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Do AI agents have minds? A philosopher explains

Do AI agents have minds? A philosopher explains

Agentic AI systems are not conscious – not even maybe.

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The Conversation

Tom Cochrane

Powerhouse Parramatta: a museum of science, design and technology supercharged by spectacular art

Powerhouse Parramatta: a museum of science, design and technology supercharged by spectacular art

The new museum opens with dazzling architecture and enticing exhibitions that intertwine the permanent collection with major international loans and...

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The Conversation

Joanna Mendelssohn

Holocaust education will soon become compulsory in schools. Our research shows how it can be done well

Holocaust education will soon become compulsory in schools. Our research shows how it can be done well

We interviewed 22 educators, scholars and museum professionals who teach the Holocaust in Australia to find out what works – and what requires more...

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The Conversation

Lauren Chalk

When Tari was 16, a dictator became her neighbour. Then her parents were imprisoned

When Tari was 16, a dictator became her neighbour. Then her parents were imprisoned

Tari Long’s memoir, My Neighbour, The Dictator, remembers a chaotic adolescence in the shadow of Indonesia’s 1965 military coup – and surviving...

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The Conversation

Krishna Sen

Poor polls continue for both federal and Victorian Labor

Poor polls continue for both federal and Victorian Labor

Labor in Victoria continues to slide with less than three weeks until the state election.

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The Conversation

Adrian Beaumont

NZ has unique stories of evolution and geology. Is it time for a natural history museum?

NZ has unique stories of evolution and geology. Is it time for a natural history museum?

Globally significant collections of fossils, plants and rocks are held at separate institutions. Combined, they could support a dedicated natural...

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The Conversation

Nic Rawlence

Did Australia’s cricket leaders sandpaper over the truth? New ball tampering revelations suggest so

Did Australia’s cricket leaders sandpaper over the truth? New ball tampering revelations suggest so

One of sport’s greatest cheating scandals has erupted again. It may have far-reaching ramifications for Cricket Australia and several players.

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The Conversation

David Rowe

What is pubic hair actually for? And does it matter if you remove it?

What is pubic hair actually for? And does it matter if you remove it?

Developing pubic hair is tied to sexual maturity – and so are some of the theories about why we’ve retained it.

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The Conversation

Brigitte Gerstl

Opera Australia’s La Bohème captures the romance of bohemian Paris with a fresh twist

Opera Australia’s La Bohème captures the romance of bohemian Paris with a fresh twist

This new production is a bold, vibrant and vivacious take on an old opera favourite.

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The Conversation

Brian Long

Yes, the COP climate talks are far from perfect. But they still hold the power for change

Yes, the COP climate talks are far from perfect. But they still hold the power for change

It can be easy to be pessimistic. But after three decades of climate talks we’ve seen real progress.

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The Conversation

Wesley Morgan

Australia’s climate minister is about to walk a diplomatic tightrope at COP31

Australia’s climate minister is about to walk a diplomatic tightrope at COP31

Australia cannot feasibly claim climate credentials while driving global warming through its fossil fuel exports.

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The Conversation

Matt McDonald

Does Australia need more national exams for school students?

Does Australia need more national exams for school students?

A report has recommended a feasibility study into additional national exams for Year 6, 10 and 12 students.

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The Conversation

Steven Lewis

2.6 Seconds: new documentary explores the history, grief and looming questions of Kumanjayi Walker’s death

2.6 Seconds: new documentary explores the history, grief and looming questions of Kumanjayi Walker’s death

The 2019 shooting of the young Aboriginal man wasn’t an isolated event. A new documentary offers a confronting examination of the bigger picture.

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The Conversation

Cally Jetta

Why Jared Diamond’s leadership book on prophets, coaches and kings is flawed but fun

Why Jared Diamond’s leadership book on prophets, coaches and kings is flawed but fun

Like Guns, Germs and Steel, this book is ambitious, provocative and imperfect. It’s also difficult to put down.

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The Conversation

Claire Wright

Australians are paying ‘extreme’ specialist fees. Here’s how the government can rein in costs

Australians are paying ‘extreme’ specialist fees. Here’s how the government can rein in costs

The cost of seeing a psychiatrist, paediatrician or other medical specialist is skyrocketing, and reforms are targeting low-hanging fruit. We need to...

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Peter Breadon

Pre‑election polls understated right in NZ, with overhang skewing preliminary results

Pre‑election polls understated right in NZ, with overhang skewing preliminary results

Polls were showing the right leading the left before the election, but National, ACT and New Zealand First all did better on the night.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Adrian Beaumont

NZ will have a caretaker government for weeks. What that means and how it works

NZ will have a caretaker government for weeks. What that means and how it works

The final election result won’t be known for three weeks and coalition negotiations will take even longer. But it’s not correct to say...

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Grant Duncan

A knife‑edge result, 3 possible outcomes: what comes next after NZ’s election?

