A common stomach infection may be linked to bowel cancer – here’s what we know A bacterium that can live quietly in the stomach for decades may have an unexpected connection with bowel cancer. The Conversation · Sep 11
Why making friends at university feels harder than it really is The summer before starting university can be a time of multiple worries for students. Worry about obtaining a place on your desired course. Worry about navigating clearing to confirm your place. Worries about securing accommodation, sorting student finance, preparation for academic studies and even finding the right stationery are also… The Conversation · Sep 11
Travel bots are making decisions for us – convenient, but should we trust them? Imagine telling your phone that you want a quiet boutique hotel near a city centre, below a certain price, with a decent breakfast and late checkout. A few seconds later, an AI assistant compares the options, explains why each one fits and helps complete the booking. This is no longer… The Conversation · Sep 11
Here’s how teachers and parents can collaborate and help Michigan’s 1.4M students succeed About 1.4 million Michigan students returned to the state’s K-12 public school classrooms this fall. The Conversation · Sep 11
CDC vs. Pennsylvania: Why conflicting public health messages jeopardize public safety If you’ve been following the dispute between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., you probably know that it centers on the deaths of two infants in Lancaster County in late August 2026. The Conversation · Sep 11
‘The Uprising’ shows how medieval people weren’t so obedient after all For decades, I’ve been showing my medieval history students the “autonomous collective” scene from the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The Conversation · Sep 11
Why the Trump administration’s bid to end diversity efforts at nonprofit schools is likely to get tied up in court The Trump administration wants to strip all nonprofit colleges, universities and private K-12 schools of their tax-exempt status if any of their programs designed to help students uses race as a criterion for eligibility. The Conversation · Sep 11
What the settlement left out: Meta can still collect data from kids In August 2026, Meta agreed to one of the largest consumer protection settlements in American history. The settlement resolves claims from 47 states alleging that Meta intentionally designed its Facebook and Instagram platforms to be addictive to young users and harmful to youth mental health. The Conversation · Sep 11
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
There is a long history of bribery in US politics – is Donald Trump continuing it? This week, Donald Trump made American voters an offer that he hopes they can’t refuse. If his Republican Party wins the upcoming midterm elections, every adult citizen will receive a “Trump Dividend” of US$5,000 (£3,700). The Conversation · Sep 11
Chihuahua dogs are part coyote – this might help explain their ‘small but mighty’ reputation It turns out that one of the smallest dog breeds, the chihuahua, is part wild coyote, according to recently published genetic research. The chihuahua breed originated in Mexico but is now a popular canine companion worldwide. The Conversation · Sep 11
Charming witches and supernatural forces: what to watch and visit this week Practical Magic is still bewitching The Conversation · Sep 11
The Conversation · Sep 11 How soybeans took over the American diet – without anyone noticing U.S. farmers will produce a record-breaking harvest of 4.52 billion bushels of soybeans in 2026, according to projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At 60 pounds to the bushel, that is roughly 800 pounds of soybeans for every American.
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 Populists claim to speak for ‘the people’ – but who are they actually talking about? As support for populist movements surges around the world, the term has become something of a buzzword. It is used to describe very different movements and public figures in very different political contexts. These range from rightwing figures like Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Narendra Modi in India, to leftists…
The Conversation · Sep 11 Albanese and Taylor explore possibility of deal on migration reforms Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Angus Taylor have met twice this week to explore the possibility of a deal on measures to tighten the migration system.
The Conversation · Sep 11 UK changes its tune on Israeli policies in the West Bank There’s been a broad spectrum of reactions to the UK government’s decision to introduce a ban on trade in goods and services from illegal Israeli settlements. These have ranged from “it’s about time”, to “too little, too late” to “pathetic undergraduate politics” (this last from someone I was chatting to…