Over half of eligible aged care residents are yet to receive their COVID booster. And winter is coming

By Hassan Vally

As Australia heads towards the fourth winter of the pandemic, we have once again started seeing an increase in the level of COVID circulating. With this comes an increased risk of infection and serious illness. Elderly...

Our cemeteries face a housing crisis too. 4 changes can make burial sustainable

By Kate Falconer Et Al

Australias housing crisis is no secret. What many people dont realise is that theres another, less visible housing crisis. Australias urban cemeteries are running out of space to house the dead. In Sydney, for example,...

DIY degree? Why universities should make online educational materials free for all

By Richard F. Heller

This article is part of our series on big ideas for the Universities Accord. The federal government is calling for ideas to reshape and reimagine higher education, and set it up for the next decade and beyond. A review...

3 little-known reasons why plastic recycling could actually make things worse

By Pascal Scherrer

This week in Paris, negotiators from around the world are convening for a United Nations meeting. They will tackle a thorny problem: finding a globally binding solution for plastic pollution. Of the staggering 460...

A long and fishy tail: before Disney’s Little Mermaid, these creatures existed in mythologies from around the world

By Louise Pryke

Mermaids are multicultural mythical figures, reflecting the continuing human fascination with the sea in stories echoing thousands of years into the past. Mermaids are found in cultures across the globe. In Australia,...

As teams from the U.S. Sun Belt proceed to the Stanley Cup finals, has the NHL forgotten its Canadian fans?

By John Valentine

Hockey is supposed to be Canadas game. Yet the last two Canadian-based NHL teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers, have been eliminated from the tournament. This lengthens the...

Employers need to prioritize employee mental health if they want to attract new talent

By Stephen Friedman

Canadian employers are currently facing significant challenges in attracting and retaining talent in the workplace, putting the responsibility on employers to attract employees to their organizations. One key way for...

How smaller cities can integrate newcomers into their labour markets

By Mary Crea-Arsenio Et Al

In 2022, Canadas population grew by a million people. Nearly all this growth a whopping 96 per cent came from immigration. Thats one million new people who need housing, education, health care and employment. The last...

Deaths of despair: How income inequality puts Canadian youth at risk

By Claire Benny

Income inequality has been linked to poor physical and mental health in past research, but more recent evidence suggests the issue of income inequality may be much more severe than previously expected. While completing...

What makes peace talks successful? The 4 factors that matter

By Philipp Kastner

Peace talks that seek to end armed conflicts are underway in several African countries. Because very few conflicts are resolved on the battlefield, negotiations are fundamental. But they often fail. And even when an...

Including race in clinical algorithms can both reduce and increase health inequities – it depends on what doctors use them for

By Anirban Basu

Health practitioners are increasingly concerned that because race is a social construct, and the biological mechanisms of how race affects clinical outcomes are often unknown, including race in predictive algorithms for...

How did 'taking back control' of borders become record-high net migration?

By Alex Balch

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has described the UKs new immigration figures, showing over 600,000 net migration for the year ending December 2022, as too high. While revised estimates from the Office for National Statistics...

Turkey's presidential runoff: 4 essential reads on what's at stake

By Matt Williams1

Turkish voters will head to the polls on May 28, 2023, for the second time in the month this time facing a choice between a winnowed field of two candidates, each of whom is vowing to take the country in a very different...

Why more foam makes for the best beer-drinking experience – and always has

By Anistatia Renard Miller

What makes for the ultimate beer drinking experience? Some like theirs in a frosty glass, others with a wedge of lime. But when it comes to froth or the head as its commonly known whats the best amount and how can it be...

UK bonds are in meltdown again – what does that mean for pensions?

By David McMillan

UK government debt prices have taken an unnerving journey south in the past few days. The closely watched ten-year bond has now hit a yield of 4.3%, taking it within a fraction of the level that caused a crisis in autumn...

Voters want compromise in Congress -- so why the brinkmanship over the debt ceiling?

By Laurel Harbridge-Yong

Theres progress on the debt limit. Theres no progress. Conservatives have revolted. Liberal Democrats are angry. Negotiators actually ate a meal together. Thats a good sign. No it isnt. Whos up? Whos down? Much of the...

How Erdoğan framed his science and tech 'great achievements' as part of election campaign

By Merve Sancak

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ruled Turkey for the last 21 years. In the first few terms of his rule, Turkey experienced significant economic growth and a reduction in inequality. This was widely believed to be a...

