Why credit rating agencies are still getting away with bad behaviour

By Misheck Mutize

International credit rating agencies have had their fair share of controversies over the years. They have been at the centre of the major financial crises from the financial markets collapse of New York City in the...

Neoliberalism has tricked us into believing a fairytale about where money comes from

By Mary Mellor

There is nothing natural about money. There is no link to some scarce essential form of money that sets a limit to its creation. It can be composed of base metal, paper or electronic data none of which is in short supply....

Explainer: what the additional terrorism charge means for mosque attack trial

By Kris Gledhill

A criminal trial for murder or manslaughter is the usual response to a criminal killing. Initially, the alleged perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks, who The Conversation has chosen not to name, was charged with...

As tensions flare with Iran, Israel could strike first

By Doreen Horschig

Iran shot down a U.S. drone on June 19, further escalating tensions between Iran and its adversaries. Relations with Iran have been worsening for months. In early May, one year after the United States withdrew from the...

Why Canada's single-use plastic ban could help the environment and wildlife

By Tony Robert Walker Et Al

Canada recently announced a ban on single-use plastics. Items like straws, cotton swabs, drink stirrers and Styrofoam fast-food containers and cups will be banned by 2021. But even as the list of countries that have...

The extreme tactic of self-amputation means survival in the animal kingdom

By Beren W. Robinson Et Al

Imagine yourself in the grips of a deadly predator. You see your life flash before your eyes: this looks like the end of the road. But wait! With a quick yank, your limb pops off in the predators mouth and you make a break...

30 years since Australia first connected to the internet, we've come a long way

By Justin Zobel

This article is part of our occasional long read series Zoom Out, where authors explore key ideas in science and technology in the broader context of society and humanity. When Australia joined the global internet on...

How a humble Perth boathouse became Australia's most unlikely tourist attraction

By Violetta Wilk

Its a simple building. A shed, really. You cant go inside, and even if you could, theres nothing in there. For decades it was derelict, an eyesore to which locals paid little attention. But this humble boat shed, on the...

Once were Kiwis. Here's the hidden history of Australia's own well-being framework

By Richard Holden

Amid all the fanfare around New Zealands so-called well-being budget, you would be forgiven for thinking our neighbour to the east had revolutionised its priorities and how to measure them. Lets recap. During the midst...

Friday essay: diversity in the media is vital - but Australia has a long way to go

By Helen Vatsikopoulos

The inaugural Walkley Award for Media Diversity will be announced on June 26, and has had an impressive number of entries for what was once regarded as a niche area. Diversity in the media is no longer just about...

Should we tax arms manufacturers to finance refugee resettlement?

By Afshin Mehrpouya

Today 68.5 million people are forcefully displaced worldwide. In 2018 alone, this number increased by 16.2 million: 11.8 million displaced within their national borders and 4.4 million seeking asylum outside. We are going...

Majority of people return lost wallets – here's the psychology and which countries are the most honest

By Nigel Holt

Honesty is one of the traits we value most in others. We often assume it is a rather rare quality, making it important for us to find out who we can actually trust in this selfish world. But according to new research,...

Maryland 'Peace Cross' ruling: The Supreme Court rules that a cross stands for more than Christianity

By Corey D. B. Walker

The Supreme Court ruled on June 20 that a war memorial in Maryland in the shape of a Christian cross can stay on public land. The Bladensburg Peace Cross is a 40-foot cross erected as a memorial for those who died in...

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will compete to become the UK's next prime minister – but could either win an election?

By Chris Stafford

The final two contenders for the leadership of the Conservative Party, and therefore the UK, are now known. Boris Johnson will go up against Jeremy Hunt in a vote to be held among the Conservative Partys 160,000...

Why Federal Reserve independence matters

By Michael Klein

Should you care if the Federal Reserve loses its independence? Its become a growing risk in recent years as President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the U.S. central bank over interest rate policy and tried to...

Scientists find the earliest roots of Parkinson's disease in the brain

By Heather Wilson Et Al

About 100 people have a rare mutation in a gene called SNCA that puts them at almost certain risk of getting Parkinsons disease. This makes them ideal subjects for studying the root causes of this debilitating condition....

Who should pay for TV licences for the over 75s?

