Why is Islamophobia so hard to define?

| Insights & Views

The UK government wants a new definition of Islamophobia and has created a working group of politicians, academics and independent experts to provide one. It aims to settle long-running political debates over the term. The...

Could electric brain stimulation lead to better maths skills?

| Insights & Views

A painless, non-invasive brain stimulation technique can significantly improve how young adults learn maths, my colleagues and I found in a recent study. In a paper in PLOS Biology, we describe how this might be most...

Memo to Shane Jones: what if NZ needs more regional government, not less?

| Insights & Views

If the headlines are anything to go by, New Zealands regional councils are on life support. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones recently wondered whether theres going to be a compelling case for regional government...

‘Shit in, shit out’: AI is coming for agriculture, but farmers aren’t convinced

| Insights & Views

Australian farms are at the forefront of a wave of technological change coming to agriculture. Over the past decade, more than US$200 billion (A$305 billion) has been invested globally into the likes of pollination robots,...

Farming within Earth’s limits is still possible – but it will take a Herculean effort

| Insights & Views

The way we currently produce and consume food takes a big toll on the environment. Worldwide, farming is responsible for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions and uses more than 70% of all fresh water taken from...

Gum disease, decay, missing teeth: why people with mental illness have poorer oral health

| Insights & Views

People with poor mental health face many challenges. One thats perhaps lesser known is that theyre more likely than the overall population to have poor oral health. Research has shown people with serious mental illness are...

What did ancient Rome smell like? Honestly, often pretty rank

| Insights & Views

The roar of the arena crowd, the bustle of the Roman forum, the grand temples, the Roman army in red with glistening shields and armour when people imagine ancient Rome, they often think of its sights and sounds. We know...