THE TRUTH ABOUT: The conversation | History Defined

Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize: Where the ancient world meets postmodern literature

When the Swedish Academy announced Anne Carson as the recipient of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, in Stockholm, I was participating in a panel discussion in the same city at Stockholm University about possible laureates — and the literary traditions they represent.

The Conversation · 1h ago

My son goes to the gym a lot. How can I tell if this is healthy or a sign something is wrong?

A teenage boy goes to the gym several times a week. He takes protein powder and watches what he eats carefully. He talks about being “ripped” or “jacked”.

The Conversation · 2h ago

Astronomers pinpoint the origin of a 10 billion-year-old millisecond signal from space

More than 10 billion years ago, something in a distant galaxy gave off an incredibly bright burst of radio waves which lasted just a few milliseconds.

The Conversation · 2h ago

A molecule’s ‘handedness’ can determine whether it’s an effective drug – 4 examples of pharmaceuticals where chirality matters

The 2026 Nobel Prize in chemistry concerns a property called chirality, which may sound like an abstract science term but is actually all around you, all the time.

The Conversation · 2h ago

What a swordfish washing up on British Columbia’s coast says about our changing oceans

Filmmaker and outdoorsperson Quinn Barabash recently made headlines when he found a nearly two-metre-long swordfish carcass on the remote shores of Haida Gwaii in northern British Columbia.

The Conversation · 3h ago

Big political donations have hit $7.4m this election year. Are the rules tight enough?

With polling day still a month away, large political donations declared in 2026 have reached about NZ$7.4 million, already surpassing the total for 2023.

The Conversation · 3h ago

Canada’s settlement services are going digital. AI should support workers, not replace them

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technology-sector issue. It’s transforming how public services are organized and delivered, including settlement services for immigrants and newcomers in Canada.

The Conversation · 4h ago

The Cornell 7 case proves we’re still trapped in a rape culture déjà vu

Three years ago, I wrote an article for The Conversation Canada about rape culture when actor Danny Masterson went to jail for sexual assault. His friends from That ’70s Show, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, had written letters of support for him because he was a such a great friend…

The Conversation · 5h ago

Why ‘vertical farming’ is not a fix for our food system

The Canadian government launched its first-ever National Food Security Strategy in June 2026. The strategy aims to invest $750 million to increase year-round Canadian production of fruits and vegetables, including on so-called vertical farms.

The Conversation · 5h ago

Robert Ryman: The Real Thing at the Barbican – these mesmerising paintings must be seen in person

Robert Ryman: The Real Thing is the American artist’s first major retrospective in the UK for over 30 years.

The Conversation · 5h ago