What is the hospital funding agreement politicians are talking about today?

By Stephen Duckett

National Cabinet meets today to discuss three big issues in Commonwealth-state financial relations: GST allocation, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding, and a Commonwealth government proposal to kick-start...

Want to know if your data are managed responsibly? Here are 15 questions to help you find out

By P. Alison Paprica Et Al

As the volume and variety of data about people increases, so does the number of ideas about how data might be used. Studies show that many people want their data to be used for public benefit. However, the research also...

Japan: Myths to Manga – Young V&A exhibition celebrates nature's influence on Japanese culture

By Nana Sato-Rossberg

Japan: Myths to Manga at the Young VA is loosely divided into four parts: sky, sea, forest and city. The underlying theme of the exhibition is showcasing how traditions developed in these contexts relate to contemporary...

Education should look to the way artists are embracing AI, instead of turning its back on the technology

By Lucy Gill-Simmen

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to make a major impact on many sectors of society over the coming decades. Some of these effects may be positive, others less so. When ChatGPT was released, education, a...

Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an 'experiment' -- and were unsure if it would survive

By Thomas Coens

From the time of the founding era to the present day, one of the more common things said about American democracy is that it is an experiment. Most people can readily intuit what the term is meant to convey, but it is...

Scientists have been researching superconductors for over a century, but they have yet to find one that works at room temperature − 3 essential reads

By Mary Magnuson

If you hadnt heard about superconductors before 2023, odds are you know what they are now. Researchers raised eyebrows early in the year with claims of operational room-temperature superconductors, though none has been...

New genetic research uncovers the lives of Bornean hunter-gatherers

By Pradiptajati Kusuma

Borneo is one of the worlds most biodiversity-rich regions, home to ancient rainforests and an immense variety of wildlife. Among its inhabitants are the Punan Batu, a group of contemporary nomadic hunter-gatherers with...

Will the RBA raise rates again? Unless prices surge over summer, it's looking less likely

By Peter Martin1

If youre looking for clues about whether the Reserve Bank has any interest rate rises left, Governor Michele Bullock offered several in her statement after Tuesdays board meeting, saying: the latest monthly...

Fossil CO₂ emissions hit record high yet again in 2023

By Pep Canadell Et Al

Global emissions of fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂), in yet another year of growth, will increase by 1.1% in 2023. These emissions will hit a record 36.8 billion tonnes. Thats the finding of the Global Carbon Projects 18th...

At HOTA, sneakers find their well-deserved place in art galleries at last

By Indigo Willing

Sneakers were once traditionally associated with what fashion academic Naomi Braithwaite describes as athleticism: they were only considered in their relationship to sports. But things have changed in one of the most...

What happens after net zero? The impacts will play out for decades, with poorest countries still feeling the heat

By Liam Cassidy Et Al

Humanitys emissions of greenhouse gases have caused rapid global warming at a rate unprecedented in at least the past 2,000 years. Rapid global warming has been accompanied by increases in the frequency and intensity of...

Public health errors: Why it's crucial to understand what they are before assessing COVID-19 responses

By Itai Bavli

Joe Vipond, a Canadian emergency room physician who was a strong supporter of masking during the pandemic, said in a speech last year that the slow recognition that COVID-19 is spread by airborne transmission resulted in...

Implementing a basic income means overcoming myths about the 'undeserving poor'

By Tracy Smith-Carrier

Newfoundland and Labrador recently announced plans to introduce a basic income for people aged 60-64 receiving social assistance. It is slated to roll out in April 2024 and will match existing federal seniors...

Humans, rats and dogs pushed the takahē into Fiordland – new genetic research maps its dramatic journey

By Nic Rawlence Et Al

Takahē are a striking bird and a national treasure in Aotearoa New Zealand. But the history and origin story of this flightless swamp hen have become a point of scientific debate. Our latest research uncovered the...

Endometriosis: It’s time to change the pattern of pain, stigma and barriers to diagnosis and treatment

By Sarah Seabrook Et Al

Endometriosis is a debilitating disease that affects an estimated one million Canadians. It involves the overgrowth of endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines the uterus), which typically sheds during menstruation and...

Best books of 2023: our experts share the books that have stayed with them

By Jen Webb Et Al

We asked 20 of our regular contributors to nominate their favourite books of the year. Their choices were diverse, intriguing and sometimes surprising. Whether youre looking for something relaxing or stimulating,...

COP28: with a ‘loss and damage’ fund in place, protecting climate refugees is more urgent than ever

By Dr. Dalila Gharbaoui

It has taken decades, but the complex and increasingly urgent issue of climate mobility has gradually become central to international climate negotiations. At the COP28 summit currently taking place in Dubai, there are...