A knife‑edge result, 3 possible outcomes: what comes next after NZ’s election?

With special votes still to come, three possible scenarios could determine who governs NZ – and whether Christopher Luxon or Chris Hipkins becomes...

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The Conversation

Richard Shaw

NZ’s next government hangs in the balance: 2026 election results at a glance

NZ’s next government hangs in the balance: 2026 election results at a glance

Provisional results suggest a parliamentary overhang of nine seats, which means a majority requires 66 seats.

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The Conversation

Digital Storytelling Team

View from The Hill: an over‑committed Albanese is scrambling to keep his eyes on the main game

View from The Hill: an over‑committed Albanese is scrambling to keep his eyes on the main game

The PM will devote Monday to chair meetings on the mid-December budget update before flying off again for the COP summit in Turkey.

friday 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Pauline Hanson’s High Court appeal will put freedom of speech to the test

Pauline Hanson’s High Court appeal will put freedom of speech to the test

The One Nation leader’s case is among a slew of cases the High Court will deal with in coming months on freedom of political communication.

friday 20

The Conversation

Anne Twomey

US voters lashed out at data centres. What does that mean for Australia’s AI ambitions?

US voters lashed out at data centres. What does that mean for Australia’s AI ambitions?

Community pushback against data centre developments is starting to have big political effects.

friday 6

The Conversation

Johanna Lim

Justice, accountability, more questions: what Russell Brand’s guilty verdict means for victim‑survivors

Justice, accountability, more questions: what Russell Brand’s guilty verdict means for victim‑survivors

Is it really justice when the legal process is itself so often the source of further harm?

friday 10

The Conversation

Anastasia Powell

NZ election eve poll watch: right’s lead slipping with Opportunity still the wild card

NZ election eve poll watch: right’s lead slipping with Opportunity still the wild card

With a day till the election, final polls show a left shift but the right still in front – with the Opportunity Party’s fate still a decisive factor.

friday 20

The Conversation

Adrian Beaumont

Humidity can make heatwaves more dangerous. It’s time to warn Australians about this threat

Humidity can make heatwaves more dangerous. It’s time to warn Australians about this threat

When it’s humid, it’s hard to shed heat by sweating. That’s why humidity can make heatwaves much more dangerous.

friday 6

The Conversation

Alyson Wright

Spot a baby bird on the ground? Don’t be tempted to bird‑nap it

Spot a baby bird on the ground? Don’t be tempted to bird‑nap it

Young fledgling birds need time to learn to fly and forage themselves.

friday 4

The Conversation

Holly Kirk

5 fascinating Australian literary podcasts – from biographers’ tales to Luke Bateman

5 fascinating Australian literary podcasts – from biographers’ tales to Luke Bateman

These podcasts reflect the depth and diversity of Australia’s literary scene, offering unfiltered chats that focus on new books, contentious or cosy...

friday 10

The Conversation

Caitlin Macdonald

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Business chief urges government to use more means testing

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Business chief urges government to use more means testing

CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, joined us on the podcast to discuss ACCI’s prescriptions for the...

friday 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Born in Aussie or NZ, playing for the Pacific: the startling demographics of the Rugby League World Cup

Born in Aussie or NZ, playing for the Pacific: the startling demographics of the Rugby League World Cup

A delve into the Rugby League World Cup’s demographic data reveals a story about family ties, migration and opportunity across the ocean.

friday 5

The Conversation

Jesse Whitehead

Devices aren’t lasting as long as they should. Here’s why

Devices aren’t lasting as long as they should. Here’s why

Broken devices are contributing to a growing mountain of e-waste.

friday 5

The Conversation

Margherita Feleppa

Why chronic pain is often overlooked as part of disability – and what can help

Why chronic pain is often overlooked as part of disability – and what can help

Pain is chronic when it lasts longer than three months. But by itself, it’s typically not enough to qualify for the National Disability Insurance...

friday 8

The Conversation

Manasi Murthy Mittinty

Friday essay: when is a kiss a crime? Feminists have asked this question for more than 100 years

Friday essay: when is a kiss a crime? Feminists have asked this question for more than 100 years

The history of the kiss is interwoven with debates around when we should ask for permission: from ‘Kiss Not’ badges to court cases.

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The Conversation

Katie Barclay

AI learns from the products of thinking, not thought itself. That’s a problem for machines – and for us

AI learns from the products of thinking, not thought itself. That’s a problem for machines – and for us

Working with the traces of thought instead of the process of thinking means AI systems are limited – and they limit their users, too.

friday 5

The Conversation

Michael Richardson

A fractious campaign heralds a cliffhanger election: what to watch as NZ votes

A fractious campaign heralds a cliffhanger election: what to watch as NZ votes

With so many variables in play, and polls pointing to a very tight result, there may be no obvious winner on the night – and a long wait for a new...

friday 10

The Conversation

Grant Duncan

Young men and Latino voters helped drive the Democrats’ blue wave. Why did they abandon Trump?

