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

Kmart Anko Camera Glasses in a box

Kmart Anko Camera Glasses in a box

Smart glasses are going mainstream. Do current privacy laws protect us from the risks?

What three million online posts reveal about anti-First Nations hate in Australia

We want to hear from you about data centres

Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz region may be biosecurity risks when they leave. What can we do?

Crude oil tankers, bulk carriers and other vessels idle at anchor as they wait to pass the Strait of Hormuz.

Crude oil tankers, bulk carriers and other vessels idle at anchor as they wait to pass the Strait of Hormuz.

These 3 charts show female-dominated jobs are actually the most exposed to AI

Generic stock view of an empty office with desk and chairs and monitors.

Generic stock view of an empty office with desk and chairs and monitors.

An albatross in flight above a blue sea.

An albatross in flight above a blue sea.

I feel deep sadness about bird flu and environmental loss. Is this normal?

The Geelong players huddle before a 2026 game against Melbourne.

The Geelong players huddle before a 2026 game against Melbourne.

A secret waiver but no punishment: the AFL’s concussion conundrum just got murkier

Grattan on Friday: The battle for Victoria will send important signals to federal players

Dense breasts or breast cancer in the family? What screening changes mean for you

Older woman and younger woman hugging, on a hike

Older woman and younger woman hugging, on a hike

You might be buying the wrong home battery. Here’s how to tell

Batteries with gradually increasing capacity levels on a green background.

Batteries with gradually increasing capacity levels on a green background.

Big US-style trucks are killing more pedestrians in Australia – our research proves it

RAM pick-up trucks are seen at a public parking lot.

RAM pick-up trucks are seen at a public parking lot.

Editor's picks

85% of Australians will complete the census online. Here’s how to avoid potential scams

A crowd of people with binary code overlaid.

A crowd of people with binary code overlaid.

Friday essay: is there a great Australian graphic novel?

An array of graphic novels by Australian creators, with Lee Lai's Cannon (2025) in centre

An array of graphic novels by Australian creators, with Lee Lai's Cannon (2025) in centre

Pauline Hanson was once dubbed ‘queen of the men’s rights movement’. Her 30-year career shows why

Pauline Hanson, in a bright red top, speaks to a crowd of white men

Pauline Hanson, in a bright red top, speaks to a crowd of white men

See the Sun’s surface in higher detail than ever before in new telescope images

Orange-yellow field with petal-like structures.

Orange-yellow field with petal-like structures.

More news and analysis

Asian man and woman removing luggage from carry-on overhead luggage bin.

Asian man and woman removing luggage from carry-on overhead luggage bin.

Now Jetstar wants to charge extra for overhead bags. What are your options?

Gaza’s ‘road map’ is driven by Trump, but reluctant passengers and serious potholes could derail pathway to peace

A man walks around rubble.

A man walks around rubble.

Australia has pledged to restore nature. But could we ever bring back lost ecosystems?

historic painting of a lake and mountains in Australia, lots of forest.

historic painting of a lake and mountains in Australia, lots of forest.

One in three students in years 7–9 show signs of school disengagement. What’s causing it?

A male student and a female student descend the stairs in a high school building.

A male student and a female student descend the stairs in a high school building.

Is it a gift or a loan when parents help kids buy a home? How to avoid family fights over money

An older person holding a fistful of Australian bank notes worth hundreds of dollars

An older person holding a fistful of Australian bank notes worth hundreds of dollars

How drugs leach out of your sweat (and can spoil your sofa)

Old brown leather sofa in warehouse or apartment

Old brown leather sofa in warehouse or apartment

5 Bret Easton Ellis adaptations, ranked from worst to best

Fruit and honey fuelled the early evolution of the human brain

A chimpanzee wading in water, carrying fruit in its hands and mouth.

A chimpanzee wading in water, carrying fruit in its hands and mouth.

More than half of children and teens are using AI for personal reasons. This comes with risks

A teenage boy is relaxed on a couch, surrounded by soft cushions, focused on his smartphone.

A teenage boy is relaxed on a couch, surrounded by soft cushions, focused on his smartphone.