Why do private schools get more holidays than public schools?

By Paul Kidson

Its that time of year when it seems the more school fees parents pay, the less time their children spend in school. For example, within a few kilometres of each other in Melbourne are an independent school whose last...

Cruel summer ahead – why is Australia so unprepared?

By Susan Harris Rimmer

2023 has shattered climate records, accompanied by extreme weather that has left a trail of devastation and despair, according to the World Meteorological Organization at COP 28. Some of the most significant extreme heat...

Was going to space a good idea?

By Alice Gorman

In 1963, six years after the first satellite was launched, editors from the Encyclopaedia Britannica posed a question to five eminent thinkers of the day: Has mans conquest of space increased or diminished his stature? The...

Will Japanese encephalitis return this summer? What about other diseases mosquitoes spread?

By Cameron Webb Et Al

The last two summers have been swarming with mosquitoes thanks to near constant rain and flooding brought on by La Niña. With the return of El Niño, and a hot, dry summer in store, whats the outlook for...

'A deeply thoughtful and sensuous show': a rarely experienced intimacy with Louise Bourgeois

By Léa Vuong

As you make your way towards the Art Gallery of New South Wales, you will come across the giant sinewy bronze legs of the artists monumental sculpture Maman (mum in French) looming near the entrance. As large to us as...

Holiday co-parenting after separation or divorce: 6 legal and practical tips for surviving and thriving

By Rebecca Jaremko Bromwich

The approaching holiday season will be the first post-split for Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire, who separated in summer 2023. It may also be the first for you. Welcome to co-parenting,...

Rats are more human than you think – and they certainly like being around us

By Tobias Linné

Rats have a somewhat unfortunate tendency to enjoy living where people live. Thats how a biologist tried to explain peoples hatred for the rodents in a television news feature about rats gnawing electrical cables in parked...

How conspiracy theories can affect the communities they attack – new research

By Daniel Jolley Et Al

Scientists have learned a lot about why people believe in conspiracy theories and how they harm society over the past couple of decades. Yet little is known about how the groups targeted by conspiracy theories feel and...

Uber's U-turn over listing black cabs isn't difficult to understand when you look at its finances

By John Colley

Uber is courting its arch enemy, London black cabs, inviting them to add their services to its app for the first time. Licensed taxis in 33 countries, including France and the US, have already received similar invitations....

All the video games shortlisted for the 2023 Game Awards – reviewed by experts

By Theo Tzanidis Et Al

Six games have been shortlisted for the 2023 Game Awards the industrys equivalent of the Oscars. Our academics review the finalists ahead of the announcement of the winner on December 7. Marvels Spider-Man...

How a hybrid heating system could lower your bills and shrink your carbon footprint

By Jovana Radulovic

To heat your home without damaging the climate, you will need to replace your gas boiler. UK government advisers recommend switching to appliances that run on electricity. However, if a root-and-branch conversion to...

Why iconic trees are so important to us – and how replacing those that fall is often complicated

By Helen Parish Et Al

An ancient kola tree has been cut down in southern Ghana. Local tradition held that the tree had grown on the spot where spiritual leader Komfo Anokye had spat a kola nut onto the ground three centuries...

Collagen supplements may help improve the health of your tendons and bones

By Rob Erskine

Collagen has become a popular ingredient in the skincare industry, with high-profile advocates such as Jennifer Aniston and the Kardashians taking it for its purported anti-ageing benefits. But it isnt just our skin...

Exercise benefits physical and brain health in people with Down's syndrome – new research

By Dan Gordon Et Al

Exercise is known to have many benefits when it comes to cognitive function such as improving memory and concentration skills. Research shows this is true for people in many different age groups, and even in those with...

Childhood pneumonia is surging in many countries – while the germs causing it are known, the effect of co-infections aren't

By Zania Stamataki

You may have heard reports about outbreaks of pneumonia affecting children in the Netherlands, Denmark and parts of the US and China, which are higher than usual for this time of year. Parents are keeping a watchful eye on...

Getting climate funds to conflict zones – a case for working with armed groups and local communities

By Ashley Jackson

Conflict-ridden and fragile countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change and least prepared to deal with it. They are largely excluded from climate adaptation programmes and funding. This is partly because...

COP28 president is wrong – science clearly shows fossil fuels must go (and fast)

By Steve Pye

According to the president of COP28, the latest round of UN climate negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, there is no science indicating that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to restrict global heating to...

