The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers.

Faster is not always better: why the case for higher speed limits is fatally flawed

Timothy Welch, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Aerial view of the coastline of Port Vila in Vanuatu.

Pacific nations want ecocide to become a crime – here’s why NZ should support the proposal

Nathan Cooper, University of Waikato and Leilani Tuala-Warren, University of Waikato

Saved from extinction? New modelling suggests a hopeful future for te reo Māori

Michael Miller, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

A protester holds a Toitū Te Reo Māori sign during a hikoi in Christchurch, New Zealand

A ‘forever language’ – te Wiki o te Reo Māori marks 52 years of extraordinary progress

Jeanette King, University of Canterbury

Are kiwi and moa recent immigrants from Australia? Neither fossils nor genetic evidence support the story

Nic Rawlence, University of Otago; Alan Tennyson, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Pascale Lubbe, University of Otago

A conservation volunteer holding a female kiwi.

More rooftop solar in cities would help solve NZ’s energy crisis – and build disaster resilience

Priscila Besen, Auckland University of Technology; Andrew Burgess, Auckland University of Technology; Ann Morrison, Auckland University of Technology; Imelda Piri, Auckland University of Technology, and Stacy Vallis, Auckland University of Technology

Aerial view of two workers installing solar panels on a rooftop

World

Rupert Murdoch’s real-life succession drama is underway in a Nevada courtroom. What might happen next?

Rodney Tiffen, University of Sydney

Scientists have found evidence of past extreme solar storms. Their return could be disastrous for our technology-based societies

Maarten Blaauw, Queen's University Belfast; Ilya Usokin, University of Oulu, and Tim Heaton, University of Leeds

Global powers are grappling with ‘responsible’ use of military AI. What would that look like?

Zena Assaad, Australian National University; Lauren Sanders, The University of Queensland, and Rain Liivoja, The University of Queensland

Mexico’s first female president will soon take office – her first challenge is to escape the shadow of her predecessor

Jessica Wax-Edwards, University College Cork

Mexico's president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, standing beside his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

The internet is worse than it used to be. How did we get here, and can we go back?

Marc Cheong, The University of Melbourne and Wonsun Shin, The University of Melbourne

A pixel earth graphic on a black background.

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Treaty politics

Rewriting history: how the Treaty ‘principles’ evolved and why they don’t stand up to scrutiny

Jane Kelsey, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Blowing the dust off NZ’s ‘founding documents’ reveals the hold they still have on today’s Treaty debate

Paul Moon, Auckland University of Technology

‘Room for everyone’: how Kīngi Tūheitia’s message of unity offered an alternative to divisive Treaty politics

Dominic O'Sullivan, Charles Sturt University

Outdated and imprecise: why it’s time we retired the term ‘race relations’

Lara Greaves, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

US presidential race

Happiness swings votes – and America’s current mood could scramble expectations of young and old voters

Carol Bishop Mills, Florida Atlantic University

Illustrated image of cut-out paper smiley faces, some happy, some sad, some bored

Health care under Harris versus Trump: A public health historian sizes up their records

Zachary W. Schulz, Auburn University

A smartphone screen shows the live broadcast of the presidential debate.

Another assassination attempt, baseless claims about pets, and Taylor Swift: the US election is wild, but does any of it matter?

Jared Mondschein, University of Sydney

Kamala Harris effectively baited Donald Trump during the debate, drawing out his insecure white masculinity

Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University

A man with a blue jacket and red tie is seen on a split screen with a woman with dark hair and a dark jacket looking down.

New research

New study links low incomes, stressed parents and child behaviour – better support would bring lifelong benefits

Jaimie Monk, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research; Arthur Grimes, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Kate C. Prickett, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, and Philip S. Morrison, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Neanderthal remains found in France reveals there were not one, but at least two lineages of late Neanderthals in Europe, our research shows

Ludovic Slimak, Université de Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier

Why we haven’t evolved better knees – new research

Michael Berthaume, King's College London

Black and white photo of man sitting on sofa, holding a red knee

It’s almost impossible to keep teens off their phones in bed – but new research shows it really does affect their sleep

Rachael Taylor, University of Otago

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