An Australian sea lion underwater

An Australian sea lion underwater

Why Australia should urgently vaccinate wildlife most at risk from H5N1 bird flu

We don’t know how well threatened species fight off bird flu – but we need to

orange bellied parrot on a twig.

orange bellied parrot on a twig.

Feral cats likely kill far more Australian native animals than we thought: first DNA analysis

Night camera image of feral cat carrying prey in its mouth

Night camera image of feral cat carrying prey in its mouth

Trump has tried to bend the legal system to his will. He’s increasingly facing pushback

Donald Trump speaks at a lectern bearing the presidential seal with a painting of Ronald Reagan in the background

Donald Trump speaks at a lectern bearing the presidential seal with a painting of Ronald Reagan in the background

Giant ice mountains on the other side of Earth once dictated Australia’s climate – new study

A mountain range peeking out of ice and snow

A mountain range peeking out of ice and snow

A man with a needle in his arm and vials of peptides in the background.

A man with a needle in his arm and vials of peptides in the background.

Where do peptides come from? We found out

a smiling bearded man in a white shirt with flowers

a smiling bearded man in a white shirt with flowers

Omar Musa’s Miles Franklin win rewards epic, ambitious Australian writing with a global scope

The world’s mangrove forests are bouncing back. That’s good news for our coasts and climate

A person planting mangroves in a conservation area in Indonesia.

A person planting mangroves in a conservation area in Indonesia.

Australia’s Year 3 numeracy scores have ‘dipped’ – should we be concerned?

Coloured numbers painted on concrete.

Coloured numbers painted on concrete.

Health insurance rebates may change for the over-65s. Our new study shows what to expect

Older man sitting on sofa with paperwork, older woman standing behind him, holding paperwork

Older man sitting on sofa with paperwork, older woman standing behind him, holding paperwork

Dry needling is different to acupuncture. So what’s involved? And is it effective?

Physiotherapist doing dry needling therapy on a man's leg

Physiotherapist doing dry needling therapy on a man's leg

Soviet hammer and cycle flag and US flag blending together

Soviet hammer and cycle flag and US flag blending together

Return of the Red Scare: how the US right is weaponising the word ‘communism’

View from The Hill: Burke struggles to wrangle numbers as opposition and One Nation apply heat on migration

Coalition leadership is hard. Luxon’s ‘nuclear option’ of electoral reform is not the answer for NZ

Christopher Luxon speaking in parliament and gesturing with hand

Christopher Luxon speaking in parliament and gesturing with hand

Behind the betel nut smile: the quiet epidemic of oral cancer in Papua New Guinea

Ryan Murphy’s new thriller The Shards takes place in 1981 – but it’s about the present

Production still: two rich teenagers in bathrobes.

Production still: two rich teenagers in bathrobes.

The idea of the ‘company man’ was forged decades ago. Its problems still haunt leaders today

A group of businessmen laughing while looking at a chart

A group of businessmen laughing while looking at a chart

Pesticide exposure at work may increase motor neurone disease risk – new study

Person applying weed killer to garden.

Person applying weed killer to garden.

India and Pakistan’s 79-year rivalry has made the dangerous move into space

Pakistani and Indian soldiers wearing ceremonial uniforms kick their legs high.

Pakistani and Indian soldiers wearing ceremonial uniforms kick their legs high.

Powerless against bird flu? Not entirely. Here are 8 ways to help protect Australia’s birds and mammals

cockatoo flock flying at sunset.

cockatoo flock flying at sunset.

More news + analysis

New research

Butterflies are on the move as the planet warms: new research

Butterfly with turquoise, red and black wings standing on rocky surface

Butterfly with turquoise, red and black wings standing on rocky surface

Dodos probably weren’t as stupid as historians made them out to be: new research

A spinning CT scanned dodo skull (specimen OUMNH-ZC-11605 - the “Oxford Dodo”) made transparent, with brain visible in pink

A spinning CT scanned dodo skull (specimen OUMNH-ZC-11605 - the “Oxford Dodo”) made transparent, with brain visible in pink

For the first time, the census will ask your sexual orientation. My new study shows why it matters

Two women wrapped in LGBTQI+ flag at rally, festival or pride event

Two women wrapped in LGBTQI+ flag at rally, festival or pride event

Snakes aren’t simple tubes. Their bodies have five regions – including a short neck

A golden snake hanging in the air against a black background.

