Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think
By David Peetz
Can the government actually make a difference to the wages Australians earn? A lot of attention always falls on the governments submission to the Fair Work Commissions annual wage review, which this year called for a real...
Sorry gamers, Nintendo’s hefty Switch 2 price tag signals the new normal – and it might still go up
By Ben Egliston Et Al
Last week, Nintendo announced the June 5 release of its long anticipated Switch 2. But the biggest talking point wasnt the consoles launch titles or features. At US$449 in the United States, and A$699 in Australia, many...
Better cleaning of hospital equipment could cut patient infections by one-third – and save money
By Brett Mitchell Et Al
Hospital-acquired infections are infections patients didnt have when they were admitted to hospital. The most common include wound infections after surgery, urinary tract infections and pneumonia. These can have a big...
Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research
By Jack Brand Et Al
Out of sight, out of mind is how we often treat what is flushed down our toilets. But the drugs we take, from anxiety medications to antibiotics, dont simply vanish after leaving our bodies. Many are not fully removed by...
Trump tariff backflip brings a US trade war with China into the crosshairs
By Jonathan Este
You have to marvel at Donald Trumps prescience. After his announcement of Americas new tariffs regime on April 2, liberation day, the stock markets plummeted, causing faint hearts around the world to quail. Nerves...
Lab-grown meat: you may find it icky, but it could drive forward medical research
By James Hague
Lab-grown meat causes heated debates. Proponents see benefits for the climate and animal welfare. Opponents worry about a Frankenstein food they regard as risky and unnatural. Whatever your opinion, the technology...
How trustworthy is your fitness tracker score?
By Cailbhe Doherty
Millions of people now start their day with a number a readiness score, a body battery level or a measure of strain delivered by the wearable device on their wrist or finger. But how much trust should we place in these...
Why financial hardship is more likely if you’re disabled or sick
By William E. Donald
If you have a long-term health condition or youre a disabled person in the UK, you might be able to claim a benefit called personal independence payment (Pip). As the name suggests, Pip is designed to help with the...
South African court said no to new coal-fired power: what’s behind the ruling
By Melanie Murcott
Three South African environmental and climate justice organisations took the South African government to court in November 2021, to challenge the authorisation of new coal-fired power as part of the countrys energy mix....
Trump’s nomination for NASA leader boasts business and commercial spaceflight experience during a period of uncertainty for the agency
By Wendy Whitman Cobb
Jared Isaacman, billionaire, CEO and nominee to become the next NASA administrator, faced questions on April 9, 2025, from members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation during his confirmation...
Fill-in-the-blank training primes AI to interpret health data from smartwatches and fitness trackers
By Eloy Geenjaar
The human body constantly generates a variety of signals that can be measured from outside the body with wearable devices. These bio-signals ranging from heart rate to sleep state and blood oxygen levels can indicate...
China’s new underwater tool cuts deeps, exposing vulnerability of vital network of subsea cables
By John Calabrese
Chinese researchers have unveiled a new deep-sea tool capable of cutting through the worlds most secure subsea cables and it has many in the West feeling a little jittery. The development, first revealed in February 2025...
The tobacco lobby claims vaping is displacing youth smoking – a close look at the evidence tells another story
By Sam Egger Et Al
E-cigarette companies, including giants such as British American Tobacco, have actively lobbied governments in New Zealand and Australia to weaken existing vape regulations while preventing the introduction of stricter...
We combed through old botanical surveys to track how plants on Australia’s islands are changing
By David Coleman Et Al
More than 8,000 continental islands sit just off the coast of Australia, many of them uninhabited and unspoiled. For thousands of species, these patches of habitat offer refuge from the threats they face on the mainland....
What’s the difference between baking powder and baking soda? It’s subtle, but significant
By Nathan Kilah
There is something special about sharing baked goods with family, friends and colleagues. But Ill never forget the disappointment of serving my colleagues rhubarb muffins that had failed to rise. They were dense, rubbery...
Every generation thinks they had it the toughest, but for Gen Z, they’re probably right
By Intifar Chowdhury
Every generation thinks they had it tough, but evidence suggests young Australians today might have a case for saying theyve drawn the short straw. Compared with young adults two or three decades ago, todays 1835-year-olds...
The history of ‘common sense’ matters when caring for our common home
By Barbara Leckie
In recent years, the idea of common sense has again catapulted to prominence in the conservative political landscape. From United States President Donald Trumps call for a revolution of common sense and his references to...
Has Donald Trump been outfoxed by Putin and Zelensky?
