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The Conversation
The far-right has surged to the lead in France’s elections. But forming a government remains a tall order

The far-right has surged to the lead in France’s elections. But forming a government remains a tall order

Romain Fathi, Australian National University

View from The Hill: Fatima Payman alleges attempts to ‘intimidate’ her into quitting the Senate

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

View from The Hill: Fatima Payman alleges attempts to ‘intimidate’ her into quitting the Senate
Labor gains in Newspoll as Australians narrowly oppose the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan
A man sits in a seat and smiles
Plastic Free July is a waste of time if the onus is only on consumers
A variety of fruits and vegetables in plastic packing
Cheaper mortgages, tamed inflation and even higher home prices: how 29 forecasters see Australia’s economic recovery in 2024-25
Melbourne cityscape
The most realistic way to replace Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee – allow him a graceful exit
Joe Biden speaks at a lectern
Joe Biden’s debate disaster – who could replace him on the Democrat ticket in November?
Screenshots of Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the CNN presidential debate, June 27 2024.
View from The Hill: Albanese suspends rebel senator Payman from participating in caucus indefinitely after she says she’d cross the floor again
View from The Hill: Albanese suspends rebel senator Payman from participating in caucus indefinitely after she says she’d cross the floor again
We mapped the entire bilby genome – and now we can use poo to save Australia’s ‘Easter bunny’ from extinction
A person in a blue uniform shirt holds a grey animal with long ears looking curiously at the camera.
Artwork showing a man and woman embracing surrounded by children and animals

Did people in Ancient Rome and Greece love the same way we do? Perhaps even more hopelessly

Konstantine Panegyres, The University of Melbourne

How often should you really weigh yourself?
Woman weighs herself in her living room
What are financial years – and why are they different from calendar years?
Desk calendar seen on orange background with orange pencil
‘Gun control is dead and we killed it’: unmasking the ‘lonely incel’ who designed the world’s most popular 3D-printed firearm

Rajan Basra, King's College London

Alt text
Does sports participation boom during (or before, or after) the Olympics?
School children share high fives with Australian soccer star Sam Kerr
Gaps in reporting of nitrogen fertiliser use on NZ farms leave an incomplete picture of impacts on water quality
An aerial view of a truck spreading fertiliser on a dairy farm
We finally know why some people got COVID while others didn’t
Man being swabbed by medic for COVID
Swinging ‘60s, a grief-fulled murder mystery and Jessica Alba doing 'spy shit’: what we’re streaming in July
Swinging ‘60s, a grief-fulled murder mystery and Jessica Alba doing 'spy shit’: what we’re streaming in July
Engineered stone is now banned. But how safe are the alternatives?
Black marble with white veining
What makes a good tree? We used AI to ask birds
Image of a tree with branches shaded in different colours.
Some of us don’t have high-quality drinking water, and it’s putting public health at risk. How do we deliver universal access?
A woman's hand holds a glass of water being filled from a tap
G7 plan to use Russia’s frozen financial assets to help Ukraine fund the war: an economist weighs up the risk and rewards

Sambit Bhattacharyya, University of Sussex

Facade of Russian Central Bank, Moscow
Muddled answers and outright lies: what the Biden-Trump debate says about the dire state of US politics

Emma Shortis, RMIT University

Muddled answers and outright lies: what the Biden-Trump debate says about the dire state of US politics
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World

Kenya unrest: the deep economic roots that brought Gen-Z onto the streets

XN Iraki, University of Nairobi

Protester holds a Kenyan flag during the nationwide demonstration.
US Supreme Court makes prosecution of Trump on obstruction charge more difficult

Riley T. Keenan, University of Richmond

A large white building and protesters on a balcony.
Explainer: What’s at stake in France’s election, and could it make Macron’s government even weaker?

Romain Fathi, Australian National University

Explainer: What’s at stake in France’s election, and could it make Macron’s government even weaker?
G7 plan to use Russia’s frozen financial assets to help Ukraine fund the war: an economist weighs up the risk and rewards

Sambit Bhattacharyya, University of Sussex

Facade of Russian Central Bank, Moscow
More world

Sport

Science is just starting to understand the benefits of athletes putting their brains in ‘auto pilot’
Brazil star Neymar dribbles a ball towards goal
The horrifying human cost of big sporting events

Ofer Idels, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

The horrifying human cost of big sporting events
For many Olympic medalists, silver stings more than bronze

Andrea Luangrath, University of Iowa and William Hedgcock, University of Minnesota

Young man hanging his head while wearing a gray windbreaker with a silver medal around his neck.
Formula One is moving towards hybrid engines and renewable fuel. Major environmental progress or just ‘greenwashing’?
A Formula One car spits out fumes as it turns a corner
More sport