Young men and Latino voters helped drive the Democrats’ blue wave. Why did they abandon Trump?

Economic issues are almost always front of mind for voters, political scientist Charles Hunt says.

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The Conversation

Grace Jennings-Edquist

Grattan on Friday: are the Nationals on life support?

Grattan on Friday: are the Nationals on life support?

How big is the threat posed by One Nation to the Nationals? And can the parties past predict it’s future?

05.11.2026 20

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

With control of Congress, here’s how Democrats could stop Trump’s war in Iran

With control of Congress, here’s how Democrats could stop Trump’s war in Iran

Democrats now are in a much stronger position to force Trump to end the Iran war. But playing their strongest card could backfire.

05.11.2026 10

The Conversation

Markus Wagner

David Jones falls into administration – and its outdated business model explains why

David Jones falls into administration – and its outdated business model explains why

Department stories used to be the place to be seen shopping. Without bold changes in how they’re run, there will no longer be stores like David Jones.

05.11.2026 10

The Conversation

Robert Crawford

Australian classrooms are getting a ‘digital detox’ – what does this mean for schools and students?

Australian classrooms are getting a ‘digital detox’ – what does this mean for schools and students?

Education Minister Jason Clare says he doesn’t want to ‘burn the iPads’. But he does want to see less tech use in classrooms.

05.11.2026 10

The Conversation

Jason M. Lodge

Godzilla Minus Zero is incredibly loud. Who decides on the cinema volume? And is it safe?

Godzilla Minus Zero is incredibly loud. Who decides on the cinema volume? And is it safe?

The new film, out in IMAX, has viewers shaking in their seats from the volume. Why are some cinema screenings so loud?

05.11.2026 5

The Conversation

Alison Cole

Voters have sent a message to Trump on tariffs, but the White House still holds significant power

Voters have sent a message to Trump on tariffs, but the White House still holds significant power

Democrats will dig into the decisions behind tariff rates for various industries and trade partners, but can’t do much more for now.

05.11.2026 8

The Conversation

Liz Mackie

As diesel from the Gulf and Russia dried up, Australia had to find new suppliers – at a cost

As diesel from the Gulf and Russia dried up, Australia had to find new suppliers – at a cost

The US–Iran war has upended the diesel supply chain. Australia’s supply of diesel has held up, but it now leans on fewer suppliers and a longer,...

05.11.2026 8

The Conversation

Lurion de Mello

Polls understated Democrat vote in landslide repudiation of Donald Trump

Polls understated Democrat vote in landslide repudiation of Donald Trump

While counting continues in some seats, there was little suggestion the Democrats would win both houses so comfortably .

05.11.2026 20

The Conversation

Adrian Beaumont

Australia needs serious discussion on AUKUS. This inquiry didn’t deliver it

Australia needs serious discussion on AUKUS. This inquiry didn’t deliver it

Of its recommendations, some are hard to disagree with, such as developing a national security strategy. Others seem tangential, or even concerning.

05.11.2026 20

The Conversation

Jennifer Parker

Who’ll hold power in the Victorian upper house after the state election?

Who’ll hold power in the Victorian upper house after the state election?

While much attention has been on Victoria’s lower house, there may also be a power shift in the important upper house.

05.11.2026 8

The Conversation

Zareh Ghazarian

Young Australians are trusting AI for financial advice. But chatbots can fail in 3 ways

Young Australians are trusting AI for financial advice. But chatbots can fail in 3 ways

If you do use AI, treat its answers as a starting point. Ask for sources, check them against Moneysmart, and keep your account details out of it.

05.11.2026 20

The Conversation

Angel Zhong

Climate change is undermining our health and the burden falls heaviest on women

Climate change is undermining our health and the burden falls heaviest on women

Our response to climate change must reflect the everyday health realities people face.

05.11.2026 20

The Conversation

Veronica le Nevez

Plagiarism is a kind of theft, but it is also a question of honour

Plagiarism is a kind of theft, but it is also a question of honour

The essay has been virtually obliterated as a form of assessment by the promiscuous use students make of AI. These students are plagiarists.

05.11.2026 10

The Conversation

Benjamin Madden

Earth’s rocks have a missing layer spanning up to a billion years. We finally know where it went

Earth’s rocks have a missing layer spanning up to a billion years. We finally know where it went

The Great Unconformity is a mysterious gap of hundreds of millions of years in Earth’s geological history – and new research may have finally...

05.11.2026 20

The Conversation

Santosh Dhungana

Why are Australians so interested in the US midterms?

Why are Australians so interested in the US midterms?

It’s an election on the other side of the world that isn’t even about choosing a president. But Australians can’t get enough of it.

04.11.2026 10

The Conversation

Denis Muller