The Conversation

The Conversation

The Conversation

The Conversation is an independent source of news and views, funded by the academic and research community and delivered direct to the public. The Conversation launched in Australia in March 2011.
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Beatrix Potter, Naturalist

Beatrix Potter, Naturalist

The Tale of Peter Rabbit author illustrator got her start in science. Everything except astronomy. She had her limits.

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Music Salons Of The 1800s Are Still With Us Today

Why have public displays of piano playing become so compelling? At railway stations, shopping centres and airports, an instrument usually associated with concert halls bursts into everyday life.

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How Do Scientists Know Climate Change Made A Heat Wave Worse?

When a devastating heat wave, hurricane, flood or wildfire strikes, people often want to know: How much did human-caused climate change influence this event, if at all? For many years, scientists could answer that question only in general terms.

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PM10 In Wildfire Smoke Is A Killer - Here Is How To Protect Yourself

Wildfire smoke has been pouring across the U.S. border from fires in Canada again, turning skies an eerie shade of orange in several states in July 2026. In the West, smoke has also been spreading into communities in Colorado and neighboring states as more wildfires burn in hot, dry conditions.

Roman Farms Had Gender Parity

Roman Farms Had Gender Parity

Female farm managers are hidden in plain sight in ancient Roman texts, mentioned in laws, literature and grave inscriptions across five centuries.

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Cold Case Renaissance: The Death Of Botticelli's Muse

Simonetta Vespucci is probably one of the most painted women of the Italian Renaissance. Sandro Botticelli is widely believed to have used her as his model for Venus, and she appears, transformed and idealised, across several of his most famous works. She died in 1476, aged just 23.

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Melatonin Is Safe Unless You Use Too Much

Melatonin – a go-to sleep aid for kids and adults alike in many households in America – continues to create media buzz, with conflicting messages that leave people uncertain about its safety.