Political donations rules are finally in the spotlight – here’s what the government should do
Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and ...
how Australia’s environment fared in the world’s hottest year
Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year and numerous weat...
Do you have 7,513 unread emails in your inbox? Research suggests that’s unwise
Tero Vesalainen/ShutterstockHow do you manage your emails? Are you an “inbox zero” kind of person, or do you just leave thousands of them unread?Our new study, publishe...
meet the real Villiers women behind Mary & George
BingeMary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the early 17th centur...
Study links microplastics with human health problems – but there’s still a lot we don’t know
Naiyana Somchitkaeo/ShutterstockA recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health.The study involved pa...
What’s the best way to ease rents and improve housing affordability? We modelled 4 of the government’s biggest programs
This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here.Australian state and federal governments spend mone...
‘I wanted to stop … but I also wanted to pull’. 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania – a new memoir unpacks compulsive hair-pulling
The Conversation/ShutterstockTowards the end of Adele Dumont’s affecting memoir The Pulling, she thanks the reader, her “stranger”, for the opportunity to unburde...
Stay Cool with Black Ice Air Conditioning: Top Quality Comfort Solutions
Keep your cool with Black Ice Air Conditioning! Offering top-notch, high-quality comfort solutions for all your needs. Stay chill with us! Black Ice Air Conditioning…
Anime live-action adaptations are often hated by (Western) fans. But are they being too harsh?
IMDBBetween Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anim…
pregnant women and working parents feel overlooked and undervalued in the workplace
Ground Picture/ShutterstockPregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace d…
Will the AUKUS deal survive in the event of a Trump presidency? All signs point to yes
A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreemen…
Who will look after us in our final years? A pay rise alone won’t solve aged-care workforce shortages
Aila Images/ShutterstockAged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they deserved substantial wage rises of up to 28%. …
Liam Pieper’s Appreciation is a mordant tale of a tragically flawed artist
A nuanced exploration of the value and personal cost of art-making runs through Melbourne writer Liam Pieper’s jaunty new satirical novel Appreciation.Set in the ne…
Even as the fusion era dawns, we’re still in the Steam Age
SmartS/ShutterstockSteam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of …
Victims need to be protected – regardless of whether they are testifying in family court or criminal court
Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new mem…
The West can’t ‘solve’ its Russia problem. Here’s how it should handle 6 more years of Vladimir Putin
In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He will serve…