis Richardson’s exit puts antisemitism royal commissioner under more pressure

Iran’s cultural heritage in the crossfire – expert explains what has been damaged and what could be lost

A man walks past debris scattered across the floor of Golestan Palace.

A man walks past debris scattered across the floor of Golestan Palace.

Afrobeats celebrates cybercrime and it’s becoming a global problem

Silhouette of people dancing

Silhouette of people dancing

NAPLAN is being used by some schools as an entrance exam. This isn’t what it’s designed to do

High school students work at row of desk top computers. One student leans forward to peer at her screen.

High school students work at row of desk top computers. One student leans forward to peer at her screen.

social media logos overlaid on house for sale listings

social media logos overlaid on house for sale listings

Social media has supercharged real estate marketing – and made it cheaper. But it also brings risks

What we know about croc numbers in the NT after surge in floodwater sightings

A composite image of two photos of a crocodile.

A composite image of two photos of a crocodile.

Why doesn’t Hobart have a Chinatown?

A row of six two storey shopfronts on Elizabeth St, each one a slightly different design and colour.

A row of six two storey shopfronts on Elizabeth St, each one a slightly different design and colour.

Job performance reviews are outdated and often pointless. Why do we still use them?

Is ‘period syncing’ real? Two reproductive health experts explain

Two women exchange sanitary pads.

Two women exchange sanitary pads.

Should I take vitamin C to ward off colds, lower blood pressure or reduce cancer risk?

Woman shops for vitamin C supplement

Woman shops for vitamin C supplement

After the Iran war, Persian Gulf nations face tough decisions on the US – a former diplomat explains

‘We’re the good guys’: why moral storytelling doesn’t make the war on Iran necessary or legal

‘My prey, my prize, my Vladimir’: flipping the gender script on predatory professors

a man presses a woman against a bookshelf and they look at each other with longing

a man presses a woman against a bookshelf and they look at each other with longing

Special series: After the rupture

AUKUS is binding Australia to a dangerous, unpredictable leader. We need a Plan B now

As global trade rules falter, how can Australia protect itself from economic coercion?

Australia can’t easily reduce its military dependence on the US, but with Canada, we can mitigate risk

Australia can no longer be complacent about Trump’s America. It’s time to chart a new course

In a ‘ruptured’ world order, here’s how Australia can forge new middle-power partnerships

Read the whole series

More news + analysis

A young child looking at a screen with AI-mediated content

A young child looking at a screen with AI-mediated content

Why exposing young children to AI content could have irreversible consequences

Timothée Chalamet says nobody cares about opera and ballet. The backlash ignores an awkward truth

Actor Timothee Chalamet stands on the red carpet at an Oscars ceremony, dressed in a pale yellow suit and with his hands behind his back.

Actor Timothee Chalamet stands on the red carpet at an Oscars ceremony, dressed in a pale yellow suit and with his hands behind his back.

Do therapies like EMDR affect memories of traumatic events?

Therapist holds two fingers in front of patient's face

Therapist holds two fingers in front of patient's face

A PhD is an apprenticeship in research – we can’t let AI take that away

A person behind a stack of large books.

A person behind a stack of large books.

Congress still has ways to throttle back Trump’s war with Iran – and to ask questions

A photo of the US Capitol dome and an Iranian flag superimposed on it.

A photo of the US Capitol dome and an Iranian flag superimposed on it.

Australia may ban infant formula advertising. Here’s what the online ads actually say

Australia is sending an aircraft and personnel to the Middle East. Does this mean we are entering the war?

The Oscars are usually a mess, but this year’s Best Picture nominees are strong. Here’s who should win

A composite image shows a grid with 6 different movies posters for Best Picture-nominated titles.

A composite image shows a grid with 6 different movies posters for Best Picture-nominated titles.

I’m in flooded northern Australia – how can I make sure my drinking water is safe?

A person fills a glass with water from a tap.

A person fills a glass with water from a tap.

Sick of spam marketing texts and emails? This is how to stop them

A no junk mail sign above a door's letterbox

A no junk mail sign above a door's letterbox

As NAPLAN suffers technical problems, why are major tests done online?

Five high school students in uniforms in a row, holding laptops.

Five high school students in uniforms in a row, holding laptops.

NACC investigation into Robodebt reveals public service corruption, but it will take much more to fix the system

What 2.5 million Australian company directors need to know about the scathing Star judgement

NRL and AFL wage growth is off the charts – what about other Australian athletes?

Football and NRL players sitting on thrones with AFLW and NBL players looking sad in the background

Football and NRL players sitting on thrones with AFLW and NBL players looking sad in the background

Panic buying just makes shortages worse. Why do people do it anyway?

Empty fuel pumps at a service station, sign which reads no petrol

Empty fuel pumps at a service station, sign which reads no petrol

Help for athletes, bans for others: unpacking Australia’s complex, chaotic migration developments

A composite image shows some of the Iranian soccer players during the national anthem, with protesters behind them.

A composite image shows some of the Iranian soccer players during the national anthem, with protesters behind them.

Rising CO₂ levels are reflected in human blood. Scientists don’t know what it means

Photo of a gloved hand holding a test tube half full of blood.

Photo of a gloved hand holding a test tube half full of blood.

Your cat is likely to live longer if you don’t let them roam – new study

A cat walks along a road in front of a red car.

A cat walks along a road in front of a red car.

Louis Theroux’s Inside the Manosphere exposes the business model of misogyny

A journalist interviews a muscular, tattooed man in a sunny garden. They are surrounded by a small film crew.

A journalist interviews a muscular, tattooed man in a sunny garden. They are surrounded by a small film crew.

