The Conversation
A unique collaboration between academics and journalists.
Rice feeds billions of people – but its role in fueling climate change is growing
Rice paddies are essential to lives and livelihoods in many parts of Asia. Jingting ZhangRice feeds more than half the world. From terraced paddies in Southeast Asia to irrigated fields in China and India, it underpins daily meals for billions of people. But the same flooded soils that help rice thrive also create ideal conditions for microb...
Game changers: how soccer’s mega-money era was sparked by a little-known Belgian athlete
When famous soccer players come to mind, it is usually revered pioneers such as Pelé, Bobby Charlton and Diego Maradona. Later came Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Samantha Kerr. But who has heard of Jean-Marc Bosman? A man who changed soccer forever Anyone interested in association football (soccer) or sport in general should know ab...
Was Auckland the cradle of the Kiwi accent? An old theory gets a new hearing
Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesIf you’re a New Zealander who has spent time overseas, you’ve probably had someone comment on the way you speak: that swallowed e and flat i, the whole fush and chups thing … the rest of the world thinks we pronounce our vowels a bit funny. Even as a researcher of the Kiwi accent, it took m...
San Diego mosque attack: racist interpretations of European history are inspiring extremists
The Islamic Center of San Diego on May18, a few hours after the shooting. Leonard LMT/Wikimedia Commons, CC BYOn Monday, May 18, two assailants, a 17 and an 18 year old, attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, the site of both a mosque and school, killing three adults. The assailants were wearing Nazi SS insignia, and had the words “race war...
Why Javier Milei’s inflation ‘miracle’ in Argentina is more of a mirage
When Javier Milei took over as president of Argentina in December 2023, monthly inflation was 25.5%. The annual rate for that year was 211%. Now it has plummeted. Milei, a rightwing populist famous for wielding a chainsaw on stage to make a point about fiscal conservatism, made cutting inflation a central part of his campaign. Th...
Soaring ticket prices could help FIFA pull in $15B this World Cup cycle — where does the money come from, where does it go?
FIFA's secondary ticket market can be seen on a smartphone screen. Maximilian Haupt / picture alliance via Getty ImagesAt soccer’s World Cup, the top scorer gets the “golden boot,” and the best goalkeeper is handed the “golden gloves.” This year’s tournament will also provide organizer FIFA with a golden opportunity to create billions in addi...
SpaceX is poised to go public and test the latest version of its massive Starship rocket amidst criticism about its environmental impact
An earlier version of SpaceX's Starship rocket launched from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas during a test in November 2024. AP Photo/Eric GaySpaceX is proceeding with two major milestones with consequences that could be, at a minimum, global. The company, owned by Elon Musk and valued at upwards of US$1.5 trillion, released its fi...
The war in Iran – again – points to the strategic shortcomings of assassination as policy of foreign affairs
Iranians hold their guns during a pro-government gathering near the residence where former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. AP Photo/Vahid SalemiThe coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes at the outset of the war in Iran killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with other key regime figures. In doing so, the United States...