Why being forced to precisely follow a curriculum harms teachers and students
By Cara Elizabeth Furman
In teaching, fidelity refers to closely following specific procedures for how to teach a lesson or respond to student behavior. For example, following a curriculum to fidelity might mean a teacher is required to read from...
The chilling crime spree of The Order – and its lasting effect on today’s white supremacists
By Matthew Valasik Et Al
Justin Kurzels new historical crime drama, The Order, starring Jude Law and Nicholas Holt, is being described as a riveting cat-and-mouse thriller.
But for criminologists like us, the white supremacist extremism that...
Hamas – hemmed in and isolated – finds itself with few options for the day after the Gaza war
By Mkhaimar Abusada
In early December 2024, Hamas announced a major concession: It was prepared to cede future governance of Gaza to a unity Palestinian committee, working alongside its chief political rival, Fatah, to create the...
Ghana’s election system keeps women out of parliament. How to change that
By Gretchen Bauer Et Al
Voters in Ghana elected the countrys first woman vice president, Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, in early December 2024. Voters also elected John Mahama as president, a man who had served as president before, from 2013 to...
We’ve found an answer to the puzzle of how the largest galaxies formed
By Annagrazia Puglisi
It is as humbling as it is motivating to think about how much we still have to learn about the universe. My collaborators and I have just tackled one of astrophysics enduring mysteries: how massive elliptical galaxies can...
The hidden benefits of birdsong
By Natalia Zielonka Et Al
Imagine youre walking across rolling hills that stretch for miles, with warm sunshine and the chirping of birds all around.
This peaceful and serene scene is an increasingly rare one in the modern world.
Our natural...
Poliovirus found in wastewater in Spain, Germany and Poland – what you need to know
By Mariachiara Di Cesare Et Al
In 1988, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for the global eradication of polio. Within a decade, one of the three poliovirus strains was already virtually eradicated meaning a permanent reduction of the disease...
Israel government’s boycott of left-wing Haaretz newspaper is understandable for an administration in wartime
By Ori Wertman
At a recent conference held in London by Israels longest-running newspaper, Haaretz, the publisher Amos Schocken who is known for his critical stance towards Israels treatment of Palestinians argued that the Palestinians...
Russia and Ukraine face off at European security conference as all sides wait for Trump presidency
By Stefan Wolff Et Al
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation next year. Last week, after months of wrangling, its 57 members meeting in Malta managed to agree on a new...
The UK’s booming creative industries could employ even more people – if they attract fresh international investment
By Jonathan Jones Et Al
The UKs creative industries are an economic success story, contributing 124.6 billion to the countrys economy in 2022 around 6% of the total. These industries, which include film, TV and publishing, grew by more than 50%...
Kenya has moved people out of the country illegally: what the law says about extraordinary rendition
By Oscar Gakuo Mwangi
Kenya has been accused by various non-state and state actors of supporting extraordinary rendition, which refers to the secret transfer of people from one country to another without due process of law and against their...
Global trade in wild animals is soaring – South Africa’s laws aren’t doing enough to prevent harm
By Neil D’Cruze Et Al
The quantity and complexity of commercial wildlife trade laws has grown globally over the past century. A new study examines wildlife trade laws in 11 countries and finds that a countrys Global Biodiversity Index does not...
Moroccan schools are fuller thanks to cash grants. The problem now is the quality of their education – study
By Jules Gazeaud Et Al
Reprinted by permission from VoxDev
The spread of conditional cash transfer programmes in low- and middle-income countries has been described as perhaps the most remarkable innovation of recent decades in welfare...
Our analysis of wealth trends suggests Australia’s middle class may be ‘shrinking’
By Melek Cigdem-Bayram Et Al
There are growing concerns about wealth inequality in Australia and what it means for peoples ability to get ahead.
For many, home ownership has become a pipe dream. Huge numbers of Australians now feel the cards are...
If ‘correlation doesn’t imply causation’, how do scientists figure out why things happen?
By Hassan Vally
Most of us have heard the phrase correlation does not equal causation. But understanding how scientists move beyond identifying correlations to establish causation remains a mystery to many.
Finding out what causes a...
Crisis accommodation is failing women fleeing domestic violence. Here’s how to fix it
By Anastasia Powell
Every day in Australia, thousands of people call a family violence crisis support line. Often, its someone experiencing family violence who fears for their safety and needs support to leave immediately.
These calls are...
