The Conversation - Latest News [Page 1]
Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Could Work For Addiction Too – And We Finally Know How
Monday, 22 June 2026, 3:07 pm | The Conversation
GLP-1 drugs show promise for more than weight loss. They also cut substance abuse and are changing how we think about the brain’s reward system. More >>
Time Is Critical When Someone’s Heart Stops – Portable Defibrillators Could Save More Lives
Sunday, 21 June 2026, 5:38 pm | The Conversation
Community responders often reach cardiac arrest patients quicker than emergency services. Carrying mobile defibrillators would improve people’s survival chances. More >>
Burning Forest ‘Waste’ To Make Cement Damages The Climate. Let’s Pursue Cleaner Options
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 6:16 pm | The Conversation
The science is clear: burning forest material for energy produces lots of carbon emissions. More >>
The Strait Of Hormuz Is Reopening, But Global Shipping Won’t Return To Normal For Months
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 6:12 pm | The Conversation
A peace deal has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but insurance premiums, mine clearance and a container shortage across two continents suggest the disruption is far from over. More >>
More Than Chatbots: Why Business AI Agents Are Big Tech’s Next Product Battleground
Friday, 19 June 2026, 9:26 am | The Conversation
Meta’s just-launched Business Agent could mark a major shift in how companies of all sizes deal with customers. But what are the trade-offs? More >>
NZ’s Health Spending Isn’t Enough For Current, Let Alone Future Needs – We’ve Calculated The Shortfall
Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 2:14 pm | The Conversation
Among 16 comparable countries, no other country has shrunk its public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP to the extent New Zealand has. More >>
Cheaper fares won’t fix NZ’s public transport woes – and neither will a few extra buses
Wednesday, 17 June 2026, 10:06 am | The Conversation
One party wants to lower fares. The other wants more services. Neither proposal represents a serious plan to address decades of public transport underfunding. More >>
For Countries Contesting The FIFA World Cup, Size Doesn’t Always Mean Goals And Glory
Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 9:25 am | The Conversation
Among the 48 nations contesting the FIFA World Cup, how much do demographic factors like population and median age matter? See how your national squad compares. More >>
Earthquakes Can Be Destructive For Distant Cities Built On Top Of Basins – Now We Know Why
Monday, 15 June 2026, 1:55 pm | The Conversation
Flat basins are favoured places to build cities. But seismic waves can get trapped in these basins, putting cities at risk from distant earthquakes. More >>
Would You Buy Milk From A Gene-Edited Cow? Consumers May Be More Open Than You Think
Sunday, 14 June 2026, 4:16 pm | The Conversation
Gene-edited dairy products could help farmers adapt to climate change. New research shows consumers may be willing to buy them under the right conditions. More >>
A Philosopher’s Take On NZ’s Bill To Define Who Counts As A Woman Or Man
Sunday, 14 June 2026, 4:12 pm | The Conversation
The bill treats a complex cluster of biological traits as if it were one settled thing, and ties legal meaning to the pretence. More >>
Private Space Tourism Is Taking Off – But Laws On Outer Space Are From Another Era
Saturday, 13 June 2026, 7:18 pm | The Conversation
Commercial operators are launching more rockets and carrying more passengers than ever before. But international space law was written in the 1960s. More >>
Are The US And Iran Back At War, Or Negotiating? Why Bombing Your Way To Peace Won’t Work
Saturday, 13 June 2026, 7:14 pm | The Conversation
Escalating a conflict is paradoxically one way to end it. But this strategy can be flawed, particularly in a region like the Middle East. More >>
Will ‘Move On’ Orders For Rough Sleepers Make Cities Safer – Or Revive Victorian-Era Cruelty?
Friday, 12 June 2026, 8:29 am | The Conversation
The government says proposed move-on orders will tackle disorder. Critics argue they risk punishing homelessness while doing little to address its causes. More >>
Warming Winters Are Changing NZ’s Landscapes, Bringing Insect Pests, Smaller Fruit And Carbon Loss
Thursday, 11 June 2026, 8:04 am | The Conversation
Warmer winters mean insect pests like wasps will likely spread further, while weedy plants and rats invade alpine zones, shrinking the refuge for endangered birds. More >>
‘Technostress’: Why Many Older People Feel Shut Out By The Digital World
Wednesday, 10 June 2026, 7:29 am | The Conversation
As more services move online, a study based on interviews with over-65s reveals growing barriers to staying connected, informed and independent. More >>
Why The Tax NZ Never Wanted To Talk About Is Back On The Political Agenda In 2026
Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 9:22 am | The Conversation
Labour’s proposed capital gains tax has revived a debate long deemed politically toxic. But growing pressure on NZ’s tax system is making it harder to avoid. More >>
Demand For Menopause Hormone Therapy Is On The Rise – But Training Gaps Remain For Doctors
Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 9:15 am | The Conversation
The latest research on menopause hormone therapy is reassuring, showing little to no association with stroke and blood clots, but benefits for bone health. More >>
Should We ‘Stream’ School Students Based On Ability? New Research Suggests Yes – But We Need To Be Cautious
Monday, 8 June 2026, 8:32 am | The Conversation
Educators have long debated whether it is better for students to be learning with students of a similar ‘ability’ or a mix. More >>
UN Report Warns AI Could Soon Use 3% Of World’s Electricity And More Water Than We Need To Drink
Sunday, 7 June 2026, 6:54 pm | The Conversation
As AI models become cheaper and more attractive, they will likely encourage new uses and higher volumes of use – erasing any efficiency gains. More >>