By Jonathan Este
Donald Trump likes to use the phone. In his (ghostwritten) bestseller, The Art of the Deal, he talks of making between 50 and 100 calls during the average working day and then going home and picking up where he left off....
Canada’s economic vulnerabilites show why it must invest in the wealth of local communities
By Audrey Jamal Et Al
Five years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, Canada now faces a new challenge unprecedented economic pressure from its closest trading partner, the United States....
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that
By Peter Urwin
Keir Starmer says the current benefits system is unsustainable, unfair and needs changing to avoid a wasted generation of young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet). The government is concerned...
Turkey: a favourable international climate is spurring Erdoğan’s crackdown on democracy
By Massimo D'Angelo
The Turkish judiciary has finally succeeded in sidelining Istanbuls mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, at the fourth attempt. On the morning of March 19, the 53-year-old posted a video on social media announcing that police had...
A brief guide to vitamin and mineral supplements – when too much of a good thing can become toxic
By Dipa Kamdar
Around half of UK adults currently take a food supplement but vitamins and minerals are usually only needed in small amounts and too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Heres what you need to know about the benefits...
Glastonbury is as popular than ever, but complaints about the lineup reveal its generational challenge
By Adrian York
Unless youve been hiding under a rock since 1970 you will be aware of the five-day Glastonbury festival held every June (apart from fallow years to rest the land and the organisers), near Pilton in Somerset. Glastonbury is...
Thousands of satellites are due to burn up in the atmosphere every year – damaging the ozone layer and changing the climate
By Ian Williams Et Al
The worlds first artificial satellite, the Soviet Unions Sputnik 1, was launched in October 1957. Just three months later, it fell out of orbit. As Sputnik hit the upper atmosphere at incredible speed, the friction would...
Nigeria’s oil-rich Rivers State under emergency: sending in the army isn’t the answer
By Al Chukwuma Okoli
President Bola Tinubu recently declared a state of emergency in Nigerias oil-rich Rivers State, in the countrys south-south region. Prior to this decision, governance in Rivers State was practically paralysed as a result...
UK businesses face a big tax hike. So what does it mean for workers and the economy?
By Phil Tomlinson Et Al
Employers in the UK are about to be hit with a hefty tax rise. From April 1 2025, their national insurance contributions are rising to 15% on salaries above 5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above 9,100. Unsurprisingly,...
Debate over H-1B visas shines spotlight on US tech worker shortages
By Moshe Y. Vardi
A heated debate has recently erupted between two groups of supporters of President Donald Trump. The dispute concerns the H-1B visa system, the program that allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers in...
Ukraine war: how Zelensky rebuilt his relationship with Trump to turn the tables on Putin
By Natasha Lindstaedt
After Donald Trumps very good and productive phone call with Vladimir Putin earlier this week, all eyes were on his subsequent call with Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Would it, when they last met in the flesh on...
Insomnia can lead to heart issues − a psychologist recommends changes that can improve sleep
By Julio Fernandez-Mendoza
About 10% of Americans say they have chronic insomnia, and millions of others report poor sleep quality. Ongoing research has found that bad sleep could lead to numerous health problems, including heart disease. Dr. Julio...
Will the US trade war push up the price of medicines in Australia? Will there be drug shortages?
By Anthony Scott1 Et Al
Talks of a trade dispute between the United States and Australia over the cost of medicines have no doubt left many Australians scratching their heads. With all this talk of attacks on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme...
Cells lining your skin and organs can generate electricity when injured − potentially opening new doors to treating wounds
By Sun-Min Yu Et Al
Your cells constantly generate and conduct electricity that runs through your body to perform various functions. One such example of this bioelectricity is the nerve signals that power thoughts in your brain. Others...
Streaming, surveillance and the power of suggestion: the hidden cost of 10 years of Netflix
By Marc C-Scott
This month marks a decade since Netflix the worlds most influential and widely subscribed streaming service launched in Australia. Since then the media landscape has undergone significant transformation, particularly in...
Less than 1% of the world’s biggest radio telescope is complete – but its first image reveals a sky dotted with ancient galaxies
By Randall Wayth
Part of the worlds biggest mega-science facility the SKA Observatory is being built in outback Western Australia. After decades of planning, countless hours of work, and more than a few setbacks, an early working version...
Local newspapers are a lifeline in Ukraine, but USAID cuts may force many to close or become biased mouthpieces
By Galyna Piskorska
Three years into Russias full-scale war in Ukraine, Ukrainian journalists are facing enormously difficult challenges to continue their work. Since Russias invasion in 2022, 40% of Ukrainian media outlets have been forced...
