Opening statements are the most important part of a trial – as lawyers in Trump’s hush money case know well
By Ronald S. Sullivan Jr.
Though Hollywood movies about courtroom dramas often glamorize the closing arguments given by lawyers, in reality the opening statement is likely the most important single event of a trial.
Such was the case in the hush...
Passover: The festival of freedom and the ambivalence of exile
By Nancy E. Berg
The Jewish holiday cycle is, to a large extent, an exploration and commemoration of the experience of exile. The fall festival of Sukkot, for example, is celebrated in small booths, temporary shelters that recall the...
What if flat feet were…normal? Debunking a myth about injuries
By Gabriel Moisan
For many decades, if not centuries, researchers, medical professionals and the general population have believed that people with flat feet are more prone to developing a variety of problems.
Specifically, having flat...
What if the Reserve Bank itself has been feeding inflation? An economist explains
By Matthew Crocker
Heres something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates.
It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its attempt to restrain inflation in May...
How corporate involvement in psychedelic research could threaten public safety
By Elena Koning Et Al
In the mid-20th century, psychedelics were deemed illegal substances with little medical purpose, a high potential for abuse and a lack of safety. However, emerging evidence suggests the opposite; a potential role for...
The use of AI in war games could change military strategy
By John Long Burnham
The rise of commercially viable generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform a vast range of sectors. This transformation will be particularly profound in contemporary military...
Nasa to overhaul mission returning samples from Mars – here’s why it must and will go ahead
By John Bridges
Nasa recently announced that it is seeking new ways to complete the return to Earth of rock cores drilled by the Perseverance Rover in the Jezero Crater on Mars. This has led to some anxiety among space scientists, who...
The language of insolvency: why getting it wrong can harm struggling firms
By John Tribe Et Al
Business failures are on the rise in Britain, with several high-profile names lost already this year. But since the 1980s, the UK has made it a priority to throw a lifeline to struggling companies. It appears, however,...
Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents
By Ty Schepis
Eventually, most adults reach a point where we realize we are out of touch with those much younger than us.
Perhaps it is a pop culture reference that sparks the realization. For me, this moment happened when I was in...
EU migration overhaul stresses fast-track deportations and limited appeal rights for asylum seekers
By Nicholas R. Micinski
The European Parliament adopted its Pact on Migration and Asylum on April 10, 2024, clearing a major hurdle on its way to becoming European Union law. The package of regulations and directives seeks to update EU policies...
Vulture Capitalism: Grace Blakeley’s new book is smart on what has gone wrong since the 1980s
By Conor O'Kane
Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts and the Death of Freedom is the latest book from the English economic and political journalist and rising progressive star Grace Blakeley. The 30-year-old describes...
Georgia is sliding towards autocracy after government moves to force through bill on ‘foreign agents’
By Natasha Lindstaedt
Georgias ruling party attempted to pass a controversial bill on foreign agents in March 2023. The law would have required civil society groups and the media to register as being under foreign influence if they receive...
How will US foreign policy affect Joe Biden’s chances of re-election in November?
By Emma Shortis
When big questions about American foreign policy collide with an election, its rarely good news for a sitting president.
Like many leaders before him, US President Joe Biden has had some of these questions thrust on...
Unstable employment while you’re young can set you up for a wage gap later in life – even if you eventually land full-time work
By Irma Mooi-Reci
As they kick off their careers, young people often have to navigate a maze of short-term and casual jobs.
In Australia, many of them also wish to work more hours than their current jobs allow, leading to a situation...
Earth Day 2024: 4 effective strategies to reduce household food waste
By Amar Laila Et Al
The global food system produces enough food for everyone, yet, in 2023, 333 million people worldwide were food insecure and 783 million were chronically hungry. An estimated 1.3 billion tons of food 14 per cent of all...
Bitcoin is halving again – what does that mean for the cryptocurrency and the market?
By Andrew Urquhart
Bitcoin, the largest and most talked about digital asset, has been on a rollercoaster of a ride since its launch in January 2009. With a market capitalisation that reached a high of more than US$1.4 trillion (1.125...
South Korean President Yoon faces foreign policy challenges after the National Assembly election
By Jong Eun Lee
South Koreas parliamentary election of April 10, 2024, was widely seen as a referendum on President Yoon Suk Yeols first two years in office.
