Locust and chips

Recent reports suggest that a shift from domesticated animals to insects as a source for animal protein could significantly reduce carbon emissions from agriculture, but whether anyone in the Western world wants to make that switch is another matter.

Freedom and responsibility

Free will – our capacity to independently choose between different action – is crucial to our understanding of moral responsibility and criminal culpability, but new insights in neuroscience may undermine our faith in our own decision making.

Sixth sense

Neither Labor or the Coalition are keen to discuss the parlous state of Australia’s environment and existential threat of climate change in the current election campaign, but the issue remains of the utmost importance for the future of this country and the world.

Viva la revolución

Our leaders are focused on the next few years, of staying in office, appeasing the electorate instead of making the world a better place for all.

Indigenous science cooperation

Many scientists rely on Indigenous people to guide their work – by helping them to find wildlife, navigate rugged terrain or understand changing weather trends – but we must also acknowledge the troubling attitudes that have long plagued research projects in Indigenous communities.

Human nature

Patent law should encourage innovation by protecting inventors but is all too often abused by large corporations at the expense of the common good.

The evolution of communication

Scientific progress has allowed mankind to adopt ever more sophisticated modes of communication, and this process is set to continue, perhaps allowing us to contact lifeforms beyond our own world.

Rulers of the Earth

What is it about Homo Sapiens that allowed us to overcome rival hominids and all other creatures to dominate planet Earth?

The religious discrimination debate

Whatever the results of current legislative efforts to reduce religious discrimination, history suggests that competing religious groups tend to cause strife in any nation.

The world within

The pandemic allowed many of us to catch up on some reading, but with more people using their phones or e-readers rather than traditional books, does the very different experience of reading on a screen compared to a printed page affect our comprehension?

Australia can lead the way to a low carbon economy

Australia has shown that we are capable of great ideas in a wide variety of areas – from food production to energy generation and automated systems for mining and computer control – which could power the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Facts, faith and the future

Scientific fact, rather than religion faith, should motivate decision making in the face of growing challenges.