Genius or charlatan? The strange tale of a 19th-century polymath who left a trail of controversy across colonial Australia

| Insights & Views

About 20 minutes drive north of Geraldton, on Australias west coast, lies a hill named Mount Sommer. The little peak is one of the few relics left behind by the enigmatic nineteenth-century polymath Dr Ferdinand von...

Australia needs better ways of storing renewable electricity for later. That’s where ‘flow batteries’ can help

| Insights & Views

As more and more solar and wind energy enters Austalias grid, we will need ways to store it for later. We can store electricity in several different ways, from pumped hydroelectric systems to large lithium-ion battery...

Summer holidays haven’t changed much since ancient Greece and Rome (except maybe the sand wrestling)

| Insights & Views

Imagine a summer holiday at a seaside resort, with days spent sunbathing, reading books, exploring nature and chatting with friends. Sounds like it could be anywhere in Australia or New Zealand in January, doesnt it? This...

Why do some people’s hair and nails grow quicker than mine?

| Insights & Views

Throughout recorded history, our hair and nails played an important role in signifying who we are and our social status. You could say, they separate the caveman from businessman. It was no surprise then that many of us...

‘One of the most important species for science’: how the humble fruit fly transformed 4 fields of research

| Insights & Views

The common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), more correctly called the vinegar fly, is a frequent visitor to ripe fruit in households around the world, where it often deposits eggs on rotting flesh without being...

Monarch butterflies are in decline in NZ and Australia – they need your help to track where they gather

| Insights & Views

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) appear to be declining not just in North America but also in Australiasia. Could this be a consequence of global change, including climate change, the intensification of agriculture,...

Is it important to read the explanatory labels next to artworks? We asked 5 experts

| Insights & Views

Youre standing at the centre of an expansive art gallery, overwhelmed by whats in front of you: panel after panel of stupendous works densely-written labels affixed next to each piece. These labels may offer a window into...