A golden snake hanging in the air against a black background.

More new research

Life

There are new blood tests for Alzheimer’s. Should I have one?

Rows of blood test sample tubes in a rack

Rows of blood test sample tubes in a rack

Eating less protein may ‘slow’ ageing. But here’s why the evidence isn’t clear-cut

Plate of bacon, eggs, cheese and a beef patty.

Plate of bacon, eggs, cheese and a beef patty.

How singing in a choir hits the right note for people living with brain conditions

A person playing guitar in the foreground, with a seated choir in the background

A person playing guitar in the foreground, with a seated choir in the background

Ariana Grande’s appearance attracted intense scrutiny, not just genuine concern

Ariana Grande at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026

Ariana Grande at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026

Arts and reviews

An insider once in charge of failing banks lifts the lid on banking

headless man in suit and tie

headless man in suit and tie

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is proof audiences just want to see heroes doing hero stuff

Spider-Man holds a large metal object overhead.

Spider-Man holds a large metal object overhead.

Australian poetry classics: Kenneth Slessor’s Five Bells gives Sydney Harbour back its darkness

The Race Around the World reboot has one glaring omission: where is the discussion of ethics?

Publicity image: the cast of Race Around the World.

Publicity image: the cast of Race Around the World.

World

With its new leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, does Iran want – or need – a nuclear weapon?

How a new UN cybercrime treaty could be used to crack down on dissent

Trump is hailing it as a ‘breakthrough’, but will Hamas actually disarm in Gaza?

How the Ceuta border crossing incident immediately played into the hands of Spain’s far right

Federal politics

Media and political complacency is letting Pauline Hanson re-write the rules on accountability

New study shows there’s a growing constituency reshaping Australian politics: renters

A young man and woman walk around an empty room with white walls

A young man and woman walk around an empty room with white walls

Government expands discount scheme to encourage larger businesses to install rooftop solar

View from The Hill: Hanson announces One Nation Victorian leader, bans major media outlets

More federal politics

New Zealand

How would NZ’s vital freight system handle a big earthquake? Our study sounds a warning

Disabled people face greater climate change risks – and they can also help NZ adapt

Raven Cretney, Lincoln University, New Zealand

Will building an integrated ‘Anzac force’ with Australia cost NZ strategic freedom?

Will a new ‘Good Samaritan’ law really reduce drug overdose fatalities in NZ?

pills spilling from two orange bottles

pills spilling from two orange bottles

More New Zealand

Climate

Spain needs a legal overhaul to protect homes from fire. Here’s what it can learn from Australia and Greece

A house on a mountainside, with vegetation and smoke from fires in the sky.

A house on a mountainside, with vegetation and smoke from fires in the sky.

Donald Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke — but global warming is loading the wildfire dice

a firefighter stands near a wildfire among trees

a firefighter stands near a wildfire among trees

Has the government failed to protect Torres Strait culture from rising seas? The full Federal Court is about to decide

traditional dancers with feathered headdresses on a beach from the Torres Strait.

traditional dancers with feathered headdresses on a beach from the Torres Strait.

Media coverage of environmental disasters doesn’t come with a content warning. It’s time for change

A member of the public stands on a beach in South Australia affected by the algal bloom.

A member of the public stands on a beach in South Australia affected by the algal bloom.

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Podcasts

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Bridie O'Donnell on the ‘precarious business’ of the Tour de France

Three men stand on a podium, one holding up a trophy

Three men stand on a podium, one holding up a trophy

How do we know what dinosaurs looked like?

An iguanodon stands in a dense prehistoric forest.

An iguanodon stands in a dense prehistoric forest.

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Paul Kelly on why Albanese is ‘misunderstood’ and Taylor needs to stay

Editor-at-Large of The Australian Newspaper, Paul Kelly, speaks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a conference in Melbourne, November 2022.

Editor-at-Large of The Australian Newspaper, Paul Kelly, speaks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a conference in Melbourne, November 2022.

Manchester – the city powering Andy Burnham, the UK’s new prime minister

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham

All episodes of Politics with Michelle Grattan

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