By David Hutchison

Nobody wants to appear hard on pensioners, least of all politicians. And certainly not Conservative ones. So its not surprising that several of those vying to become the next prime minister have happily denounced the...

How yoga conquered Britain: the feminist legacy of Yogini Sunita and Kalaish Puri

By Suzanne Newcombe

From fairly obscure beginnings in the mid-20th century, the practice of yoga in Britain has become a massively popular pastime. Its hard to find official figures for just how many people practise yoga regularly, but its...

Brazil's crumbling political culture laid bare as impartiality of Operation Car Wash judge questioned

By Marieke Riethof

The front cover of the Brazilian conservative magazine Veja of June 19 shows a crumbling Roman bust of judge Sergio Moro, once a national hero in the countrys fight against corruption. Moro was the leading figure in the...

Six amazing facts you need to know about ants

By Charlie Durant Et Al

Have you have seen ants this year? In Britain, they were probably black garden ants, known as Lasius niger Europes most common ant. One of somewhere between 12,000 and 20,000 species, they are the scourge of gardeners ...

Persuasive politics: why emotional beats rational for connecting with voters

By Steve McKevitt

Politics is mired in a communications crisis. Across the world voters are disillusioned, while in the UK the stock of politicians has never been lower. The task before the next generation of would-be leaders is...

Math explains why the Democrats may have trouble picking a candidate

By Alexander Strang Et Al

With 24 declared candidates for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination (and counting), many Americans are likely wondering how the party will ultimately make up its mind and settle on the best candidate. As...

Is burning trash a good way to handle it? Waste incineration in 5 charts

By Ana Baptista

Burning trash has a long history in the United States, and municipal solid waste incinerators have sparked resistance in many places. As an environmental justice scholar who works directly with low-income and communities...

Why do people faint?

By Anne R. Crecelius

Maybe its a bride standing in a hot chapel, or an exhausted runner after a race. It could be someone watching a medical procedure on television or a donor at a blood drive. Maybe youve even experienced it yourself. You...

So, what really is jihad?

By Mohammad Hassan Khalil

Often, many people conflate the terms jihad and terrorism. This is in part because many writers use the term jihadist when describing violent Muslim radicals. To be sure, such radicals have invoked jihad to justify...

Why people in a flooded British town were told to stop flushing the toilet

By Liz Sharp

The British town of Wainfleet in Lincolnshire is underwater. After two months rain in two days, the River Steeping burst its banks, and 580 homes were evacuated. Curiously, the advice to the towns remaining residents is to...

Avoiding the China trap: how Australia and the US can remain close despite the threat

By Charles Edel Et Al

Ask nearly any politician in Canberra or Washington and they will tell you Australia and the United States have a long and storied history as close allies. The two nations have fought side-by-side in every major...

How the New York media covered the Stonewall riots

By Chad Painter

The Stonewall riots were a six-night series of protests that began in the early morning of June 28, 1969, and centered around the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Four days earlier, on June 24, 1969, the...

Why your memory may not be as unreliable as psychologists often claim

By Chris Brewin

Over the past couple of decades, there has been an explosion of research into false memories, showing that our memory can be subtly altered by a variety of internal and external factors. Many psychologists think the public...

I'm a lucid dream researcher – here's how to train your brain to do it

By Achilleas Pavlou

Dreams can often be confusing and blurry experiences. Reduced critical thinking, little to no access to our true memories and heightened impulsivity and emotions during normal dream states often make for head-scratching...

People have skewed views on inflation. Why this matters

By Jannie Rossouw

Countries that use an inflation target to anchor monetary policy pay considerable attention to expectations of future inflation. South Africa is a case in point. The country has an inflation target of 3% to 6% per...

Brexit: how both sides of the political divide have co-opted the 'left behind' North to fuel their agendas

By Craig Berry

There has been a tendency in British public discourse since the 2016 referendum on EU membership to identify the residents of Northern England as the principal culprits of the Brexit vote. Given that, in a direct,...

Hong Kong: why the 'one country, two systems' model is on its last legs

By Niki J.P. Alsford

Protest organisers in Hong Kong claim that nearly two million people, most clad in black and many carrying white flowers as a symbol of mourning, took to the streets on June 16 as demonstrations continued over proposed...