Is cancer more common in women after IVF?

Woman cuddling little baby.

Woman cuddling little baby.

More news and analysis

Start your day with evidence-based news.

Get our free daily newsletter

New research

Animals can talk over huge distances – but humans might be changing their range

A mother elephant and her calf

A mother elephant and her calf

What’s it like to be a bat? Scientists develop new solution to the puzzle of animal minds

A small brown bat flying against a clear blue sky.

A small brown bat flying against a clear blue sky.

40% of teenage boys believe women lie about domestic and sexual violence: new research

A black and red composite image of teenage boys on their phones with their faces obscured

A black and red composite image of teenage boys on their phones with their faces obscured

Seeing the same midwife or doctor in pregnancy and labour reduces the risk of birth trauma

Woman in labour breathes deeply

Woman in labour breathes deeply

More new research

Federal politics

View from The Hill: David Littleproud quits as Nationals leader, declaring ‘I’m buggered’

Australia has granted some Iranian soccer players asylum – but 2 questions remain

Some members of the Iran women's soccer team salute during the national anthem ahead of an Asian Women's Cup game.

Some members of the Iran women's soccer team salute during the national anthem ahead of an Asian Women's Cup game.

5 members of Iranian women’s soccer team defect, Australia deploys RAAF plane and missiles to Gulf

Would Labor be supporting this war if it were in opposition?

More federal politics

World

Why shadow tankers are the only ships still moving through the Strait of Hormuz

An oil tanker seen from directly above.

An oil tanker seen from directly above.

Trump’s war against Iran is uniquely unpopular among US military actions of the past century

Fire rages behind burned-out buses.

Fire rages behind burned-out buses.

What is the ‘acid rain’ in the wake of US bombings in Iran? An atmospheric scientist explains

Two women standing outdoors with thick black plumes of smoke in the sky

Two women standing outdoors with thick black plumes of smoke in the sky

Tucker Carlson helped make Donald Trump and JD Vance. Could he be the next president?

Tucker Carlson, in plaid shirt and suit jacket, with three men in suit and tie, including Donald Trump and JD Vance

Tucker Carlson, in plaid shirt and suit jacket, with three men in suit and tie, including Donald Trump and JD Vance

Life

Your child has pathological demand avoidance? Here’s what it means – and 9 tips for what to do

Mother talks to her child

Mother talks to her child

Digital media is using negativity to steal our attention — here’s how to reclaim it

A woman sitting in bed resting her forehead against her hand as she scrolls on her phone

A woman sitting in bed resting her forehead against her hand as she scrolls on her phone

Why you can remember every word of a song from 25 years ago – but not why you walked into the room

A young woman singing in the car.

A young woman singing in the car.

What is wabi-sabi? Will this Japanese philosophy make me happy?

Japanese bowl, with cracks repaired using gold

Japanese bowl, with cracks repaired using gold

Climate

Do Middle-earth and Westeros make sense? Climate scientists modelled them to find out

Tiny figures from a long distance crossing a snowy mountain pass.

Tiny figures from a long distance crossing a snowy mountain pass.

Too valuable to burn? Chemical and plastic industries will rely on oil far longer than motorists

oil pump silhouetted against a sunset.

oil pump silhouetted against a sunset.

In a heatwave, a cool library or shopping centre is a lifeline. Do we need more climate shelters?

A man wearing a mask reading a book in a library

A man wearing a mask reading a book in a library

The future remains bleak for corals – but not all reefs are doomed

Podcasts

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Middle East war set to push inflation higher than forecast, warns RBA deputy governor

Politics with Michelle Grattan: South Australian election special

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Geoffrey Watson calls for a royal commission on the CFMEU scandal

A man in glasses speaking in front of a microphone

A man in glasses speaking in front of a microphone

Politics with Michelle Grattan: New Liberal Deputy Jane Hume on why she wants a woman contesting every seat

All episodes of Politics with Michelle Grattan

All episodes of The Conversation Weekly

Reviews

Tenderness and brutality collide in the abject world of Michael Mohammed Ahmad’s Bugger

A wild girl considers land rights and community in Eva Hornung’s ‘utterly gripping’ new novel

What this year’s Tropfest winning film tells us about mothers in the screen industry

Film still: a mother and a toddler at a bus stop.

Film still: a mother and a toddler at a bus stop.

Jimpa lovingly follows in the tradition of artwork about fathers who came out of the closet

Production image: the family around a table.

Production image: the family around a table.

Your say

Your say: week beginning March 9

Your say: week beginning March 2

Your say: week beginning February 23

Image compilation of Lord of the Flies, plus Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.

Image compilation of Lord of the Flies, plus Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.

Your say: week beginning February 16

A montage representing issues of real estate, inflation and whooping cough.

A montage representing issues of real estate, inflation and whooping cough.

Are you an academic expert who wants to share your knowledge?

Pitch an article

Most read this week

Newsletters

Subscribe to The Conversation Daily

Subscribe to Science newsletter

Stars

Stars

Subscribe to NZ Weekly

Mountain

Mountain

Subscribe to Books & Ideas Weekly

Lightbulb

Lightbulb

Jobs Board

Research Assistant, Bionanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine

Applications close 16 April 2026

Melbourne, Australia

Operational Product Owner

Applications close 15 April 2026

Parkville, Melbourne, Australia

Visiting Professor - 2027 Australia-Korea Chair in Australian Studies at Seoul National University

Applications close 28 March 2026

Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Department Chair and Associate Professor/Professor of Media and Communication

Applications close 26 March 2026

Hawthorn VIC, Australia

Events