Net migration: how an unreachable target came to shape Britain

By Rob McNeil

New data shows that the UK has hit a record high net migration number of 606,000. Through it has been central to 13 years of policy and rhetoric, net migration is, in fact, a pretty odd metric that tells us very little...

How electric vehicle batteries could save the UK auto industry

By Tom Stacey

The UK may have lost Eurovision this year, but it recently beat European rivals for an arguably more valuable prize. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is expected to build a multi-billion-pound electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in...

The secret world of moss, ancient ancestor of all plants and vital for the health of the planet

By Katie Field Et Al

When people consider extraordinary plants, most probably dont spare a thought for moss. It blends in against the green background of plant life, and seems to grow everywhere whether you want it to or not. You can...

Tina Turner: an immense talent with a voice and back catalogue that unites disparate music lovers

By Freya Jarman

On a few rare occasions (often at the end of a night), Ive confided to my friends that Tina Turner was one of my biggest celebrity crushes. The revelation has usually been met with some surprise, and not unreasonably. Born...

Exercise linked to higher pain tolerance – new study

By Nils Niederstrasser

Many benefits come from regularly exercising, including stronger muscles, lower risk of disease and improved mental health. But a recent study suggests that exercise may have another unexpected benefit: it might make us...

Not all political comedy is equal – how comics can either depress turnout or activate voters in 2024

By Sophia A. McClennen

Biden is old. Trump has weird hair. Biden mangles the English language. Trump barely seems to understand it. Theres no question that it is easy to make fun of the two top presidential candidates for 2024. But as I...

Colorado River states bought time with a 3-year water conservation deal – now they need to think bigger

By Robert Glennon

Arizona, California and Nevada have narrowly averted a regional water crisis by agreeing to reduce their use of Colorado River water over the next three years. This deal represents a temporary solution to a long-term...

The Supreme Court just shriveled federal protection for wetlands, leaving many of these valuable ecosystems at risk

By Albert C. Lin

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Sackett v. EPA that federal protection of wetlands encompasses only those wetlands that directly adjoin rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. This is an extremely narrow...

European soccer is having another reckoning over racism – is it time to accept the problem goes beyond bad fans?

By John M Sloop

After suffering months of racial abuse on the field and off, Brazilian soccer star Vinícius Júnior had enough. On May 21, 2023, the Real Madrid forward commonly seen as one of the best soccer players in...

Drilling down on treatment-resistant fungi with molecular machines

By Ana L. Santos Et Al

`Fungi are present on the skin of around 70% of the population, without causing harm or benefit. Some fungal infections, like athletes foot, are minor. Others, like Candida albicans, can be deadly especially for...

A little-understood sleep disorder affects millions and has clear links to dementia – 4 questions answered

By Anelyssa D'Abreu

A little-known and poorly understood sleep disorder that occurs during the rapid eye movement, or REM, stage of sleep has been garnering attention for its role in foreshadowing neurodegenerative brain diseases such as...

The US signs a military deal with Papua New Guinea – here's what both countries have to gain from the agreement

By Michael A. Allen Et Al

The United States announced a new military agreement with Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific island country, on May 22, 2023. The deal came shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to visit the...

Adenomyosis: from symptoms to treatment, two women's health experts explain this little known condition

By Jen Southcombe Et Al

BBC presenter Naga Munchetty recently revealed that she suffers from adenomyosis, a chronic condition that affects the uterus. She spoke of how her pain can leave her unable to move and how a recent flare-up was so intense...

Picture this: green hydrogen plants next to green steelworks to boost efficiency and kickstart both industries

By Changlong Wang Et Al

The race to net zero is accelerating. Just last week, United States President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a climate pact to boost cooperation. The move signifies Australia is becoming...

The highly secretive Five Eyes alliance has disrupted a China-backed hacker group – in an unusually public manner

By Dennis B. Desmond

This week the Five Eyes alliance an intelligence alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and the United States announced its investigation into a China-backed threat targeting US...

Researchers built an analogue computer that uses water waves to forecast the chaotic future

By Ivan Maksymov

Can a computer learn from the past and anticipate what will happen next, like a human? You might not be surprised to hear that some cutting-edge AI models could achieve this feat, but what about a computer that looks a...

‘Whose side are you on mate?’ How no one is free from bias – including referees

By Tim Dare Et Al

When Jason Paris, head of the company that sponsors the New Zealand Warriors NRL team, complained recently about Australian referee bias, more than a few heads will have nodded in agreement. Sports fans often think the...