That being the case, the nation collectively expressed its strong...
China’s new world order: looking for clues from Xi’s recent meetings with foreign leaders
By Stefan Wolff
There is broad consensus that Chinese foreign policy has become more assertive and more centralised in the decade since Xi Jinping has ascended to the top of Chinas leadership. This has also meant that Chinese foreign...
Type 2 diabetes is not one-size-fits-all: Subtypes affect complications and treatment options
By Lili Grieco-St-Pierre Et Al
You may have heard of Ozempic, the miracle drug for weight loss, but did you know that it was actually designed as a new treatment to manage diabetes? In Canada, diabetes affects approximately 10 per cent of the general...
It is industry, not government, that is getting in the way of a ‘just transition’ for oil and gas workers
By Emily Eaton Et Al
What comes to mind when you read the slogan I love Canadian Oil and Gas? Energy independence? Royalties for government coffers? Good jobs for Canadian workers?
Canadas oil and gas sector is in the throes of profound...
Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt it
By Tim Tenbensel
Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy.
However, in the health sector this need for speed entails policy risks that could come back...
Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after dark
By Mark Wong Et Al
Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day?
We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific literature. We searched for meaningful comparisons of insect...
Low pay and few contracts make freelance journalism a bleak prospect in 2024
By Amy Thomas
Over the past two decades in the news industry, weve witnessed shrinking newsrooms, mass redundancies and the steady decline of regional news on a global scale. With fewer opportunities for steady employment in this...
How India’s economy has fared under ten years of Narendra Modi
By Kunal Sen
More than 960 million Indians will head to the polls in the worlds biggest election between April 19 and early June. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking a third...
Understanding AI outputs: study shows pro-western cultural bias in the way AI decisions are explained
By Mary Carman Et Al
Humans are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to inform decisions about our lives. AI is, for instance, helping to make hiring choices and offer medical diagnoses.
If you were affected, you might want an...
Why luck plays such a big role in hockey
By Mark Robert Rank
The NHL playoffs are almost like a second season two months of bruising, relentless play, as the top teams compete for the chance to hoist Lord Stanleys Cup.
The 16 hockey teams that have made it into the postseason...
London Marathon: how visually impaired people run
By Jessica Louise Macbeth Et Al
In this weekends London Marathon, nearly 50,000 runners will hit the capitals streets in one of the worlds most iconic races. For the visually impaired (VI) runners on the start line, their approach to this famous route...
Oman serves as a crucial back channel between Iran and the US as tensions flare in the Middle East
By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen
Prior to launching a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel on April 13, 2024, Iran reportedly got word to Washington that its response to an earlier strike on its embassy compound in Syria would seek to avoid major...
Modern pentathlon is invoking a fictional Pierre de Coubertin to justify its controversial politics
By Jörg Krieger Et Al
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) recently published two articles involving the long-dead founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin.
In one article, Coubertin is quoted several times as a...
Gym hygiene guide: the dangerous bacteria that lurk in dirty fitness equipment and clothes
By Dan Baumgardt
A friend of mine, on a recent trip to the gym, declined to use the machine for drying his trunks that gym equivalent of a salad spinner which removes excess water from your swimming costume. His reason? The amount of...
‘They don’t have enough’ – schools in England are running food banks for families
By Will Baker
The peak of the cost-of-living crisis may have passed, but millions of families are struggling to buy enough food to feed their children. Experiencing food insecurity can be deeply damaging for children and negatively...
EU enlargement: What does the future hold?
By Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera de Prat
To widen or to deepen. This has been one of the longstanding dilemmas throughout European Union (EU) history, and a perennial sticking point in the unending process of European integration.
In its time, the UK...
UK’s creative industries bring in more revenue than cars, oil and gas – so why is arts education facing cuts?
By Adam Behr
Recent guidance issued by the education secretary, Gillian Keegan, to the Office for Students reveals conflicting priorities in government and pours fuel on fires burning in an already troubled higher education...
Why doesn’t my digital music feel like ‘mine’? Three ways digital possessions reduce our sense of ownership
By Rebecca Mardon
Our possessions the things we view as mine play an important role in our lives. Beyond their functionality, they can serve as poignant reminders of cherished memories. They can symbolise not only who we are, but also who...