Chinese security companies are putting boots on the ground in Myanmar. It could go disastrously wrong
By Adam Simpson1
Just as the legal noose tightens on the leader of Myanmars military junta, with a request for an arrest warrant from the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the Chinese government seems to be extending a...
‘Pressure makes diamonds’: how Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout can get even faster
By Chris Gaviglio Et Al
At just 16 years of age, Gout Gout captured the worlds attention with his record-breaking performance at the Australian National All-Schools Championships.
He ran an extraordinary 20.04 seconds for the 200m, breaking a...
Canadian policymakers should avoid handling Trump 2.0 like another pandemic
By Kevin Quigley
Since Donald Trump won the recent United States presidential election, Canadian policymakers are trying to anticipate a variety of plausible scenarios to deal with an unpredictable leader and his intentions on everything...
Why bovine colostrum supplements could be a health gamble
By Manal Mohammed
From Kim Kardashian Barker to Gwyneth Paltrow, wellness celebrities are extolling the benefits of taking bovine colostrum supplements. Social media influencer Sofia Richie Grainge has even launched her own bovine...
Sediment is a time capsule that shows how past climate change altered our landscapes – and hints at their future
By Joanne Egan
Sediments are more than just layers of mud on the ground. They can reveal a wealth of information about landscapes from millions of years ago right up to the present day. To delve into those layers, scientists like me...
Syrians rejoice in a new beginning, after 54 years of tyranny
By Wendy Pearlman
Millions of Syrians are feeling hope for the first time in years.
The authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad fell on Dec. 8, 2024, after a 12-day rebel offensive.
Most commentaries on this stunning reversal of a...
Vaccination rates among Australian teens are dropping. Here’s how we can get back on track
By Archana Koirala Et Al
Australia has a successful adolescent immunisation program, routinely achieving high vaccine coverage for teenagers.
However, recent data shows the number of Australian teens receiving the recommended vaccines for their...
Surging global tourism emissions are driven by just 20 countries – major new study
By James Higham Et Al
Surging global tourism emissions are driven almost entirely by 20 countries, and efforts to rein in the trend arent working.
That is the main finding of our new research, published in Nature Communications today. It...
Around 9,000 species have already gone extinct in Australia and we’ll likely lose another this week – new study
By John Woinarski Et Al
More than 95% of Australian animals are invertebrates (animals without backbones spiders, snails, insects, crabs, worms and others). There are at least 300,000 species of invertebrate in Australia. Of these, two-thirds...
Abu Mohammed al-Golani may become the face of post-Assad Syria – but who is he and why does he have $10M US bounty on his head?
By Sara Harmouch
The fall of President Bashar al-Assad has left a critical question: After a half-century of brutal dynastic rule has come to an end, who speaks for Syrians now?
One group staking a major claim for that role is Hayat...
What Father David Bauer can tell us about Canadian hockey today
By Matt Hoven
More than 50 years ago, the late Father David Bauer pointed out that studies and reports on problems in Canadian ice hockey have had a characteristic ineffectiveness.
Hockey Priest: Father David Bauer and the Spirit...
Culturally tailored patient education can improve heart health
By Gabriela Ghisi
For individuals from diverse backgrounds, managing heart disease effectively often depends on more than access to medical care it requires culturally relevant education. Recent research reveals that adapting patient...
Ravaged jungle: just 25% of the world’s surviving tropical rainforests are in good condition
By Rajeev Pillay Et Al
We are now in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, caused by our emergence as a planet-shaping force. Species are going extinct far faster than the average natural rate of loss.
In response, conservationists are...
The book that sparked a revolution: One Hundred Years of Solitude, the literary masterpiece now adapted for TV
By Gabriel Garcia Ochoa
I have read Gabriel García Márquezs One Hundred Years of Solitude five times.
The first was at someones recommendation and because I am the authors namesake; the second was halfway through my PhD, (heavy...
The human right to science is 76 years old. It’s a reminder for us all to be more curious
By Sujatha Raman Et Al
Signed exactly 76 years ago today, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the worlds most translated document. It is widely acknowledged as the foundation of international human rights work, not just in legal...
‘Unseen world’: researchers capture fascinating footage of the world’s smallest penguins in a bid to save them
By Diane Colombelli-Négrel
On Granite Island off South Australia, a colony of little penguins is fighting to survive. About two decades ago, the penguins numbered 1,600 adults now there are just 30.
It is important for scientists to monitor and...
Does menopause hormone therapy increase or decrease your risk of dementia? Here’s the science
By Caroline Gurvich Et Al
By 2050, around 135 million people worldwide will be living with dementia. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimers disease. Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimers disease, even after accounting for...