Wildfires in Alberta spark urgent school discussions about terrors of global climate futures

By J-C Couture Et Al

In the wake of wildfire outbreaks tearing through Alberta, which have destroyed infrastructure, homes and razed an estimated one million or more hectares of forest, the province recently announced only students evacuated...

In B.C., Alberta and around the world, forcing drug users into treatment is a violent policy

By Tyson Singh Kelsall Et Al

Intervention without human rights goes by many names involuntary institutionalization, compulsory drug treatment, coerced care, forced abstinence or a combination of all of those terms. Involuntary treatment in the...

Electricity prices are rising again. Here's how to ensure renters can cash-in on rooftop solar

By Bjorn Sturmberg Et Al

Consumers struggling with cost-of-living pressures were dealt another blow on Thursday, when the Australian Energy Regulator confirmed energy price hikes of up to 25% from July. For the one in three Australian homes...

Lehrmann inquiry: what's a director of public prosecutions or DPP? A legal expert explains

By Kellie Toole

Australian public prosecutors are far less visible than defence lawyers, judges and police, yet they are the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system. Every Australian state and territory, and the...

Friday essay: what the migrant workers who made my iPhone taught me about love

By Wanning Sun

Ten years ago, a group of images on a popular Chinese website caught my attention. They showed young rural migrant workers in intimate, though not overtly sexual situations: talking quietly, holding hands, kissing,...

70 years after the first ascent of Everest, the impact of mass mountaineering must be confronted

By Yana Wengel Et Al

Mountains their height, their mass, their climates and ecosystems have fascinated humans for thousands of years. But there is one that holds extra-special meaning for many Mount Everest, or Chomolungma as the Nepalese...

Antarctic alarm bells: observations reveal deep ocean currents are slowing earlier than predicted

By Kathy Gunn Et Al

Antarctica sets the stage for the worlds greatest waterfall. The action takes place beneath the surface of the ocean. Here, trillions of tonnes of cold, dense, oxygen-rich water cascade off the continental shelf and sink...

Working with kids, being passionate about a subject, making a difference: what makes people switch careers to teaching?

By Erin Siostrom Et Al

Teacher shortages around Australia mean there is an ongoing debate about how to attract, retain and educate more teachers. One part of the push to increase teacher numbers is encouraging people to swap their current...

Ukraine recap: Moscow's 'pyrrhic victory' in Bakhmut prompts unrest in the Russian military, but it's all smiles for Zelensky

By Jonathan Este

After the best part of a year, Russia has claimed victory in the meat-grinder that was the Battle of Bakhmut in Ukraines east. But the battle achieved virtually none of Russias original strategic objectives and came at a...

Greedy gulls decide what to eat by watching people -- new research

By Paul Graham

Ask anyone living in a coastal area of the UK and theyll confirm that seagulls can be a nuisance. These birds pilfering of food knows no bounds, and no one is safe from one of their thieving attacks. For many people,...

Tranq: first UK death from the flesh-rotting 'zombie drug' xylazine

By Caroline Copeland

The flesh-rotting zombie drug xylazine has been wreaking havoc in the US. Now its in the UK. A toxicology report showed that a middle-aged man from Solihull, England, died from the effects of xylazine, heroin, fentanyl and...

Tinubu inherits Nigeria’s high debt – an economist analyses what this means for the country's future

By Stephen Onyeiwu

As the 16th president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherits an economy that is grappling with inflation, chronic unemployment, extreme poverty, crumbling infrastructure and insecurity. Nigerias debt profile stands out...

Arms-to-Russia row raises doubt about South Africa’s compliance with arms control. It could face tougher scrutiny in future

By Dr Moses B. Khanyile

The recent furore over accusations by the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that South Africa was supplying arms to Russia despite its declared policy of non-alignment, has sparked a debate on whether the...

Tiger protection in India also saved 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions – new study

By Simon Evans

The year 2023 coincided with the 50th anniversary of Indias groundbreaking Project Tiger, an innovative programme designed to rescue the countrys iconic big cat from the precipice of extinction. In April, as part of these...

Greenwashing: energy companies make false claims about sustainability – they should be held to account

By Ouidad Yousfi Et Al

Companies implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a way to present an environmentally responsible image and therefore gain legitimacy in the eyes of their stakeholders. But some companies dont actually live up...

Lula's diplomatic dance is nothing new for Brazil or its leader -- what has changed is the world around him

By Rafael R. Ioris

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a man currently very much in demand in international circles. In April, the leftist leader was being courted by China during a high-profile visit to Beijing. That was...