Certain states, including Arizona, have begun scrapping court costs and fees for people unable to pay – two experts on legal punishments explain why

By Alexes Harris Et Al

In todays American criminal legal system, courts impose fines and fees as a means to punish people and hold them accountable for legal violations. At times, people are sentenced to pay without incarceration, but...

Texas is suing Planned Parenthood for $1.8B over $10M in allegedly fraudulent services it rendered – a health care economist explains what's going on

By Graham Gardner

Planned Parenthood no longer provides abortions in Texas, Louisiana and the other 10 states that have essentially banned abortion since the Supreme Court handed down its Dobbs v. Jackson decision in June 2022. But the...

Philadelphia reduces school-based arrests by 91% since 2013 – researchers explain the effects of keeping kids out of the legal system

By Amanda NeMoyer Et Al

Across the United States, arrest rates for young people under age 18 have been declining for decades. However, the proportion of youth arrests associated with school incidents has increased. According to the U.S....

With the end of the Hollywood writers and actors strikes, the creator economy is the next frontier for organized labor

By David Craig Et Al

Hollywood writers and actors recently proved that they could go toe-to-toe with powerful media conglomerates. After going on strike in the summer of 2023, they secured better pay, more transparency from streaming services...

Online 'likes' for toxic social media posts prompt more − and more hateful − messages

By Joseph B. Walther

The rampant increase of hate messages on social media is a scourge in todays technology-infused society. Racism, homophobia, xenophobia and even personal attacks on people who have the audacity to disagree with someone...

Why isn't there any sound in space? An astronomer explains why in space no one can hear you scream

By Chris Impey

In space, no one can hear you scream. You may have heard this saying. Its the tagline from the famous 1979 science fiction movie Alien. Its a scary thought, but is it true? The simple answer is yes, no one can hear you...

The OpenAI saga demonstrates how big corporations dominate the shaping of our technological future

By Peter Bloom

The dramatic firing and reinstatement of Sam Altman as boss of OpenAI was more than a power shuffle. It was a glimpse at the overwhelming influence that big corporations and a few individuals possess when it comes to...

Why OpenAI developing an artificial intelligence that's good at maths is such a big deal

By Tom Oliver1

With the recent sacking and swift rehiring of Sam Altman by OpenAI, debates around the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) are once again in the spotlight. Whats more unusual is that a prominent theme in...

We're in an El Niño – so why has Australia been so wet?

By Andrew King1 Et Al

After three La Niña summers many of us would have been expecting much hotter and drier conditions this spring and summer after the arrival of El Niño. Instead, in many parts of eastern Australia its rained...

Could you move from your biological body to a computer? An expert explains ‘mind uploading’

By Clas Weber

Imagine brain scanning technology improves greatly in the coming decades, to the point that we can observe how each individual neuron talks to other neurons. Then, imagine we can record all this information to create a...

At the End of the Land: an avalanche of images that invites us to sit alone in time and space together

By Leah Mercer

At the End of the Land, a world premiere production by Western Australian interdisciplinary theatre makers Too Close to the Sun, is an experiential encounter with the liminal space between life and death and other...

For domestic violence victim-survivors, a data or privacy breach can be extraordinarily dangerous

By Catherine Fitzpatrick

A suite of recent cybersecurity data breaches highlight an urgent need to overhaul how companies and government agencies handle our data. But these incidents pose particular risks to victim-survivors of domestic...

Nicola Willis warns of fiscal ‘snakes and snails’ – her first mini-budget will be a test of NZ’s no-surprises finance rules

By Michael Ryan

New finance minister Nicola Willis has claimed she was blindsided by the state of the governments books. Days after stepping into the role, she said: The outgoing government has left us with some nasty surprises....

A home among the gum trees: will the Great Koala National Park actually save koalas?

By Tim Cadman Et Al

Its a visionary idea: a national park for koalas. Conceived over a decade ago, the idea gained prominence after Labor took the idea to three successive elections in New South Wales. Now theyre in office and have finally...

We all know about JobKeeper, which helped Australians keep their jobs in a global crisis. So how about HomeKeeper?

By Chris Wallace

Bipartisan support for temporary extra government spending to preserve businesses and jobs through JobKeeper was one of the few positive outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognition that the long-term damage caused...

Happy birthday AUD: how our Australian dollar was floated, 40 years ago this week

By Selwyn Cornish Et Al

These days, we take for granted that the value of the Australian dollar fluctuates against other currencies, changing thousands of times a day and at times jumping or falling quite a lot in the space of a week. But for...