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The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

Who – or what – will replace Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei

Leadership transitions in dictatorships can signal upheaval – for better or worse – and in Iran that moment has now arrived. The death of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in a US airstrike on Tehran on February 28 marks the most consequential rupture in the Islamic Republic’s political system since…

The Conversation

China set to suffer from turmoil in the Middle East, but it stands to benefit long term

China has responded to the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran with strong diplomatic condemnation. In an article published on March 1, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency called the attacks a “flagrant violation” of the purposes and principles of the UN charter. The same article called the intervention a departure from…

The Conversation

From Anthropic to Iran: Who sets the limits on AI’s use in war and surveillance?

Anthropic, a leading AI company, recently refused to sign a Pentagon contract that would allow the United States military “unrestricted access” to its technology for “all lawful purposes.” To sign, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei required two clear exceptions: no mass surveillance of Americans and no fully autonomous weapons without human…

The Conversation

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Arrowhead points found in Central Asia could prove the existence of ‘Homo sapiens’ 80,000 years ago

Unretouched triangular microlithic projectile points have been identified from their impact traces in the oldest occupation layers of the Obi-Rakhmat site in Uzbekistan, dating to 80,000 years ago. Their size corresponds to small arrowheads, which are directly comparable to those produced by Homo sapiens during an incursion into Neanderthal territory…

The Conversation

Why do leaders go to war when it could damage their own people too?

Why do people start wars even though it hurts their country too – and they might lose?

The Conversation

A 2,850-year-old mass grave in Serbia reveals a shift in prehistoric violence

The earliest mass graves in Europe date back just over 7,000 years. They reveal brutal evidence for violence beyond the simple act of killing. The motives for these events are probably diverse but consistently highlight an intention to kill large numbers of enemies across sex and age ranges.

The Conversation

Why the Doomsday Clock has outlived its usefulness

The Doomsday Clock — a symbolic device to signal an array of existential threats to the world since 1947 — was recently moved to 85 seconds before midnight, the closest it has ever been to midnight. And that was before all-out war broke out in Iran.

The Conversation

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Obesity is on the rise in Africa: 5 essential reads on what to do

Obesity – which the World Health Organization classifies as a disease – is not just an individual issue; it is shaped by the systems people live in. Research shows that urbanisation, economic status and food marketing strategies, for example, play a role along with more personal factors.

The Conversation

Warships as diplomats: how the South African Navy is tasked with building ties with other nations

A naval exercise off the South African coast in January 2026, dubbed Will for Peace and involving the warships of South Africa, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran, elicited international and domestic controversy. It also contributed to a further souring of relations between South Africa and the…

The Conversation

What is happiness? A philosopher looks for answers

When we seek happiness, what exactly are we searching for? And when we wish happiness on someone else, what is it that we truly desire for them?

The Conversation

Public defender shortage is leading to hundreds of criminal cases being dismissed

The Oregon Supreme Court on Feb. 5, 2026, issued a ruling that will have a wide impact. More than 1,400 criminal cases had to be dismissed, the justices ruled, due to lack of adequate counsel available for defendants.

The Conversation

Welcome to the ‘gray zone’ − home to nefarious international acts that fall short of outright conflict

Hostile acts don’t always arrive with a clear signature.

The Conversation

The inspiring and tragic story of Mabel Stark, America’s most famous female tiger trainer

For the sharpest minds in show business, there’s always another hustle.

The Conversation

A Plan B for space? On the risks of concentrating national space power in private hands

Private companies are no longer peripheral participants in U.S. space activities. They provide key services, including launching and deploying satellites, transporting cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station, and even sending landers to the Moon.

The Conversation

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The Conversation

Are heroes born or made? Role models and training can prepare ordinary people to take heroic action

Three young Americans – Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone – successfully tackled a gunman on a train in France, saving passengers.

The Conversation

Formerly incarcerated Black men say they’re ‘doing OK’ while trying to cope with depression and PTSD

“People can assess me, interview me, incarcerate me, observe me, and they can think they know what I need,” said Shawn, a man in his early 50s who spent 15 years in and out of prison. “And that can be an educated assessment, but at the end of the day,…

The Conversation

Stressed out by politics? You’re not imagining it, and research shows that social media is largely to blame

Does politics stress you out? Did the last election cause you to lose sleep, lose your temper or lose a friend? If so, you weren’t alone.

The Conversation

From kneecap necklaces to umbilical cord keepsakes: the risks of keeping and consuming human tissue

Celebrity outfits and endorsements often dominate social media, but Elton John recently drew attention for a very different reason. The musician has been spotted wearing jewellery made from his own kneecaps.

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The Conversation

Hay fever season is coming – here’s how to get ahead of symptoms

Spring is just around the corner. While many look forward to the warmer weather after the long winter months, others may be filled with dread as spring marks the start of hay fever season. If this is you, the good news is there are plenty of things you can do…

The Conversation

Why science GCSEs matter more than we think in a post-truth age

Concerns about living in a “post-truth” society – where evidence struggles to compete with misinformation, ideology and emotion – are now familiar. From vaccine hesitancy to climate change denial, public debates increasingly hinge not on a lack of information, but on how people judge evidence, expertise and uncertainty.

The Conversation

What oil, stocks and bonds are telling us about the Iran conflict and how long it might last

When a conflict escalates, financial markets respond within minutes. That reaction is not just panic or speculation – it is a kind of collective judgement about what might happen next.

The Conversation

Too close to Trump: How Indonesian President Prabowo gambles sovereignty, humanity for US’ approval

The Indonesian public has grown increasingly uneasy with President Prabowo Subianto’s foreign policy pivot toward the United States. From Indonesia’s decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP) initiated by Donald Trump to the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) on February 19, 2026, the trajectory is clear:…

The Conversation

Can flashing light alter your mind? The science of stroboscopic stimulation

Light therapy sounds wholesome. Clean. Almost pastoral. Sit in front of a lamp. Feel better.

The Conversation

Reinterpreting ‘awe’: why cross-cultural emotional intelligence needs to be handled with care

Awe has become a kind of emotional currency in Western wellness circles – revered for its ability to boost mental and physical health and even social interactions. There are findings linking awe to increased prosocial behaviour, curiosity, humility, wellbeing, lower post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more adaptive physiological profiles. And…

The Conversation

South Africa’s economy is picking up, but hasn’t reached a turning point yet – economist

In presenting the 2026 national budget to South Africa’s parliament on 25 February, finance minister Enoch Godongwana characterised this as the turning point in South Africa’s public finances – heralding improved confidence, increased growth and rising infrastructure investment.

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