All I want for Christmas is … an earworm

Christmas songs package up all of the joy and nostalgia of the ‘ideal’ festive season into a three-minute ditty. But, my goodness, they can be annoying.

A ghost story for Christmas

Our fascination with ghostly tales around Christmas time goes back thousands of years and is rooted in ancient celebrations of the winter solstice.

Remembering William Cooper

William Cooper is best known as a visionary campaigner for his own indigenous people, their equality under the law, and their right to be recognised as their land’s original custodians.

Are 1 in 4 young people ‘addicted’ to smartphones?

A metastudy by researchers at King’s College London has estimated that one in four young people have a “behavioural addiction” to smartphones, but doubts have been raised over the validity of this interpretation.

Don’t confuse luck with skill when rewarding performance

A new study reveals that managers and coaches reviewing people’s performance in the workplace or the sports field often confuse luck with skill when handing out awards.

What is a festival for?

Should Australia’s arts festivals focus on bringing the world to us – or make us reflect upon ourselves?

What happens when we look at art?

Rather than judge artworks on their own merits, we are influenced by those around them, highlighting the importance of careful curation in exhibitions and galleries.

Is social media harming our kids?

Social media is a ubiquitous part of life, especially for our “digitally-native” children and adolescents, but is it causing more harm than good? 5 experts weigh in on the topic in this special feature article.

Cracking the oldest code in history

The deciphering of Linear B, the earliest form of Greek, was a history changing achievement, but decoding the older Linear A would open a new window on the origins of European culture.

City of ghosts

Rampant development and a lack of arts funding are destroying the cultural fabric of Sydney, as buildings and facilities are torn down to make way for ever more blocks of apartments.

Boo! Did I scare you?

Horror films are enjoying a resurgence at the box office, so today, on the spookiest day of the year, Andrew Ng explores why we enjoy being scared so much.

Sculpture by the sea

The biggest outdoor public art exhibition in the world is back on the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. This year’s festival features more than 100 sculptures by Australian and international artists, including several pieces by local arts students.