DARK SECRETS: 29 - The Real Truth

2026’s El Niño is shaping up to be a doozy – it’s already affecting global shipping, fish behavior and heat

El Niño is here, and forecasters warn that it’s likely to be bigger and stronger in 2026-27 than any El Niño event recorded in at least 150 years.

The Conversation · Sep 10

Pennsylvania’s aging levees are under pressure from scarce funding and severe weather

Pennsylvania has over 180 levees that span approximately 155 miles (255 kilometers) and keep its rivers from flooding. They protect about 158,000 people and US$26.2 billion in property across the state, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Conversation · Sep 10

To control weeds in your garden, late summer and early fall is the best time to make a difference

As late summer fades into early autumn, garden care shifts from active harvesting to preparation and planning for the next growing season. Weeds can feel like an overwhelming management task as the summer species burst into flower and spread seeds.

The Conversation · Sep 10

The tourism industry is slowly waking up to solo travelers’ needs

Solo travel is surging – and an industry still largely built for two is taking note.

The Conversation · Sep 10

He’s been in Canada for 27 years. Now a former refugee faces deportation over trips back home

Roman Slepcsik has lived in Canada for almost three decades. Federal Court records show he arrived from the Czech Republic in 1997 after fleeing persecution as a Roma man, was recognized as a refugee the following year and became a permanent resident in 1999.

The Conversation · Sep 10

The next frontier is not artificial intelligence, it’s artificial societies

There is a temptation to divide the future of AI into two possibilities: utopia or catastrophe. Neither extreme is particularly helpful.

The Conversation · Sep 10

Snakebites kill tens of thousands every year, could our new research change that?

Every year, between 80,000 and 140,000 people die from snakebites worldwide. Hundreds of thousands more are left with amputated limbs or permanent disabilities.

The Conversation · Sep 10

How Donald Trump’s war in Iran is failing the legitimacy test in the eyes of US voters

Donald Trump now has a new proposed timetable for his war with Iran, albeit without a clear purpose. Heading to the Republicans’ midterm convention in Texas this week, the US president told reporters the war would end “immediately after the election”. This is coming from a president seven months into…

The Conversation · Sep 10

Strait of Hormuz crisis: how danger and uncertainty can affect the mental health of seafarers

As instability in the Strait of Hormuz disrupts shipping, public discussion tends to focus on fuel prices and supplies. Less attention is paid to the people working on the ships.

The Conversation · Sep 10

Sweden’s prison population has doubled in a decade, and is set to spike even further – here’s why

Sweden’s criminal justice system was once held up as an example of moderation – focusing on rehabilitation and minimising the use of imprisonment. But the Scandinavian nation could soon join countries such as Russia, Belarus and Nicaragua as a world leader in punitiveness.

The Conversation · Sep 10