Trust the process

Science is under assault from any number of sources, and so understanding why some people reject scientific thinking is vital to protecting its authority in society.

The top science stories of 2023

Science hit the headlines in Australia time and again in 2023, as advances in DNA technology freed a mother convicted of murdering her children 20 years ago, we became the first country to legalise psychedelic therapies, the vaping epidemic led to a government crackdown, and we lost, but then thankfully found, a tiny radioactive capsule no larger than a pea.

Weird science

2023 was tough at times, but luckily there was plenty of weird science to offer us a little comic relief. Animals led the way, as we learned about a series of orca-strated attacks on boats, frogs faked their own deaths to avoid sex, birds built their nests using anti-bird spikes, and a wriggling worm was pulled from an Aussie woman’s brain.

Promoting science in the Pacific

An ambitious plan to co-design and establish a Pacific academy of sciences and humanities has gained strong support from more than 60 scholars from across the Pacific meeting in Samoa.

Belittling science undermines us all

Australian science enjoys the overwhelming confidence of the public, but this is at risk from those who seek to twist the truth to suit their agenda.

Science and success

Science is one of humanity’s proudest achievements, but scientists are human and have become distracted by prestige games that do nothing to advance its cause.

Curiouser and curiouser!

Modern science tends to ignore outsiders but reductionist science is not the only way of knowing things and more attention should be paid to ancient knowledge, new ideas and ‘thinking outside the box’.

Why science works

People love to find patterns in nature and science remains the best way of deciding which ones are true, and which are self-deception.

What sparked scientists’ interest in science?

As we embark on a new year, hopefully with more progress on the COVID-19 front, we asked six authors of The Conversation to reflect on what first sparked their interest in science.

Debunking scientist stereotypes

Students at UNSW are trying to debunk problematic stereotypes of their chosen profession during National Science Week.

Aussies back science as a critical part of society

While a small minority of science deniers make waves on social media, most people in Australia and the western world continue to have faith in science and value its role in society.

Remembering Thomas Harriot

Four hundred years ago, a remarkable Englishman named Thomas Harriot died in London, leaving behind 8000 pages of unpublished scientific research whose significance researchers are only now appreciating.