New research

‘Things started to look dire’: our deep-dive into past climates sounds a warning for this unique corner of Australia
a waterway leading to ocean
Devastating coral bleaching will be more common, start earlier and last longer unless we cut emissions
bleached staghorn corals
New drone imagery reveals 97% of coral dead at a Lizard Island reef after last summer’s mass bleaching
dead coral in shallow sea
Coal-free in 14 years as renewables rush in: new blueprint shows how to green the grid – without nuclear

Dylan McConnell, UNSW Sydney

wind farm at sea
More new research

Good green news

Our ‘frog saunas’ could help save endangered species from the devastating chytrid fungus

Anthony Waddle, Macquarie University

Frogs sitting in holes in a brick
Some of Earth’s most ancient lifeforms can live on hydrogen – and we can learn from their chemical powers

Pok Man Leung, Monash University and Chris Greening, Monash University

Aerial photo of a multicoloured pool of water among rocks
Big batteries are solving a longstanding problem with solar power in California. Can they do the same for Australia?

Asma Aziz, Edith Cowan University

inflatable duck
Investors have bid against each other to buy Australia’s first green bond. Here’s why that’s a great sign

Gordon Noble, University of Technology Sydney

Rural area in Australia with pastures and wind turbines.
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Ozempic

It's been billed as a new weight-loss wonder drug. But is Ozempic all it's cracked up to be?

31% of Australians are obese – is Ozempic a healthy solution? A GP considers Johann Hari’s inside take on a ‘mass experiment’

Natasha Yates, Bond University

31% of Australians are obese – is Ozempic a healthy solution? A GP considers Johann Hari’s inside take on a ‘mass experiment’
When supplies resume, should governments subsidise drugs like Ozempic for weight loss? We asked 5 experts

Fron Jackson-Webb, The Conversation

Person on scales
Can a drug like Ozempic help treat addictions to alcohol, opioids or other substances?
Woman lays in bed, looking sad
What happens when I stop taking a drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro?

Natasha Yates, Bond University

Woman weighs herself in living room
More Ozempic

Podcasts

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on ‘calling out’ claims about the energy transition’s cost
Listen
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on ‘calling out’ claims about the energy transition’s cost
Who designed the FGC-9? Unmasking the man behind the world’s most popular 3D-printed gun – podcast
Listen
Disassembled components of the FGC-9 shadow gun.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Peter Malinauskas on political donations, kids on social media, and the nuclear option
Listen
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Peter Malinauskas on political donations, kids on social media, and the nuclear option
UK plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda may never happen but other European leaders still want to copy it – podcast
Listen
A small boat carrying what is thought to migrants near a tanker in the English Channel.
All episodes of Politics with Michelle Grattan
All episodes of The Conversation Weekly

Most read

1.
We finally know why some people got COVID while others didn’t

Marko Nikolic, UCL and Kaylee Worlock, UCL

We finally know why some people got COVID while others didn’t
2.
Supreme Court makes prosecution of Trump on obstruction charge more difficult, with ruling to narrowly define law used against him and Jan. 6 rioters

Riley T. Keenan, University of Richmond

Supreme Court makes prosecution of Trump on obstruction charge more difficult, with ruling to narrowly define law used against him and Jan. 6 rioters
3.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: should I be worried if I’m travelling to Japan?

Phoebe Williams, University of Sydney; Joshua Osowicki, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Yara-Natalie Abo, Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: should I be worried if I’m travelling to Japan?
4.
An influencer’s AI clone started offering fans ‘mind-blowing sexual experiences’ without her knowledge

Leah Henrickson, The University of Queensland and Dominique Carlon, Queensland University of Technology

An influencer’s AI clone started offering fans ‘mind-blowing sexual experiences’ without her knowledge
5.
Worried about PFAS in your drinking water? Here’s what the evidence says about home filters

Ian A. Wright, Western Sydney University

Worried about PFAS in your drinking water? Here’s what the evidence says about home filters
6.
Julian Assange was isolated for more than a decade. Here’s what that does to the body and mind

Carol Maher, University of South Australia and Johanna Badcock, The University of Western Australia

Julian Assange was isolated for more than a decade. Here’s what that does to the body and mind

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Events

Democracy Done Differently

University of Tasmania

Democracy Done Differently
Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Communication Association: Queensland Online Event

University of Southern Queensland

Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Communication Association: Queensland Online Event
Mini - COGE Gifted Education Teacher Training: Wednesday, 3 July

UNSW Sydney

Mini - COGE Gifted Education Teacher Training: Wednesday, 3 July
OPTIMA-CON24

The University of Melbourne

OPTIMA-CON24
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