Australia's energy exports increase global greenhouse emissions, not decrease them

By Frank Jotzo Et Al

When unveiling government data revealing Australias rising greenhouse emissions, federal energy minister Angus Taylor sought to temper the news by pointing out that much of the increase is due to liquefied natural gas...

Summer is coming! Here's why you need to protect your children's eyes

By Langis Michaud

Should we buy sunglasses for children? And if so, how do we choose a quality product? Its a question that I get a lot in clinics. I reply that it is good to remember what the suns effects on eye health are, and how they...

Colonial genocide is a composite act: A human rights analysis

By Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann

Canada is currently embroiled in a debate about whether the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls should have used the word genocide to describe our federal, provincial and municipal...

Cannabis quality involves careful science and carefree highs

By Michael J. Armstrong

Canadas legal cannabis industry continues to make progress. Product shortages are decreasing. Store numbers are increasing. And edible cannabis regulations have just been finalized. With these basics falling into place,...

Mohamed Morsi: death of Egypt's former president shows deep state was always going to triumph

By Dina Rezk

Mohamed Morsi, Egypts first democratically elected president, died on June 17 in court in Cairo where he was on trial facing charges of espionage. He will be remembered for a short and divisive presidency and his failure...

With cryptocurrency launch, Facebook sets its path toward becoming an independent nation

By Jennifer Grygiel

Facebook has announced a plan to launch a new cryptocurrency named the Libra, adding another layer to its efforts to dominate global communications and business. Backed by huge finance and technology companies including...

Four laws that need urgent reform to protect both national security and press freedom

By Denis Muller

In a perfect world, Australia would introduce constitutional protections for freedom of the press. But since the chances of that are next to zero, it might be more productive to look instead at what might be done to make...

Playing games? It's a serious way to win community backing for change

By Anthony Duckworth

How would you and your neighbours triple the number of households in your street block in order to keep your cherished suburb thriving and do your bit to tackle urban sprawl? You have a number of choices to make. Where do...

Netflix is opening its first Australian HQ. What does this mean for the local screen industry?

By Ramon Lobato Et Al

Netflix officially entered the Australian market in 2015, and now reaches 50% of Australias adult population. Despite its remarkable success, Netflix has been a purely virtual operation with no local staff, office, or...

The three things universities must do to survive disruption

By John Fischetti

This essay is part of a series of articles on the future of education. The nature of global communication (for better and worse) has changed. Virtually all young people in Australia spend an average of nine hours a...

Sport is full of conspiracy theories – Chris Froome’s horrific cycling crash is just the latest example

By Mathew Marques

The recent crash of four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome put his attempt for a record-equalling 5th title on hold. (The 2019 Tour de France starts on July 6.) But the spectacular, career-limiting smash also...

Nuclear weapons and Iran's uranium enrichment program: 4 questions answered

By Miles A. Pomper

Editors note: Iranian leaders have threatened to withdraw from a 2015 agreement that limits their nations nuclear activities. Under the deal, the United States and five other world powers lifted economic sanctions they had...

France and Britain in a race for carbon neutrality by 2050

By Céline Guivarch Et Al

The long-running rivalry between France and Britain has entered a new era: who will decarbonise the fastest. As the UK government announced on June 11 that it had committed to a net zero emissions target for 2050, the...

American giving lost some ground in 2018 amid tax changes and stock market losses

By Una Osili Et Al

The sweeping tax reforms that took effect in 2018 meant fewer Americans could itemize their taxes and benefit from the charitable deduction. Has that brought about any dramatic changes in charitable giving? We are...

Meat is masculine: how food advertising perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes

By Kate Stewart Et Al

The UK Advertising Standards Authority has introduced a new rule in its advertising code which bans adverts which feature gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offence. This is a...

The victories -- and continuing struggles -- of women in Sudan

By Nada Mustafa Ali

One of the most popular images from Sudans protests that led to the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir is that of Alaa Salah a young, female university student. The image of her speaking to a crowd highlighted the presence and...

South Africa should learn from Brazil about how to tackle 'hidden hunger'

By Brittany Kesselman

South Africa faces a double burden of hunger and malnutrition, on the one hand, and obesity with associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs), on the other. In many countries, in both the global North and South,...