
MyMedicare promises better health care. But only 1 in 10 patients has signed up
MyMedicare is a scheme that encourages patients to register with a regular GP practice to improve their health. But few patients have enrolled. Since its launch in October 2023, only about 10% of patients have signed up....

Friend, tutor, doctor, lover: why AI systems need different rules for different roles
Im really not sure what to do anymore. I dont have anyone I can talk to, types a lonely user to an AI chatbot. The bot responds: Im sorry, but we are going to have to change the topic. I wont be able to engage in a...

Biosecurity policies can be annoying – but a century of Antarctic data shows they work
Visitors to Australia are often shocked at having to declare an apple or wooden item under our biosecurity policies. Biosecurity policies are used to keep out pest species and diseases. But theyre expensive to uphold and...

New satellite data shows NZ’s major cities are sinking – meaning rising seas will affect them sooner
Rising seas are already affecting coastal communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. On a global average, the sea level is now 18 centimetres higher than it was in 1900, and the annual rate of increase has been accelerating to...

Being labelled a nice guy was once considered a form of flattery. Today, however, anyone privy to the world of dating and romance will know this isnt necessarily a compliment. The term has been unofficially reappropriated...

Wave energy’s huge potential could finally be unlocked by the power of sound – new research
Ocean waves have long been seen as having huge potential as a source of renewable energy. Waves produce an estimated 50 trillion to 80 trillion watts of power worldwide nearly two to three times the worlds current annual...

Batteries for all, not just the rich? Labor’s home battery plan must be properly targeted to be fair
Over the weekend, Labor promised to subsidise home batteries by 30%. This would save about A$4,000 per household up front for an average battery. The scheme has a goal of one million batteries by 2030, costing an estimated...