Why we are so scared of space – and how this fear can drive conspiracy theories
By Tony Milligan
There are many home-grown problems on Earth, but theres still time to worry about bad things arriving from above. The most recent is the asteroid 2024 YR4, which could be a city killer if it hits a heavily populated area...
Stop waiting for a foreign hero: NZ’s supermarket sector needs competition from within
By Lisa M. Katerina Asher Et Al
New Zealands concentrated supermarket sector is back in the spotlight after Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she was open to offering VIP treatment to a third international player willing to create competition. However,...
Canada’s local food system faces major roadblocks without urgent policy changes
By Charles Z. Levkoe Et Al
As Canadas trade conflict with the United States escalates, governments are encouraging Canadians to buy local to support the countrys economic, social and environmental stability and independence. But while enthusiasm in...
Youth are charting new freshwater futures by learning from the water on the water
By Andrea Reid Et Al
The future of freshwater is increasingly in jeopardy across Canada and around the world. Lakes, rivers and wetlands face numerous threats, from climate change to a range of harmful pollutants. Today, one-quarter of...
Changes to speech and language can help detect Alzheimer’s early – here are five things to look out for
By Sarah Curtis
Ten million people are diagnosed with dementia worldwide each year thats more than ever. According to the Alzheimers Society approximately one million people in the UK are currently living with the disease. Studies...
Bug drugs: bacteria-based cancer therapies are finally overcoming barriers
By Justin Stebbing
Imagine a world where bacteria, typically feared for causing disease, are turned into powerful weapons against cancer. Thats exactly what some scientists are working on. And they are beginning to unravel the mechanisms for...
Fungi are among the planet’s most important organisms — yet they continue to be overlooked in conservation strategies
By Jonathan Cazabonne Et Al
Fungi are among the most important organisms on Earth. Even though most of the worlds described 157,000 fungal species are only visible with a microscope, these organisms are essential to our ecosystems, our societies and...
Parents abused by their children often suffer in silence – specialist therapy is helping them find a voice
By Gemma Morgan Et Al
Home is not always a place of safety for everyone. This is an unspoken reality for some parents who endure abuse at the hands of their children. From physical violence to emotional manipulation, this largely hidden issue...
Software is increasingly being built by AI – so it’s vital to know if it can be trusted
By Iván Alfonso Et Al
Software is ubiquitous, powering almost every aspect of our lives. The computerised systems in your car alone incorporate tens of millions of lines of code. The increasing digital transformation of our society means that...
The Mona Lisa is a vampire
By Frankie Dytor
When Bernard Berenson learned that Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa had been stolen from the Louvre Gallery in Paris, the art critic heaved an enormous sigh of relief. Finally, he reflected, he could remove himself once and...
Thirty years ago Ukraine got rid of its nuclear arsenal – now the people regret that decision
By Jennifer Mathers
Around 73% of Ukrainians now want their country to restore its nuclear weapons, according to a recent opinion poll. A majority of Ukrainians (58%) were in favour of Ukraine owning nuclear weapons, even if this meant losing...
Global crises have hit education hard: 24 years of research offers a way forward for southern Africa
By Emmanuel Ojo
Global crises have shaped our world over the past two decades, affecting education systems everywhere. Higher education researcher Emmanuel Ojo has studied the impact of these disruptions on educational opportunities,...
Lost fynbos seeds from underground ‘time capsules’ in South Africa can grow again – new study
By Alanna Rebelo Et Al
Underground seed banks in South Africa that date back over 130 years have been found to contain fynbos seeds that are alive. These seed banks are natural storage areas in the soil where certain plants preserve their seeds....
Rescuing Nigeria: how to break the cycle of decline and bring progress
By Omano Edigheji
Nigeria has abundant human and natural resources but remains mired in underdevelopment. There are high levels of poverty, corruption, unemployment and inequality. The country is currently witnessing a rise in ethnic...
Washington Post’s turnaround on its opinion pages is returning journalism to its partisan roots − but without the principles
By Joseph Jones
Jeff Bezos, the worlds third-richest person and owner of The Washington Post, announced in February 2025 significant changes to the editorial pages of his Pulitzer-Prize winning newspaper. The editorial section, also...
What was the first thing scientists discovered? A historian makes the case for Babylonian astronomy
By James Byrne
All societies have had ways of understanding nature based on their experiences of it. For example, farmers need to understand the seasons and weather to know when to plant and harvest their crops. Hunters need to...