Ireland at the crossroads: Can the ancient Brehon laws guide the republic away from anti-immigrant sentiment
By Christine Kinealy
Irelands new prime minister is a relatively young man leading a comparatively young republic that is experiencing several unprecedented challenges.
Simon Harris was confirmed as taoiseach, or prime minister, on April 9,...
Fermented foods sustain both microbiomes and cultural heritage
By Andrew Flachs Et Al
Many people around the world make and eat fermented foods. Millions in Korea alone make kimchi. The cultural heritage of these picklers shape not only what they eat every time they crack open a jar but also something much,...
Know thyself − all too well: Why Taylor Swift’s songs are philosophy
By Jessica Flanigan
Taylor Swift isnt just a billionaire songwriter and performer. Shes also a philosopher.
As a Swiftie and a philosopher, Ive found that this claim surprises Swifties and philosophers alike. But once her fans learn a bit...
The yen plunges to 34-year low despite interest rate hike
By Richard Werner
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) raised interest rates for the first time in 17 years on March 19, bringing an era of negative interest rates to an end. The key rate was hiked from 0.1% to a band from zero to 0.1% a token effort...
Why are blooper reels so funny?
By Shane Rogers
Blooper reels are very popular, with some videos on YouTube racking up tens of millions of views. Its a curious thing: why are videos of mistakes sometimes getting as much attention (or more!) as clips from the actual TV...
What if whales took us to court? A move to grant them legal personhood would include the right to sue
By Rachael Evans
In a groundbreaking declaration earlier this month, Indigenous leaders of New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a treaty, He Whakaputanga Moana, to recognise whales as legal persons.
Aotearoa New Zealand has already...
In a time of information overload, enigmatic philosopher Byung-Chul Han seeks the re-enchantment of the world
By Heather Blakey
Byung-Chul Han is the enigmatic philosopher and author of The Burnout Society and Psychopolitics: Neoliberalism and New Technologies of Power. In his latest book The Crisis of Narration, he argues that despite the present...
An education in music makes you a better employee. Are recruiters in tune?
By Diana Tolmie
See the word musician on a resume and you might not immediately think stellar employee or exceptional leader.
Perhaps the word evokes the image of a rock star, in trouble for chucking a television out of a hotel room...
Rogue waves in the ocean are much more common than anyone suspected, says new study
By Alessandro Toffoli
We used three-dimensional imaging of ocean waves to capture freakish seas that produce a notorious phenomenon known as rogue waves. Our results are now published in Physical Review Letters*.
Rogue waves are giant...
The big dry: forests and shrublands are dying in parched Western Australia
By Joe Fontaine Et Al
Perth has just had its driest six months on record, while Western Australia sweltered through its hottest summer on record. Those records are remarkable in their own right. But these records are having real...
After Iran’s attack on Israel, is a devastating regional war next?
By James Devine
After almost two weeks of waiting, Tehran retaliated against Israel for the April 1 bombing of its consulate in Damascus, Syria, launching multiple waves of drones and cruise missiles at Israel.
More than 300 weapons...
Is attachment theory actually important for romantic relationships?
By Marissa Nivison Et Al
There has been a recent surge of attention toward attachment theory: from TikTok videos to online quizzes that claim to assess your attachment style. Its become a hot topic, especially in the context of romantic...
NYT Connections: Tips to improve your game through the science of semantic memory
By Emiko Muraki Et Al
Puzzle fans are hooked on Connections, the latest word game from the New York Times that launched in June 2023, following the success of Wordle. The premise of the Connections game is deceivingly simple: from a grid of 16...
The Alberta government is interfering in public sector bargaining on an unprecedented scale
By Jason Foster Et Al
In the coming months, over 200,000 public sector workers in Alberta will begin bargaining with their employers for new contracts. The most recent agreements expired in March and, after many years of high inflation and few...
Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel was a strategic miscalculation. Can all-out war now be averted?
By Ran Porat1
Close to midnight on April 13, hundreds of military drones were launched from both Iran and Iraq toward Israel. Subsequently, several waves of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and rockets followed, originating from...
Gaza war: Israel using AI to identify human targets raising fears that innocents are being caught in the net
By Elke Schwarz
A report by Jerusalem-based investigative journalists published in +972 magazine finds that AI targeting systems have played a key role in identifying and potentially misidentifying tens of thousands of targets in Gaza....