Why a musical instrument is the perfect gift this Christmas (and some suggestions for which to get)
By Wendy Hargreaves
Christmas is the season to be jolly, but its wrapped in some cheerless trials. Theres car park mania, pre-dawn pilgrimages to purchase seafood, and the ever-perplexing question, What should I buy family and friends for...
Australians’ cars are typically larger, heavier and less efficient than in Europe – here’s why
By Robin Smit1
Road transport is responsible for a substantial share of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. So reducing these emissions is a high priority.
In the European Union (EU), CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars have been...
Grand Theft Hamlet documentary shines a light on reinventing Shakespeare in a virtual world
By Andy Miah
The new documentary Grand Theft Hamlet marks a groundbreaking moment in the world of digital performance. It tells the story of an innovative theatrical production of Hamlet, staged within the popular video game Grand...
Why the fall of Bashar al-Assad is unlikely to lead to peace in Syria
By James Horncastle
The Syrian oppositions recent capture of the countrys largest city of Aleppo caught much of the international community by surprise. After the involvement of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah in the prolonged Syrian civil war,...
COP29 failed Africa – what went wrong with the climate financing bid and what happens next
By Kudakwashe Manjonjo
The United Nations 29th annual climate change conference of the parties, COP29, ended with countries from the global north committing US$300 billion per year in climate finance to developing countries. This money is meant...
How primate eye tracking reveals new insights into the evolution of language
By Vanessa Wilson
The human environment is a very social one. Family, friends, colleagues, strangers they all provide a continuous stream of information that we need to track and make sense of. Who is dating whom? Who is in a fight with...
Rape is still rape even if you’re married - report finds some South African men don’t believe it is
By Zainonisa Petersen Et Al
Sexual violence, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), includes any sexual act or attempt to obtain sex through coercion, regardless of the relationship between the parties. This encompasses rape, unwanted...
Ghana elections: religion and ethnicity are key to voters - and political leaders know it
By Thomas Prehi Botchway
Since Ghana returned to democracy in 1992, the country has held nine consecutive elections In all these elections ethnicity and religion have played a role, even though the countrys constitution bars the explicit use of...
Europe readies for war as Russian rhetoric escalates
By Jonathan Este
Sweden is clearly taking Vladimir Putins repeated threats to escalate its current war in Ukraine with deadly seriousness. Households received a booklet recently detailing steps they could take to stay safe in the face of...
Why is soccer fandom so linked to violence?
By Milad Haghani
Soccers global allure is unmatched, yet its history is shadowed by tragedies.
At a recent soccer match in Nzérékoré, Guinea, a controversial refereeing decision led to unrest, resulting in crowd...
Some people say they have a high pain threshold. Here’s why
By Joshua Pate Et Al
Weve all heard someone claim they have a high pain threshold as if its a mark of strength or resilience. But does science support the idea that some people genuinely feel less pain than others?
Pain is an experience...
Survey on AI finds most people want it regulated, but trust in government remains low
By Aftab Erfan Et Al
If you use social media, youve likely come across deepfakes. These are video or audio clips of politicians, celebrities or others manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) to make it appear like the person is saying...
Adults grow new brain cells – and these neurons are key to learning by listening
By Charles Liu Et Al
Your brain can still make new neurons when youre an adult. But how does the rare birth of these new neurons contribute to cognitive function?
Neurons are the cells that govern brain function, and you are born with most...
Mozambique’s deadly protests: how the country got here
By Luca Bussotti
The protests that followed Mozambiques contested October elections have been the most protracted and deadliest since multiparty democracy in 1990. Police have reportedly killed at least 50 since Daniel Chapo, from the...
Putin’s ‘yes men’: why some senior officials resort to flattery and others don’t
By Alexander Baturo
All dictators need loyal elites to survive in office and govern effectively. High-level officials and other powerful figures can help an authoritarian ruler remain in power. These officials also assist in implementing...
Five things young women need to know about the menopause
By Megan Arnot
If youre under 40, the menopause might seem like the least of your worries right now. But for some women, this transition can happen earlier than they might expect even as early as their 30s, in rare cases. And you almost...
What is a self-coup? South Korea president’s attempt ended in failure − a notable exception in a growing global trend
By John Joseph Chin Et Al
Something unexpected but hardly unprecedented happened in South Korea on Dec. 3, 2024. With little warning, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, citing the threat from pro-North Korean anti-state...
