EXPLAINED: 26 | Vintage Vibes

Hormuz crisis has forced Japan into rethinking – and domesticating – its energy security needs

Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu phoned his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Sept. 8, 2026, to express concern over the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It was reportedly the ninth such phone call between the pair since March.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Security clearances don’t determine whom a president can trust – they reveal risks the president may not know

One of President Donald Trump’s closest aides, Natalie Harp, worked in the White House for more than a year without completing the normal security clearance process, according to a recent MS Now report.

The Conversation · Sep 11

How diaspora groups in the US are responding to disasters in Nepal, Colombia, Venezuela and other homelands

A string of major disasters in 2026 have had devastating consequences. Earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia and floods and mudslides in Nepal have killed tens of thousands of people and injured many more. Countless people remain missing and hundreds of thousands of homes are damaged, with some entire neighborhoods destroyed.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Nepal floods: how measuring snow in the Himalayas could help avoid future disasters

The massive and deadly floods on the Nepal-Tibet border are a stark reminder of why the world needs to constantly update its understanding of the fragile ecosystem in the Himalayas.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Floods and droughts are both signs of water insecurity – they show up in these four places

After the UK’s hottest ever summer on record, when much of the country has experienced a fraction of its normal levels of rain, many regions continue to be in drought. This water crisis has led to parched reservoirs and widespread hosepipe bans. Yet early autumn heat has been making way…

The Conversation · Sep 11

A brief history of the hangover and its cures – from cabbages to cloves and the lungs of a goat

Anyone who has ever woken up with a hangover will recognise its physical and psychological effects: headache, nausea, self-loathing, regret, and perhaps even some shame at the uninhibited behaviour that accompanied the intoxication.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Your brain may be doing its most important work when you think you’re doing nothing

You finish a lecture, a meeting, a conversation with someone you care about. And what do you do? You reach for your phone. You stick in your earbuds. You fire up a podcast, a playlist or whatever algorithmic feed is currently consuming your life.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Why ‘slow jogging’ is the perfect fitness trend for people who want to get into exercise

Avid runners are often chasing speed. Whether that’s improving their 5K or shaving seconds off their marathon time to nail a personal best. The idea that exercise should involve pushing further, harder or faster has long been embedded in fitness culture.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Could AI really kill off humanity within the decade? Expert Q&A

Artificial intelligence (AI) could wipe out humanity this decade, according to three researchers from the US company Anthropic. One of the employees, Jacob Coxon, has quit the AI firm.

The Conversation · Sep 11

A day in the life: a look at the Danish way versus the British way

Denmark and the UK are often compared when it comes to health. Danes live longer, survive more cancers and report higher levels of wellbeing.

The Conversation · Sep 11