The Conversation Weekly

Police in Australia are continuing a huge manhunt in the mountains for Dezi Freeman, a man accused of killing two police officers and injuring a third in late August. Freeman identifies as a sovereign citizen, someone who believes they aren't subject to the law.In this episode we speak to criminologist Keiran Hardy from Griffith University about the origins of the sovereign citizen movement in the US, how it spread to Australia and was taken up by the self-styled Prince Leonard in the 1970s, and why the movement grew during Covid-19. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood and editing help from Ashlynee McGhee. Sound design and mixing by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.

As China invited world leaders to a vast military parade marking the end of the second world war on September 3, President Xi Jinping said China is "never intimidated by bullies" and would "stand by the right side of history". In a coded message about China's territorial ambitions over Taiwan, Xi added that "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation was unstoppable".China and Taiwan both claim their forces bore the true burden of Chinese resistance against Japan during the second world war, and use this contested history to lay claim to power and territory. Now China is weaponising this history, pushing for a "correct" perspective of the war as it seeks to reshape the world order. In this episode, historian Meredith Oyen from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, explains how disagreements between China and Taiwan over who fought the Japanese more than 80 years ago are still raging and why China's military parade raised tensions with Taiwan up another notch. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood. Sound design and mixing by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.

John Kounios is a neuroscientist at Drexel University specializing in the neuroscience of creativity. He shares fascinating insights into the brain activity of jazz musicians as they improvise, revealing how expert and novice practices differ neurologically. Kounios discusses the roles of left and right brain hemispheres, emphasizing how experienced musicians tap into their left hemisphere for seamless improvisation. He also highlights the delicate balance between cognitive control and creativity, noting the evolutionary benefits of achieving a state of creative flow.

In this discussion, Anna Bevan, a producer of LSE IQ, reveals the hidden environmental costs of AI technology. Ergenie Dugois, an environmental economist, stresses the need for sustainable data center designs to curb energy waste. Sociologist Nick Caldry raises critical concerns about the social and environmental ramifications of AI, advocating for a sustainable social contract. Together, they explore the delicate balance between AI's potential benefits and its environmental footprint, highlighting urgent calls for policy and structural changes.

Scarlett Howard, a biologist at Monash University, specializes in animal cognition and has taught bees to distinguish between odd and even numbers. She discusses the curious world of training animals to perform tasks outside their natural instincts, like goldfish driving cars. Howard emphasizes the importance of these seemingly irrelevant experiments, claiming they unlock secrets of cognition and support future technological advancements. She also reflects on the balance between ecological relevance and cognitive exploration in research, highlighting the unexpected insights gained.

Mark Miodownik, a materials and society professor at University College London, unpacks the world's addiction to plastic. He delves into the history of plastics and their evolution from natural to synthetic materials, influencing everything from visual arts to consumer behavior. The discussion highlights the challenges of recycling and the urgent need for corporate accountability in tackling plastic pollution. Miodownik also advocates for systemic changes to combat consumerism's hold on the plastic industry, urging a shift towards a sustainable economy.

Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch, alongside the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones and others, for libel after the Journal published an article alleging that Trump once wrote a “bawdy” birthday letter to the convicted sex offender, the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump is seeking US$10 billion in damages. Trump and Murdoch have a transactional friendship that goes back decades. Despite past tensions, this rupture is something new in a relationship that has continued to serve both men’s interests.In this episode, professor of journalism Andrew Dodd at the University of Melbourne takes us back to where their relationship began in 1970s New York, to understand how Murdoch helped to build brand Trump.This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with editing help from Ashlynne McGhee. Sound design and mixing by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.

Israel has never officially confirmed or denied having nuclear weapons and has never signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Instead, even as evidence has emerged about its nuclear capabilities, Israel has maintained a policy of nuclear ambiguity.The origins of this opacity lie in a secret deal forged in a one-on-one meeting between Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, and the US president, Richard Nixon, at the White House in September 1969.In this episode, we speak to Avner Cohen, professor of non-proliferation studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterrey in the US, about that 1969 deal and why it has endured for more than 50 years. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood and Ashlynne McGhee. Sound design and mixing by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Read the full credits for this episode and sign up here for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation.If you like the show, please consider donating to The Conversation, an independent, not-for-profit news organisation.

Laurence Hardwick, a Professor of electrochemistry at the University of Liverpool, discusses the urgent need for sustainable battery materials. He explores innovative alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, including sodium and potassium ion technologies. The conversation touches on exciting advancements like biodegradable batteries made from waste materials, as well as the performance comparison with traditional options. Hardwick emphasizes the importance of developing diverse and eco-friendly solutions to meet the growing demand for energy storage in our tech-driven world.

Juan Masullo, an assistant professor in political science, dives into Italy's rich anti-fascist legacy stemming from World War II. He discusses how the grassroots resistance against Mussolini's regime set the stage for enduring anti-fascist sentiments today. Masullo highlights a petition backed by 250,000 signatures to ban fascist propaganda, revealing a strong historical correlation with modern activism. He also explores local memorials that keep the anti-fascist spirit alive among younger generations, against a backdrop of rising far-right movements across Europe.