Home is where the hope is

Improving the early life conditions and environment of kids has been linked to better mental, emotional and behavioural outcomes down the line, as well as lower chances of being a convicted criminal and doing better in school, say Swedish, Chinese and US researchers.

Australia’s aged care algorithm comes under fire

The way Australians are assessed for home-based aged-care funding is being investigated by the Commonwealth ombudsman.

Revamping vaccinations

The Australian College of Nursing is calling on the Federal Government to take a fresh approach to vaccinations, as a perfect storm of declining coverage, record-high influenza rates, and circulating vaccine-preventable diseases demands urgent action.

Death by a thousand cuts

Australia’s aid budget remains among the lowest in the world according to the latest Official Development Assistance data published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Some of our black holes are missing

When an international team of scientists, led by Monash University, working with the global network of gravitational-wave detectors measuring tiny ripples in spacetime, recently examined the masses of merging black holes, they noticed something strange – a gap where black holes should exist, but don’t.

Mental health and misinformation

One in five Australians will experience depression or anxiety in their lifetime – and a new report finds this increases their susceptibility to mis- and disinformation.

The unholy alliance

The Sino-Russian no-limits partnership is the driver of an anti-Western axis that seeks to weaken and reshape the global order that has underpinned Australia’s post-1945 prosperity and sovereignty.

Our overburdened Earth

The Earth has already exceeded its ability to support the global population sustainably, with new research warning of increasing pressure on food security, climate stability, and human wellbeing. However, slowing population growth and raising global awareness could still offer humanity some hope.

Self driving cars may cause more stress than driving

It isn’t just cars and drivers – the relationship with autonomous systems and supervisors is changing across aviation, industry and beyond at a staggering pace.

A mint idea

Australian researchers have developed a high‑performance coating made from peppermint essential oil that can be applied to the surfaces of many commonly used medical devices, offering a safer way to protect patients from infection and inflammation.

Wave goodbye

The killing of Iranian dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after 36 years of vicious internal repression and military support for terrorist groups throughout the middle East will be celebrated by most of Iran’s population and rekindles hope of regime change.

Why ordered minds embrace disordered thinking

New research has found that understanding how someone processes information can be a strong predictor of whether they are drawn to conspiracy beliefs.